...just a bit more exciting "chucking-about-in-the-air" moves like Dancing with the Stars does? I mean, don't get me wrong, I think the American show is very OTT and you often lose out on the skillful dancing if there are too many lifts.....but just a couple would be nice? I am sure Strictly used to have more lifts??

I don't think they were ever allowed to do lifts...Brendan and Paul Killick have done them regardless though. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of? They do lifts in the American Smooth.

I'm sure someone will come along who knows about the real world of dancing, but it is my understanding that there is a difference in what is acceptable in a competition with certain (if not all) dances in different parts of the world, particularly in the USA - I have no idea what the differences are or what happens at World Championships. Or maybe DWTS just has its own rules!

Hmmm...I'm no dance expert but, I think they do American Ballroom (?) on DWTS which is why they are out of hold a lot during the ballroom routines. SCD is English Ballroom, which is a bit more strict. I don't think they are supposed to do lifts in the traditional ballroom and latin routines in DWTS either - I'm sure Carrie Ann penalised Cody and Edyta for an accidental lift in one of their routines...

I remember the lift you mean and she said something like "You know no lifts are allowed until after week 7".

I turned on DWTS tonight (I'm watching the final as I type) and I think Warren was dancing the VW and I though it was his Rumba! They are definitely out of hold MUCH more than in the UK.

I am just watching the DWTS final just now. They are actually doing hip-hop!!! Seriously, they are spending more time in the air than on the floor!

I didn't watch it (really don't like it, I love the dances in hold), but recently DWTS did a jitterbug section - is that what you are talking about OP? I think they were allowed lifts in this.

Otherwise, they're not supposed to do lifts either.

I can't believe they did hip hop in the final! Why didn't they do something that showed what they had been learning for the last 9 weeks???? Madness.

Do you like it?

I've found I'm a real stick-in-the-mud, and much prefer the English style ballroom, it makes the American Smooth feel slightly more special.

Well they did a group hip-hop dance... Cloris and Susanne were dreadful.

I thought is was all dreadful, but Cloris was the worst LOL!

I much prefer our dancing! In DWTS the time they have to dance doesn't leave enough time after the fancy intro and finish for them to dance 'properly () for long enough. There's too much messing about as Len would say on DWTS. I normally record DWTS and FF through everything except the dances and the judges comments/scores, but I'm in on my own tonight and there's nothing else on!

I do the same - can't be doing with the cheese! It all feels very plastic, fake and Hollywood. (I also hate the way Len is the "mean" judge.)

And I can't stand the costumes! They're so silly - just because you're doing a dramatic paso, doesn't mean you have to wear a goth outfit! (Sorry - rant over! )

I'm wandering around doing stuff while it is on - that's how exciting the DWTS final is.

Must admit though that routine by Cody and Julianne is one of my favourites!

I'd love her to join DWTS.

I'm off to bed with the recorder on - can't be bothered to watch until 11.40pm!
Last edited by BuddyBontheNet : 28-11-2008 at 22:59

Dancing on ice allows lots of really dangerous lifts and throws.

Lifts are illegal in most dances. The Americans are obviously flouting the rules.

DWTS always seems so frenetic to me. Everything is done at ten times the pace; I find it jarring.

They use props quite a bit too, or at least I remember seeing a few used. Wasn't there an umbrella in one dance? It's all a bit showy really.

Generally a point on lifts. I do get excited about ones like the Flavia and Vincent one the other week in the group dance, but mostly I'm not crazy about them. I'd rather see spectacular dancing on the floor. I know they are difficult and holding frame in the air must be challenging, but I never understand what all the fuss with lifts is about. I agree in the AS they can be pretty impressive, but sometimes they look ungainly or are just thrown in to do a lift; not because they fit the choreography. It's why I was glad to see some decent showdances last year which had a lot of dance content, whereas in SCD4 I seem to remember just lift after lift. Yawn.

Less Dick......ds starting really dull threads!! (not particularly this one)

JJ