Kristina is the first professional dancer I can remember changing the dances dramatically to best suit her partners abilities.

The last 2 dances have been very different from the way the dances are traditionally performed but they have ensured John hasn't made a fool of himself by attempting something that is completely beyond him.

If you compare that to Mark Foster - Hayley's choreography has been more about how the dance should be performed rather than Mark's abilities.

Would Mark still be here if he and John were with opposite partners?

Personally I am loving what Kristina is doing. I know the dances aren't strictly correct and that is why the judges as marking them down so much. But they come across to the audience much better than a traditional choreography performed really badly.

Or am I watching John through rose tinted specs???

I like Kristina a lot...but I have definite reservations about the fairness of what she's doing and I think the judges are showing themselves up as real hypocrites as far as this couple is concerned.

I'm not blaming Kristina....particularly as she's clearly getting away with it. She's just doing the best for her partner. It's the judges - including some of the armchair ones - that are guilty of double standards.

to be honest i can't imagine Kristina with anyone but John this year, shes brilliant with him and so patient. I agree about the choreography too.
I do really want her to have an Austin or Matt Di sort next year as seeing her dancing with Brian she is an amazing dancer and could probably do some brilliant routines with a technically great partner.

I completely agree with you Gooby. Kristina is fantastic and their partnership is one of the best on the show. It strikes me as being something very genuine. She brings out the best in John. I know their Paso wasn't the best (TBH I wasn't particularly overwhelmed by any of the dances on Saturday) but it still told a story. Equally I think James has done very well this year with Cherie, playing on her strengths,not overcomplicating the dance. I know Kristina and John are not the best within the group but I do enjoy watching them. IMO it is not farcical (like Chris Parker). I hope she stays in the show and, as other posters, have said has a partner next year with more dancing ability than John to truly show her choregraphy

I think Kristina is probably struggling to find choreography John can attempt; at best their routines have been very very basic.

If they are being marked badly it is simply because, with the exception of the 1st week his dance was passable, John is dancing really badly. This week he didn't dance a paso at all - he just stomped around the floor, while Kristina danced around him. Even Mark showed real effort.

Most of the pro dancers can manipulate the choreography to suite their celeb partners limits. Ola,Flavia and Matthew are particulary good at this, however it depends on the chemistry/relationship with the celeb. You can't make a silk purse from a celeb you don't click with, like Lilia and Dom last year. Also Matthew seems to be struggling with Christine this year, perhaps that's a case of after the lord mayors show?
Saying that Brendan will just adjust the choreography in such a way that the celeb doesn't make him look bad

I didn't think they were marking it badly, apart from Craig. They seem exceptionally generous to me... how can a Paso that wasn't even a Paso be worth over half marks?

Kristina's choreography is simple but effective.

Her and John will never score 8s, 9s or 10s but they are willing to sacrifice complexity in their routines for performance. And so far, the gamble is paying off

I couldn't agree more. Kristina is amazing.

hee hee hee - I noticed this too. Someone must have had a word though as, since he had his strops over only getting 8s, he has not put a foot wrong. He seems to have taken a bit more of a back seat on the live shows.

TBH I think nearly all the pros are good at choreographing routines that suit their celebs well - I've always particularly admired Lilia's ability to get a good-looking performance out of even the most wooden of partners. My notable exception to this is Karen, who I always think is as much about showing herself off on the floor as she is about dancing with a celebrity.

We should, however, remember that the celebs can also bow to the wishes of their partner when putting stuff together (remember Kelly Brook nagging Brendan into the cape in the paso doble!)

With the most training hours and the sportsman's 'achieve as much as you can' attitude, I bet Mark was saying to Hayley, 'no, don't make it simple, I can learn to do this, this and this if you think it'd look better and I want to learn as much as possible about dancing while I'm here'.

Whereas John's probably saying 'darling, I'm having a lovely time but it's clear I've got three left feet, you do whatever you like and I'll enjoy watching you'

Or there's an arrangement/agreement that If John gets them through to the next round he can watch Kristina shower after their practice sessions

[quote=trunkster;28371099]Or there's an arrangement/agreement that If John gets them through to the next round he can watch Kristina shower after their practice sessions[/QUOTE]

*Shudder*

I think that some of the professional dancers have been very clever with their choreography. In the past I have greatly admired Lillia, Erin and Karen to show off their celebrities to the best advantage. This year I think Kristina has been amazing. I know John isn't a great dancer - but at least she has stopped him from looking ridiculous, by keeping the dances simple yet engaging.

I think Mark may have done better with another professional and I actually think Lillia would have been great for him.

I think Ola took a bit of notice of that approach this week, and crafted a simple routine, but one Andrew could accomplished pretty well, (plus no 'comedy' move - although headbutting in a VW would have been memorable )

I don't think she has 'dramtically changed' any of the dances she and John have done. She has, wisely, mostly stuck to standard basics.

James is doing the same with Cherie and Brian with Heather.

To me, this is the test of the pro dancers - whether they will make the celeb fit the routine, (as Brendan has) or make the routine fit the celeb.

Depends who you have. If you have a half wit at dancing then simplify things (thats why Gary went Karen!!). If you have a potential winner then really test them and put them through some difficult moves to impress judges, audeince, fans, me...

That's what I'm getting at. You have to be realistic and choreograph according to the celebs ability. If they can't do the flashy, spectacular steps in say the Rumba, then invest time in perfecting beautiful basic steps and choreograph a stunningly simple Rumba like James did for Cherie.

What you shouldn't do is what Vincent did with Louisa - which was to construct a stupefyingly fast Quickstep, with lots of Vincent trademarks, but which left Louise desperately clinging on and trying to keep up!

This year is showing just how good last year was.............

It should also be remembered that the pros don't ALWAYS put the choreography together themselves; they are quite a liberty to bring in outside teachers - eg a Latin dancer will bring in a ballroom teacher - to teach both themselves AND their celeb!

The only one I am aware of is the Argentinian Tango as many pros have never done it before.

Darren got in shouty salsa man to choreograph his salsa with Emma

I disagree. I think Lilia is also excellent at doing that.

Or Chris Marques, as he's usually known.

I agree - especially in their first week, why start the routine with their backs to the audience where he couldn't see Karen? It was no wonder he went wrong - it must have been obvious in training he was going to struggle so she should have simplified things for him.