Hallowe’en Week on Strictly

As ever, it has to be said at the start: Hallowe’en Fright Night on Strictly is always a feast for the eyes as the costume, prop, hair and make-up departments come into their own. A lot of hard work and skill always comes from the supporting services, and this week they outshone themselves with some amazing displays. My favourites were Michelle and Giovanni’s Adams Family Foxtrot, Kelvin and Oti’s Vampire Tango and Alex partnered by the very brave Kevin stepping in at the last moment, literally with 45 minutes to learn the dance due to Neil’s accident in rehearsals, for a Contemporary Couples’ Choice to the theme from Ghostbusters.

As in life, it’s the small things on the dance floor that really make a difference overall; the finger clicking behind the gravestones for the Adams Family, the withering roses, the aerial section for Kelvin and in the Ghostbusters piece – Alex and Kevin ‘running’ after the projected ghost with perfect timing.

Personally, I feel that with all of the above and the amazing dancing from everyone this week, the video postcards felt a bit cheesy and forced. They were the bits that got in the way of the good stuff, and I think it would be better to just get real views from the couples rather than what felt like slightly amateurish play acting. Perhaps I’m got a dose of Craig’s miseries, he certainly seemed to be awhile coming into the spirit of the competition, with some very harsh remarks for the earlier dancers. Though to be fair, his expectations are high, in the main he is right and has obviously been trying to balance his negative remarks with more positive ones this series. He is a good leveller on the judge’s panel.

My favourite dances this week were Michelle and Giovanni’s Foxtrot. They kept an awesome frame, with excellent technique – did you see that heel turn ladies with the drag on beat one, as Shirley said, “Phenomenal…” That was a scene made for the pair of them, almost a type casting it seemed, so natural in the characters, and perfect musicality. A well deserved 10 from most of the judges, and from me!

However, Kelvin and Oti’s Vampire Tango was simply mesmerising, in fact almost hypnotic such that I didn’t want it to end, and as Craig said, “…. would love to see that again, though not in the dance off.” Awesome choreography from Oti, and on point timing. They were together as one as they danced – for me perfect despite the one minor slip where Kelvin forgot to close on a link, and another 10.

Then the Couples Choice piece from Alex and her last-minute professional partner, Kevin. For the sheer professionalism and mental strength to got out and deliver a great looking performance with a new partner, amazing and another top scorer.

Those who didn’t impress so much this week, well Karim and Amy did a very watchable Paso to Stranger Things with great characterisation. However, it just felt as if they were going from one picture line to another with a lot of frantic movement. It was good, but felt lacking in flow from one figure to another, perhaps as Shirley said, it needed” …. more light and shade.” Karim did do some great knee slides though and had obviously worked hard on his upper body position with impressive excellent flamenco elements.

Most likely in the dance off, Chris and Karen whose Samba didn’t really take off, unlike Karen’s wig of course. But who else? There could be a number of options this week – Mike and Katya though much improved and always entertaining, Mike was still quite stiff, but some very good co-ordinated arms in their Alice in Wonderland interpretation; Emma and Aljaz’s murder mystery lacked in the dance content though some good lifts and poise; and Catherine with Johannes for their Cha Cha Cha which seemed a dance of two halves, the upper half being good and the bottom half somehow giving an entirely different performance.

Overall, a great week again and some very exciting dances; they are all doing so well and providing us with a real Saturday night treat! Hopefully Will and Jeanette will also be back next week, as well as Neil, following knee injuries during rehearsals – a bit of a cursed Hallowe’en this week for them. Get better soon Will and Neil!