Strictly Come Dancing blog 2011: Week seven (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Strictly Come Dancing blog 2011: Week seven

10:50am Wednesday 16th November 2011 in Strictly Come Dancing blog By Graham Vernon

Over half way through, and it is now time to sort the wheat from the chaff or the dancing doers from the dancing dodo’s, as our nine couples become eight what treats are in store?

And with Brendan stepping in for Artem could it be the end of the road for Holly or will she go all the way to Christmas?

For me it was the American Smooth dances that were the worst performances of the evening, the American Smooth should be based on any of the standard ballroom dances but a proportion can be danced in open hold and lifts are permitted, yet we were shown a complete array of concocted styles.

Alex and James, Jive?
Well meant to be! It started with a really weak coy solo section from Alex with a stuffed doll, they then started to dance continental Rock ‘N’ Roll with only five recognisable Jive steps throughout the routine.

Alex’s flicks and kicks needed to be stronger but unfortunately for me James and the choreography let her down this week.

Robbie and Ola, American Smooth (Foxtrot)
A great performance from Robbie this week, he had definitely upped his game, but I do not know what dance style it was meant to be as there was only two feather steps that I recognised, but the lifts were very clean and well executed.

Audley and Natalie, Cha Cha
I have to say that it is very difficult for a guy with size 17 shoes to give the Cha Cha its true feeling, his rhythm and timing were very good, despite what some of the judges were saying, he did not dance any heel leads which is a really common mistake in this style, but he did just slide his feet around the floor, I thought his hip circles were very well danced but I do feel his time is nigh.

Harry and Aliona, Argentine Tango
With the highest score of the series so far Harry and Aliona Tango was amazing, Aliona’s choreography and performance were incredible, but to be picky, Harry was just missing the seduction of the style which I could not blame him for because just dancing with Aliona must of made him even more nervous, but with this performance Harry has just secured himself a place in the final.

Jason and Kristina, Viennese Waltz
Jason was showing some good strong heel leads with some nice shaping to his frame but his style was a little skippy for me rather than lilting action, but he danced a very nice fleckle with good power throughout the whole dance.

Chelsee and Pasha, Foxtrot A very graceful, elegant, floating Foxtrot, Chelsee’s has a fantastic top line and danced good strong clear steps there were however several footwork issues, but I think some of this was because Pasha was having to lift her up slightly.

Anita and Robin, Argentine Tango
Every week Anita just looks more and more beautiful, there was a good storyline to their performance with some very nice lines Anita was just lacking in the staccato and sharpness to the dance.

Holly and Brendan, Rumba Holly has such an amazing leg line she is built for the Rumba, I thought the routine was very careful and I am not sure what the sitting run thing was at the end, but with her Latin leg action, stance and poise in her Ballroom as long as she keeps on working hard she is my favourite out of the women left in the competition.

Russell and Flavia, American Smooth (Quickstep)
Well for me this was not one of Russell better performances both from a dancing perspective and the showman we have all begun to love, it had the feeling of the end of a party night when everyone has had too much to drink.

Sunday results remembrance show
After a very fast fifties opening from our professionals, an amazing routine from Robin and Kristina backed by Christina Perry on the piano, and a truly never to be repeated moving piece by André Rieu and our very own Anton and Erin.

I was then shocked that Anita and Robin were in the bottom two along with Audley and Natalie, but fortunately Anita & Robin dance again next week for our Wembley Special.

Comments are closed on this article.