Class of 2017 - Week 2

Well every mark matters this week as we lose our first couple this weekend. Going from a Latin to Ballroom or vice versa with only one week to practise is always difficult, let's see how they get on!

Chizzy & Pasha - Foxtrot

This was always going to be hard for Chizzy as she is naturally more suited to the latin dances. There was far too much messing about around the breakfast table at the beginning and it was almost lunch time before they got into hold. A lot of gaping and Chizzy had too much weight forward. She struggled with the footwork basics but I love her confidence, sadly a little too much "performance" which overtook the technique.

Judge Julie says - 5

Aston & Janette - Salsa

Well I didn't write anything down during the dance as I was transfixed. Janette is the Salsa Queen so this was always going to be a top effort and it did't disappoint. Excellent tricks, great basic and just full commitment to the routine. I noticed the "Karen & Mark" head drop move from their famous Salsa back in Series 4 (2006). Just a brilliant number from these 2 pocket rockets!

Judge Julie says - 8.5

Susan & Kevin - Charleston

I love Susan and she had her wee little legs out tonight! As a complete beginner she totally went for it. No real swivel action but great entertainment and she kept up, gave it her all and she was in time and synchronised with Kevin. I love their relationship and that she is having the time of her life, which is evident in her execution of the dance.

Judge Julie says - 6

Charlotte & Brendan - Cha Cha Cha

I don't think people realise just how technically difficult a Cha Cha Cha is. It's usually one of the first latin dances you would learn at a class but it's so so hard to get right and Charlotte was just all wrong I am afraid. Too skippy, absolutely no pressure on the floor and therefore no hips. She really struggled and I felt so sorry for her, not her dance at all.

Judge Julie says - 4

Joe & Katya - Tango

What was with the wardrobe? I thought someone was going to pop out from inside it. Far too skippy and not down in the knees enough. Too much gaping and he seemed very nervous. It looked like something went wrong. Not as strong as last week but he is capable of more. Not enough drive in the dance either.

Judge Julie says - 6 

Brian & Amy - Cha Cha Cha

Love this song and the disco elements suited the music. It was so much better than I thought it would be. His side by side stuff was great but the actually CCC elements were laboured and there was zero technique. Had loads of energy and fun though!

Judge Julie says - 5

Gemma & Alijaz - Waltz

Gemma looked STUNNING and this was such an improvement on last week. A lovely Waltz with some great footwork from Gemma. really suited her and the music and choreography worked so well together. Could Gemma be more of a ballroom girl?

Judge Julie says - 7

Rev Richard & Diane - American Smooth

Our first AS of the series. Not really a fan of the Rev and I find it quite uncomfortable to watch him. You can tell he is concentrating very hard but he is very clumpy and has very little grace. He tried really hard and God loves a trier!

Judge Julie says - 4

Ruth & Anton - Charleston

Ruth looked AMAZING and also looked much more confident in Week 2. A couple of minor mishaps where she seemed to forget the routine but she was so much better than last week and she deserves to stay in. She also had some swivel which was fantastic! 

Judge Julie says  - 6

Simon & Karen - Waltz

You could tell this dance meant so much to Simon but I think nerves got the better of him. I love that they had no messing with props and were straight into the waltz. He had no drive throughout the dance and he walked a lot of it rather than dancing it. There was a bit of a faux pas towards the end which was quite evident. A tender performance, think he could be in the bottom two.

Judge Julie says - 5

Mollie & AJ - Tango

Nicehold, a little skippy in places. For me there is something missing with Mollie but I cannot put my finger on it? I think she wasn't fully committed to the dance, and it lacked a little attack. I want to see her blow us away!

Judge Julie says - 6

Johnnie & Oti - Jive

I am just in awe of Johnnie, this week he danced on his blade. WOW what great attack and energy he had. There was a slight error on one of the side by side sections but other than that I think he delivered a fantastic Jive.

Judge Julie says - 7

Debbie & Giovanni - Viennese Waltz 

A lovely little routine from these two! No props, no gimmicks just a lovely routine, let the dancing do the talking. She has fabulous lines and she danced beautifully. The whole number looked effortless and easy and was really well choreographed by Giovanni.

