Strictly Speaking

Saw Tom Chambers in the Fred Astaire role in Top Hat at Edinburgh Playhouse last Wednesday. Great Show, very funny in all the right places, all the dancers were excellent but, judging by his standing ovation, Tom stole the show. We were expecting good acting and dancing but were pleasantly surprised by how fine a singer he is.

A talented young man - lucky he escaped from Holby City!

My top 3 tonight were the last 3 to dance, Harry, Jason and Chelsee, although I still find it hard to take to Chelsee, especially when she`s talking! Robbie I just don`t like, no particular reason that I can name, I just don`t like him. I loved Anita`s dance, and Jason`s Charleston was great, although I still think that Chris Hollins and Ola (2 years ago) will take some beating. My husband has been rooting for Hasrry from the start, but his support is usually the kiss of death for anyone`s chances! I like him because he seems like a nice, well brought up lad.

Harry for Strictly!!
I'm afraid I thought Anita was a bit plodding and Robbie was dire -just no footwork at all. Chelsee claims to be an actress but couldn't act her way out of a paper bag let alone do haughty and just comes across as a bubbly girl with a lovely personality - not a brooding Tango dancer (unless you count the fake tan they all have!)

I love Harry!!

It makes me so envious - I would love to go ballroom dancing again.

My parents, plus Mum's 2 cousins and their wives were great friends and as pre-war youngsters all went to ballroom dancing lessons together. It was a skill they never lost and it was wonderful at family gatherings to see how beautifully they all danced even at quite an advanced age - and putting all the younger folk to shame. Mum was sometimes quite critical of the techniques on Strictly but Dad never saw the programme which I'm sure he would have loved!

Does anyone else remember the dance classes that were usually held in the room over Burtons, or The Fifty Shilling Tailors? I went with a girl friend and I think it was half a crown for an hour's lesson.

Oh yes Greatnan - exactly that!! I loved my ballroom lessons and latin - I thought my teacher was the most suave and sophisticated man I had ever seen and trembled each time I danced with him. I was only 14 - bless..... My mum used to make all my dresses for the exams and I still have my bronze, silver and gold medals - a bit rusty (like me) but the only medals I ever got!!
We have a purpose built dance studio close by run by two professional dancers - I have been to a few lessons with o/h but he's not that keen (well done to him for trying though). I think a Chrsitmas present of a couple of lessons might be in the pipeline this year...........

Please can we get rid of Robbie tonight?

Once I get back from New Zealand at the end of January, I am determined to find a dance school in my nearest small town and pay for some more lessons - I will look up the French for all the popular dances. I don't know where I could ever go to a formal dance again, but I would enjoy dancing with a good partner.

Yes susiecb ...but reckon it will be Anita and Holly in bottom two ...given their positions on leader board. After all Robbie also played the sympathy card last night and Jame's harangue at judges was again a ploy to raise public sympathy ...am I a cynic?

You could try the Bal Folk evenings, greatnan, if they have them near you.

thought everybody danced wsll last night it is a very tight competion this year.
Robbie is still getting my vote !! I love his enthusiasm and his joy at taking part. I will be sorry whoever goes tonight they are all such fun!

Ooops - I'd forgotten I was asked to 'step away' from this thread - am I allowed back now notso?

That should be danced well !!

I hope Anita gets another chance. She and Brendan worked well together but she has such a good partnership with Robin that I'd like to see them together again, at least one more time.

Wow Butternut ...I had to track back to pages 4 and 5 to find out what that was all about!

Thanks, Butternut,I will look it up,

Along with those who have already mention it I also went to ballroom dancing classes in my youth. I was hopeless but put it down to my initial lessons taking place at school. I'm taller than average and as I was at an all girls school was always given the man's part. I seemed to only be able to waltz going backwards!

Absolutely fabulous again last night all of them so good
Think that (on the dancing alone) the fairest elimination should be Anita though I enjoy her overall performance more than Alex....
It seems that when you really listen to the judges now that Len has actually displaced Craig as the "nasty" one he always seems to be moaning about something that the other judges like

and ooh Aliona...
you are nice (and Harry too) firing up the Sky+ to play it back as I type

We had excruciating dancing lessons for a few weeks every year just before the annual school Christmas dance. These were held during our PE classes, so were all-girl. When the big night came, girls were ranged along one side of the hall and boys along the other. I wish there had been discos in those days - it wouldn't have been necessary to wait for a spotty youth to ask one to dance.

My parents were keen ballroom dancers when they were young, the biggest arguments I remember them having when I was small were about the correct way to foxtrot or quickstep. Mum wanted me to have ballroom classes when I was 14 -sadly that was 1972 and well - it wasn't very cool then was it?

You made a mistake there, dcmg - a good dancer is always a hit with the women.