I speak as someone who has next to no knowledge of what good ballroom dancing is, and I'm sure Sunday's foxtrot was technically impressive, but as a piece of visual entertainment, it did nothing for me. I thought if that's how people are supposed to dance the foxtrot, why would anyone do it for fun? It looked so artificial, forced and contrived and everything I don't like about ballroom dancing rolled up into one. It wasn't long until I pressed fast-forward.

Sorry if I was horribly off topic with my post on rankings! Forgot what the discussion started as

Still interested in people's views though!

If we are ranking people according to their specialist discipline, then Vincent and Flavia (for Argentine Tango) and Matthew and Nicole would be right at the top, being the only couples to have won world championships. Vincent and Flavia are also world finalists in 10 Dance.

Followed by Karen, having won practically everything but the British and the World.

Then Darren and Lilia, who 'at this current time' as you said are making the quarter finals of the major events, along with James and Aleksandra. Both couples have placed higher in the past however - both have made semi finals, and Darren and Lilia once made the final at the British for Jive, placing 7th overall.

Brendan and Camilla and Ian no longer compete but were all semi finalists when they did.

And Anton and Erin made quarters of the major championships when they competed.

I think this is my all-time favourite foxtrot clip EVER.

I adored the pro-foxtrot dance on Saturday's SCD - whilst acknowledging everything everyone has said, I thought it just oozed class. On SCD, the only thing that came close was Anton (and Erin) dancing last week to the opera singer - where I truely think Anton was in heaven.

That's an excellent run down Becca!

By saying 'at this current time' I mean best achievements so far - as you say Darren and Lilia may go on to win more and weren't James and Aleksandra 'rising stars' recently-ish?

Because the 'standard' comps don't include salsa, AT etc I have the impression they don't hold the same prestige or weight that winning one of the major standard comps would hold. So I put V+F a bit lower but that's based on nothing really!

Is this true?

http://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Ant...2/Results.aspx

Yeah, that's true. If we are to look at both Standard and Latin separately, Vincent and Flavia would be the lowest ranked couple.

This is exactly what I did too, in fact Hubby & I were talking about going for ballroom lessons but tbh this put us off!

But then...just to do a flip flop.........I feel that I want give Vincent and Flavia credit for their achievements across so many dances.........latin and ballroom through the ten dance and world champs at AT.

Also if you look at their careers as a whole so far I would put Brendan and Camilla above the Jordans...but whilst bearing in mind that the Jordans are at an early stage of their career and so could overtake them.

By saying 'at this current time' I mean best achievements so far - as you say Darren and Lilia may go on to win more and weren't James and Aleksandra 'rising stars' recently-ish?


I post this again only cos I added it to my other post and so it might not have been seen

I personally don't think you can really rank them with the others, as they dance in a completely different category. They are incredibly successful at what they have done.

Yes James and Aleksandra haven't been pros for long. Others have retired and Darren and Lilia look as if they are rapidly drawing their competitive days to a close.

Do you think is because of SCD?

It must be very difficult to maintain a dance career in peak form when SCD is on.

Only they know, but I think it is safe to guess that SCD and following exhibitions etc are a very large reason. It certainly means that they miss quite a few competitions and they also had to take time off due to Darren suffering a hip injury. Unfortunately, dancing is so competitive that you just can't afford all of this time out of competitions and training intensely.

It has all also happened at a very bad time, as the latin scene has suddenly increased in standard and competition at their level with some dancers progressing naturally, the return of many fantastic former competitors and also some great amateurs turning pro. Unfortunately, their results seem to be going downwards now, whereas they were rising before Strictly. I think to be at the top of such a tough profession, you have to be completely focused upon it. Perhaps they have realised that they can't nor do they want to do this and so maybe this is why they seem to be drawing to a close??

They look as if they love Strictly though and so I'm sure they are happy with their decisions!Good luck to them!

Yes in the British Closed Championships and it was 4th actually in the Open British they didnt make the semis there is a HUGE margin of ability between them - nothing against anton and erin is just FACT

I am sure there is more to life, and success, than winning competitions!

Well said Peely. This interesting thread has turned very boring :yawn: :yawn:

This is going to sound incredibly stupid, but my problem was his haircut!

Anyway, innocent question...is it traditional to present the band after a dance, or is that just something Tim and Jo decided to do? I've never seen it done before.

I agree with Karura especially the sausages -what was that all about !!? - and cannot believe how many supposed ''fans'' actually knew so little about the background of the Cuttlers, Karen Hardy, Brendan and Camilla, Darren and Lilia, Erin, Anton, Ian-where did you think they came from?? - in fact the only background kept under wraps is the (IMO) dreadful Jordans.............now what are they about?

I thought they were dead poodles.

(falls off chair laughing ) the mind boggles

Who said there wasn't...it's just a simple conversation about ranking.

I'm amazed at the comments about Tim and Jo on this thread. Two of the best ballroom dancers in the world can perform and all people want to do is slag off her dress, or say their dance was contrived, please..if their foxtrot was 'artificial and contrived' as one poster said what does that make Strictly.

It's not a case of wanting to pick holes for negativity's sake, just an observation that I personally did not find the dance to my tastes- and the phrasing there is important. No, I'm not an expert and I'm not trying to do a technical appraisal of the dancing, but surely I'm allowed to say whether I enjoyed something or not?

I don't think that anyone disputes the fact that they (T&J) are amazing technical dancers. All the posts I've read in this thread seem to make a point of saying that. But the performance isn't to everyone's taste (not mine), and I see no harm in saying that. Obviously the SCD style dances are more 'show dance style' or something, but I would rather watch them dance than those guest pros.

And all dancers, good or bad, can wear terrible costumes! Was otherwise quite a nice dress but it looked like she was being followed by a pack of poodles.