Russell Grant & Flavia Cacace - Salsa

Well Russell's certainly not shy, but his initial hip rolls are pretty awful, better once they start dancing.  Needs to try and use the floor more and I worry that it's lacking a little of the impact that he brought last week.

Some nice movements in there but yet another proof that you shouldn't be mucking around with props.

Only a 5 from me this week, not as entertaining as last week I'm afraid.

Craig: 6 "It wasn't without flaws...dancing queen you were tonight definitely"
Len: 6 "What it lacked in technique and content it made up for in fun"
Alesha: 6 "You are adorable...clearly having the time of your life"
Bruno: 7 "Finish the show on a high"

Total Score: 25

Nancy Dell'Olio & Anton Du Beke - Salsa

An uncomfortable start and her timing and footwork is all over the place.  Anton's doing his best to keep her under control, I must admit it's not as bad as I'd originally expected but the technique is pretty awful.

She needs to stand up straighter and let Anton lead...I'm going to give her a 5 as I'm feeling generous.

Craig: 3 "Frenetic, frantic, frenzied"
Len: 5 "Most exciting part was when I took a crafty glance up your dress...ploughed on and kept going"
Alesha: 2 "I can't work out if you were trying to be funny, or if it just was funny...I'm confused"
Bruno: 4 "You look like you've had two gallons [of champagne]...looked like you had no idea where you were"

Total Score: 14

Anita Dobson & Robin Windsor - Salsa

A bit of a stumble but they're quick to get back into routine, though Anita's confidence looks to have been knocked.

It's a real shame as they started really well but some of the later sequences just seem to have lost the fire.

A cheeky performance but lost it halfway, just a 6 from me.

Craig: 7 "I thought you danced it brilliantly"
Len: 7 "A few incidents...having said that, I thought it was fantastic"
Alesha: 7 "So much fun I don't care about the mistake"
Bruno: 7 "A tropical tutti-frutti cocktail...went on the wrong foot a couple of times...who cares"

Total Score: 28

Rory Bremner & Erin Boag - Salsa

A bit out of time at the start but a great smile. Needs to stand up straighter and I feel there are points when Rory's just standing around waiting for his turn.

Salsa is a very difficult dance though, and along with the Foxtrot, I think they're both too early in the competition.

A good performance but not great, just a 6 from me.

Craig: 4 "Like a rat caught on a sticky strip...dancing way too heavily on the floor"
Len: 6 "Not a natural dance for an Englishman...flaunt our wobbly bits...you gave it a go"
Alesha: 6 "Straight in, no messing about...loved the shimmying"
Bruno: 6 "Full frontal attack, full of energy...you went wrong...gotta keep the flow going"

Total Score: 22

Holly Valence & Artem Chigvintsev - Salsa

Not sure on the head movements and her steps are still a bit too big for my liking but I do feel a lot more energy this week...though I still feel there's something missing from the performance.

Her arms can be a bit lazy at times but it wasn't bad still don't think I can give it more than a 7 though at this stage.

Craig: 7 "Some timing issues...great hip rotation...whole routine really great"
Len: 7 "You wanted to go faster...kept losing the timing...I thought it was great"
Alesha: 8 "You move your body so well...only thing for me is please just let go"
Bruno: 8 "You are a stunner...still have a few gremlins that you have to work out"

Total Score: 30

Dan Lobb & Katya Virshilas - Salsa

No, why on earth do the flip at the start, feels a bit 'dad at a wedding' and the outfit doesn't help.

Another routine that really doesn't feel like a Salsa, and the lifts are just a complete distraction.

I'm afraid it didn't really feel like a dance, more like a show dance, and I really didn't see much hip action from Dan.  Again the whole movement needed to be a lot more compact.  Just a 5 from me.

