One thing I've noticed on this forum for years is that Anton gets a lot of stick because he can't dance latin and people have even called him a bad dancer because of it.
But what's the big deal if he doesn't dance latin? He a ballroom dancer and has stated before that he detests latin dancing so why should he bother trying to learn a dance style that he doesn't like?

Pro dancers specialise on certain dance styles and there have been many pro's before on Strictly who haven't been good at certain dances styles that they do not specialise in so it's unfair to give Anton so much stick over it.

He seems like a very nice man and a great ballroom dancer so the hate you all give him is unfair.

The big deal is that his celebrity partners have to learn latin dancing from him and then dance together in front of a live audience and millions of TV viewers followed by a scathing critique by judges and then public voting. What could go wrong?

He is so bad that he took his parner to last year's final.

The producers took him on knowing where his skills and weaknesses lie. He has been kept on throughout the show's entire 14-year run. Outside of this forum, he is far and away one of THE most popular pros. 13/14 (92%) of his celebrity partners have not had a single bad word to say about him and he is the only pro whom a celebrity has insisted on being paired with before agreeing to take part in the show.

Perhaps try thinking about what he is doing right rather than what could go wrong...

"But what's the big deal if he doesn't dance latin? He a ballroom dancer and has stated before that he detests latin dancing so why should he bother trying to learn a dance style that he doesn't like?"

He should bother because it is part of his job to teach Latin dances to his celeb pro, if you accept a job you do the job, just because you don`t like part of it doesn`t mean you don`t give it your all. If he detests latin and can`t do it then he isn`t the man for the job.

BIB: For the fact that he was accepted for the job he applied for (or perhaps he was even headhunted for for his BALLROOM expertise), I think the producers may have a little difference of opinion with you here...and, as tough as it may seem, its their opinion which 1) counts and 2) we have no control over.

I'm sure there are a million latin experts the producers could go out and choose from for the show...and they'd probably be a damn sight cheaper than Anton. Try asking why they haven't done so...

Here, Here brilliant post I'm an Anton fan so of course I'm going to agree with you

Hey, hold on. Anton may well dislike dancing latin but he has learnt it. He knows the steps, technique and what he should be teaching. He is just not that good at it himself when compared to the other pros. It would be very unusual for any ballroom dancer not to have learnt latin and vice versa, but many specialise in the style they are good at. People assume that this is a willful disregard for the dance style on Anton's part, and that he could just improve with practice, practice, practice, rather just accepting the fact that he just isn't suited to that style. The BBC knew his skillset when they took him on.

I can't say I'm a "fan" as such but I find Anton totally harmless and do not understand all the stick he gets here - and it DOES seem to be just here. He is there to fufill a purpose which the other male pros would be horrified to do year in year out. He does it admirably with good grace and humour.

So, for that, let's take him out the back and have him hung, drawn and quartered. (rolls eyes)...


Who exactly says he should be teaching it...clearly not the producers?


This all day long...

Partly agree, however from the 1st series to now things have changed a lot on the show and so have the roles of the dancers, and Anton has a valid role in SCD, which is why he would never lose his job no matter how crap his latin is , he has a legion of fans and appeals to the older viewer who like consistency and love Anton`s ballroom, and if the Beeb dropped him then I imagine there would be a cry of agism (remember Arlene being dropped) his other role is to partner the older ladies (not duffers as last year proves that not all older ladies cannot dance), and he is really good at this , however your post stated "But what's the big deal if he doesn't dance latin? He a ballroom dancer and has stated before that he detests latin dancing so why should he bother trying to learn a dance style that he doesn't like?" and this point is where I think he should pull his socks up, he has a duty to his celeb partner to give them his all, and as Latin is part of the show then he needs to put the effort in with Latin, after 14 years you would think he may have made more of an effort.
I am not an Anton hater, admittedly he isn`t my favourite pro, never has been but I certainly don`t dislike him as he is Mr SCD in a way, along with Bredon who have been there from the start, I just feel that maybe his latin could be improved to aide his partner.

Deleted

First of all it wasn't my post.

Secondly, you are right in that things have changed a lot since the first series and looking back, I don't think Anton was actually initially bought in as the resident 'court jester'. I think that angle began with Jan Ravens in Series 4, gained momentum with Kate Garraway in Series 5 and led to "Anton's Duffer Duty" becoming a regular fixture on the show. This is "the valid role" you refer to above. Wherever he lacks on the competitive side of things, he makes up for in entertainment...and, as we are constantly reminded, this is an ENTERTAINMENT show first and foremost. So, whether he can dance latin or not plays a distinct second-fiddle to the "entertainment" he brings to the proceedings.

The 'legion of fans' he has gained along the way obviously forgive the fact that he can't dance latin very well and laud him for what he does do well - ie entertain.

As for ageism, they could easily drop him and get another older pro who can dance latin competently so I don't think you really have a point there.

Duty-wise, he also needs to give his partners the most enjoyable experience that he can - and, by the vast majority of accounts, he does this in spades.

It was the producers made Latin a part of the show - the SAME producers also keep employing Anton...what gives? They are clearly happy with something he is doing...