Judge Julie says - 8

Davood & Nadiya - Quickstep

Davood in glasses dancing my favourite dance the Quickstep, what a combination. This was a very quick routine, almost frenzied in places. I didn't really like the costume change, I quite liked the geeky Davood at the beginning. Lots of messing about at the beginning and a bit too out of control. 

Judge Julie says - 6

Alexandra & Gorka - Paso Doble

Swoon central at Gorka with his chest out! This was outstanding, full of passion, attack and drama as well as great technique and an amazing performance quality. One of the best Paso Dobles I have ever seen, and it's not my favourite dance. She is going to go far!

Judge Julie says 9

DRESS OF THE WEEK - Gemma's lovely blue Waltz dress

PROP OF THE WEEK - Davood's geeky glasses

SONG OF THE WEEK - She's always a woman to me - Debbie's VW 

Thanks for reading, see you next week!

Class of 2017 - Week 1

Woo Hoo it's the first night of Strictly and I am just fully catching up on the dances having been away this weekend. Although I have watched them once on my laptop I wasn't fully in "Judge Julie" mode so I'm armed with the remote control, the house to myself and a large coffee to take everything in!

Couple of interesting pieces of info for you. I do believe that it is the first time since 2005 (series 3) that all the couples have danced on the same night in one BUMPER programme. Usually it has been spread over a Friday/Saturday evening and back in the earlier days even spread over Week 1 and Week 2. Interesting also to see that we open AGAIN with a Cha Cha Cha. I think there have only been 2 other occasions over the whole history of Strictly when the opening dance has not been a Cha Cha Cha!

Gemma & Alijaz - Cha Cha Cha

I have to confess I was slightly distracted by Alijaz, a vision in white from head to toe in this routine, so I had to watch it again! A very safe performance from Gemma and always a big ask to go first. Not enough pressure on the floor which resulted in a lack of hip action. She needs to let herself go and push down into the floor and then the hips will come along with the straight legs needed for Cha Cha Cha. 

Judge Julie says - 5

Brian & Amy - Tango

So the BBC give "funny man" Brian the most serious dance the Tango! I found this routine to be very pedestrian. Kudos to Brian for getting all the steps in there and executing the routine but he very much walked most of it through. He danced it all on straight legs and Tango should be danced on a flexed knee with lots of staccato action.  I understand this was the first time he had got the routine correct all the way through so no doubt he was on cloud nine because of this. 

Judge Julie says - 4

Alexandra & Gorka - Waltz

I love Gorka the Corker and felt he didn't get the chance to shine last series so I am hoping he stays in longer this year. Clearly this Waltz and of course the music meant a great deal to Alexandra and that was apparent in her execution of the routine and the emotion displayed throughout the dance. There was occasional gaping as they transferred from promenade position to closed position so this needs working on. Performed from the heart but I think Alexandra needs to nip the waterworks in the bud as sometimes it can often irritate the voting public. 

Judge Julie says - 7

Simon & Karen - Paso Doble

Ok I will say it now, this partnership does not excite me and combined with the Paso (possibly my least favourite dance), I was quite underwhelmed. Cannot knock the fella for effort but there was a little too much stomping and clapping. His bottom stuck out quite a bit and his frame needs a lot of work but he is after all a complete beginner.

Judge Julie says - 5

Charlotte & Brendan - Foxtrot

OMG Foxtrot for Week 1!!!! How unfair! Have to say Charlotte looked absolutely AMAZING and the dance, the look and the dress all came together beautifully. Very light on her feet and some nice footwork including an attempt at a heel turns. I noticed she looked down quite a lot. Loved the bench bit near the end but wasn't keen on her finishing on the judges desk.

Judge Julie says - 6

Chilly & Pasha - Cha Cha Cha

Well Chizzy has natural rhythm which was apparent during the launch show routine. There was very little Cha Cha Cha basic in this routine and I found it all a little bit too "disco" with too much side by side choreography. She needs much more pressure into the floor to get the straight legs and hip action on the little Cha Cha Cha that she did. Slight wardrobe malfunction with her foot getting caught in her dress, always hard not to panic but she coped so well with that!

