We've no ideas. It may be AJ's idea, or the producer's. I think possibly the latter.

AJ would have to be really dim not to be aware that the huge difference in their height and therefore length of stride presents a problem when moving at pace around a dance floor. Because it's happened at least twice.
A while back the judges said her Charleston was too quick for her. Can't believe he took no notice.

But as I've mentioned before, I think this show is "micro managed" by the producer and whilst it's getting such high ratings, no one is going to say "boo!" to her..

She very often wears trainers on the videos on ITT so I wonder if heels are only worn on the night.

What was the one mistake she made?

I think it was too fast for her. Her costume didn't suit her and made her look stubby and the lifts were sticky again. But she's a good dancer and works hard so next weeks might suit her better.

I think she and AJ don't have the maturity to know what suits different people and push for it.

I really didn't like that jive at all, felt it was her weakest dance, can't understand what the judges saw in it to score it so high ,enjoyed Greg and Natalies dance much more. I've watched it back several times in case I was being to critical but no it's a terrible jive,really stompy and awkward looking. Feel Greg and Natalie should havebeen saved.

It must be difficult to compare a jive with a ballroom, they are as different as chalk and cheese. The judges obviously felt that Claudia's was more difficult in content. I do wish, however, that AJ would calm down with his choreography. Shes only got little legs and being short myself, I know you cant cover so much ground as someone with longer legs.

I'm really sad to see Greg go. The dance off with those two in was the worst case scenario for me.

Another problem with backing dancers is they only get very limited time to practice with them, and Claudia had loads of parts that incorporated the backing dancers. So for most of the week she'd been practicing only half the routine, no wonder she couldn't nail the choreography.

I hope next week, for once, she gets some proper grown up music.

I expect she spend most of the time trying to avoid bumping into them.

I think a lot of things worked against Claudia this weekend. Music (decent song but much too fast again), choreography (AJ needs to choreograph to showcase what she can do, not emphasise what she can't), costume (horrid chunky frock), heels (far too high), backing dancers (too much involved).

I also think what kept her in was the Beeb not wanting Louise to be the only female left with 4 weeks to go. I hope she gets a better deal next week.

Better song choice and dance outfit for starters.

That's exactly what I said to my OH. Those heels were too high for her to do a jive and it showed. She wasn't the best tonight in my opinion but, hey ho, the judges/producers know what they're doing.

If I was AJ I'd have had her in flat sporty shoes (and this is coming from a real stickler for "latin shoes for latin dances") and had her do a bunch of cheerleader style tumbling to open or close the routine. This one time he could have really gone all out on her gymnastic ability and not get criticised for it (due to the song, theme and it being blackpool)

The outfit she had at the opening of the results show was excellent

It was dreadful. The choreography was such a mess. It's a pity because I really thought the jive would be her dance being so tiny, bouncy and agile. I hope she's back on form next week.

It also has to be remembered, she's back in her "day job," she's started training for the the first event of the 2017 calendar. The British Gymnastics Championships in March.
This must cut down on the time she can spend dance practicing and her energy levels.

I thought her whole outfit was very unflattering. It's a pity she couldn't have worn for a traditional jive dress and pumps.

I thought her outfit was AWFUL and very unflattering - I'd have expected to see her in the type of cheerleader outfit that Ola wore for her jive with Steve Backshall. Or ar the very least, as has been said already in this thread, some kind flat soft shoes like trainers. High heels in that setting/with that outfit just looked silly.

This is my question as well. I read a lot on this forum about who decides on the music, producers/dancers etc. But who would ever take the decision to perform this song at the higher speed and why.? Not the band I'm sure.

This was my first thought as soon as she teetered on to the floor.

Her lack of height has always been a problem IMO and very short dresses do nothing for her at all. Her legs are very short and musclely. Ideal for a gymnast but not for displaying in a micro mini.

I'm still not sure about AJ's choreography or him for that matter. He's seems to go for very, very fast routines which may suit him but are not fair on Claudia and it shows (remember her high speed Samba?) I would have thought he would have learned from that experience.

As a newbie and a youngster at that, I wonder how much power his voice has with TPTB?

Couldn't agree more - Why on earth was she made to wear a silly pair of stilettos? They looked awful and spoiled the overall look of the dance. She would have looked and danced much better in a pair of sneakers!

On the contrary, I don't understand why everyone thought it would be a corker - I never got that feeling.


BIB Huh??? Aside from the Charleston, which usual show stoppers???

If Claudia's dances are truly "show-stoppers" what are Danny & Oti's???

She clearly IS one of your favourites if you can talk her up so highly...


I must say I LOVED his jive choreography. which was lost on me on first viewing. But on viewing it again in the dance-off, it was truly amazing - one of the best-choreographed of the series for me. I think this was what Craig was picking up on with his "could have been a 10" comment.

Danced by a better dancer, it certainly deserved it.

The band do exactly what they are told...By the producer.

Strictly is a "dream come true," for AJ, far more experienced dancers, present (and past) could have been selected instead of him.

He'll do exactly what he's told.

He's there to attract some younger viewers to the show who might be watching X-Factor, however few that may be.

Louise Rainbow the Executive Producer has been successful in getting the ratings of Strictly up, by throwing everything but the kitchen sink in the way of "hype" at the show, so there's little further in that respect she can go. I have suggested adding pets next year to turn it into a "proper dog and pony show," She settled for donkey's this year.

AJ will return in future years with a succession of teenage partners, all dancing at a manic rate.

The jive is one of my favourite dances, I do like Claudia but imo that was not one of her best dances....

I think she was overmarked, her kicks and flicks were poor needing more height and I found a lack of Jive content from her