Hi dippy.

As far as we know, apart from a bit of Irish dancing, all her dance experience comes from the fact that she likes to dance. But she does seem to pick things up really quickly and to be naturally expressive.

Would it be too much to say she's like a younger, fitter, blonder, female Ed Balls!?

(Someone else might know better if she has any more training than I suggested tho)

Many thanks Dervla I had a niggly feeling she didn't really. In that case I hope she doesn't get lumped into the collective public's mind as "Ahh of course she's good- everyone but Ed, Greg'n'Naga have got a dance background this year" and that she gets credit where credit's due.

I like her arms- she uses them well, and she's not shy about acting out the lurve-stuff. I have high hopes of her doing a bit of a Zoe Ball vs Daisy doing a bit of Jodie Kidd; fun non-dancey women on a dance jour... ahem. You get the idea.

Awww, lovely Aliona "Great to catch up with this beauty". Giovanni is right, she is beautiful and I am missing her

Love those pictures. Poor Mick

I do miss Aliona

I love that she and Giovanni are friends Huph and that she has said he and Laura will lift the glitterball I don't think they could ask for a better endorsement!

Laura has posted this from a magazine photo shoot. There is two page article about social media that goes alongside it, but I can only seem to copy the first page. The header describes her as having "a certain je ne sais crois", and resembling a modern day Bridget Bardot.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuD0IPuWAAAdRiL.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuD0I69WAAAw9zT.jpg

She has also posted photos of some bruises from training, too. Eek!

Morning StrictlyRed, thanks for the links! Laura is absolutely stunning isn't she. I saw the bruises on Twitter - ouchy ouch

Thanks, StrictlyRed . Laura is beauty and brains. Very honest interview, her personality is similar to Pixie's and Sophie's.

Giovanni is blaming her Irish white skin and is saying it isn't his fault

Good morning, Lou . I don't follow them, so don't get to see their tweets. It was nice to see Aliona with Gio, I think Aliona should go and help these two with their training.
Nothing like an extra pair of eyes, specially when it's Aliona's, who knows how to win

Good morning Sarah That is an excellent idea, I love it. And Aliona hasn't burned her bridges (a la Jordans) with the BBC so maybe later on in the series we will see her in the training room!

From interviews...she runs regularly so is fit - which helps A LOT in having the stamina for QS and Jive etc. Regular (4 x a week) yoga - hence the graceful backbends and flexibility in her arms. Bit of Irish dancing. She has talked about doing barre classes at the gym - she isn't ballet trained I don't think. I think after her undergraduate journalism degree she took a short drama course IIRC which is the foundation she is relying on for her stage role next year in the Peter James play. Quite often those courses have a bit of contemporary dance in the mix.

So that seems to me to be a very good background for a 'Propah' beginner. I always like to see people improve so am watching Ed , Laura and also Greg this year. I think you can definitely see Laura improving - not so much Louise who is simply keeping to her entry point of a high, trained standard. I am not knocking Louise but its kind of hard to see how she delivers a surprise over the course of the show - will viewers get a bit bored I wonder? I suppose Kevin can bring out the light sabres, Muppet costumes etc etc.

That picture of Laura is stunning. Thanks StrictlyRed.

She has also posted photos of some bruises from training, too.

Ouch indeed.

She is very, very slim so will bruise more easily than those of us with a bit more..errr. padding. So best eat a few more cakes

I would rather a dance partner had a very secure grip in a fast-moving dance with lifts like salsa. I think Gleb last year had a bit of form for dropping a few of his partners - can't see Gio doing that. He is playing safe.

There is a reason why the pro ladies have those Oompa Loompa fake tans - they cover all the bruises... So I am expecting Laura to be triple-dipped on Saturday.

Haha yes, they may need to bring out the Ronseal. I remember Kellie Bright saying she was covered in bruises for her salsa (mind you she was thrown about a bit!) Gio and Joanne do an upside down lift in one of their pro routines, so perhaps that one will be used. I'm not sure if Laura would be reassured or terrified after watching the lift-tastic routine Gio did with Janette at the weekend! Bit of both maybe...

Anyway I’m really looking forward to their Salsa. As others have said, it will need the right theming to stand out amongst some more recognisable movie songs, but it’s a great chance for Laura to show improvement in Latin.

Great to see Aliona and Giovanni getting together to catch up.
I like that Gio is his own man and makes his own mind up about people. That shows an inner strength.

Aliona is very good at analysing dancing and is a creative choreographer, so it's an opportunity for Gio to get some honest feedback. Aliona tends to call it as she sees it!

Aliona is just back from a trip with Vincent to Monaco.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuAa4jOWAAEZQF5.jpg

BIB
I think that is a key point. Some of the others have better music (and good themes), so it will have to be memorable, as well as well danced.
It's quite a compact dance, so they may have backing dancers, but that worked OK with Jay and Aliona's Salsa last year.

I like that about him too. Especially after reading on another thread that none of the pros like Aliona.

I think there is a small group that wanted to make the atmosphere uncomfortable for Aliona in Series 13, so that's why I commend Giovanni's independance.

I'm really looking forward to the salsa, and the other salsas too but well this one the most because GIO'S HIPS! It's the dance I know the best so I will be putting my armchair judge badge on and maybe I'll pick up a few tips! Not sure I'd trust any of the guys in my class with a lift though . . .

That's rubbish! They're just über jealous. Gio and Tristan like her ... also she gets on v well with Anton. On tour she was having lots of laughs and banter with Aljaz and Janette called her 'lovely Ali' on a behind the scenes vid she made (so either Janette is disingenuous or she likes her.) Also, Brendan MUST have liked her to ask her to dance on his tour ... that's a no-brainier. They fell out later but that's his fault for using an image of her to promote his next tour ... without her permission.
I trust Jay's instincts ... being a very nice guy he knows a nice person when he meets one. Aliona could have tried to force acting lessons on him, ridiculous costumes, spray tans, hammy routines etc but she didn't. She made it all as comfortable for him as she could instead of pushing things for her own gain. I really miss her this year

Lovely pic of Laura. She doesn't take a bad pic though ... always looks stunning.

Welcome dippy We've got quite a lovely little app thread going now. I'm appreciating others too but I can tell already which way it's going as it's this thread I'm most excited to look at out of all the new ones. Tough to call this year though, very tough competition. Could get messy

Is that 'a small group’ of pros or of forumers? I think I'm getting confused with the 'another thread' reference in Huph's post. The snippet of gossip I read ages ago is that when Pasha joined the show he wouldn't dance with her... but then he did, so that gossip was pretty rubbish! It doesn't really sound like Pasha either tbh.

I love an independent-minded person who doesn't go the easy route so if there is ill will towards her (why?), big respect to Gio, and to Aliona for cutting her own course.

(What season is this one btw? Was 13 last year?)

There was someone on a thread in the MF , I can't remember which one, saying this recently, so it may be that. At the time it sounded a bit like silly playground talk, you know " Nobody likes you and you're not my friend"

Yes, last year was series 13.

BIB
She's very photogenic!
I like this photo in particular.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsVEVB6WIAAQ9sJ.jpg

Her greatest asset - I think - is her personality.
That - and her and Gio's chemistry could be key - if they can get to the Final.

BIB
I meant pros. It's an impression I formed, but it's no big deal. As it turned out, Aliona had her happiest Series ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00cXloG9z0