Last week on SCD Kelly tried a "Girl Power Paso". She said it was the first time this had been done (not sure if that's correct). It didn't go down very well with the judges. Len called it "ludicrous", though Craig said he admired the courage of the choreography, and said he liked the role reversal.

Last night, viewers of DWTS, were treated to a further "Girl Power Paso", this time from Mel B.

Mel's performance got straight 10's from all the judges. In the results show Len described Mel's Girl Power Paso as "the best dance of the season".

Perhaps Kelly's dance (and Brendan's performance) wasn't aggressive (or perhaps technical) enough.

Although Kelly and Brendan like to appear as rebels, I wonder if they are both timid softys at heart.

Wasn't the term "girl power" coined by the Spice Girls. So maybe Mel B is the real deal and had the conviction and attitude. Bruno called Mel an "adrenaline charged dominatrix". Mel's partner, Max, did his bit for the effect too. He's a brawny guy and looks as though he could rearrange Len's face if he wanted to. The dance ended with him on the floor [Max that is, not Len], and Mel standing over him.

I felt Mel's dance had a very "Sicilian Mafia" feel to it (comes from watching Rick Stein on Sicily, with its great original music soundtrack, the previous evening).

I think Mel and Maks Paso was brilliant and have said in other threads that I think that was the effect Kelly and Brendan were trying to get but not quite succeeding lol. And if you notice, Mel didn't mess around with a cape!

This furthers my disillusion with Len. As a 'traditionalist' he debunked the idea of a girl swirling the cape before Kelly even attempted. He seems to have a different set of rules on each side of the Atlantic. I didn't like Kelly's paso and I don't like the idea of the girl as the matador. Incidentally, I never liked the Spice Girls either.

I think you have hit the nail on the head there , there is different set of rules so comparison is impossible .

But have you watched Mel's Paso?

Mel & Maks Paso

I have now and don't rate it particularly highly. I had assumed Mel B had done the same as Kelly and swirled the cape. The main difference was that there was no cape for Mel to trip over. I didn't think it was worth more than four '8's but the scores are more OTT in LA. When our dancers get '10's it's usually something pretty fantastic.

frankly I don't know why they put so much emphasis on using a cape they don't in competition - male or female

I watched it last night twice. It was an interesting dance - lots of steps and aggression and power. I kept thinking, 'I should like this' but somehow it left me cold. I appreciated it, but didn't love it.

Thanks for that. I thought it was absolutely fantastic.

God knows, I'm no fan of Mel B, but I thought she absolutely nailed it. It deserved 10s.

It is great isn't it. And they did it again even better in the Results Show.

just watched it - it had aggression, power, attitude, meaning, techinicality, a multitude of steps Mel B really nailed that routine - unlike KB (IMO)- dont think it deseved 4 x 10's but it was certainly a million times better than Kelly's

I don´t know why you have a problem - Mel B is clearly the cape/bull - the traditional female role in the Paso. Len was complimentary because it had so many proper Paso steps and figures.

Kelly´s dance on the otherhand - she was a matador, Brendan was a matador - ergo no bull, no fight. However Len´s issue was lack of content and no fluidity in the main dance.

SCD has the cape twirling as a dodge to get out of actually dancing.

Well I thought it was great - maybe not worth 10's but they do overmark in La-la land & you get used to it.
The Americans have a very different psychology about competition they usually, when it comes to the crunch support the "achiever/best/winner" but do not tolerate critisism even in their losers.
They also hate won't tolerate any kind of negativity/critisism about their country from outsiders, even if the comment is a joke or many of them agree secretly.
You have to say one thing they are very patriotic & I feel we are lacking in that area imo & could take a leaf out of their book. Maybe then we may put the "Great" back into Britain

She had a rigid abodomen which is what Kelly was lacking in with her body ripples!

Completely agree and well said - so has saved me posting. Len often says (both sides of the Atlantic) "get the dance steps right before mucking about with the choreography.

I agree that Mel B's dance was better than Kelly's. I totally agree with the marks Kelly was given and the cape was probably a dodge to as they didn't have sufficient time to practise last week. I don't agree with Mel B's paso being awarded four '10's. It lacked the 'Wow' factor for me. Yes, it had more content and aggression but i found it very ordinary.

^ yup! I have watched a few of the ballroom dances from DWTS and those I have seen come across as essentially "American Smooth in the style of a..." - though if anyone has an example which isn't please post it to show me. They also seem to get 9s and 10s with consummate ease.

I think Kelly would have received less criticism for her cape swirling etc if 1) she had handled the cape better (brave effort I guess, but she just wasn't very good at it) 2) the rest of the dance had had more content/been better danced.

Just off to watch Mel B's - am intrigued.