There seems to be in the last couple of series this thing that sports people have an advantage in SCD

Several of the contestants say "Well I am up against professional athletes"

I would have thought being in some form of entertainment would have been more of an advantage Until obviously that person is 50+ and is 20 stone weight

Sports people did not really do that well intil Denise Lewis came along and only then late in the series.

Wasn't Denise top of the leaderboard on week 1 of series 2?

We have had a newsreader, an actress and a sportsman win.

The only advantage is if they have a little dancer hidden inside and we don't find that out until they have been through the process.

The only advantage of an athlete is that they will already understand the demands of a punishing fitness/training schedule, but many of them are no longer full time professionals in their sport.

Even so, its always a bit of a lame excuse to say 'I'm up against professional athletes' - athletes, yes, but not professional dancers! There is still a difference.

Well put, Kez. And the little dancer is often hidden in the most unlikely places!

Paso doble, Tango - add to this, any dance requiring a sexy side to come out, with a person you are not married too, and with your wife or husband in the audience.

Three examples where I think acting is a huge advantage.

Being 20 and with a BMI of 20 helps too.

Whatever, it really swings in roundabouts.

add romance to that list, too

rumba, waltz, viennese waltz...

Indeed, romance.

The only advantage the sports fraternity have is that they usually start well ahead on the required fitness stakes - even the retired ones usually keep in shape.

But yes - the actors/ singers/ entertainers have a huge advantage - especially if they've been to stage school with a BIG chunk of dancing on the curriculum.

Although I do remember the actress Jan Francis who was a trained ballerina saying that the breath control required for ballet was nearly the death of her when she changed to acting. Apparently dancers hold their breath whereas actors need tobreathe whilst delivering lines....

Maybe Joanne is getting off on it <sorry sorry naughty me bad> Hang on maybe thats men only

....Joanne?

I think that a sportsperson can slip quite easilly back into the training regeme too - and if they have been amateurs like Denise and Colin were they are probably used to training at all sorts of odd times of the day.

Professional sports people too are used to having their performance critiqued. They will video practice sessions and then go over things their coach to see where they are going wrong (or very occasionally, right!).

Darren and Mark as cricketers also have a high dollop of co-ordination and rhythm and as a batsman, Mark will also be good at fast foot work.

Matt's girlfriend, I think.

I think athletes have a mental attitude to win but actors are obviouly better at acting out the story so it evens it self out

Thanks (re:Joanna)

Roger Black who danced with Camilla was not that good.
Denise is still my favourite dancer she could act the part too. I loved her. Fabulous!

Anyone who follows athletics and knows Fiona May, well she's on the Italian Strictly, just found that out. I haven't watched her dance yet and her partner is gorgeous

There are three sports people left and Ray who looks quite fit...very fit Ray acts the part more than the others. He has that edge because he's an actor. I am not convinced by the sports guys when they try to act the dance

Everyone has advantages and disadvantages fitness, acting, performing live, dance training.
Last edited by Stella Street : 06-11-2006 at 21:44

Just goes to show, each to their own - I haven't found Ray convincing really at all, except possibly in the waltz on Saturday.

Athletes actors, musicians etc. all have advantages and disadvantages when it comes to the dancing. It's up to the pro's (and celeb's too) to use these atributes to their advantage and to help them develop the dancing...

One of the best examples I think was the Aled and Lilia patnership, she used the fact that he was a singer to their advantage by making sure the routines had lots of musicality to them. I remember Aled used to make constant parralel's and analogies between the dancing and his singing... this meant he blossomed as a dancer.

It of course always helps if the celeb has some talent to begin with though...

I've always thought that with Strictly. I'm still waiting to get for Mark and Karen who everyone else loves!
I loved Ray and Camilla this week with their beautiful V waltz. The acting side he was more noticable than the others in their paso doble. Mark and Matt danced well but looked cold to me.

I always find it fascinating how different people get different couples. Makes life more interesting doesn't it!

I think Matt last Friday on ITT summed it up quite well. Being sportsman gives them an edge but not the edge.

Actors can act the part but might not be used to the training.

Yes, I thought that was an insightful comment from matt, actually.

Didn't you find the three sportsmen on the sofa gave such a positive angle? None of this "I can't" etc etc....no drama and all upbeat.

That's why I find Arlenes attitude to Matts dedication terrible (in fact whenever she hits on anyone for dedication). If he isn't so good it's because he isn't, not because he isn't trying or as dedicated as the others.

It could be argued that 'actors' have an advantage, cos they are used to 'playing a role' and many these days have done dance, in whatever form as part of their training or even for a role.

I have always taken the attitude that sportsmen/women do have an advantage in the competitive side, BUT if they can't put their feet in the right place at the right time, then all the competitive instinct isn't going to help them one jot.