i'm probably being really stupid but where are you watching this?

http://journals.rpungin.fotki.com/dwts/

Videos already up here:

http://www.myoxisbroken.com/OxArticle.aspx?id=560

mel and maks samba was by far the best dance.

i still think sabrina will end up winning it because she's a cheetah girl i personally don't like her because she's a trained dancer is she not? therefore it takes the lighthearted competitiveness out between all the other celebs.

This week I have to say Mel and Maks' Samba were the best dance.

I was surprised by Cameron. I thought he's just that Ken-doll kinda guy all muscle and no flow type, but I was surprised at his fluidity in his Rhumba!

Also, I was stunned by how Sabrina has turned-in a very sensual performance. Embarrassed to say this, but even I find her male pro dancer very sexy and their interaction simply sizzling...

Oooh, hot, hot HOT!!!

edit to add: I am glad Jennie is showing some respect to her 'kid-brother' teacher Derek. Hers has the most Samba content to anyone else, even Mel's (Mel's more flashy but she did what she did well, and better than Jennie's)...

Does anyone know just how much dance training etc Sabrina has had? We're used to the female stars on SCD having been to Stage School, typically either Sylvia Young or Italia Conti, but I get the impression from some other posts that Sabrina is rather closer to a professional dancer? Does she have more previous experience than, say, Jill Halfpenny?

Yes - she has loads of training in various forms of dance and has even worked as a dance instructor. Her current job is a hip hop dancer. She has never done ballroom, but as you can see - she's very trained. When she first applied to do the show they turned her down due to her having too much experience...they shouldn't have gone back on that IMO - not very fair is it!

I'm not too sure if there's a clear point at which it becomes unfair but it certainly gives her a big advantage and confidence boost over those who've never danced like Helio.

I do hope he and Julianne don't end up in the bottom two as they don't have the judges to save them as we do over here.

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrina-Bryan-.../dp/B000BYA4F6

I found this advert for her dance exercise video, and judging by the comments from some of the buyers it is a very advanced dance video. Even one of them with dance training found it too difficult to pick up. I know this is more pop/hip hop dancing but it does give her a big advantage over most of the other competitors.

I know Mel B must be used to learning routines, but nothing as complex as the ones she's doing and I know Jane has had ballet training but that must have been a very long time ago.

It appears that Sabrina's dance experience is current and she's even classed as a singer/dancer/actress in most of her bios.

Helio and Julianne are definitely in the danger zone. I suspect that they both have enough fan base to pull them through yet again...

Hopefully this will induce them to do better in their next dance, if they survive that is... Their Rhumba was THE weakest I would say. Even Cameron's lines were better than Helio's, which greatly surprised me, considering Helio is a latino and conventional wisdom is that he should do better in latin dances than Cameron...

I was disappointed in Helio's dance too, it just goes to show that all latino's can smoulder ..lol

Julianne's obviously not used to criticism as she was furious at the judges comments, I thought she was going to throw a temper tantrum.

I post on a forum for an ex-American Idol contestant where all the other forum members are American and Helio is very popular and is the favourite of a lot of them, so I reckon he has a large enough fan base to keep him in.

Even though Marie's at the bottom of the score board I would imagine she has a large fan base and judging from past weeks it seems like Mark has a large fan following too, so I have no idea who will be leaving tonight.

I hope it's not Jane or Mel.

You're right, the point at which it becomes unfair is open to debate, but for me...if you earn your living by dancing, then you are a professional dancer. If you are a professional dancer then you shouldn't be allowed on a competition for amateurs. Just my opinion!

I agree with you. In programmes like this it's obvious that if you get actors/actresses and other people in the media to take part, that some of them will have gone to stage school so will have a bit of dance experience ....

.... but when your current job is in a TV show where you sing and dance is a bit of an advantage.

Ooo, I hope so too...

Even though I was impressed by Sabrina's performance this time, I am in agreement about those who make their living teaching others how to dance (even folk dances!) should not be considered for amateurs competition such as DWTS or SCD...

