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Why are the Salsa basic steps treated as an inconvenience to the dance on strictly?


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Old 08-11-2016, 12:32
bendymixer
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Same here. I loved it. Miss it so much. Agree that the UK one was not half as good.

USA breeds great dancers and choreographers. Dancers really graft over there. They work hard and they are truly focused.

love the USA version of the show - the UK one was badly done by the BBC imo

serious dancers graft no matter where they come from have many hard working dancers around the world plying their trade
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Old 08-11-2016, 13:11
Dervlathedog
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John Barnes and Nicole Cutler did the best salsa I've seen on Strictly - still show dancey but right feel and rough around the edges

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoHaSQWAs38
It looks so natural and fun. Big smiles from both right thro, and I love the Danger Man era cheesy music
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Old 08-11-2016, 13:28
kaycee
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love the USA version of the show - the UK one was badly done by the BBC imo

serious dancers graft no matter where they come from have many hard working dancers around the world plying their trade
Agree about serious dancers graft, but think the biggest difference between UK and USA is that in the latter dance is actually respected - all dance, that is - and competitive dance is correctly treated as the sport that it is.

In UK there is a respect for ballet, but everything else is just classed as a bit "of fun" never sport.
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Old 08-11-2016, 15:14
What name??
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As a total non-dancer, this is really interesting. Do you think it's because it's too difficult even for the celebs that have dance training, or would someone like Danny or Louise be able to learn a reasonable beginner routine with the sort of 'feel' you're talking about even if it wouldn't obviously be the real thing of a experienced dancer?
No. That's what so incomprehensible. I think Danny or Louise could pull of a good intermediate salsa. The salsa is pretty easy to learn compared to some other styles. But it's like they don't even try as they are all convinced that the actual dance is too simple / boring etc and the Strictly version is salsa when it's clearly not. It's weird especially when they can have 2 waltzes which have very simple steps but in which you can choreograph an interesting routine.
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Old 08-11-2016, 15:18
What name??
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Is it the Chinese Whispers effect? Some salsa expert (in this case Mr Oksana) choreographs x% of the dance and then the pro tweaks away at it so that a) they can make sense of it and then b) so that their celeb can do it.
Does it actually start off a respectable salsa and then just get diluted in the process of getting it to work in 4 days?
I think that the choreography for Ore's routine was full of content (although it included bits that were the usual disco add on that made sense with the theme). I think it was badly executed by both him and Jo and I think it's because she didn't know how to correct it. There were some glaring basic errors like taking huge steps and little natural hip action. That wasn't the fault of the choreography but of the teacher.

I hate that some of the newer pros are following Anton's example and not bothering to work on the dances they know less well so that they can do them justice. Maybe they should have a salsa expert not just deliver the choreography but actually train them (both) in it.
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Old 11-11-2016, 21:12
Sultrydiva
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I'm beginning to despair of ever seeing a decent set of basic steps danced on this show! All l want to see is the basic action particularly when l'm watching the professional. I was watching Ed and Katya in training and Ed was of course terrible but he made me smile. Katya on the other hand had me rolling my eyes as her basic hip action seemed worse and she was trying to correct his! Is there no one who can sort this out!
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Old 11-11-2016, 21:31
BeeBumble
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It's a shame we've not seen Janette do more Salsa's because she's an actual professional dancer unlike most of the other pros who are only traditional Ballroom and Latin dancers.
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Old 11-11-2016, 23:57
chachaclo
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There was a picture on Instagram of Janette, Aliajz & Giovanni at a salsa club. I think maybe Janette should take all the pros there for a crash course!
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Old 12-11-2016, 01:42
Paace
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The salsa on Strictly is actually a weird salsa/showdance hybrid. I've never seen any real salsa dancers doing 3 lifts in one and a half minutes!
Watching clips of this weeks training and the ridiculous obsession with lifts by Katya and Alijaz .
Instead of getting Ed to perfect the basic steps we have them fooling around and wasting time with lifts . Then you have Alijaz trying to lift Daisy and again looking ridiculous . Daisy is a tall girl and it looks so ungainly and unnecessary .

I mean these are novices trying to learn a routine in 4 days and they should be concentrating on perfecting the basic technique not lifts .
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Old 12-11-2016, 08:48
What name??
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From the training clips it doesn't look hopeful for this weeks entries either.
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Old 12-11-2016, 10:48
An Thropologist
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It looks so natural and fun. Big smiles from both right thro, and I love the Danger Man era cheesy music
Cheesy??? That's the sublime Tito Puente you are talking about.

