AJ seems to be getting a lot of flack for someone who hasn't even been in the B2 yet this series...unlike Brendan (twice), Anton, Pasha, Alijaz, Giovanni and Gorka.

I spread my votes around mostly where I think they're merited and I've voted for him and Cloudier twice.

I had a feeling when I saw the thread title it would be another one having a pop at AJ. If you're not a fan fine, but some people seem to think their opinion translates to the overall consensus. Plenty of people (if not most from what I've seen) think AJ is doing great.


Agree with everything above.


I take it by "the criticism" you're referring to comments made here on the DS forum. There's been no huge public outcry for the BBC to sack AJ for being unpopular with a few armchair critics as far as I'm aware. I hardly think AJ gives two hoots.

I'm killing myself here.

I make a "throw away joke," and you're bangin' on about "no public outcry."

It's a telly programme.

Doh!

The best dance that Claudia and AJ did - the Charleston - was choreographed by Matt Flint!

And?

Tameka's best dance was also the Charleston...choreographed by Jenny Thomas. Are we also saying Gorka can't choreograph?

Fantastic post, VM!

All the pros are pro dancers .

Choreography is a specialized skill as is teaching . Just because you're a top dancer doesn't mean you're going to be a good choreographer or teacher . Also it helps if you click with your teacher . Remember the mis-match of Karen Hardy and Gary Rhodes .

I remember all the threads complaining about Aliona's choreography for quite a few years when she first started and this was despite being a runner up with Matt Baker. She then went on to win, not once, but twice and people still complained about her choreography.

its unfair their jepodising their celebs chances

add cornstarch, that thickens everything

Even seasoned pro's can cause their partner to lose the race......... Erin and Colin Jackson and that stupid Dummy dance for example.

I'll get shouted down for this but here goes...

Apart from the rediculas speed of AJ's dance last week and the comments by Len regarding the speed and amount of steps he put in the dance (which AJ took no notice of), my problem is there's something a bit X Factor about AJ and desperate by the EP in targeting that market.

His dances are a showcase for himself and not his celeb partner.
And as for the comments about him constantly looking at his reflection!!

I've already mentioned this, in my opinion "The Rainbow Worrier," (Louise Rainbow, the executive producer), is obviously concerned that the Strictly audience will be aging after over a decade of series.
Some of those who watched the early series being ballroom dancers themselves may have since passed away. To increase the ratings and appeal to a younger audience, all sorts of nonsense has been brought in, to compete with the X-Factor.

Significantly, this year, the "hype" is not much different from last year, so they must be running out of ideas, possibly removing what dancing remains, to introduce more rubbish "add ons" would be a step too far.
So this year's initiative is to attract the teen audiences, those that aren't out on a Saturday night and stay in to watch X-Factor.

AJ is the bait. He'll be considered a "keeper."

Expect to see him again next year, partnering another diminutive teenager, from the world of pop music or sports.

"I'm reliably informed," that she originally wanted a member of "Little Mix," until someone pointed out that they were probably a bit too old.

Fortunately for us, we got the delightful Claudia.

kevin though had a good partner with who was an extavert. Joanne had a rubbish partner who was shy or self conscious. Big different how well they are going to be able to dance to music that doesn't suit the dance.

There was a very interesting article I think Monkseal linked to on twitter - sorry I can't find the link and might be getting mixed up where I saw it - where one of the producers was talking about how they persuaded the BBC to do the first series. And in that article they specifically said that they made a storyline in series one about no illegal lifts and then he said 'we [the producers] had' Brendon do a huge Dirty Dancing lift in the finale. Implying pretty straight-forwardly that they told Brendan not only the music he had to do but the choreography he had to include to fit the storyline. (I didn't see series one so I don't know how important that was as a moment.) It's left me even more unconvinced about how much is staged. The pros have to please the producers not their partners, especially the new pros who could easily be dropped, and if that means doing something that won't work, i think all of them make the best of it if that's what they've been asked to do. There maybe some celebs who set rules out for what they won't do or who they won't partner when they are negotiating their contract, but I don't think any of the pros can refuse to do the producers' storylines if they want to stay. So I feel very dodgy about judging any of them or their choreography.

Take Ore - first two dances prop heavy and unsuitable music and he's not looking promising (despite dancing what he was asked to dance pretty well). Good music and simpler stylings and ta-da! suddenly he's improved as a dancer and a favourite. Did Jo decide to make Ore's first two dances prop heavy and not so good or was that the producers' choice? Louise is probably going to show 'improvement' in her performance levels tonight when she's going from a rumba to a charleston, set up by the judges comments. Who is driving that? - obviously I will look a twit for saying that if the judges all say she'd did a boring charleston! (I'm tired of the performance breakthrough charleston - makes me want someone to do a rumba with a huge grin, jazz hands and a comedy sound track - no, no, I didn't mean that, don't do that Greg.)

I think most of the choreography is simply the pro dancers best work with the celeb they have. I don't think everything that happens is scripted. But when something jumps out, particularly if it fits with judges comments, you can't know if it was the pro dancer's mistake/choice or if it was pushed by the producers, that's all.

(sorry that got a bit long!)

I've mentioned before how the BBC want their employees to do well in this show.

A simple answer could be that Naga was the BBC's first choice for "special attention," from the BBC's "spin machine," so when she got unexpectedly dumped out early, they transferred that attention to Ore.

I've got shoes older than him

No problem with old clothing, as long as it's not underwear.
I've a few Ben Sherman's that old. They don't make 'em as well as they used to.

The Dirty Dancing lift is crucial to the whole routine - wouldn't have been any point giving them that music to dance to and then leaving it out. It's a show-stopper when done properly.