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"
Audley has only apparently had 3 days, rather than 3 weeks of rehearsals, so I think this could be a poor performance if he hasn't worked hard enough. Training videos looked ok, but a problem with his top line not staying still could haunt him throughout the routine if Natalie hasn't got it under control.
I'd prefer him to do something more with his arms in the opening spot turns but in the lines he's got some nice arm shaping and the frame does look vastly improved. Needs to ensure he doesn't go 'pigeon-toed' though.
Another elegant Waltz, which is very difficult for someone of Audley's height. Natalie still needs to work on his frame but a good start. I'm going to give him a 6.
Scores:
Craig: 3 "Hands, hands, hands, spatulistic...not for me I'm afraid"
Len: 5 "I think there's a charm about it...do me a favour, as you walk by punch Craig!"
Alesha: 6
Bruno: 6 "surprisingly so light and graceful for someone the size of Everest"
Second up is Audley Harrison and Natalie Lowe with the Waltz.
Audley is looking nice and light on his feet initially, though he really needs to take slightly smaller steps - it's about driving forward to move further, not taking bigger steps.
He has a nice frame, but doesn't look quite so confident out of hold at the moment. Audley could have potential but I do think it's going to be hard for him in the first couple of weeks.
Can they come back from their bottom two position last week?
Scott definitely has the right look for Argentine Tango, I still wish he'd keep his shoulders down. Started with promise but seemed to lose a little momentum by the end. Scott isn't always looking at Natalie, and that loses a bit of the intensity for me.
Just an 8 from me.
Craig: 8 "Loved it...there needs to be more swivel...man really should lead...didn't really get a hint of that"
Len: 8 "Clean, precise...lifts were good...not enough connection between the two of you"
Alisha: 8 "Slick opening section on your own...nice transitions...just something lacking"
Bruno: 9 "That was played like a film noire"
Yesterday I predicted Gavin Henson and Ann Widdecombe to be in the bottom two, with Gavin just losing out in the audience vote. Though I have the feeling we might see a shock in the bottom two tonight (I'm worried Matt might be in trouble).
So first through this week: Gavin & Katya & Kata & Artem; In the bottom two is SCOTT MASLEN!!! To be honest I think Scott has been over marked recently and maybe this is a bit of audience backlash?
A beautiful Waltz from Anton & Erin, though I can't quite tell if there's a few slips in there, maybe Anton is feeling the strain after American Smoothing with Ann?
So also safe is Pamela & James, and joining Scott in the bottom two is Ann & Anton (finally). Let's hope this is the end of the road for Ann, whilst she has been entertaining at times it really wouldn't be fair for her to be put through in place of Scott.
The moment of truth then, Ann finally sailing home or Sccccooooottt Shhhhockingly sent back to base.
...
...
So Ann's run to the final has ended. They've have been great entertainment at times but it would have been a travesty if she had got through to the semi's.
The right result all round. Next week not only will two couples be eliminated next week, but we'll also be there watching it live (so don't expect any live blogging next week unless the BBC are feeling generous!).
So does this mean that Scott could be going out next week, and if so who'll be joining him? I don't think Gavin will make it into the final but who would you send home?
Scott will be dancing the Paso Doble as James Bond this week, and apparently shirtless...
He's lacking Spanish lines and really needs to dance the ball more into the floor, but at least he's more awake this week.
A stripping ending just to make sure he gets the votes, think Natalie was worried?
A bit of a mixed bag really, didn't quite feel like a Paso but I'll give it an 8.
Craig: 8 "I don't agree with that, could have done with a bit more Paso shaping through the arms...you are back...virile...red blooded...hot"
Len: 9 "00 Se-ven...you came out you had passion...couple of incidents here and there...coped very well"
Alisha: 9 "Giving Gavin a run for his money in the chest department...back in the zone"
Bruno: 9 "Licence to thrill...managed to do it [the Spanish lines]"
Can Scott pull off one of the hardest dances for male celebs?
Hip action's not bad, a little bit shaky at times and needs to keep his hands palm down during open outs and finish them better. A very good Rumba though and definitely benefited from having it later in the competition.
I'm going to give it an 8, he needs to work on finishing his hands and just smoothing it a bit.
Craig: 4 "Did look like you'd just come out of hospital after a double hip replacement"
Len: 9 "No one realises how difficult it is for the man...by and large I think you pulled it off"
Alisha: 7 "For me you look a bit stuck in your body...a bit stagnant"
Bruno: 8 "This week not quite so hot...wasn't horrific...maintaining fluidity [needs work]"
Good to see someone getting [pretty much] straight into the dance. I feel Scott is just a little wooden during the fleckerls.
