I'm no expert so all the professionals look brilliant to me, but I know there are some experts on the forum.
I'd be interested to know how the professionals rate on the show, are some better than others or are they all about equal?

I'm no expert either but I would say that Darren and Lillia are probably the best Latin professionals, Erin seems the best at ballroom dances to me, and Ian is an excellent all rounder, but that's just what I think, not what I know!

I am a professional dance instructor, and I would say that currently Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova are by far the best latin dancers, especially as a couple. I thought their rumba last Saturday night to West life was fabulous! They are currently the number one rated couple in the UK and currently World Professional Finalists and European Finalists. I think this is why they have been asked to demo the latin dances at the beginning of each show. Anton and Erin I would say are certainly the best Ballroom dancers.

agree re Darren and Lila but dont re Anton and Erin - non couple wise and looking at past performances (not current) Karen Hardy best female and matthew cutler best male latin wise going on what they have won but def darren and lilia best couple on current results

Sorry but dont rate Erin and Anton much at all I too am teacher and is just the way I see it

I don't rate Anton and Erin that highly either actually! Just don't rate any of the others better in ballroom to be honest! I believe Anton and Erin are the only ones who dance together professionally in the ballroom field, most of the others are, I think, latin specialists. Looks like we have similar views bendymixer! Have you seen Darren and Lilia live? Brilliant!

actually dont like admitting this but have seen darren and his brother dale around the scene for years (makes me feel old) my brother has danced against them all. Have soft spot for Karen seen her rise up through the field - a great professional. izabella remember watching and enjoying her husband dance from a child to adlult - oh dear I am old

I'm a total non-dancer and no nothing about the quality of the dancers but I think Karen really does routines that entertain and look good. Although Bill didn't keep up all the time on Saturday it just seemed to have so many different things going for it.

What do you "dancers" out there think?

Erin... by far. All the others are fabulous too, but I think Erin has that edge.

I'm not a dancer but I thought Lilia was brilliant last year. Her choreography was fun and great to watch and she looks great when she dances. She really transformed Aled.

I'm disappointed that we didn't get to see some of the new male dancers this year, being that Zorro and Matthew Cutler have been voted out.

And am I the only one who thinks Erin's Latin moves are uninspiring?

In my professional opinion, Karen is the best professional - her teaching and adapting to work with Bill is fantastic; evidence being how popular they are. I think with Karen if she was to have a different partner, you would see her dance differently too. I think she shows her true professional quality by working to her partner's ability and choreographing to that.

To watch as a professional couple dancing I prefer Darren & Lilia for Latin and Anton & Erin for Ballroom though I admire the standard of all of them.

And for the Professional-Amateur couple - I'm still going with Brendan & Natasha

yep agree with most of what you say Peach

I love Brendan and Natasha they were amazing

They were robbed last year in the Christmas Special. I think the judges were particularly mean.

I'm not a dancer either, but I agree with you. I think Erin and Anton come to that look uncomfortable doing the latin dances, whereas the latin dancers all seem to look fine doing the ballroom dances. I was watching her doing the jive with Martin Ofiah (sp?) from series one the other night and she looked very stiff imo.

I'm disappointed about Matthew and Zorro going so early on too, especially Matthew after only doing one ballroom dance and not getting a chance to do a latin dance.

I agree, Peach - Karen has a real skill when it comes to bringing the best ou of Bill and she amazes me when she is dancing with Brendan when the professionals dance!

I know nothing about dancing but Anton looks really good at what he does to me. I loved Anton and Leslie as a couple.
Brendan also looks really good at what he does and Brendan and Natasha were a good couple.

My favourite couple on the show has to be Jill and Darren. While I admitt Brendan and Natasha were very good in Series 1 and deserved to win I don't really like them and didn't think their dance on the Christmas special was anywhere near as good as they were.

Brendan is a brilliant dancer and (through gritted teeth) I'll admit he's one of the best out of the male dancers. I think he's also a good teacher but only to those who work in the way he does (if that makes sense). The fact that he's managed to make two of his partners cry says something to me.

I think Karen is a good teacher and can adapt to Bills strengths and weaknesses. Lilia also is good at this.

Ok back to amedning spread sheets.....also ducking from the backlash from the B&N fans!!

The best male pro dancer is def brendan!! just the way he moves esp in the jive demo they all did! he kinda showed the rest of them up!! the newer pros arent as good as brendan, camilla, and ian! karen is a great dancer too though!!

t care
m angel

sorry m angel but Brendan not in the same league as Karen Hardy, Matthew Culter (currently UK NO1 latin) and Darren and lilia (UK NO 2)

Think we'll have to agree to disagree! i prefer brendans style to the others! and his choeography too!
I dont doubt the others are great! i just prefer brendan style!

that's it about dancing alot is in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their favourites.

Definatley Erin Boag she is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Erin to win SCD!!!

Did u see erin dance (what i think was) the jive with julien- she was def not stiff!!

I wish we'd got to see more of mathew I didn't realise he was so good. I am a dancer and I personally think Darren and Lillia are fabulous. I think Ian is good too but that he and Camillia dont really look that comfortable together. And I have to say even though I am not a big Brendan fan he is a fantastic latin dancer, have you seen how fast his feet move lol!

Thank you i didnt know how to put it!! his feet look like they are on fire! its unreal! compared to the other guys its like slow mo!!