Judge Julie says - 6

Johnny & Oti - Waltz

What a lovely guy Johnny is, so tender and caring and this came across in his dance. I think this routine was very "careful" and he has potential as his footwork was fairly tidy. I'm not sure if something went wrong at the end as it seemed to finish fairly abruptly with the photo on the floor. 

Judge Julie says - 6

Joe & Katya - Jive

Oh gosh here we go, another terrible VT set in the hospital with them jiving around in their scrubs!! Do wish the BBC would ditch these, does anyone actually enjoy them? Excellent choreography from Katya which Joe danced well. He could do with a bit more bounce action, as a shorter guy this dance really suited him. Best bit about this was the disagreement between Darcy and Shirley. Awkward, with Shirley pulling Darcy up on her technical comments!!!

Judge Julie says - 7 1/2!

Susan & Kevin - Viennese Waltz

OK I have to say I LOVE Susan. I had no idea who she was but I love her already! Such a cute partnership. I LOVED the little shuffle she did towards Kevin a the beginning of the routine. She needs to work on closing her feet when rotating. As a girl also with short legs I totally admired her for this routine which is fast paced and she kept up with it brilliantly! Spoilt a little at the end by not pointing her toe when she kicked her leg out!

Judge Julie says - 6

Debbie & Giovanni - Paso Doble

Well I think Debbie surprised a few people. I've heard talk of her dance training but I'm not sure how true that is or not. Great tambourine action from Debbie and she created some really great lines and totally dominated the routine. Even though it's my least favourite dance I cannot fail to be impressed by her execution and performance. 

Judge Julie says - 8

Davood & Nadiya - Cha Cha Cha

There's no denying I am a bit of a Davood fan, very easy on the eye thank you very much! That being said I didn't enjoy his cheesy VT in the East End - GROAN!!!

Davood came bouncing down the steps and so did his pecs! A very hot Cha Cha Cha but he danced most of it on bent legs which the judges didn't mention at all. He needed more pressure on the floor and a greater hip action and also I was a little put off by his mouth being open for most of the routine.

Judge Julie says - 6 1/2 

Ruth & Anton - Waltz

I must say I was a bit disappointed for Ruth being partnered with Anton, I wanted her to be partnered with one of the younger guys! What's going on with Anton's dyed hair too? I think he has shared the same packet of dye as Brian Conley. Ruth looked stunning but her routine was very nervous and there  were a few errors. She was gripped onto Anton, which I can understand. He had to negotiate her out of trouble a few times. I did think she coped well with the change of head direction so many times though.

Judge Julie says - 5

Rev Richard & Diane - Cha Cha Cha

Hated the cloud and the harp, so predictable! I was slightly distracted by his dangling microphone but was impressed it didn't get caught up in anything! To be fair he seemed to remember the routine but I'm not a fan! Very flat footed and I thought he was doing the Agadoo dance throughout most of that!

Judge Julie says - 3

Mollie & AJ - Jive

Hmmmm this one left me feeling a little underwhelmed. Her kicks seem laboured and weren't from the knee and she needed much more bounce action.  It just lacked energy! I often feel that AJ doesn't "dance down" to his partner's level and out danced Mollie

Judge Julie says - 6

Aston & Janette - Foxtrot 

Expecting great things from Mr Merrygold and I am really pleased they gave him a ballroom dance for Week 1 rather than a Latin dance. I thought he executed it superbly and he had great swagger about him. He knows where the cameras are and how to work his audience and it was a great number to end the show on. 

Judge Julie says - 8

DRESS OF THE WEEK -Charlotte's bridal like white/silver dress

PROP OF THE WEEK - Debbie's Tambourine

SONG OF THE WEEK - It had to be you - Aston & Janette Foxtrot

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2 days to go!

So Strictly 2017 is almost upon us and I have been asked a few times if I will be doing my blog again this year!

Having only made it to Week 6 last year I wasn't sure whether I could keep up to it this year (I struggle to fit in my actual work blog) but I love the programme and I love to give my opinions on it so I think I will be back!

That being said, I am running a craft weekend for 20 ladies this weekend and won't be watching the show live, so this weeks blog will be a little late!

My first impressions are that I love Davood (bit of a Kush fan!) and I love Susan (she makes me laugh and is such a cutie) so I hope their dancing is good too!

Enjoy Saturday night, I know I will!