Oh, I always thought that you were a professional because of your posts. Thanks for clarifying.

Professional only means that you earn a living from it - I could if I chose to - it does not necessarily mean you know more or can dance better.

Just had a look at the routine Ellie, and it is just the usual variations that we would dance in QS ( actually not danced too well, bit scrappy) competitively. Its not difficult to dance any of these groups but they were out of synchronisation a lot of the time, hence the messy look.
Actually the routine that AJ and Claudia danced was of a far higher degree of difficulty and was danced much much better.

Yes, I'd agree with that. Danny and Oti were the best throughout the series, but didn't quite nail it in the final. There are probably several million new viewers for the the final and they will have voted for what they saw on the night. Then there are followers like myself, I was expecting to vote for Danny but had to admit that Ore was far better on the night. Tough to fall at the last hurdle, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Often it all depends on how they handle the pressure, or not as the case may be. Ore was also lucky having had Jo as her teacher, an extremely experienced former competitor and world champion, who knows how to handle pressure and use everything to your advantage. Jo would have also advised Ore as to how to deal with it.
When they were in one of the Dance Offs, the judges were giving the usual useless advice....come out and give it everything......some welly etc...when in reality, that is the worst that you can do. In competition, you should only dance as you would in a good practice or lesson, ie not to try...as odd as that sounds. This what I have always been taught. In the DO situation I mentioned, I clearly heard Jo talking to Ore saying " just do what you did before, no more, no less". Great advice and the best advice.

Gosh! I wish we had someone like you on the judging panel instead of some of the rubbish the current crop come out with. I really do hope the new judge has the same background as Len.

To be fair amateur competitions are ridiculously high standard. I doubt many could tell the difference between top amateurs and pros and even then to my eyes it's almost more of a stylistic or attitude difference between amateur and pro in some cases. Troels and Ina for example were successful pretty much immediately after turning pro were they not?

This is why I would describe ballroom dance as a hobby for me, rather than saying I am an amateur ballroom dancer. Means the same thing to someone who isn't into competitive dance but a world away from the meaning in dance terms.

Thanks for looking at the QS Jennifer. I noticed it more in the final than the previous time. I think Danny's nerves impacted him a lot, sadly. Good job he did to pull it back for the next two dances.

Thank youjust come from the same sort of background as Jo. That's the difference. I really hope that the producers have taken advice from someone that knows, and lined up a knowledgeable judge - fingers crossed. I would like to see one of the others replaced, so at ;east there are a couple of ballroom/latin people on the panel.

She's become my favourite strictly pro ever. Utterly phenomenal.

As the underdog, I don't think Ore felt the pressure. As the favourite, I think Danny knew he had everything to lose and going last wouldn't have helped. But Oti has established herself as a great pro, had a lovely time with Danny and I expect is feeling pretty happy.

Oti is wonderful but, in fairness, so are some others.

She must be chuffed to have got into the final but she was fortunate to have such a natural as Danny for a partner.

I doubt Oti is disappointed, she is a very experienced professional dancer.

I feel sorry for her, she had the best dancer in the final and came up with the best choreography in the remaining pros therefore matching their celebs potential but still didn't win, hope she gets a contender next year and can win with them

So we're pretty well guaranteed an unbiassed opinion from you, then.

I don't suppose Oti feels hard done by. She reached the final which is better than not reaching the final. She will have plenty of opportunities to win.

Completely agree. Claudia's QS was far superior.

In fact, I'm not impressed with much of Danny's ballroom.

my faith has been restored!!!!

at last some proper critiques of Danny and Oti's dancing

I looked at their Ballroom and it just didn't look right sometimes but nobody mentioned it on the programme or on ITT

now I know it wasn't just me

thank you Ladies