2nd Strictly Come Dancing 2023 thread

I was glad that Leyton didn't win. He is an utterly amazing dancer and deserved his high scores from the judges, but that is not at all surprising since he has been a professional dancer ever since he starred in the title role as "Billy Elliot" when he was twelve.

Strictly Come Dancing is supposed to show what those who have never danced before can learn dancing with a professional.

I agree with Esther Rantzen that no-one under the age of fifty who has ever danced on the professional stage should be allowed to compete.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/strictly-layton-williams-esther-rantzen-b2465279.html

I agree with Dame Esther

Anniebach

I agree with Dame Esther

So do I.

So do I agree with Dame Esther.
Not sure anyone denies Layton is a good dancer, just that he was a professional in an amateur competition.
If it had been public vote only from the start I wonder how long he’d have been in the competition.

Would Annabelle have been in the final? I think yes

A brilliant series this year. I was beginning to think, before this series, that it was getting a bit predictable and tired, but I’ve really loved this series. Personally, I could do without the lifts in many of the dances though. Traditionally, dances didn’t have lifts in them and I’d rather they concentrated on the actual dancing. Many of the lifts look awkward and highly dangerous. Are they really needed? The dances are exciting enough. I’m sure many if you will disagree with me on this!

I agree with some of what Dame Esther says, but NOT that Layton purposely "hogged the limelight." That implies that he drew the focus of attention to himself and monopolised the show. None of the other contestants, nor celebrities for that matter, had a bad word to say about him. In fact, Layton was generously messaging other competitors (AngelaS and Zara) with advice and support early on. Layton was not trying to prevent anyone else from getting attention, an example was his jumping for joy when Ellie won. He also remained in his place during the backstage chats unlike that awful Jayde someone (?) a couple of years ago, who always pushed herself forward with Claudia and wanted to be heard all the time.
I agree that Layton probably shouldn't have been included in the show, it was unfair, but ironically it is all this additional discussion about his participation that is to blame for making him look as though he were stealing the limelight, not his behaviour.

The lifts honeyrose are often used in dance to give extra height. If you think of ballet, there are often lifts in the pas de deux routines. They rely on trust between the two dancers, and it is often harder for the one being lifted than the lifter. That's why Ellie faltered.
I think in some Strictly routines they try to pack too many lifts into the 90 second dance and the sequence starts to lose some of the fluidity - unless perfectly executed from one move to the next.

Really enjoyed Strictly. First time i have watched in years due to participation of Angela Rippon who i owe a lot to. In the early to mid 70's she released a fitness tape called 'Dance & Slim' (which I changed to a disk, and now I use from desk top) It has contributed greatly to staying flexible and in shape with regular weekly sessions over the years ( my 3 children even know the music and moves) and i have just recently had my 72nd Birthday Thank you Angela x