Paso Doble Viennese Waltz

There’s been a distinct Spanish theme to tonight’s show with the couples performing either a paso doble or the rather less Spanish Viennese waltz.

Lisa and Brendan opened the show performing a paso doble but during training, Lisa said she’s finding it all very hard work but she’s still “loving every minute.”

Following their performance, Len said that in a paso doble, he’s looking for “the story of the bullfight”. It must have drama and passion he said and although he felt Lisa had performed well overall, she did sometimes allow her head to “fall forward.”

Bruno said that Lisa’s shoulders and arms “were not extended” often throughout the performance but that she tried very hard.

Craig said Lisa’s arm placement “lacked purpose and intent” and said she was “hunched in the spins but overall a wonderful routine.”

Arlene said she agreed with the other judges and thought Lisa did have the drama but she must “work through her chest.”

With Tess as they waited for their scores, Brendan said Lisa had done very well.

The judges voted as follows:

Craig 7

Arlene 7

Len 8

Bruno 7

For a total of 29.

Up next were Andrew and Ola. Last week, Andrew felt he “danced like an idiot” last week and really wanted to improve tonight. The couple performed a Viennese waltz. Andrew looked very wooden again and seemed to be almost stumbling sometimes, which was reflected in the judges comments.

Len said that the dance is romantic and it needs lots of turns and he said he studied Andrew’s bum throughout and was happy to report that ‘bumgate’ is no longer an issue for Andrew. He added that because of the height difference between Andrew and Ola, it was harder for them and he felt Andrew did a really good job.

Bruno said Andrew’s stock was “definitely rising” but that he needs more drive and confidence.

Craig said “the butt is better” and felt Andrew had much improved.

Arlene said Andrew had made a “staggering improvement”, and despite the fact that there were small technical faults, she felt he was “for the first time into the dance.”

Andrew told Tess he was shaking and his heart was hammering as he awaited the judges scores, which were as follows…

Craig 5

Arlene 6

Len 7

Bruno 6

For a total of 24 – their highest score yet!

Christine and Matthew were up next with a paso doble. In training, Christine said that she and Matthew have a good laugh together which helps the training but Matthew said that because she’s such a fun person, being serious could be a problem for her.

After their performance, the judges weren’t terribly complimentary and Arlene said she didn’t “get Spain or bullfights” and added that they looked like Madonna and Guy Ritchie!

Len said that some dances suit some people and this wasn’t Christine’s dance. He felt there wasn’t enough drama.

Bruno said that the dance is mean and feisty and Christine was “floppy” and the dance didn’t suit her personality.

Craig said that the performance was “rather odd” because she was “rag-dollish and out of control with ugly arm lines.”

After the judges rather harsh words, Bruce told Christine that she was his favourite, which cheered her up no end!

With Tess as they awaited their scores, the couple talked about the negative comments and Christine said she finds it difficult to be aggressive.

The judges scores were…

Craig 3

Arlene 6

Len 7

Bruno 6

For a total of 22.

That’s the lowest vote they’ve had so far in the competition.

Austin and Erin were up next; in training, Austin had been finding it tough going this week because he realised that after last week, he can’t take his place in the competition for granted in the comp. The couple danced the waltz and after their performance, Bruno said it was like “watching the return of the king!”. Austin, he said, was confident, smooth and light.

Craig said the performance had all the character he expects to see in a waltz and added that there were some great rotations but he wished Austin had smiled even once. He said overall he felt the dance was flat and cold, which Bruno disagreed strongly with.

Arlene said it was “sentimental and romantic” but she too wished Austin had smiled more.

Len said that Austin had come back stronger and said he’d done a great job this week; “gorgeous” he said.

Austin told Tess he’d been very nervous tonight but really excited.

The judges scores were…

Craig 8

Arlene 8

Len 9

Bruno 9

For a total of 34.

The next couple were Cherie and James who performed the paso doble which James said they were struggling with. During training, James said it was annoying him that Cherie couldn’t get the steps right but it was said quite light heartedly. Despite that, Cherie had pledged to get it spot-on tonight.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way; Craig said Cherie had fantastic shaping through the arms and that her timing very good, but he would like to have seen more connection between the couple and he pointed out that Cherie lost her balance at the beginning. “Very good though” he said.

Arlene said she wished that Cherie could go back and do it all over again. She said that Cherie seemed to lose her courage this week.

Len said that Cherie could never dance badly but he felt she wasn’t very confident this week.

Bruno said Cherie is naturally gifted but her performance wasn’t up to her usual standard, which was maybe because she went wrong at the beginning but he said the dance was still very good.

With Tess, Cherie said she’d struggled a lot with nerves this week and the beginning went so wrong it made it so much harder for her. James said he thinks that he stumble at the beginning threw her off, which Cherie agreed with.

