A really nice segment from Claudia and AJ on ITT tonight - and don't they both scrub up well?

I've been struggling to find a favourite couple this year and have liked and been entertained by all of them to a greater or lesser extent. While Ed still has a corner of my heart, Claudia and AJ have been improving a little each week and are inching ahead of the pack in my affections. I've wanted them to be in the final all along because I could imagine them doing a spectacular showdance and I've always thought Claudia should be the last woman standing (if, as looks likely, this year's script says it's the year of the man 😏 ), but now I'm starting to be a little bit invested in them too. 💕

Almost in love with Claudia's straightened gothic hair tonight. She can be the Morticia to my Gomez.

Haven't posted here before but have loved Claudia and AJ from the start!

Enjoyed ITT tonight, they looked gorgeous ! And excited for paso next week as I think it could be good, just hope they get decent music ..

Loving these two - definitely my favourite couple as it stands

It's so exciting to see Claudia and AJ's fan base growing and growing!! Big welcome to all the new posters in the thread

One thing I meant to add about the Paso is the shaping. She should be excellent at it given she's a gymnast. You can almost imagine she's dancing a Paso in some of her action stills. Still really nervous about the music choice though. Hoping they go traditional and not the pop route again.

Oh my word. Terrible paso music for Claudia and AJ this week.

Shut Up and Dance .......by Walk the Moon.

It was the music used for International Dance Day (last year?) and had lots of modern choreography.
So it will be difficult for me to see something like a paso to that music.
I hope AJ has some great choreo up his sleeve to knock all of our socks off. (Well perhaps I should say my socks😀...)

Unfortunately it's an awful song

Hopefully they can make it work for the Paso, but seems awful to me

Shut up and dance for a paso? Why can't they give them a suitable song that's traditional for the dance??!!! I think she'll be good I just hope the music doesn't ruin it

I think it's because they're young whoever is picking the music is trying to make them current and basically tune into a younger audience with their song choices rather than traditional/ older songs... however that only works if the songs compliment the dance.

Surely if whoever picks the songs wants something contemporary, they can think of something better than that

>bangs head against wall<

Oh well. She should still have excellent technique on this so there's still plenty of hope for a good performance but I'm really sick of these pop songs now. As you say yohinnchild, surely if they are determined to go the pop route they could come up with something half decent.

Anyway, I promise not to moan about the music anymore. Happy thoughts!

Must be Strictly's equivalent of Louis Walsh pricking the music then surely!!

Have wardrobe got something against Claudia.

I have just seen Vicki Giggles and the paso dress on ITT.

Pink!!!
Very little embellishment (as yet)
Hardly any skirt to swish about.

Where is a striking black or dark blue paso dress?
They seem to try to dress her in clothes for a very young teenager and give music to match.
AJ is the same age that Aljaz was when he started on Strictly so I believe and Claudia is 18.

Oh well perhaps she asked for pink as she has worn that colour before.

I don't mind the dress tbh. I think it will have quite a few changes by Saturday and the colour at least will make her stand out a bit. I do hope it's the last time we see her in pink for a while though. I think we are going to get a very "pop" Paso though.

Not too concerned about Ian's comment regarding training as the two of them looked like they were doing a very light run through of the choreo during the footage they showed on ITT.

I have now looked at previous years dresses. Only Frankie had pink mainly because of the theme. But I agree no more pink please.

Ooh I missed Ian as I shouldn't have been watching at that time anyway
I must go and watch all of the programme, although I do tend to take what Ian says with a pinch of salt sometimes.

ETA yes -as I thought . At no point did he say maybe they were walking some of the steps through. He usually mentions that for other couples.

Yeah the clip we saw on ITT looked like them walking it through - hopefulyl we get an update tomorrow evening so we can judge better

Hopefully they do well this evening, especially as its AJ's birthday today

Happy Birthday to AJ and fingers crossed for them.

Happy birthday to AJ and lots of luck for tonight!

Really enjoyed the dance and thought they did well - undermarked IMO though especially given some of the scores that other dancers got.

Off to vote for them

Haven't watched the show yet but don't know whether I should be worried about their place on the leaderboard? Fingers crossed they sail through though and I have voted!!

They were last on, so I think that usually helps as the dance would be fresh in peoples minds before the vote opens (or fingers crossed it is anyway )

Just voted It's a bit scary tonight as there are quite a few ties and I reckon the voting will be really close. As for the dance, I loved it. The music wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I disagreed with Bruno about the shaping. He might have preferred something a little more flamboyant but she got it exactly right for me.

Hello
Just popped over from Jay and Aliona thread, I loved that Paso.

I have to admit to being a little meh...about this year but I have steadily become invested in Claudia an AJ.

Each week I enjoyed their dances, especially considering the music choices

Tonight I have watched that Paso three times, only dance on this years strictly to catch my imagination and that I have watched more than once.

I have found my couple

Loved that paso! Shame about the music of course but I don't think it held them back too much. Voted for them a load of times, really hope they get enough votes since they were so undermarked! Also happy bday aj!

Hi sky_lark! (love your username )

Welcome to the thread. Very happy they have another new fan