While I wouldn't class myself as an enthusiast I have been to a few Salsa clubs in my time. I love Salsa and was genuinely excited when it was included as an exhibition dance in SCD3, and showed up as a competitive dance the following series.

But having seen a few Salsas on SCD (with Austin's last night being the final straw). I think it's time the Salsa was dropped. Many of the pros admit they have little experience of Salsa dancing. The Judges seem unsure about what criteria to apply to it (Latin American arms, upright shoulders vs ill defined arms and sloping shoulders). Despite the contoversy surrounding Len giving a 10 to John and Nicole's Salsa last year. This remains the only Salsa I have seen that looked ANYTHING like a Salsa on the show(and yes I'm including Mark and Karen's if nothing else for the poor music choice.....you can't argue with Tito Fuentes in my opinion). Let the pros stick to what they know and do well than do some of the guesswork that is masquerading as dancing in Salsa right now

What did you think of Heather and Brian's salsa in Week 2?

I agree, Ravensborough.

Heather and Brian's Salsa was fantastic. A true Salsa.

My favourite Strictly dance ever is John and Nicole's salsa and i've found anyone who knows anything about salsa likes it and people who are technically knowledgeable about ballroom/latin think it was overmarked.

Maybe they could have a selection of dances like swing, salsa and mambo the pro can choose the one that suits their celebrity.

I didn't notice anyone having this sentiment when Ramps was dancing.

I don't know what he was actually dancing - but for excitement Geth's salsa was what had me up off the sofa and whooping with joy!

couldn't agree more it is time Salsa was dropped I am fed up watching a Samba influenced dance performed as a Salsa - even Mark and Karen's was far more Samba than Salsa

I am frankly bored of this series now they should keep to the time length of DWTS reduce the couples and ONLY use the Ballroom and Latin dances that the Pro dancers are actually qualified to do

You know what?....I can't remember it Which means it didn't particularly stick out for me. I shall have to look it up on Youtube to refresh my memory. Although I do remember Brian Fortuna saying on ITT that Salsa is a relatively new dance and was a nightclub dance that many of the pros had little experience of

You're quite right. I had forgotten about Gethin's Salsa. Proper Salsa music and some great partner dancing. But I didn't mean this thread as praise or criticism for any particular pro or celeb. Rather a re-evaluation of the format. With SCD getting bigger every year I don't think the introduction of new dances (especially ones the pros aren't familiar with) enhances the show. I would rather see the Waltz (my least favourite dance) performed a dozen times and performed well than watch a bad Salsa even once. And believe me there an awful lot of bad salsas popping up

I agree it's time for it to go. Including any dance the professionals don't know well or use regularly seems silly and it's never looks as good, to me, as the other dances.

I'm no expert but I think the Salsa is great. Keep the Salsa and get rid of the Rumba !

The Rumba is one of the 10 recognised Ballroom/Latin dances, so I doubt that would be got rid of. The thing with the Salsa which bugs me, as everyone else has said, is that the pros often have never danced it before, which means they have to get other people to choreograph their dances for them (Matt and Flavia's was choreographed by Salsa experts I believe).

The salsa is a social dance. It's about dancing with your partner. I don't think it lends itself to competition dancing terribly well.

We never seem to see much actual salsa content in SCD.

Fine, I will bow to your superior knowledge on that one.
As I have said, I'm no expert..but is it possible to quickly coach a male amateur into giving an impressive Rumba routine ?
I ask because it does seem that series after series it is the weakest routine for the the guys...and most of the girls as well, to be fair.

You mean a Salsa pro chereographed that pile of horse manure!!!!. After Claire King's Salsa in SCD4 that is my most hated Salsa that I have seen in SCD. Especially that shoulder shimmy he does in front of Arlene. It was absolute dross

I don't think they should include any dances that the SCD pros don't choreograph. If you can bring in an expert, then why not do that for most of the dances? Seems to defeat the point. I'd happily get rid of the AT too - all that wafting legs around and sleazy bar stuff just looks dull and vaguely embarrassing unless done very well. I also think it gives Vincent and Flavia a huge advantage. By all means keep it in as a showdance, but not in the competition. This will not happen, of course, because sex and cringeworthy embarrassment sell.

Could not agree more re the AT - I love the dance but again like Salsa with the exception of Vincent and Flavia it is not a dance the professtionals normally do

I hate the way the non latin/ballroom qualified judges think the ballroom tango should tell a story like AT - something it should not

Having a story does make the dance more interesting and also different from all the other tangoes. After all there are weeks when half the contestants are dancing it.

ROFL at "sex and cringeworthy embarrassment sell"