The author has a fair point. It's not the way to go.
It's hard to find actors and singers with not a least some dance training under the belt, but there are limits.
On the whole I found this season less entertaining than seasons 8 and 9. Bigger names does not automatically mean better show. Though I'm glad it was a rating winners, so it won't be axed easily.

Well, sucks to be you then!

WOW! At last it's happened! The best DANCER has won!

What a great idea! I hope it catches on for SCD.

I thought the final was great, full of ups and downs really.

Though a risky decision, I loved Erin and Maks' contemporary dance even if, technically, it wasn't great, and was surprised Len gave it only an 8.

Evan & Anna's freestyle was dreadful. It was basically just rock 'n' roll with a few untidy lifts. Watching the VT I had the impression Anna isn't used to choreographing freestyle, so instead of getting someone in to help tidy up their lines etc., she should have got someone in to choreograph it right from the start.

Nicole & Derek's freestyle was a lesson in what freestyle should be about - fast, furious, exciting, with lots of elements of recognisable dances, all executed wonderfully. Shame about the slip in the lift, but mistakes happen with routines that are so difficult.


I feel there was less to choose between the other dances, except for Nicole's jive, which has to be the best jive ever on any series of dwts or scd (including Jill & Darren's).

Choosing the winner of the University dance was probably the easiest decision for the judges to make! Utah were head and shoulders above any of the opposition - I wonder if they are in Blackpool this year?

This, for me, was probably the most enjoyable series of dwts; even though I didn't particularly take to any of the celebs, I really enjoyed a lot of their dancing. Have a feeling the next series might fall flat by comparison!

Agree with most of this except I like most of the celebs this year but didn't have a favourite and Jill and Darren's jive is still the best dance ever on DWTS or Strictly .

Although I dont particular like Anna but Evan should have listened to her after all they got to the final together. His freestyle was dreadful - very messy. Really Liked Erin & Maks but like Len didn't love it the chemistry was great the story worked but the movements could have been cleaner was def worth a 9 tho. Nicole & Derek was an amazing freestyle pity about the lift tho.

All the Argentine tango were great couldn't pick out of them would probably just give the edge to Nicole's.

I must admit to really anticipating the final and then feeling a bit let down: although I liked the freestyle they did I still wish Nicole and Derek had saved their "quickstep" and done it as a freedance (little danger they'd have failed to make it to the final to perform it!). Admired Erin & Maks for not going down the fast and furious route. Felt bad for Evan & Anna because the whole freestyle thing just seemed to trouble them: I did think they were considering a Tom & Camilla SCD-type freedance when watching the initial bits of their VT, and kind of think that would have suited them better.

I too admired Erin & Maks' decision, and personally enjoyed the dance they did; but contemporary is a special style with its own technique which Maks had never done before and unfortunately it showed.

Even so, I don't think it would have made a lot of difference - although Erin danced her absolute best in the final, I felt viewers would probably base their votes on what had gone on throughout the series, when Evan had been superior..... even though I don't think he necessarily was in the final.

Have to say I was most dissappointed with this series and that article sums it up well, yes the best dancer won but was there ever any real doubt.

Loved Erin's attitude and felt she best summed up what the show is supposed to be about but if this is what gives the best ratings then this is how the show will continue (in the short term) . . . . but this will also eventually kill the show.


Roll on the fall show and hopefully we will get a more balanced/less obvious set of Celebrities.



Raven

Article and vid of Derek with Cheryl Cole in London in the NOTW today. He must have flown to the UK almost immediately after DWTS!

Derek & Cheryl

Typical of the NOTW to talk about them gazing lovingly into each other's eyes while dancing. Maybe they should check out some of his other partners on DWTS.

What? All the bickering and arguing with Maks?
And don't forget while Nicole got all the flak for being a trained dancer, Erin was also a trained dancer - just not as good.

