Strictly Come Dancing blog: Week fourteen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Strictly Come Dancing blog: Week fourteen

5:04pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

Fourteen weeks of high, lows, heels and toes, tears, injuries, shocks, but plenty of laughter and entertainment.

Who would be crowned our Strictly Come Dancing Champion 2009?

Ricky Whittle and Natalie

QUICKSTEP: What an opening to the show! Their routine was full of personality and performance. There were still however a couple of footwork issues from Ricky and at one point Natalie looked like she was out-dancing him, but maybe it was just her nerves showing through. But what a Quickstep, scoring a full house from the judges, and receiving a standing ovation from the audience. If this was to set the benchmark for the standard of the evening we were in for a treat!

CHA CHA: A very well-choreographed routine with great rhythm and timing to show off all of Ricky’s best personal style. The routine seemed a little flat on the performance side though, and again Natalie looked like she was out-dancing him, but scoring two nines and three tens from the judges put Ricky just in the lead.

SHOW DANCE (FREESTYLE): A very slick demonstration of a high flying routine with amazing lifts from Ricky with superb control. He just missed catching her on the last one which is why Darcey only scored him a nine, but the remainder of the judges all thought the same as me and scored tens, and there was certainly nothing to be embarrassed about for their last dance of the evening. This would of made any performer very proud.

Chris Hollins and Ola

FOXTROT: Not one of the easiest ballroom dances to master but Chris nailed it. Beautiful control on his footwork with great shaping and lines, they made it look effortless as a Foxtrot should be danced. So controlled with the right amount of fluidity to soften the edges. Again, receiving a standing ovation from the audience but only scoring four nines and a ten from the judges.

CHARLESTON: They had to do it again and boy did they go for it! A truly professional cabaret number, excellent timing, agility and ability throughout the whole routine. They both loved every second and so did the audience, again showing their gratitude with a standing ovation and the judges scoring a full house. The couple were definitely deserving of it: a truly magical routine performed by a newsreader and danced by a dancer.

SHOW DANCE (FREESTYLE): I have to admit I thought this would be the end for Chris and Ola and he would not be able to perform up to the standard of Ricky, but I ate my hat, it was truly A-MA-ZING! The tricks and lifts were executed to perfection, the entertainment value alone was worth a ten, the hard work that they both have put in on this routine paid off and was exceptional, but the judges did not agree with me and only scored them four nines and one ten. Like me, the audience where now right behind them and almost booed the judges scoring.

Ricky and Natalie, Chris and Ola

LINDY HOP: Both couples battling it out head to head in one of the most energetic dance styles, the Lindy Hop should be full of kicks, tricks, flicks and springs. You should portray that you are lighter than air when dancing. Both couples looked like they were lagging towards the end, and both made a couple of little mistakes, but for me Chris and Ola just had the edge, and scoring four nines and one eight, compared with Ricky and Natalie three nines and two eights meant that the gap between the two men was closing.

It was then the moment of truth. Both couples had been exceptional, and truly deserved to be in the final. It was very difficult, even I was in two minds. On performance value, determination and improvement, for me Chris had the edge. In natural ability and standard it was Ricky. Both are winners but I think the slightly better couple won in the end. Congratulations Chris and Ola and thank you for entertaining the nation over the last fourteen weeks.

I wish you all a deserving rest, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and remember, keep happy, keep healthy and keeeep dancing!

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)