Tom's salsa had me bursting with joy. How he was able to learn all those arm sections and intricate steps in just one week is astonishing. His hip movements were the best I've seen for a male celeribity. I particularly like the section when he danced on his own side by side with Camilla, swept his foot, jumped and then grabbed Camilla. He was like a peacock performing for the crowd and I loved it. I love a man who shows off for the crowd, if he can really dance - John Travolta, Satuday Night Fever style.

I liked it as well.

It was a bit chaotic though i couldnt keep up, maybe that means it was good though!

I thought it was good but a bit yukky at the same time!

I don't dance salsa so no idea if it was good technically or not, but whatever, it was great fun, and no one can say he didn't put a lot of energy into it. At times I felt Tom looked more like the pro than Camilla who occasionally looked a bit lost!

I thought it was great, very entertaining to watch. He has come along leaps and bounds i do enjoy watching him, he looks a natural.
Last edited by water_carrier : 17-11-2008 at 16:12

He enjoys it so much, it's infectious. It looks like he has danced before. I wonder if he has.

According to a Sunday paper magazine that was published before the show began, they introduced Tom as "going to cut a dashing figure in lycra and hear he can do a mean tap dance" (Apparently they were Tess's words).

Tap might not be ballroom & latin, but any previous dance experience is always a bonus when learning a new form of dance.

That explains his natural rhythm. He is a natural though.

I thought he was great. I don't like him normally but I really enjoyed his salsa.

This shows how a difference of opinion can arise even when a dancer is 'good'. I didn't like Tom's Salsa despite the armography (as Craig calls it) or the hips. For me Tom moves in a way that I can only describe as a mincing. Many of his dances are also spoilt for me by his facial expressions.

Go into youtube and type in 'Tom Chambers Tap Dancing With Drums' and you can see how well he can dance (albeit tap).
I saw this video before Strictly started and I thought it was a bit unfair to the other zelebs that he could dance that well already. Still like his performances, though.

I have mixed feelings on Tom's performances so far but easily my favourite was his quick step & that last few secs Fred Astaire like performance on the stage to finish it off was superb!

Tap is nothing like ballroom or latin. Yes he learned some moves from watching fred astaire but so can you or I do that.

Poor Camilla has to keep up with him. Her being 34 shes probably the oldest woman standing now.

I really enjoyed the routine and I never got Craigs comment. I loved the look Camilla gave Tom though. Thats the look they need in their dances.

I thought it was fantastic and came on the boards thinking all would be raving with me but alas no

I think a lot of people are put off by his facial expressions - Craig did him no favours labelling him smug after his first dance. But, as someone on the BBC dance teacher threads said, "Craig needs to learn the difference between confidence and smugness".

I love watching him dance and I never feel nervous that he'll make a mistake - *touches all wooden surfaces in sight*.

It's encouraging that some on the forum are changing their minds about him. I don't think he's smug - just a nice normal enthusiastic guy with loads of natural talent.

I watched it on the fixed camera and I thought it really wasn't that good, they were out of time with each other for the first half and Spinaker was right, he minced through it. I really didn't enjoy it and it was vastly overmarked imo. He has done much better dances and I think he's better at ballroom.

But hey, that's what SCD is all about! Some enjoy the dance, some don't.

Which just goes to show the fixed camera view often gives a very different impression , more similar to the judges and studio audience .