The dance world being quite small - i.e. nearly everyone gets to know everyone else - I've known Derek for years, and love him to bits. When I keep seeing these articles about him and Cheryl and my only reaction is to wish the wretched gutter press would leave 'em both alone. Whether they are an item, just friends, or dance colleagues, is entirely their business, and who really could care less?

Is it not in Maks's contract that he has to be involved in on screen bickering?



Raven

They were mock fights more than anything. Erin has a great personality IMO. Erin did dance classes as a child - like a lot of young girls. That doesn't make her a trained dancer.

Interesting. He's a Mormon, and at least in theory they are overwhelmingly against pre-marital sex.

Derek may be a Morman culturally but in an interview when he was dating (and living with) Shannon Elizabeth, they both stated he was not practicing.

Impromptu interviews with Len by LA papapparazi and a few short interviews with the pros. Interesting who Len would like to be on the show for next season. Len starts at about 1:50. It looks to be a party for Edyta and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOytfaiVgJc

Is that guy some kind of DWTS stalker? Tom certainly seemed to know (and be highly annoyed by) him.

He is a fixture in Hollywood. The stars humour him, answer a few questions and they can get away. In a way he is good publicity because he always seems to know where the parties are.

I realized from watching that video that Damian's girl friend (Paida or something like that) was the same pro dancing with Sig Hansen when he guested on Jay Leno and they did the dancing skit.

The ballroom community really is small. I wonder if Damian will be back next year. He does not seem to have made a great deal of impact in his rookie year.

I was annoyed with the result - even though I'd had weeks to get used to it. The minute they paired Nicole with Derek it was obvious what the result would be.

Personally I think there's a whole world of difference between 'Trained Dancer' and 'Professional Dancer' - In DWTS and SCD we've had lots made in the past of so-and-so having an advantage because they had ballet lessons years ago, or were a cheerleader or were a once in a band - I tend to think it just gives them a slightly different advntage over the actors.

Nicole however is currently (okay so rumours of a splut make that debateable) a member of a professional trance troupe. The Pussy Cat Dolls are dancers who someone decided to have sing to sell a few records. She's used to having new choreography thrown at her week in week out and having to remember several routines at a time to perform on stage, so particularly in the later stages where they have to do more in a week she had an even greater advantage.

Erin and Maks were my faves from the final. Have they come out yet and admitted they are a couple?

Isn't it just! We were on holiday (nothing to do with dancing!) and enjoying a drink in a hotel bar, when who should walk through the door but the Mum of a dancer we knew well. Might not sound so unusual except we live in UK, she lives in Australia and we came face to face in France.

As for Damian - he is nowhere near as strong as the other dwts pros. His Latin is ok, but his ballroom was very poor. Awful thought ...... is scd are looking to 'pinch' dwts pros, Damian could well be the one dwts would let go .... Please no!!!

When i watched a programme about the PCD (could've been E! true hollywood story, but can't remember for sure) they said that all the girls were trained dancers except Nicole, she was hired because she was a great singer and very talented, meaning she could pick up the dances. Now i don't have a trained eye so i couldn't tell but i do wonder if the others were better dancers and i just didn't notice. I took this as being true as the programme was on ages ago, long before DWTS so there was no reason to lie about Nicole

I seen an early Pussycat dolls documentary and she wasn't a great dancer when she first started. Obviously she picked up a lot from then. I doubt she is a better dancer than some of the older Pussycat dolls members. The red head dancer is the best dancer in Pussycat dolls imo.

The Pussycat dolls have been around for 15 years as a burlesque troupe . Nicole won a spot for the girl group Eden's Crush on the US version of popstars. Pussycat dolls had been on a few tv shows with rubbish singers and then they stole Nicole the lead singer of Eden's Crush in 2003.

Maks choreographs and coaches Chelsea Clinton's wedding dance.

http://www.overthelimit.info/enterta...e-stars-coach/

Article about the start of rehearsals

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...-partners.html

Poor Mark Ballas, another losing series for him, that Palin looks like one big lump who doesn't know her foot from her hips.

Why do these DWTS producers keep wasting such talent as Mark with losers??