I think I get what you are saying with several of his dances, but even though I know nothing about dance, I thought his AS in the semi final looked controlled and graceful, plus of course brilliant choreography from Oti. Ore seems to have received all the Gene Kelly comparisons, but Danny reminded me very much of Gene in that routine.
My dance of the series.

I agree with every word. I haven't as yet watched the Final but I taped it so I'll get on to it asap. However, judging by what I have watched over the weeks, Oti was outstanding and IMO really deserved to win, as did Danny. But the GBP has chosen their popular hero (even though some of his dances were crap, that AT, excuse me?)
Oti (and AJ for that matter) must now be asking themselves what is the point of insisting on dancing quality, footwork and really innovative routines. Oti said she wanted to bring something new and exciting to the table and did just that. I am quite literally stunned they didn't win. I have no idea what the public saw in Ore (his cry baby thing got on my nerves, really).

My post was really more about the fact that Danny has been held up by many as a professional and would not vote for him on that basis as he had no journey , but some experts are saying that he does not have these skills.

Also I'm surprised by your comment about Jo teaching Ore-I'm sure that's true but has Oti not also been taught from a young age?

Lastly in terms of technical issues more generally- if they were to show ballroom/Latin competitions prime time on Saturdays I'm pretty confident they would not get the viewing figures and press that Strictly gets. There is a reason for this.
Sometimes more is more.

Possibly not in this case, as he was already a dancer, a good one at that. Just takes time unlearning habits or learning new and correct ones.!!
Slightly easier if you have never done anything like it before. Danny has a fabulous natural talent though and with more time spent on him, he could have developed into a very good ballroom/latin dancer indeed. I mean from a technical point of view, he already has the performance factor in bucket loads.

I'm sure Oti will be fine.

There's nothing to say she won't get a good partner again.

At the end of the day she made it to the final clearly had a fantastic time with Danny where they made some incredible achievements and broke Strictly records. I'm sure she doesn't have much to complain about.

I agree with your second paragraph.

Even if Oti is disappointed, I think that she will get over it very quickly.

Although I am not an expert, I have seen all of this myself and am really glad to see it put so well.


Yes, but he was able to appeal, and hide his not always great technique, BECAUSE of his stage dance experience, not that I really care.

Oti, in my view, took advantage of this, which is sensible and then made routines that showed Danny off, but I really think it was 'over fierce', 'over done' and 'chuck the kitchen sink in'.

It was her decision to go with what Danny had and not concentrate on refining his tech. And it nearly paid off.

Yep, a lot of people thought it was great. I didn't and many, by the end, I think, could see that Ore was actually a better ballroom and latin dancer than Danny.

More and more and more, not that brilliantly done, ends up looking frantic and messy. And I thought the showdance was an example of this last night.

Joanne, Katya, Natalie, Oksana all did a cracking job as well. I don't think it's fair to single one out - I thought all the female pros (that made it past week 3) were absolutely amazing this year. Looking forward to next year - let's hope the boys can up their game 😉

Oti is a latin dancer, I'm sure she learned some ballroom years ago, but she is known on the circuit as a latin dancer. Her ballroom is not so good. Jo on the other hand has danced both ballroom and latin at International level, up until Youth category, when she then favoured ballroom.

If "more is more" = overdancing, then no thank you. Everything has to be controlled, this is something that you learn very early on. Every action you see the pro's dance is very controlled, they have spent years perfecting this. Nothing wild is acceptable.

I fully agree Rhumba, thank you for this.

I very much agree, particularly Katya. I have a feeling in years to come it will be Ed Balls that is remembered from this series due to her amazing choreography.

I think Oti did very well to choreograph to his strengths and his dances always were quite an impressive spectacle. The one I will remember was the contemporary style VW (the one to INXS). I'd normally hate something like that and prefer a more classic style but I loved the emotion he portrayed. I always thought he was one of the best contestants at creating a mood and telling a story in ballroom even though his technique was not perfect.

She has brought some incredible dances and made history with that Samba.

Based on the series, she and Danny have won but based on the final... they lost.

Even if Danny had danced superbly yesterday I still think they wouldn't of won even though I loved his dances yesterday and also think the public didn't votefor him because being a ringer.

The public decided to vote on based on who they thought was the best on the night and the fact Ore went on a journey

I don't know since I am not experienced enough to tell, but I felt like Oti was doing some slightly funky things during the QS as well as Danny? Just a case of them not moving as a unit so they both look a bit wrong, or was her technique a bit off? I felt she looked a bit.. strained? I wonder if Danny was actually a bit stiff and nervous and it impacted her.

edit: Not knocking her at all DOTI fans btw. She's definitely a great dancer and an asset to the show. Literally just a case of a hobby ballroom dancer asking a professional a question.

Thanks once again. So with a different pro, say Jo, do you think he would have developed in a different way throughout the show? Maybe his actual technique would have improved more than it did?

I think Oti choreographed some great routines, but I think she miscalculated with the showdance.

I think sometimes less is more in that you don't have to throw in the kitchen sink to impress viewers. Neither does it have to be perfect technique. It has to strike a note with the viewers. I think Jo did that with Ore's showdance. If she had partnered Danny instead that showdance may have been even more impressive given Danny's performance capability.

Some very interesting and though provoking posts in the last page or so of this thread (and all done with respect) - thank you.

I have always felt that Danny is too tense / stiff in his frame, therefore making it very hard for the lady to move from position to position. Oti did a great job there. yes, it is obvious to me that she is a latin dancer, dancing ballroom, much in the same way as Katya. They don't have the years of experience behind them at top level.

With regards to the choreo, I'll have to go back to have a look as it looked quite normal QS choreo to me, but I stand to be corrected !

I could not possibly say, but I feel that he was better suited to Oti and her flamboyant style. I feel this was a very good match. I think if he had have been paired with Jo, we would have seen a "different" Danny, but overall I think he did so very well with Oti, just did not get enough votes.

She's wonderful and I hope she gets to lift that gitter ball.

In my experience authentic samba is the same as any dance form. Hours of getting the technique right in classrooms, getting the control and precision you mention then, again the same as many dance forms, using all of it in a cool, sexy way. Free is a very good way to describe it, but still keeping the technique. One of the sexiest things I have ever seen was in a samba club in Copenhagen where a six foot Brazialian woman just danced as if no one was watching. She was phenomanal. And I'm female!


Thank you


I loved many of his dances. I only mention the samba as it's what I know. His samba was not one of his best dances in my eyes for the reasons you have stated. There was no subtlety. But I know this is because I see it from a different viewpoint. He was a great contesant though.

Thanks. I wonder if he ever had enough votes to be honest; the semi final dance off suggests not.

Glad to hear this written by a professional as it's how I have felt about Danny's dancing throughout the show. Bash and Dash as someone else put it very well and very little lyrical quality. Not sure if this is Oti's style or if this is how she felt Danny was at his best. Ore on the other hand is just a natural mover and Jo did an excellent job with him.

I liked that VW very much too, but felt there was too much of the same theming later on. A lot of Angst, fighting, and aggression, and not enough romance, joy, flirting, love. I think you need to show these emotions in order to win over the strictly audience. Especially Danni, who came across as a bit harsh and a blokey bloke.
I was always impressed by Dannis dances, but rarely swept away and transported to a different (better) place. And that's what many of us watch strictly for - just a bit of escapism.
I thought both Dannis final dances were stuffed full of content, but lacking in atmosphere. The show dance had plenty of atmosphere, but was too overwrought for my taste.

Thank you, but I have to be quick to point out that I am not a professional just a very experienced ex competitor, an Amateur.