Craig: 4 "Thank you for the smile...rest of it unfortunately was lumpestuos (whatever that means)"
Len: 6 "Was a little bit penguinish...I reckon this is the one dance that is going to least suit you"
Alesha: 6 "I don't think my mum would think that was unattractive...flip at the beginning was really brave"
Bruno: 5 "Like Bob the Builder...lumbering and heavy...good effort but not good results"

Total Score: 21

Audley Harrison & Natalie Lowe - Salsa

I still feel it's a bit too disco and not enough Salsa, Audley still looks flat footed as he moves around.  Plenty of personality but he must avoid looking down.

Some really good spins but Audley needs to take smaller steps and try to control his body better.

Not a bad Salsa but just a 6 from me.

Craig: 5 "Very flat footed but I'm not surprised with those size feet...but two good things...groove going...bit of hip rotation"
Len: 6 "It's easy for a big guy to look clumsy but you didn't...neat...nicely placed...did a great job"
Alesha: 6 "Lit up the room...tried so hard...lots of improving to still do...I enjoyed it."
Bruno: 6 "You can do it...more like disco night...lost a little bit of the style...energy was great"

Total Score: 23

Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev - Salsa

Energetic start though not sure on the outfit.  Good floor spin but I think they've chosen the outfit to mask a lack of hip action.

Chelsee looks a little tired near the end and I think there was maybe a bit too much choreography, not enough time for Chelsee to perfect her technique.

I expected better but I think that was more the choreography than her performance.  Just a 7 from me.

Craig: 7 "A little bit bouncy for me and unearthed...I really absolutely loved the alternating underarm spins"
Len: 7 "You came out and it was full-on...calm down dear, it was too full-on a little bit...but it was great"
Alesha: 8 "Fun, flirty and fearless...beginning section was so impressive...do need to watch your control"
Bruno: 7 "You have the energy of a wild kitten...underarm passes good...put everything you've got into it"

Total Score: 29

Strictly Come Dancing Week 2 Rehearsals

So week 2 of Strictly is upon us, and there's a new round of training videos to pour over.  I've watched training videos on It Takes Two from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as the above video for my comments.

This year they have removed the dance off (stupid idea if you ask me) so it's all down to audience votes to get someone off the bottom of the table, everyone's going to have to work hard to entertain this year.


Lulu & Brendan Cole - Foxtrot

Lulu and Brendan are doing Foxtrot this week, the first video (from Wednesday) looked a little loose but, as Ian Waite points out, she's managing her heel turns quite well.

I'm concerned that Brendan appears to be choreographing more parts of the routine out of hold - given Lulu's struggle last week with remembering the routine I would really recommend giving her the safety of hold.

The video above though shows a nice section in hold and hopefully Lulu will do much better this week.



Robbie Savage & Ola Jordan - Foxtrot

Robbie needs to be much smoother with his rise and fall, and needs to track his leg action better - also less stomping would be ideal.

Thursday's training starts to look a little softer but still a lot of work to do.  The kick action (with Ola kicking towards Robbie) looks pretty bad at the moment if I'm honest.

Should be an ok Foxtrot though, Robbie will be safe for a week at least.



Edwina Currie & Vincent Simone - Foxtrot

Nice arm extensions developing but does need to be aware of her free hand at all times.

There's a large gap between them during training and they really need to try and keep the body contact during hold.  

Final video above looks a lot better but it will come down to popularity and I'm not sure how hers is.



Alex Jones & James Jordan - Foxtrot

Alex looks a little uncomfortable in hold at the moment, she does need to give herself a bit more space in the frame.

A common problem for the ladies is the arms getting tired and then 'hanging' on the guy, let's hope James' workout routine for her starts to pay off.

Needs to make sure she doesn't lift the foot off the ground like she does at around 10 seconds on the video.  I still think Alex has a long way to go but should survive tonight.



Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff - Foxtrot

Well after his great start to the weekend it's good to see a wonderful Foxtrot developing - just keep the bum in Jason when you step back!

Thursday's training video shows Jason is still struggling with keeping his bum in.

Looking very good in the above video though, could keep his position at the top if he keeps this up.



Dan Lobb & Katya Virshilas - Salsa

I think the trainers in their first training video are seriously hampering his movement - try to train in more appropriate gear Dan, it'll help tremendously.