It's a good performance but I felt they did better last week, easily an 8 though.
Craig: 9
Len: 10 "Last week good, this week great...absolutely spell binding"
Alisha: 10 "I think you hypnotised the whole room, that was magical"
Bruno: 10 "You created dance magic"
Scott impressed with his Quickstep last week, though I didn't feel it was quite a 9 yet. A Tango should fit in with Scott's acting ability though, and Natalie does choreograph good routines.
There's definitely intensity from the start, and Scott definitely looks like he's losing weight. I'm not a fan of the short jackets for the dancing and I think it shows up that he probably could have his knees a bit more flexed at times, and needs to be wary of his shoulder line.
A good performance, I'm thinking we'll probably see a few more 9's this week.
Craig: 8 "Strong, dynamic...great, excellent work"
Len: 9 "I think there was an incident in that corner...the best dance I've seen this series"
Alisha: 9 "Very very strong performance...full of passion...you mean business"
Bruno: 9 "You Tango Beast...slick and stealthy...from power and passion to romance"
We might not be able to see it, but Scott has purportedly got a two-tone nether region, thanks to a spray-tan g-string malfunction. Let's hope it doesn't affect his Waltz abilities too much!
The start looks a little wooden in terms of the interaction between them - Scott's doing the actions but I don't feel any emotion behind them.
However he does have a very good shoulder line once they're in hold but I just don't like it, it doesn't feel like a Waltz to me. There just appears to be a bit too much running around and not enough actual Waltz for my liking, also there's a start, middle and finish out of hold...something I don't think Len will appreciate.
Not a bad start though, much better than I expected and I'm going to give it a 7.
So it's been a week since the couples were announced in the launch show and the BBC have released a few Strictly Come Dancing training videos to wet our appetites.
First up, Michelle Williams & Brendan Cole
Well they certainly look like they're having fun and I think with a bit of hard work Michelle could produce some exciting dancing - I think Cha Cha Cha will prove to be a good first dance for them.
Next up, Goldie & Kristina Rihanoff
Didn't really get to see any dancing in this clip, well at least not enough Cha Cha to make a judgement, but I'm concerned that Goldie doesn't appear to be taking the initial training as seriously as he could do, but time will tell.
The next couple to have a training video released are Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani, one of my tipped celebrities based on the launch show but will I feel the same after seeing their training video?
I still think Matt shows a lot of potential, though his hands concern me a little bit - they're not masculine enough for my liking at present, a little too bent at the wrist at the moment and I think that's something Len will pick up on too.
All in all it's looking pretty good so far though.
Now for some magic from Paul Daniels & Ola Jordan
Apart from being a little freaked out that Paul looks like an older version of my Uncle David, I was impressed with Ola's methodology for teaching Paul.
Unfortunately I do think Paul has got his work cut out if he wants to survive, a Waltz would've been more kind as his first dance!
Our final couple's training video this week comes from Scott Maslen & Natalie Lowe,
Natalie must be hoping to go one better this year and actually win the competition, but let's try and get through week one first.
Scott is looking ok at the moment, though I'm not quite sure on the turn-ups! However it is definitely showing some promise.
I for one can't wait for Strictly Come Dancing to start as I think there are definitely some interesting partnerships ready to develop. I can't say I've developed a favourite yet, it really is too early in their training to call, but is there someone you're rooting for?
Up first then is Ricky to bring in the Grand Final.
Looking very good so far. Ricky's head is very much improved over what i've seen in recent weeks, needs to make sure he keeps looking up and doesn't look at the floor when they're apart though.
I would say a faultless performance and I'm going to have to say a 10!
Personally for me Ricky's Ballroom has always been let down by his strange head positioning during pivots and spins, something he's done since his first dance in week 2 and has never been mentioned.
That opening looked like a lift but I think they'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Straight away though and his opening pivots show the his poor posture in turning situations.
Technically his dancing is great but that top-line really has grated on me since his first week.
I think he'll get 9's, but for me I'd only give it an 8.
Antony started dance lessons when he was 3 years old. After finding an apparent natural aptitude he continued dancing, progressing through medals and competing.
With the start of Strictly Come Dancing the demand for a local teacher gave him the impetus to set up his own school.
Now he provides beginner through to advanced tuition via classes and private lessons, and also runs corporate events and choreographs wedding first dances.
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