2nd Strictly Come Dancing 2023 thread

I think that's the second time that Shirley has said that she would have saved the outgoing couple, ( so disagreeing with the other 3 judges.)

Ailidh

Sorry to see Angela go, she's far better than Nigel.

I thought Layton really upped his performance and danced with great elan, frock-thing notwithstanding.

Yes, it should have been Nigel, not Angela.

But I must be impartial, it's not because I still can't take to him!
Angela is the better dancer.

Performance is right , he performs , but not necessarily dances

I mean Layton !

gillgran

I think that's the second time that Shirley has said that she would have saved the outgoing couple, ( so disagreeing with the other 3 judges.)

Do you think maybe she's a bit cross because she hasn't had an occasion to cast that deciding vote this year?

I wondered last time if she just says that because she knows it doesn't count anyway, and it makes the result look less of a fix. My daughter is convinced it's all a fix, and I must admit that often the marks seem crazy and don't dovetail with the judges' comments 5 minutes earlier.

Sparklefizz, I wondered that too. I'm starting to think that your daughter may be right.

I still love Strictly, looking forward to musicals next week.

It's a shame Angela was put out. Her Argentine Tango last week was a better fit for her. Nigel must have a huge fan base

Grandmabatty

It's a shame Angela was put out. Her Argentine Tango last week was a better fit for her. Nigel must have a huge fan base

Nigel must have a huge fan base
But why?

Because he's been much lower on the judges board than Angela or Layton but is still dancing.

Grandmabatty

Because he's been much lower on the judges board than Angela or Layton but is still dancing.

I meant why does he have a huge fan base?

He has been on “soaps” (Eastenders, Casualty) and they often have a lot of Fans who vote to keep them in.

Yes, I've seen him in Casualty and would vote him out 🙂
But he's perhaps nicer than his character in that medical soap.

I think Angela was the better dancer this evening.

I have a feeling Nigel will be dancing for the last time next week.

I do enjoy Musicals week.

I don't know if it's just me but I much preferred it when John and Johannes danced dressed as men. I find Layton's more girly outfits distract me from the actual dancing.

I must admit I find Nigel most attractive.

Me too Louella12 If he were my man, I wouldn't want him dancing that sexy Rumba with Katya!!

I do enjoy Musicals week. Me too, my favourite.
I hope Dianne doesn't do that run and lift from Dirty Dancing with Bobby, or she will find herself up in the lights, he's so tall!
And surely Layton won't be allowed to do a dance from a show he has been in, though I think he will do well in this.

The thing is with Layton that he doesn’t always do the specific dance steps. Everything with him is a performance with cartwheels and show dancing , not forgetting the pole, rather than the techniques required for that particular dance.

I’m not denying he’s good and of course he’s dancing what Nikita has choreographed.

Leyton is better not in hold and better if he doesn't need to mirror Nikita.
He will be best if left to his own devices where he can "star". I feel he's not really a "team player".

Next week will probably suit him.

Need rid of Nigel and Layton and then I'll really be struggling as the rest are amazing.

As the weeks go by Leyton has a style to how he dances out of hold - with the top half of his body in a slightly compressed way with his elbows out which he does not seem to be able to lose.
It makes all his dances where he is out of hold look a bit similar. It’s hard to explain but he will never mirror his pro partner like that (in my view).

I think I know what you mean, sort of. Layton does have a distinctive style in his top half, I'm guessing it comes from his slightly over arched back. He's almost a bit too flexible, which gives his arms and head nowhere to line up, unlike Nikita who is more ramrod. I think it makes Layton look more cabaret.
Yes, it is difficult to explain.

That's interesting about Layton. I knew his style in every dance was similar but put it down to his use of gymnastics. I hadn't thought about his top line

I think that having played lead roles quite a lot he maybe hasn't been drilled in the same way as some dancers who have worked up through the chorus.

This has meant that his little tweaks and irregularities that spoil the mirroring and close-body work have been allowed to develop - as, to be fair, they give a different character to the lead (especially the sort of lead he's been ). The young Michael Jackson for example.

Much of his dance has been more "free" than formal. I know he had great accolades from his dancing in The CarMan (Matthew Bourne) which is, in my opinion, totally fabulous but not based on any one style.

You are right about the way his upper body works. And yes, it definitely suits a particularly dramatic style of performance suited to musicals and cabaret.

He is definitely very watchable though