I'm not sold on lifts in the Salsa, especially this early in the series, and I'm worried that the routine may be a little too complex for Dan at the moment - he'd look better spending more time in hold.

All a bit too big and Dan looks a little messy if I'm honest.



Chelsee Healey & Pasha Kovalev - Salsa

Chelsee straight away on Wednesday showing how great her hip action is, this could be special.

The Thursday training doesn't really show us too much, though you can start to see some nice sharp turns developing.

Friday's preview is looking really good, still a few bits that need tidying up, and I'm assuming she's supposed to do something different with her legs during the spin lift.  Should be another good week for Chelsee though, but I can't understand why they picked such a slow clip for the video above?!



Audley Harrison & Natalie Lowe - Salsa

Bit concerned from the Wednesday training video that it seems a little bit pop dance rather than salsa dance.

A very nice hip action but Audley needs to ensure he keeps them moving all the time, not just when he's standing still.

Routine seems to have a good turn of speed, but how much of that is just Natalie we will have to wait and see.



Anita Dobson & Robin Windsor - Salsa

Not seeing much in the hip department, another routine that initially seems a bit too pop dancey!

I feel that Anita is going to need to loosen up her body a bit otherwise she may just be a ballroom bunny. For me the routine just feels a little slow and not quite dynamic enough, but they could just be marking it out in rehearsals.



Rory Bremner & Erin Boag - Salsa

Rory is going to need to watch his free arm and his shoulders, as Ian says it just seems a bit too jerky.

Looking better on Thursdays training video but still needs to work more on keeping his shoulders down. 

Sections where they're in hold do look good though so let's hope the majority of the routine is in hold.



Russell Grant & Flavia Cacace - Salsa

After their training video last week, which left me very worried, then their excellently entertaining Cha Cha I think Russell is one you just have to wait for the performance from.

I'm seeing a feather boa, could be risky given Nancy's problems last week, but Russell brings more camp than I thought possible in a Salsa.



Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani - Foxtrot

Harry needs to make sure he doesn't allow his elbows to go behind his shoulders when in hold and also needs to stretch away from her to give them both space.

Other than that he's looking quite good but I prefer my Foxtrots to more swing music than pop music.



Holly Valence & Artem Chigvintsev - Salsa

Holly really needs to work on keeping her eyes up. They haven't really shown a lot of her training but she needs to ensure that her arms are accentuating the movements of her body, not replacing them.



Nancy Dell'Olio & Anton Du Beke - Salsa

Only one thing's worse than the stomping around the floor, and that's the waddle in her Cucaracha, seriously Nancy would be better off not moving her hips than doing that!

Her movement is far too deliberate, I would have expected her to be able to move a lot more naturally than that.

Nancy is in very great danger of being the first home, especially after last week's fiasco.  Video footage above shows improvement in her Cucaracha hips, but still far too deliberate in her Mambo section.



For me I'd say that Nancy and Edwina could both be in trouble this week, I think Russell is too much entertainment to go out in the first few weeks.  There is still a lot of work required from quite a few of the celebrities though.

Jason Donovan & Kristina Rihanoff - Cha Cha Cha

I've often considered acquiring a neck brace to torture my students with, Jason's performance tonight may make my mind up for me.

Russell may have performed 'the campest Cha Cha Strictly's ever seen' but Jason wouldn't be far behind after that start.  Some nice hip action though, but he does get out of step on his Natural Top.  His backward locks could be a bit softer but there's a lot of energy there and a very good first dance.

I'm going to give him a 7.

Craig: 8 "Bonsa, beauty" and a few other Aussie phrases that I couldn't quite understand!
Len: 8 "Best dance of the night"
Alesha: 8 "Fantastic"
Bruno: 8 "Jason Donovan is in Cha Cha Charge...now Strictly's in business"

Total Score: 32

So top score of the weekend, don't quite agree with it myself but Jason has definitely come out of the blocks flying.

