Strictly Week Two

So now the heat is on; just four days to learn a new dance and both judges and audience are looking in far greater detail at the performance. We all know that this is a competition, but it’s not a dance competition so much as an entertainment and personality parade with dance as its vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a delight and the competitors with the pro dancers work very hard , indeed they achieve awesome results, Perhaps most important is they all learn to love what dance can do for them. The pros get pleasure from seeing their celebs improve and move from ‘two left feet’ to people who can step out onto the floor and have a wonderful time. Even though they’re nervous like never before, and don’t get all the steps right, the exhilaration of moving in time to music is the thing that makes it all worthwhile. Of course at this stage the audience are voting mainly for the people they like and are entertained by, more than the quality of their dancing. The ability and technical skill does come into it, but a later on when there are fewer in the line up the dance comes to the fore.

So week two, and four days to learn their new dance, quite a challenge. They all did very well but there were a couple of stand out performances: Michelle and her partner Giovani, and Karim and his partner Amy.

Michelle is strong lady, used to being in charge on her own shows yet she obviously understands the value of letting her dance partner take the lead; it’s all about invitation and response, which they demonstrated beautifully in their Viennese Waltz this week. A lovely setting in Venice with Giovanni in his gondola uniform and Michelle in a flattering floaty dress, They told a simple, sweet yet classy story demonstrating good lines, footwork and musicality.

My second favourite was Karim with his partner Amy in their Foxtrot to that lovely piece of Frank Sinatra, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’- actually that’s a favourite for many of my Wedding or special event couples and it works so well for the Foxtrot. Karim provided a good frame for his partner, delivering an elegant routine which made the audience smile and feel happy. Karim has great potential; he is obviously naturally athletic – or already works hard to be that way – and his ability to feel the music will take him a long way.

They all did well this week, however one of my personal favourites is Anneke Rice; probably because I remember her from Treasurer Hunt and admire her stamina as well as her ability to smile through everything. She’s probably not the most naturally elegant person to start with, however she looked beautiful in her flowing pink ballgown this week, produced some lovely heel leads and is clearly loving learning to dance. Anneka could certainly be a signet waiting to become a swan, one to watch.

And have to admire a couple of the sports people taking part who aren’t natural dancers, James and David. James hasn’t got the feeling and movement connecting throughout his body yet, but he is obviously fit and used to practising hard so he will improve and all things considered is doing well. Although his Jive was a bit stiff and lacked any real bounce, his smile and connection with his partner made the performance watchable, in fact he made me smile for all the right reasons. As we know from his past experiences, he's a fighter and will methodically do his best every week.

Then our footballer David, again not a natural dancer but he certainly enjoyed his Paso this week, in fact he said he had fallen in love with the Paso! You know the Paso is a serious dance which tells the story of the bull fighter and the bull, however David just couldn’t help smiling a wonderful smile on a couple of occasions and it made his performance all the more genuine and appreciated.

The oddest dance this week for me was probably Mike and Katya’s Smooth; as Shirley said a dance of two parts with the go for it out of hold sections where Mike was full of joy and then the in hold sections where it seems as if someone had pulled a plug out. It is a difficult balance and actually he did well, particularly with those challenging lifts which were quite daring at this early stage of the competition. Katya has to be admired for putting her trust in Mike, and Mike commended for his stamina and obvious will to keep his partner safe – he said he was having trouble with the turning and using anti travel sickness bands, a tip I might try for some of my students when we do Viennese Waltz next term!

Not sure who will go out in the public vote but I think everyone can hold their heads high and be commended for a wonderful couple of hours of dance entertainment.