Seriously though try listening to this. Notice the many layers in the music. Its like the difference in a cheap red wine with a single flavour note and a well crafted wine that is deep and rich with a basic flavour that is profound and linger and many new flavour hits popping up after the initial flavour has grabbed you. This is what IMO makes Latin music so great and indeed so danceable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2C5hx4sI0
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Old 12-11-2016, 12:04
Sultrydiva
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Watching clips of this weeks training and the ridiculous obsession with lifts by Katya and Alijaz .
Instead of getting Ed to perfect the basic steps we have them fooling around and wasting time with lifts . Then you have Alijaz trying to lift Daisy and again looking ridiculous . Daisy is a tall girl and it looks so ungainly and unnecessary .

I mean these are novices trying to learn a routine in 4 days and they should be concentrating on perfecting the basic technique not lifts .
Thank goodness it's not just me who thinks this - was starting to think l was missing the point of a salsa!

There was a picture on Instagram of Janette, Aliajz & Giovanni at a salsa club. I think maybe Janette should take all the pros there for a crash course!
Please, Please, Please somebody make this happen!
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Old 12-11-2016, 12:17
Sultrydiva
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Cheesy??? That's the sublime Tito Puente you are talking about.

Seriously though try listening to this. Notice the many layers in the music. Its like the difference in a cheap red wine with a single flavour note and a well crafted wine that is deep and rich with a basic flavour that is profound and linger and many new flavour hits popping up after the initial flavour has grabbed you. This is what IMO makes Latin music so great and indeed so danceable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2C5hx4sI0
So true! Love this woman's music.

This actually reminds me of the last time a reasonable salsa was danced on strictly. Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna danced to this and l thought it was actually one of her best Latin dances. However, l also remember Len not being to keen on it as it was too frenetic with too much armography. Even her basic was challenged. I only wish the pros basic today was as good as her basic was back then!
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Old 12-11-2016, 16:02
chachaclo
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So true! Love this woman's music.

This actually reminds me of the last time a reasonable salsa was danced on strictly. Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna danced to this and l thought it was actually one of her best Latin dances. However, l also remember Len not being to keen on it as it was too frenetic with too much armography. Even her basic was challenged. I only wish the pros basic today was as good as her basic was back then!
Lol frenetic and too much armography? In a salsa? Oh Len... salsa is frenetic and arm-y! If you've not ended up resembling some sort of confused spinning ocotpus at some point during the learning process have you really salsa-ed?
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Old 12-11-2016, 16:26
sofakat
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Cheesy??? That's the sublime Tito Puente you are talking about.

Seriously though try listening to this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm2C5hx4sI0
Wow! The Queen of Salsa and Tito! Fabulous. Makes me want to hit the floor.

Dynamite.
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Old 12-11-2016, 16:27
sofakat
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Lol frenetic and too much armography? In a salsa? Oh Len... salsa is frenetic and arm-y! If you've not ended up resembling some sort of confused spinning ocotpus at some point during the learning process have you really salsa-ed?
Exactly!

Bet they've never seen a Rueda in Cuba either. Fast? You bet your booty!
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Old 12-11-2016, 17:06
chachaclo
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Exactly!

Bet they've never seen a Rueda in Cuba either. Fast? You bet your booty!
Or got caught up in one when they don't know all the moves and just end up spinning from bloke to bloke ahem not that that's ever happened to me...😳
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Old 12-11-2016, 18:30
sofakat
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Or got caught up in one when they don't know all the moves and just end up spinning from bloke to bloke ahem not that that's ever happened to me...😳
Aarghhhh! That is scary, but exciting at the same time.

One of the things I loved about dancing in Cuba was that the men could really lead and were as strong as oxen, but as graceful as cats
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Old 12-11-2016, 20:13
CravenHaven
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please tell me Ed did authentic Salsa tonite. If it wasn't, it would break my heart
(ツ)
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Old 12-11-2016, 20:26
chachaclo
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Aarghhhh! That is scary, but exciting at the same time.

One of the things I loved about dancing in Cuba was that the men could really lead and were as strong as oxen, but as graceful as cats
Oh wow! Not so many very strong leads here in my experience, I try not to but sometimes you can't help back-leading 🙄
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