Not usually one to start threads on here, but after watching the show tonight it seems to be coming clearer that while dancers like Austin and Tom are proving their versatility in Latin and Ballroom, fast and slow dances, Rachel seems very much to have demonstrated excellence only in the slow tempo dances, and is unable to 'sell' a more uptempo dance.

Thinking back over the last few weeks which have seen Rachel become very much one of the front runners in the competition: she has excelled successively in the Rumba, the Foxtrot and now the Waltz. Quite rightly she received high marks for all these dances, though I'd question whether the Foxtrot really was worth a perfect 40. Anyhow, when it came to the Paso tonight, it looked as if it was back to the Rachel of earlier in the series. While technically competent, she was again less confident in a more extrovert, uptempo dance, and was unable to communicate anything of the essential drama of the Paso to the audience. I'm wondering if she's been fortunate to have a run of dances that simply suited her personality and style and that have propelled her to the forefront of the judges thinking - and maybe that good fortune came to an tonight with the Paso. Or does anyone think she can yet learn to 'sell' a big, uptempo 'wow' dance that will win over both judges and the public?

I just cannot take to her for some reason. She leaves me stone cold.

I believe Rachel's fast Latin numbers are competent, but her strength lies in the softer, more tender dances.

She's still good at both though.

She doesnt entertain me at all, neither does Lisa.

if she stays shes got tango and cha cha next week. Neither dance is graceful or elegant so if she is a one trick pony (i dont think she is) she will struggle a lot next week.

No more than Mark (series 4 winner), for example, was a 'one-trick pony'. It's just ridiculous hype and exaggeration that weakens any point that you may be trying to make.

Like most celebs Rachel has strengths and weaknesses. The picture is distorted by the fact that the judges at this stage of the competition are being quite generous with their marks which may make her earlier up-tempo dances seem less well executed than they really were.

I see what the OP means but it's still one hell of a trick!

A one trick pony - absolutely not; but imo she does fail to engage the public.

I think one trick pony is a bit harsh, particularly since her software was upgraded.

She missed the "humanising" download, unfortunately for her.

I'd like you to point out exactly what it is in my original post that is ridiculously hyped or exaggerated.

Actually, I thought it was a myth that Mark was no good at ballroom, though he took a long time to sort out his posture. IMO he still managed to 'sell' a variety of different styles pretty effectively, even if his Latin was clearly his strength. Plus he was equally good at slow tempo dances like the AT as he was at uptempo like the Salsa - two all-time great SCD performances.

But the point is that Rachel is up against three other dancers who have shown strength in both fast and slow dances, and I'm not convinced that she has shown the same versatility - it's not an anti-Rachel diatribe, just pointing out something that may be a factor that will stop her going all the way this year, unless of course she manages to turn it around, which would be great.
Last edited by Paperbag_Writer : 29-11-2008 at 22:08

Does it matter though because the judges will put her through to the final.

Potentially she could have had the lowest public vote since her AS week so what the point of her being in the final? Because with two the public choose who wins regardless of the judges.

When arlene said "Alesha Dixon"
If that was me i'd be like WOOHOO going mad, she just went "wow"
What a bore

Come on - she did really well with the Salsa the QS and the AS which was quick. I think her samba was more than okay as well. She's very very good at the slow dances, but she's certainly not a one trick pony. I wish the public could appreciate how hard she tries and how well she's done. IMHO she's a lovely dancer but I fear the public don't rate her. Oddly for a pop star, she's not 'flashy' really, perhaps that's it.

I have to agree

Comparing Rachel to Alesha is like comparing a skoda to a ferrari imo. Stupid comparisan for Arlene to make.

So...let's get this straight...you're trying to suggest that Arlene was making a stupid comparison by comparing that comparison to a skoda vs a ferrari? Do you not see the problem there?

Even if you have a point, you've gone completely the wrong way about making it.

I nominate that the post of the night.

But I'm on the Rachel's boring side of the fence, sorry! I try to like her, I really do, but either she bores me with the sweet, shy lickle Rachel routine, come on Vincent you can do much better than that head on the shoulder thing or she just doesn't perform.

She's a lovely person, warm, kind, friendly, but something just happens when she goes onto the dancefloor, my mind wanders, I find myself being distracted by all sorts of things - the audience, her shoes, her hair and then an hour later I don't remember a thing she did.

Just what I thought! Seems a fair post to me - and I don't think she will get the faster latin dances sorted.

I dont buy the shy little rachel. Have seen her writhing around half naked miming to one of her bland tracks. I think shes just bland basiclly. She doesnt conect with the public and wont win.

Actually it wasn't! I think that technically Rachel is on a par with Alesha. However, where Alesha was loud and bubbly Rachel is quiet and reserved and I think that is the main difference between the two girls. I was one of the few on here that wasn't "wowed by any of Alesha's dances but, Rachel's Rumba and VW will be routines I know I'll still be watching on Youtube for many series to come.

Absolutely.

Alesha was vibrant and attacked the dancefloor, Rachel is more soft and timid. Both are endearing in ther own ways.

Alesha was fantastic, but she's not untouchable.

I know it was her first dance, but I adored Rachel's salsa.

You could equally argue that the other top dancers all have had weeks when they fell of the horse and she is still on her pony. Her worst mark is higher and her top is higher. Her problem is acting right in some dances but thats largely random. Tom gets fewer marks for worse acting some weeks and more others. Austin's panto performance tonight got 10s and looked far more incredible than Rachel. The boys still have big holes in their dancing (over acting or lack of acting and technique and anything Latin can bite them) and although Lisa is deemed to have filled her holes in I wouldn't be at all surprised to see her vanish down one in the next couple of weeks.

Everything to play for. Much depends on who gets what dance and who gets the bad slots on the shows when the viewers are still arriving. Much also depends on who gets one really good dance that week for the dance off. A one trick pony with a big trick will beat a big horse with two lesser tricks to chose from in the dance off.

but she's up against Tom and Lisa and Christine and Austin who are hardly any more interesting ... and not Alesha, Jill, Mark or Darren.

Because a final without the best dancers there (which may include Rachel or not ) isn't made exciting by the fact that anyone could win it. An all male final - asuming they are the two most popular - could be less competitive and all it might tell us is which male has had most votes since day one or which gets the hunkometer vote . That may be some people's idea of ideal TV viewing but its not necessarily close or exciting or anything much to do with what happens on the night. Its true that people might not vote for the female regardless of how well they dance but its hardly a recommendation for wheeling on someone less good as they might win for being less good.