2nd Strictly Come Dancing 2023 thread

I'd love it if they brought back Angela Scanlon but of course that's totally unrealistic because she hasn't been practising all week.

I am absolutely gutted about Nigel leaving! He had real potential to be a finalist.

I know there are much bigger things to worry about in the world but Strictly is a good bit of escapism and he was a favourite of mine (and many others no doubt!!)

Oh no. I was looking forward to a Mary Poppins routine.

Yes, I've just read that Nigel has had to leave due to an injury. What a shame when he's got this far, and how disappointing for Katya.

I wonder what the production team will do about numbers. Maybe there won't be an eviction and dance off.

Nigel won't be stepping in time, unfortunately

Sounds like he's sustained an injury and has to retire on medical grounds.

I wonder if they'll bother with an eviction

Hmmm, your comment re scant clothing might have some truth in it NotSaghetti.
I've just looked up which song Layton is dancing to tomorrow ..... Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge. 😲
I assume he will play Satine. I don’t think it will do him any favours, all the hot blooded sexy moves of two lovers having a clandestine affair. People don't really want to watch that sort of bodily writhing on Strictly.
On the other hand the dance, (paso doble), is full of aggression and drama, with intricate movements, so the judges might like it for its technique and story telling which undoubtedly he will perform well.
Nigel is dancing to Step in Time from Mary Poppins.

The News re him now seems to be what he chooses to wear in practice sessions. 🤷‍♀️

He says it's not an issue as he "wears a jock strap" and his "bits are covered" but the BBC say Strictly is a family show and the camera team is getting too much flesh on the footage.

I'm now wondering what he'll be dancing....

Yes I agree. He’s a show dancer -and it will be another Layton show dance.

Good points, NotSpaghetti. I think musicals week will appeal to Layton and he will be cooking up a surprise performance whether he is in danger or not.

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

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 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.

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

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

I must admit I find Nigel most attractive.

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 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.

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

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

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?

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