Edwina Currie & Vincent Simone - Cha Cha Cha

Edwina had quite a good hip action developing in training so I hope to see more of that tonight, not sure on the outfit they've put her in though.

She needs to avoid picking her feet up quite so dramatically, and the floor spin for Vincent is definitely a departure.  A lot of repetition in the routine which is a shame.  It's a little bit forced at times but you can't compare her to Ann Widdecombe thankfully.

It was fun but only a 5 from me I'm afraid.

Craig: 2
Len: 5 "Great fun and you danced it with full-on confidence"
Alesha: 5 "Pitched that perfectly...actually quite a good bit of rhythm"
Bruno: 5 "The old cougar got to dance with the toy boy...bit flat footed and messy, but fun"

Total Score: 17

Alex Jones & James Jordan - Cha Cha Cha

So no explanation for the change in dance order, maybe the BBC just decided they fancied a change (Alex and James were originally scheduled to dance last night but were swapped with Holly and Artem at the last minute)?

Not sure on the 'sexy' start, doesn't strike me as Alex's personality and actually this routine's start shares a lot with James' Rumba routine with Cherie Lunghi (only notice because I recently helped a wedding couple recreate it for their first dance).

Alex's leg action doesn't look as sharp as it could be and she's taking too big a step for my liking, there's also a bit too much of her standing around rather than dancing.  Just a 6 from me.

Craig: 4 "One foot should remain on the floor at all times...looked incongruous...very starchy, very stiff"
Len: 6 "Parts that were really good...few that were nearly good...first time out, excellent job"
Alesha: 6 "I thought it was fun and flirty...got the package, just got to really believe in you"
Bruno: 6 "Believe in yourself, go for it all the way"

Total Score: 22

Harry Judd & Aliona Vilani - Cha Cha Cha

Harry's the only celebrity competitor with prior Strictly experience, but Paso is completely different from Cha Cha so I don't think it's a massive advantage.

I'm liking this Argentine Tango inspired start, Harry's definitely looking good and it's a massive improvement over any of Friday's Cha Cha's.

A bit too much 'arm on the waistcoat' positioning, obviously he wasn't confident having his arms out, or Aliona decided he really didn't look good doing it.

Harry suffers from the same ailment as the girls from last night, spending a bit too much time looking at the floor.  Hips are a little rigid but leg placement and sharpness is good, I can see why the bookies have Harry down as the favourite.

A very good Cha Cha from Harry.  I'd like to see a bit more from his arms and hips so not quite an 8 for me but definitely a 7.

Craig: 6 "For me too placed, too clean, too straight...lacked any real forward and back hip action"
Len: 7 "Little bit mechanical but I'll tell you what...good you are"
Alesha: 8 "I love how focused you were...working the sexy, seductive look...Latin really suits you"
Bruno: 7 "Very fit, tight, muscular & masculine performance...could be a little bit more sinuous"

Total Score: 28

A much more realistic 8 this time Alesha

Russell Grant & Flavia Cacace - Cha Cha Cha

I wonder if all of Russell's songs will be astronomically based...?

A surprisingly good start from Russell with good rhythm and hip action and definitely some sass (though that's normally expected from the girl Russell!)

Needs to be a little less violent with his arm placements in the New Yorks, and he looks a little puffed out though that's purely because he's putting so much energy into it.

I'm actually rather impressed with his Cha Cha, much better than I was expecting!  I don't quite know how to mark this one, a lot more energy than any of the other Cha Cha's but can I really give it a 7...I'm going to cheat and say 6.5!

Craig: 4 "definitely the birth of something...certainly wasn't Venus"
Len: 5 "don't worry about Robbie Savage and Audley, this is macho!"
Alesha: 6 "let's go clubbing together...he's the man to get the party going"
Bruno: 6 "it's like watching Frankie Howard doing banarama...couldn't be camper if you tried"

Total Score: 21

Robbie Savage & Ola Jordan - Cha Cha Cha

Robbie looked to struggle with the Cha Cha in training and a hoodie outfit doesn't fill me with the greatest of confidence...surely that should have been in Audley's outfit?!