Another thing that my American friends told me is that Donny Osmond is working as the DWTS correspondent for one of the bit entertainment news shows "Entertainment Tonight" .... which is sure to get more votes in for Marie.

It's a pity Victoria Beckham couldn't open her mouth in the VT before Mel's performance to try and get her more votes, she just stood their pouting and looking angry.

Isn't that all she ever does???

But yes you'd think she could have said SOMETHING in support of Mel

Just thought you want to know (sorry if you knew already)
I was watching this program called the suite life of Zack and Cody and it was about a ballroom and Latin dancing competition and there was this girl and i thought i regonise you its Cherl Burke so i read the credits and it turns out it was her! Shes a good actress as well!

She's trying very hard to hold in her breath and give that bee-stung effect with her lips...

I saw one blogger write that Mel was using DWTS to promote the Spice Girls reunion, so she's not getting a favourable reaction in America.

Was shocked to see that Maks is only 27, seems alot older somehow!!

BTW Donny's ET reports on DWTS are being posted on youtube. I posted the first few links a while ago, haven't caught up with the latest ones yet, but he was over here in between.

Probably hacked off that she wasn't the centre of attention and nobody gave a toss on who she was

Maks is YOUNGER than Mel???

Truthfully, based on the videos I've seen on Youtube I think what she does with the Cheeta Girls is hardly true dancing. It's basically counting set to music. I've seen the comment that she was a dance teacher on a few boards, but each time have missed where or when she it. I think like a number of them she has had the normal ballet, jazz, etc. dance training that Disney stars get these days, but I think she's getting credit for being more proficient than she actually is. When I think professional quality dancing I think of the stuff on So You Think You Can Dance, and she's no where near that in quality or experience.

Yes, Jane's experience was many years ago, but she went to a very prestigious school, Mel B. worked as a professional dancer before the Spice Girls, and according to another board Jennie had enough dance experience that she contemplated opening a dancing school when she was younger.


Sabrina's experience is much more current of course, but I still think she is getting overly criticized for being a "ringer" when many have had a good bit of experience. Personally, I wouldn't want to see everyone with no experience. A whole group of Mark Cubans...no thanks. The rules state that the participants aren't allowed to have extensive ballroom training and that's it. They all have certain advantages and disadvantages whether it be dance experience or an existing fan base which is really the key. As much as the quality of dancing is discussed it basically mostly comes down to a popularity contest and the "ringer" never wins.

Thanks for your interesting post Sari.

I'm intrigued that you think Sabrina is nowhere near the standard of the SYTYCD dancers, I did wonder if she should've applied to go on that show instead, as being more appropriate for her, but I guess not? Maybe she felt she could do a better job, or wanted to learn to Ballroom and Latin dance, and she's certainly doing a good job of it.

I watched last night's show with a completely open mind, and just concentrated on who had the best routines and was dancing the best, irrespective of past experience/inexperience, and consequently really enjoyed it alot. Ofcourse it has to be said that DWTS is so much more slickly produced and presented than SCD is currently.
I'm a big Tom Fan, he made so many amusing remarks last night off the cuff - a true live show presenter and old school cool, nothing fazed him....apart from Marie fainting ofcourse!

I also have to agree with you that I don't think that Sabrina will win, however well she dances. I don't see her being overly popular with the viewers, and IMO Helio will probably win. Any criticism for him from the Judges - deserved in the last 2 weeks and grossly overscored still - is met with outrage both in the studio and on the internet. He's appealing to the gay men out there and the female audience, apart from Julianne's huge fanbase voting for them. Derek, Julianne and Mark have certainly enlivened this show greatly.

I also agree with you that no way would I want to watch 12 Mark Billionaires - please God no! - I thought he came over appallingly in his VT last night, saying "*** the Judges, let's go for gimicks" to Kym, and sending 2000 thank you emails to folk who'd voted for him! That's desperate!!

I watch DWTS for Derek and Mark as I've seen Derek in Footloose several times and he is an amazing dancer. Also, I've been to Derek and Mark's gig for their band Almost Amy who have a myspace page. I've just ordered their album from America (shame I've had to get from all that way - I liv in UK).