http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...13/dance.shtml

Yay! How fabulous! But I'm sick of Graham Norton!

EDIT: Additional Info..

"The BBC, BBC One, and the Eurovision TV Department are proud to present a new live entertainment coproduction, the Eurovision Dance Contest: an international competition between professional ballroom dancers, in a showcase of European excellence.

The show is a two-hour programme developed by two UKcompanies, “Splash Media” and “Sunset & Vine”. Splash Media is managed by the two main creators of the internationally renowned and highly successful format “Strictly Come Dancing”, while Sunset & Vine is the UK’s biggest sports producer, well connected to the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF).

The performers in the European Final will often be the winners of a National Dance Off, a similar smaller-scale local version of the programme, from which the very best in the world of ballroom dancing from the participating countries will be selected.

Viewers at home will get a chance to cast in their votes and show their ballroom expertise by televote and SMS voting on the two dance pieces performed by each couple, the first being a ballroom or Latin dance, while the second being a freestyle dance, incorporating a national flavour.

The 2007 edition will bring together 11 broadcasters in addition to BBC, who shall be hosting the production for the first two years."
Last edited by *Nina* : 13-04-2007 at 12:48

Well I'm sorry to hear about this. Firstly because, for me, anything hosted by Graham Norton is doomed to failure, and secondly because I'm terribly afraid too many of this type of show will kill off SCD. I wish the BBC would not go into overkill on everything that's a success for them!

I think it's great in principle- if viewing figures are good, it might inspire the BBC to show some proper competitions.

I'm just wondering how many professionals will actually want to do it... you wouldn't get any serious musicians wanting to do the Eurovision song contest and you might find none of the best dancers want to touch this with a barge pole. I would have thought they'd do better to invite amateurs really.

I also have reservations about the National Dance Off- we're going to be choosing our own representative? I'd prefer a judging panel. I don't know if any of the SCD professionals will want to bother, but it's in the bag for them if they do as they're so well known. Which would be acceptable for latin but a bit worrying for ballroom...

Sorry but I have a feeling of doom about this. Anyone with a whiff of credibility would give this a very wide berth - I think it has every chance of being Absolutely Ghastly.

totally agree - it is a silly idea - besides if it is like the song contest - the UK will come bottom!!!!! Everyone hates us
Last edited by dancingfan : 13-04-2007 at 18:48

I don't know, I'm sure most people thought SCD wouldn't work out when the idea was first floated. I think calling it Eurovision is a huge mistake though, it instantly makes people think tacky and untalented. If I was in charge I'd try and distance it from Eurovision as much as possible.

I think this is going to be abyssmal.

I was intrigued at first, but now I hear that our representative will be chosen by the viewing public.

This just makes a mockery of competitive dance. Far better to have televised heats judged by a panel of established judges. And using amateur dancers - the standard at International level is amazing.

Using Pro dancers and relying on a public vote means that the show will be a popularity contest instead of one based on technical ability, style and showmanship.

So sad to say this, but I won't even bother watching.

I think it will all depend on who takes part. There will only be a "popularity contest" issue if any of the SCD pros sign up, and in particular if some of the stronger non-SCD pros sign up as well. To be honest I doubt the SCD pros will be all that interested, and I certainly don't think any of the pros who currently shun SCD on grounds of tackiness are then going to want to do Eurovision. I agree it would be better to have judges than public voting, but if the competitiors are relatively unknown it's not going to matter too much.

I'm reserving judgement on the whole thing until I've seen it, but I don't think it's automatically destined to be a disaster. I am quite intrigued as to who will be competing to represent the UK. I suppose we'll find out at some point over the summer.

Sorry Katie, but I disagree. Even if the competitors are culled from the ranks of amateur, the majority of the viewing public will be non-dancers and could theoretically cast their vote because they like the colour of the girls dress or how good looking a particular dancer is.

Imagine someone dancing who is technically inferior to the rest of the field, but who has a chest to rival Ian Waite's ... I rest my case!

Oh alright then, I'll probably keep an eye on the rumour mill to see who from the UK is in the running, but I really don't like the way this is going!

I see what you mean. I thought you were saying what I've seen on a couple of other forums, where people seem certain that there'll be some kind of scenario where Anton and Erin are competing for votes against one of the top standard couples. I agree that would be undesirable but frankly it's never going to happen!

I'm still looking forward to seeing how it's done. Hopefully there will be a judging panel (a serious one, not pantomime style) to guide the public, but the winner should be the best showdance, so hopefully the public will be able to decide that properly.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what the "national flavour" will be in our freestyle dance.

My sentiments too, Thess.

I think this could turn out to be a rather embarrassing mistake.

I guess we'll have to wait and see to know for sure!

I suppose I am curious to see how it is done too. I don't know why the choice of representative has to be done by public vote at all - why can't we use the Dancesport rankings and choose the top competing couples? Mind you, they'd have to be willing to participate!

