Judy Murray has been known to judge a dance competition too

It seems he has forgotten his stint on 'Let's Dance for Comic Relief'.

You have to laugh.

‘I used to dance when I was younger and used to go to dance school to do hip-hop and street dance which is massively different to ballroom.

‘I used to freestyle too so the more precise and technical dancing is going to be quite difficult.’

but I suppose if it's dancing as an extracurricular activity as a child (?) it's not quite on the same level as studying it formally in your teens.

BIB: Wicked has no dancing in it? That's unusual, most West End musicals have a fair few chorus numbers in them

I think this subject came up on another thread a couple of weeks ago, and posters who had been to see Wicked said that the understudy role would still have had to take part in ensemble dances, of which there were quite a few. Sure, it's not ballroom and latin dancing, but I can't see how anyone can deny that four years on the West End stage haven't given Danny a huge advantage.

I think my votes will be going to Claudia now, in an effort to get at least one genuine non-ringer into the final

If Claudia does go next week, I really don't think that I will bother with the final.

Ah yes, much like our own beloved judges, 3 of which have no relevant experience - and none being able to make an entrance without looking bizarrely awkward.

I would prefer both Ore and Claudia in the final. They have made more progress as dancers then the other two. Don't think its going to happen sadly.

She has said in an interview she was a trained dancer & that's initially what she was interested in doing, so I don't know if she was bigging it up then because she was going to be a dance show judge, or it's being understated now (not by her just viewers)

But half of those left in are 'beginners' so it's not as if Strictly is dominated by supposed ringers, even now.

Yes, this would be ideal. Journey stories of 2 non-dancers who become good dancers rather than the 2 professionally trained stage school ringers who were near enough perfect from the start.

I've just watched that on YouTube.
I think the training for that consisted of three bottles of WKD and Red Bull chaser

Great post!

2013 first week leaderboard.
Abbey - top.
Sophie and Susannah - equal third.

I haven't voted yet but I might just throw quite a few votes in Claudia's direction next week.

And I assume if any of them took up a celeb spot in a Learn to Dance show, it would be commented on?

There is a very easy way to make this fairer and that is to have two sets of scores. 1 for technical and then 1 for artistic. This way, the amateur celeb dancers could gain from their artistic interpretation.

Never happen though, so the answer to the OP is a resounding NO.

Of course it would, but people would equally be entitled to comment that dancing in some music videos in the 80s does not a world-class dancer make.

ETA - heck, Anastacia began her career as a dancer, and look where that got her in a dance competition

Well I certainly won't be.

I'm still Standing is a work of art, darling

What are you implying? Do you have information to the contrary?

So what does not mean they had any previous training. Pretty sure Austin Healy did not and he got a 9 in his first week.

Just to clarify I dont want a series full of rubbish Ann Widdecombe types, but I do like to see people learning a new skill from scratch.

Some comments I simply have no response to

Yes, same here. It's hard to be enthusiastic about someone like Danny who started off looking like a professional dancer, and has maintained the same standard. Where's the fun in that?

[quote=yellowlabbie;84792781]Well I certainly won't be.[/QUOTE

Its a shame isn't it. I have watched every final since series one and, even if my favourite didn't win, I enjoyed the excitement of it. This year I really couldn't care less who wins out of Ore, Louise or Danny. At least if Claudia is there I can support her.