Hope you don't mind me saying this jiroos but I think I'm in love with you.


Great posts btw.

BIB exactly ive met him and he's a real gentleman I think Annastaisia should've got him& Lesley get Kevin

Agreed your post wasn`t a direct question, but your post did include a question that I replied to.


I do agree that Anton`s dance with the duffer started in series 4 / 5, this was a time when though SCD was a lot more "wholesome" shall we say , before Ola and her catsuits and male dancers flaunting 6 packs at any given time to IMO encourage votes , and yes it is an entertainment show and he gives that , and he doesn`t have to be super competitive but IMO SCD is both a competition and an entertainment show and he is scored on both ballroom and latin - the scores are the competition side of it and so he should strive for good scores and entertainment not just entertainment.

Yes, agreed the producers can bring in another older male celeb, but what are the chances? when they dropped Arlene they could have brought in an older female judge, but they didn`t , I think (if the rumours are true) and Anton gets Lens place next year then we will see, however haven`t all dancers signed a 2 year contract this year ?

I have never doubted he gives his partners an enjoyable experience (well except maybe Laila Rousas if reports in the gutter press were to be believed at the time, however they did manage 4th) but sometimes I feel he doesn`t push them and get the best out of them in latin as he struggles with it - however last year you have to credit him for asking for help, didn`t he get Gleb to assist with some latin and then he assisted Gleb with some ballroom technique

Only the Anton haters give a ? about Anton`s lack of latin, the majority of us accept his weaknesses but for me it is frustration

I genuinely don't understand this comment. He does teach latin on the show as he has to teach, choreograph and dance it with his partner practically every other week. My intention was to defend Anton and his inclusion in the show, not to have a go at him.

Mind??!!

Not at all... I am really rather flattered Diamond! Thank you very much!

See, there;s ANOTHER string to Anton's bow - blind dates!!!

LOL xx

Ar you saying (in a roundabout way) that you want Anton to start flashing his 6 pack to boost his latin scores???:

Yes the show may have been "more wholesome" as you say but we have still have duffers up till today and someone has to dance with them.

The likes of Brendan, Kevin, Aljaz and Gio are there to fight for the best scores and, knowing he is not the best overall pro, why should Anton get too involved in that scrapfest? Above all, his partners know the score with him (excuse the pun) from the very beginning so its not as though a great and entertaining experience without necessarily the best scores comes as any surprise to them.


Well, its either they learn something from the Arlene experience in order to avoid cries of 'ageism' or they accept them wholeheartedly...


That was my point about 13/14 (92%) of his partners...

I'm not getting involved in the discussion about his skills but I'm sorry Diamond Doll, I will object to that. We can't really say that he solely took Katie to the final because this is to take away the credit for her popularity. She was really liked last year, even by the people who dislike Anton. I've never read anything negative about her anywhere at all. Actually, she was one of my favourite contestants ever, and I'm not an Anton fan by any means.

Oooo noooooooo ! please god no! I find the over sharing of 6 packs a tad extreme some weeks , we really do not need to add to this!

Maybe not but that is in her personal life.

In the Strictly world, Katie was far from popular at the start and was largely written off as either a duffer, a nobody or the wooden spoon who was invited on when they couldn't secure Fiona Bruce. Yes she surprised everybody but you cannot give her credit for that alone.. Anton helped to change the perception of her and successfully showcased and built on a the skill she already had, producing some very memorable routines, namely their Viennese Waltz, Tango and their Showdance.

Its funny how both Jay & Katie were relative nobodies (Jay more so) when their series started but both ended up reaching the final. Aliona gets lauded for her coaching of a ringer, while Anton gets derided on his poor latin, how he did Katie a disservice in their Foxtrot and so on.

Different strokes an' all dat...

That's where you go wrong. I didn't mean negative things about her personal life, I meant during her Strictly time. She was very liked pretty much by everyone and even the people who liked her recognized her mistakes could be improved by Anton, only they weren't.

And I'm afraid it's really insulting to call her a "nobody". She had been presenting the Proms for a very long time, but if you've never watched any Prom (really popular concerts, btw) you wouldn't know her. She was already a popular presenter way before Strictly. You call her a nobody because you probably never watched anything she presented. Better than saying she's a nobody, you could admit "Well, I've never watched anything she did". You can't generalize perceptions based on your own.

It was really irritating last year when that BS "Year of the Anton" started and he was loving it and living to it instead of being humble and acknowledging that it wasn't really about him but about his celebrity partner. But he obviously wouldn't do that.

Object away. I don't mind.

I really don't think her popularity took her to the final and if it was due to Anton's popularity.........well he would be in the final every year, wouldn't he?

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I had never heard of Katie and found her lovely. I dispute though she reached the final for being lovely.

Imho Katie and Anton reached the final because they danced together beautifully and both put in the rehearsal hours so, in conclusion, I stand by my earlier statement that Anton took his partner to the final.

No, I understand. What I meant is (and perhaps I didn't explain myself properly) is that it's exactly like what you just said, it's a joint effort, celeb and pro. But last year it was annoying that a lot of people were saying that she only reached the final because of him, and that's not true, it's a joint effort.