The judges scores were…

Craig 7

Arlene 8

Len 8

Bruno 8

For a total of 31 which was their lowest score of the competition so far.

Heather and Brian performed their waltz next and after being in the dance off again last week, Heather felt “defeated” and had to really try hard to pull things back this week. After their performance, Arlene remarked that she felt Heather suited the dance and she “adored the shoulder shimmy.”

Len commented that he liked the whole dance; Heather had good posture, good movement and did very well.

Bruno said Heather was “a vision of loveliness” and remarked that she’s a fighter; she was “focussed and connected” he said.

Craig commented that he felt the performance was “pedestrian and jagged; flat footed.” All the other judges disagreed loudly with him and Bruce said “well we all loved it!”

The judges scores were…

Craig 5

Arlene 7

Len 7

Bruno 8

For a total of 27 which was heir highest score to date.

Mark and Hayley were next to perform the paso doble. Hayley said she needed to see aggression from Mark but felt he was just too nice! The dance didn’t go well and Bruno said the dance was “a painful shambles” and added that Mark “danced like a geek.”

Craig cuttingly said it was like watching a “stick insect on acid and at times, rather grotesque.” Boos from audience filled the studio at that point!

Arlene said that Mark was not in time with the music and she felt the he should try to dance like he swims; in rhythm.

Len said “there was body shaping” but noted that Mark’s not a natural dancer so every move looks awkward.

Bruce, feeling sorry for Mark, said he’d made Mark his joint favourite. Bless him.

With Tess, Mark said that he was so busy counting his steps, he lost his way, but he doesn’t want to go because he’s enjoying it too much. He’s promised to wear sequinned trunks if he gets to the finals!

The scores were…

Craig 2

Arlene 3

Len 6

Bruno 5

For a total of 16 which is the couple’s lowest score so far and put them right at the bottom of the leader board.

The next dancers were Tom and Camilla. Tom got married last Sunday, so he’s had a very busy week! He and his new wife, Claire, had just 24 hours to themselves before he got back into training. Camilla went on their honeymoon with them so he could keep up with the training! Tom dedicated his waltz tonight to his new wife.

After their performance, Craig commented that he felt Tom was battling with Camilla sometimes but the rest of the dance “was gorgeous.”

Arlene said it was a beautiful performance while Len didn’t like it too much. He said that Tom had messed up on his turns and felt Tom hadn’t worked on refining the dance.

Bruno liked it very much and said Tom could “charm the pants off Anne Robinson” and that he’d covered up the technical mistakes very well.

Their scores were…

Craig 7

Arlene 9

Len 7

Bruno 9

For a total of 32.

Up next were the lovely John and Kristina performing the paso doble. Last week they were at the bottom of the leader board so John worked very hard to pull things around this week.

After their performance, Len avoided commenting on John’s dance but said that Kristina does a fabulous job! Bruno said “it looked like dad’s army” but admitted that John was in time but thought he looked “very tired.”

Craig said John had taken marching to a whole new level and Arlene said John looked like he’d had a good time.

Their scores were…

Craig 3

Arlene 6

Len 6

Bruno 6

For a total of 21.

Rachel and Vincent were next to dance their waltz which Rachel was very nervous about this week. She felt panicked last week after their performance hadn’t been up to their usual standard and in training, she still felt flat and things were a little tense. She’s found the steps hard, but on the night, the dance was lovely.

Arlene said it was “wistful and romantic; sweet charming and lovely.” Len said it was all pretty and he liked it, but it was flat he felt.

Bruno said it was “graceful, elegant, simple and effective” but Craig the dance was a bit shaky but beautifully performed.

Rachel told Tess that she loved the dance and the dress and Vincent said she’d done him proud.

Their scores were…

Craig 8

Arlene 8

Len 8

Bruno 8

For a total of 32.

The final couple tonight were Jodie and Ian. Arlene called Jodie “the dark horse of the competition” last week and Jodie remarked that she felt flattered to have the same scores as Rachel last week. In training, Jodie has been using her model-catwalk training to perfect the pouting and passion for her performance of the paso doble.

Following their performance, Bruno remarked that he felt “it was rough to watch” because Jodie “went so much for attack the precision went”. Craig thought the dance was “square and stompy but exciting to watch.”

Arlene said the dance didn’t work for her and Len commented that the dance was competent; “not the best not the worst, somewhere in the middle” he said.

Jodie said she’d enjoyed it but that she’d struggled to keep up with the pace.

The judges scores were…

Craig 6

Arlene 6

Len 7

Bruno 7

For a total of 26.

So tomorrow, the two couples with the lowest votes must dance again in the dance off at 7.15pm. See you after the show for our run down of the results.