This is why I can see Claudia is starting to relax and export her enjoyment. That point were someone stops worrying about getting it right and goes with the moment. Louise did manage this for the Paso when she accidentally smiled, it was a small chink in her veneer.

I never voted for Harry or Louis for this reason.

Oh goodness, this .... yes!
Louise shows the tension on her face when she dances. Not always but quite often. Saturday night was one of those times. We've rarely seen her lose herself in the dance so often her dances are boring and too placed. I can't get excited about her performances ... not so far anyway.

Yes. Yes. Yes. EXACTLY !!! I totally agree with this post.

This definitely. Louise is also putting her head down too much and spotting (I think that's right) which does not show great confidence in what she is doing and that does surprise me.

At the start of SCD Louise was on my list for potential favourite but very quickly got replaced by another as she just came across as unforgettable which is a shame as her VT's show us a very nice person.

THIS!


And THIS!

This is why I've said elsewhere, I love and support Rob Rinder. His obvious joy for the whole thing draws me in. Anyone can smile and say they're happy, but that is just a wonderful thing to me. Its impossible really to analyse whether they mean it or not, and not worth discussing IMO.

Dance is utterly subjective, what people see reflects what they "expect" to see from a routine or a performance or a particular celebrity.

There's no right or wrong interpretation of what someone sees when a couple dances (the viewer being the someone).

I find Louise technically superb, her footwork is excellent, her top line up to her shoulders is usually good, she struggles with head placement and where she puts her eyeline. Kevin has created some brilliantly difficult routines(for a none Ballroom/Latin trained dancer) and she has performed them with skill.

Unfortunately, I also find her performance of said technical ability to be absolutely devoid of any emotional outward projection so she probably is absolutely loving the dancing but i - personally - ain't seeing it reflected on the dancefloor.

It's the same reason why absolutely admiring and respecting Natalie Gumede, she wasn't my favourite that year and I found the vast majority of her and Artem's routines to be like watching a technical demonstration not a "performance". There were a few exceptions when she simply let herself go - the Charleston, her Showdance, the VW - were all absolutely stunning both technically and emotionally liberating.

So you admit that she has shown enjoyment then, after saying several times previously on this thread that she hasn't?

One brief moment in an over-staged Paso does not prove a love of dance. All it shows is there is a "potential" in there to let go. One tiny slip out of 11 dances does not joy make!

You're obviously watching somebody different to me. She's shown much more than one brief moment. And the words "one tiny slip" suggest that she's never intended to show enjoyment at all on the show, which with all due respect, sounds ridiculous.

If it were just me making this claim then you might have a point. However, it appears others agree that there is a lack of joy coming through the TV when Louise dances. Everything needs to be just so, where I and others would like her to share her joy, not keep it inside.

PS She has yet to win my vote and over the series I voted at one time or another for everyone except Melvin, Will & Louise.

Yes

But it isn't something she can just turn on. When I started competing I used to perform well below my practice level and I only had a few hundred people watching me dance along with 10 or so other couples in the same heat, not millions watching me dance with just my partner. My brain would go blank and I'd go on auto pilot. Some other people however would perform much better than in practice. I even tried hypnotism to get over the problem. However ultimately the only way you get over the problem is by doing it again and again so that you become less self conscious, but obviously Louise doesn't have that luxury on Strictly.

Whilst I appreciate that people may prefer to vote for Danny rather than for Louise, I think some people are being unfair in assuming that Louise is making a choice here and intentionally concentrating on technique at the expense of performance. She probably would love to be able convey that enjoyment.

I must admit I like watching Louise dance, the emotion is there for me,

whereas Danny and Oti seem to be two accomplished dancers showcasing themselves not acting as a couple

just my opinion

I like Louise, she comes across as a nice woman but I don't want her to win

A. because of Kevin - he's bad now but would be completely unbearable if he ever won
B. her dancing doesn't excite me the same way Claudia and Danny dancing does

is Kevin a viable reason for not voting for Louise, it's bizarre

BiB It often feels like that.

It's not bizarre it's quite normal. It's not unheard of to vote for the celeb even when you dislike the pro but it's far more likely that you'll be put off. A great partnership is key and most of us don't want to vote for a partnership if we dislike the pro. It's different if you're only a bit ambivalent ... there are some celebs that can make you warm to the pro (and some that can make you go off of them) but it's important I think to like both ... if you're going to go to the effort of voting.
I could never, ever, have voted for anyone partnered by James Jordan for instance ... luckily I never felt the slightest inclination to but I wouldn't have anyway. My fingers wouldn't do it.
With Kevin it's even more difficult in a way as he definitely has his own choreographic style and that comes through loud and clear in his routines. If you're someone who likes his style then all well and good .. if you're somewhat irritated by all the tweeness etc though then you're not going to feel inclined to vote for his celeb.

I agree

'Liking' the pro in the partnership plays a significant part in many folk's judgment

I loved Aliona and Jay last year, so loving their partnership was easy

This year I love Oti and Danny, so loving their partnership is natural as well

A clear example, for me personally, is that I'm not overly fond of Brendan and that reflected in my not particularly liking Anastasia's dances with him. Yet when she was partnered with Gorka, I really enjoyed her performance

It's just how it is

Agree entirely. Aliona and Jay ... fab!! My favourite couple EVER also Danny and Oti ... tons of chemistry and loads of fun. I'm not much of a fan of Brendan either or his overwrought routines (he showboats something chronic) and Anastasia was far better dancing with Gorka and came across better too.
A great partnership makes the difference between quite looking forward to seeing a couple dance (but forgetting about them immediately afterwards) and slavishly watching their routines on YouTube, going without sleep when you've seen the training/heard the music, seriously wibbling on a Saturday afternoon, pushing the redial button and going without at Christmas because you so want them to win!
I doubt I could ever get that involved or interested if I didn't already like, or in any case not dislike, the pro.

Very good points; great posts