Hello Thess. I have been reading some of the old threads, in an effort to learn more about Dance, and came across something you posted. You mention something referred to as 'buying the floor' or 'owning the floor'. From the comments you made it seems as if the outcome of amateur dancing competitions can on occasions almost be predetermined, by couples taking lessons in advance of the competition from those that will adjudicate. I would be interested to know if this practice still exists and does it extend to the professional competitions?

I must say I would prefer that but I guess it's all about ratings and letting the audience feel involved.

From a dance point of view, it would be much better all round if the BBC forgot the National dance off and put their effort into persuading a couple like Matt and Nicole to do it. It would be amazing if we had the top professional couples from every country competing, but my guess is we won't see any of them doing it.

Hi Sportsfan and welcome to the forum. Hope you're having a good time catching up on everything!

I'm afraid that 'buying the floor' does still go on. When I competed you could see a couple walk through the door and just know that they were the winners, because you knew who on the judging panel they had lessons with.

It definitely still goes on at amateur level but don't think that every competition is decided before one step is danced. There are judges who play fair and base their decision on the performance. One of my own teachers once marked me below a couple from another school, but he spoke to me afterwards and told me exactly why he had awarded the marks in the way he had. It was all very fair.

As for whether it goes on at Pro level, I'm not sure. Although I qualified and taught, I never competed at Pro level, so have lost touch with what's going on.

Maybe CarolUK can help?

Thanks for taking the time to reply Thess. I imagine it must be infuriating to have to accept, that no matter how well you dance in a particular competition, 1st place has already been reserved for another couple.

From what I have read it does seem an extremely competitive and at times cut throat sport.

Ha! You have no idea!! I have to smile when I hear from people who think that all of the SCD pro competitors are the very best of friends off the floor.

Anyone remember how Erin lost her cool when Brendan took liberties with the group Viennese?!

I could tell tales of sabotaged dresses, psycological tricks played just before taking the floor and downright vindictiveness, but you have to take the rough with the smooth.

The flip side is the wonderful feeling that you get from dance and the way the music moves you from the inside. There is nothing that can beat the feeling of anticipation you get when you take the floor for the first dance of a competition. Except that feeling you get when you eventually take your place in line as the winner!

Oh yes, competitive dancing is far from being all sweetness and light, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Sportsfan wrote
Ha! You have no idea!! I have to smile when I hear from people who think that all of the SCD pro competitors are the very best of friends off the floor.

Anyone remember how Erin lost her cool when Brendan took liberties with the group Viennese?!

I could tell tales of sabotaged dresses, psycological tricks played just before taking the floor and downright vindictiveness, but you have to take the rough with the smooth.

The flip side is the wonderful feeling that you get from dance and the way the music moves you from the inside. There is nothing that can beat the feeling of anticipation you get when you take the floor for the first dance of a competition. Except that feeling you get when you eventually take your place in line as the winner!

Oh yes, competitive dancing is far from being all sweetness and light, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

QUOTE=Thess

Ha! You have no idea!! I have to smile when I hear from people who think that all of the SCD pro competitors are the very best of friends off the floor.


Must admit watching SCD I did believe that it was in the main happy families between the pros - they seemed to get on so well behind the scenes. Particuarly, since each couple who danced seemed to be genuinely and enthusiastically applauded by all the remaining couples in the waiting area. Maybe they are all good actors or perhaps I am just far too gullible - and that I've missed the seething undercurrent of envy and resentment that might be present beneath the outward veneer of sportsmanship.

I was supporting Mark and Karen right from the first show, but did begin to get some idea of how competitive Karen is from some of the comments she made. Also, found it a little odd that Brendan was never as fulsome in his support for Mark/Karen as you might expect him to be given he's supposedly a great friend of Karen and her family.

I imagine you need a competitive streak in whatever sport you pursue and it just maybe more pronounced in the world of Dance as opposed to some of the other team sports.

Couldn't have put it better myself!

As a competitor I was always taught to applaud the winner, though they may have stuffed you over. You smile, shake their hand, kiss them, stand next to them with a huge smile for the photograph of the line up, tell anyone who asks that you believe that the better dancer won and that you wish them well. Then, in the car on the way home, in private, you can let rip.

In other words - lose with grace and dignity.


Well formation dancing aside, dancing is not a team sport and as such there is little solidarity between competitors

Thanks for the further insight Thess.

From what you say, it does seem a tough discipline to succeed in. Though, I note that if you manage to get to the top, you can maintain your grip at the top for a fair few years. Looking at past winners of the World Professional Latin Championships, there have only been 3 couples in the last 23 years - Donnie Burns/Gaynor Fairweather winning 14 of these and the most recent 8 titles won by a Bryan/Carmen partnership.

Is this the same Bryan who used to partner Karen, before she packed in dancing competitively? This has been touched upon in previous threads but no clear reason given for her retirement. Maybe she just got fed up of the cut-throat nature of it.

Make that the last 9 titles, as of last Saturday!