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
No comments:
Post a Comment