I suppose at least Antons latin dances provide a comedy element. That jive last night was truly awful, and I don't just mean by the celeb!!! he looked absolutely hideous in that outfit but I suppose anything to detract from the dance! If he stays in next week, after the foxtrot, I expect we can look forward to another good laugh the following week with the samba???

Having watched it back I'd say he was fine. Not outstanding, not brilliant and certainly not truly horrendous. He just does okay/so so/average with the latin (whereas I think Erin does really rather well in it most of the time). He's clearly not as good as the other male pros at the latin.

That suit was way too red though - almost as bad as Ian's blue baby grow!
Last edited by claire2281 : 22-10-2006 at 12:48

No, I think Ians was worse!!! Particularly at over 6' tall!!!

Anton is definitely a ballroom dancer! His Latin was, erm, amusing.

And that outfit! Not as appalling as Ian's all-in-one jumpsuit from a previous series, but nevertheless still rather shocking!

I really like Anton - but his and Jan's jive was god awful.

Well his samba with Patsy lasy year was pretty grim!

yes, it was. And re the title of this thread, people have every right to criticise the dances & express an opinion if they want to, we don't need nannying, thank you very much
Last edited by dancingbearbear : 22-10-2006 at 14:53

I assumed the red trousers were a joke after the teasing he had last year about the same type of outfit.

It's time Anton had a partner who has winning potential.He contributes such a lot to the fun of the programme.

Ouch! That red was too much!

Anton's forte is Ballroom and he would be the first to say that his Latin is weaker in comparison. He's on record as saying that he hates the Samba and really, I can't take to him as a Latin dancer at all.

Their Jive was a real low spot. It was not an especially difficult routine, yet half the time Jan looked as if she didn't know what was supposed to be coming next. And just who thougth it would be a good idea to criss cross Jan's back with those black laces? She ha a broad back and this only served to accentuate it.

These two should have gone home last night.

Most dancers start out as ballroom dancers and Latin dancers combined. When they start to compete most of them choose either Latin or Ballroom. The ones who choose ballroom are very limited because they have to be totally dedicated and single minded in order to become champions. Some of the Latin dancers do both and compete at 10 dance, which obviously makes them a good choice for SCD. Most latin professionals are reasonably good at ballroom as well so also make good SCD pros. The ballroom specialists are at a disadvantage there.Erin seems to be better at Latin than Anton, but even she cant hold a candle to the true Latin specialists.

Anton makes no secret of the fact that he hates most Latin and his performances back that up. The costume is meant to cover up the lack of ability in the dance I think. He has worn some awful ones but this might be the worst. He also teaches Latin in his classes wrongly, but that is a separate issue.

This is my personal opinion and as such is not dissing anyone, it is also given politely and not aggressively which ought to be the normal thing for these forums but rarely is.

It's funny how Anton always ends up with the middle-aged dames (bar Patsy Palmer, of course!) - Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen, Jan Ravens...he won't win unless the voting was restricted to 40+ housewives!!

Perhaps because he is the most middle-aged professional by quite a few years?? Anton's latin weakness is a real problem for his partner, whoever it may be, as he doesn't dance it either correctly or well himself, so this will always be a handicap to him winning the competition.

Of course he is a bit older than the others, and I don't think he'd really have any chance of winning when his own Latin isn't the best, especially if he's with an average partner.

Have you all heard yourselves? since when has this become a lets pull Anton to pieces forum and if he is so terrible how come he is one of the top 24 ballroom dancers in the country ?.

It would be refreshing to see Anton with a partner with real potential - he does tend to get those who aren't as great.

He's a wonderful character in a sea of pros who aren't perhaps the most exciting people on Earth.

For that reason, if that reason alone, he should stay in the competition.

That, and his ballroom is just exquisite.
Did you see that Foxtrot on the results show?

Perhaps he could be the first person to expose his hairy chest for the fox trot and set a new trend...........swoon

Hear Hear.

*Applauds*

I have to say that Anton maybe used to be inside the to 24 ballroom dancers in the country. He does not compete any more. Also that is in fact the point which is being discussed here. Anton is a Ballroom dancer he is not a Latin dancer. He knows it. He tries to cover his lack of ability at latin with the outrageous costume and his comedy. yes he does add to the show, no question there.

I have respect for all the professionals but am also entitled to an opinion. Anton did get to the final in the first series with Lesley. Okay he had a difficult one with Esther, but he had a younger partner in Patsy, someone who on paper ought to have been pretty good. There again because he doesnt do Latin well he is at a disadvantage whoever he gets.

Not dissing him at all just stating the obvious. His foxtrot will be a triumph I expect.

dont turn this thread into a battleground. If you dont like the subject, dont come here, simple.

I've just watched the highlights show.

It struck me that the generally high standard of all of this year's competitors (even Georgina isn't as bad as some of the dancers in the earlier series) has made Anton's jive look even worse than his previous ventures into latin.

I've a feeling that some of the male competitors could have done a better job than Anton.

How very true!

I watched it again and don't think it was that bad. Anton was full of typical consideration for his floundering partner.

I didn't actually notice how bad Anton's dancing was, because I was catatonic from the shock of that outfit. Which, as has been suggested already, may have been a ploy to take the focus off the dancing.

Whatever will he wear next time he has a latin dance?

As for Anton dissing, I think he's a great entertainer, but fully support anyone else's right to say what they think of him or any other performer. So long as things don't get personal towards other FMs then diss away. Sometimes the critisism provides food for thought and can start an interesting debate. If everyone thought the same wouldn't things on here be just a little dull?

We are not pulling him to pieces, we are comparing his prowess in the Latin department against the Ballroom. Or did I miss something?!

Have you actually read any of this thread? We do not say he is terrible and I think we all agree that he is accomplished at the Ballroom dances. We are simply saying that he is not so good at Latin.

Anton gave up Latin at the age of seventeen to concentrate on ballroom. Given that Anton started dancing at fourteen, he only devoted three years of his life to training in both disciplines.

Now do you think his Latin could possibly be the same standard as his Ballroom?

Thess, I always appreciate the insights you give us about the dancer's backgrounds.

Well, I'm no dancer myself, and am certainly not an Anton lover or hater, but bendy's comment about Anton's relative abilities at Latin and Ballroom seem plainly correct to me.

As for the costume, my comment to my wife about it was that it was a pity. His partner had black trim to her dress, yet there was no matching trim for his. Had he had, say, black down the line of the button holes on this shirt, I'm sure that the ladies who appreciate his chest would have have liked their view framed in such a manner.

I do like to see his ballrom though. Damn fine dancer then - IMO.

Nick