It's started more like a Paso Doble than a Cha Cha and like a lot of Ola's routines seems to consist of the guy standing there whilst she dances around him, but I can't blame her.

Needs to make is Cha Cha action smaller and not stomp quite so much.  Didn't really feel like a 'cheeky' Cha Cha and probably just a 5 for me.

Scores:

Craig: 2 "All about a look...absolutely no dancing...standing there with Ola dancing round you isn't what I'd call a Cha Cha Cha"
Len: 6 "was a tendency for you to stand there...came out with plenty of attack"
Alesha: 6 "'A' for effort...lot of room for potential growth"
Bruno: 5 "Robbie, you savage...left the Cha Cha completely ravaged...got to put the dancing in"

Total Score: 19

Lulu & Brendan Cole - Cha Cha Cha

Lulu was "devastated" to get Brendan according to Brucie, but I'm sure it was all for the cameras!

Theirs was one of the first training videos we saw, and it looked quite good then so I'm looking forward to seeing what 3 weeks has added to it.

Oh dear Brendan, why did you have to start the dance with a lift when you know it's against the rules!

Lulu's looking a little unsteady on her feet and is out of sync with Brendan at times and has obviously forgotten the routine.

A disappointing, though comical performance but I'm going to have to give it a 4 I'm afraid :-(

Scores:

Craig: 2 "A complete dance diz-aster...you made it up from beginning to end"
Len: 5 "Nothing to shout about...great expectations...cannot go wrong that's the first rule"
Alesha: 5 "Thanks for getting the party started...I know it went a bit wrong"
Bruno: 5 "It was sing-a-long with Lulu at Wembley Arena...steps went down the toilet"

Total Scores: 17

Holly Valence & Artem Chigvintsev - Cha Cha Cha

As Holly says in her intro, she's dancing with last year's winner so there's definitely a lot of pressure there.  Holly's not looking too bad in training so let's see how the performance goes.

I'd like to see a bit more hip action and a little less posing, Holly also needs to keep her eyes up and stop looking at the floor.

It kind of feels a little lacklustre at times and Holly needs to keep her posture upright.  I can't say the performance was too bad, but neither did it excite me - there didn't seem to be a lot of variety in the routine.

For me I'm going to say a 6 but she does have potential.


Len "It's not the best first dance I've ever seen, but I'll tell you what, it was close"

Craig: 6 "Sharper arm placement...flexed knees throughout...lacked hip action"
Len: 7 "Could have been crisper...leg's need to straighten more"
Alesha: 8 "You are a very good dancer...technique is already at a very high standard"
Bruno: 7 "Flowingly sensuous...needs more bite...go for it because you've got it"

Total 28

As usual I seem to side more with Craig than the other judges, but then students always call me 'bad cop' so I suppose they must be right.

Holly can definitely improve from here but too early for 8's I would say Alesha.

Russell Grant & Flavia Cacace - Strictly Training Video

Oh dear is all I can say, based on the screen shot, let's see if the video makes it any better.

Unfortunately it looks like Russell is definitely the weakest of the opening competitors, but then I don't think Cha Cha was the easiest one for him to be given first.  We'll just have to see how he performs on the night but I think he's going to have an uphill struggle.

Holly Valence & Artem Chigvintsev - Strictly Training Video

Thought I better get the last few training videos up asap before the show starts at 9pm tonight.  First up tonight is Holly Valence & Artem Chigvintsev with their Cha Cha Cha.

Holly has a nice hip and arm action developing but I haven't seen enough of the dancing in this video to make a judgement, however they will be dancing tonight so we'll get to see the result soon enough.

Alex Jones & James Jordan - Strictly Training Video

10 rehearsal videos down, 4 to go.  Yesterday's video was Alex Jones and James Jordan with their Cha Cha Cha training.

We don't really see much of the training in this video, so it's hard to judge how's she's coming along.  The arms still need a lot of work and she's far too rigid at the moment, but we'll have to wait till the live show on Friday (or Saturday) to see how she fares.