Diana 1, it was the deadly tap on the shoulder that hurt. Every one on the floor, four or six judges standing round the dance floor and when you got that tap on the shoulder you had to go straight off. It cleared the floor to the last three then if more judges favoured a couple they were chosen. Ruby my Rumba and Tango teacher was well in with the judges so in the junior class we were favoured, if we were among judges who did not like Ruby we were out. The bit that made me smile was the senior High School dance, once a year, the teachers stood around us boys and the girls from the school next door, (never the twain shall meet) and they would push a flat hand between the dancing pairs to make sure only the hands connected. That was a bit awkward when Ruby would pull me right in saying i want to feel your bones on mine, her way of making sure we reacted without thinking about it, if you are that entwined you had to react. The English Teacher who made sure we had distance between us asked me to dance and pulled me in so close I had a job to move, not the best Viennese Waltz I ever did. Frank.
I watched a programme with Len Goodman and Lucy ?? on the evolution of daning this century and the introduction of scandalous stuff like the Charleston, ballroom tango, modern/slow/English waltz and then how it was all codified and put under Strict Tempo rules which eventually became too stultifying for social dancers and dance halls turned to bingo.
Strictly, in its current form, is doing a great deal to make dancing as couples sexy and fun again and schools and clubs have increasing membership which has to be good as is having the younger element like Joe Sugg who was, before this series, only interesting to teens as far as I can tell. Great too that they have older people doing well or at least having a go and people with handicaps showing what can be done and all that is to be applauded.
That said, I do want to see the feet and head and frame and I do want the judges to be fair and objective within their own field of skill/experience/discipline and not show blatant favouritism like Shirley does. I don't want smoke and mirrors and I would love music suited to the dances but it's still the only dance show in town and it's great fun and some of its is done so well it's movng and uplifting. Some of the choreographies this year have been exceptional and one or two utterly dire. I like the new couple's choice feature and am looking forward to Argentine Tango. I wish the salsa was salsa and not show dance.
I have danced at Blackpool and, frankly, there were some real hoolies on that floor so busy showing off they showed none of the curtesy I would expect to others sharing the space. It is a wonderful place to dance but not the only sprung floor around.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
... On the other hand the celebrities not the professional dancers are not going to take this up as a career and it should be seen for what it is Light Entertainment. This of course is my opinion.
And mine too ... it's a bit of fun
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
GWRS, Thank you, I did get fed up for a while telling people the best gardeners in the world cannot beat the weather and this year was a beaut? My Grandchildren Matthew and Hannah have like me danced since they were very young and both now have medals and diplomas. It brought back memories of Mother teaching me the Black Bottom and other flapper dances from the twenties, we usually ended up collapsing in fits of laughter. My Daughters who thought mum and i old fashioned dancers as they danced around handbags or rowed boats sitting on the floor now go to dance classes as they go on cruises where dancing is a must it would seem. My first Troop ship Empress of Scotland held a surprise. An announcement any man who can dance don your best bib and tucker then report to the Saloon as there is a shortage of dance partners?? Do not fall for that we probably have to move the piano. Then the deck officer came in the mess, we want dancers now and my ugly mate said he can dance pointing at me. Dragooned into going I found the place full of Married women going out to various eastern garrisons plus a lot of women forces, needless to say it was a long and quite eye opening night as were the ones that followed. We dropped those Ladies at various ports they kissed us goodbye and Husbands hello and on we sailed. Dancing got me many places, a Banquet in Port Said in borrowed civvy suit, Waltzing in Vienna alone on the floor with a packed audience watching, Joan and I enjoyed that, so many places, dancing got you everywhere. Now I have settled in my head Strictly is just another show and will watch it without casting a baleful eye over bad footwork and posture I may begin to enjoy it, let us hope so. Frank.
AnniD, Carry Grant??? way too good looking, probably Micky Rooney on a six foot frame and I weighed in at 11 stone six when i boxed so not much for the girls to grab. BBC have half the story ending up on film in the 2005 anniversary of the end of the war. Local Historical forums have the other half. Some is written down for the grandchildren when I vanish to the big parade ground in the sky, some can never be written. Dancing was my life and luckily my Wife too we met in a dance hall, long story with a strange twist. It was known I could smell a dance fifty miles away and we often appeared out of the night in what ever transport we could commandeer, it made for an adventuress often dangerous but mostly wonderful life when off duty. The chance of me writing it is nil but boy did I enjoy living it. Frank.
Haven't watched the whole show yet, but Graham and Oti may not have been technically perfect, but how lovely to have a traditional waltz, lovely music, and him in tails. I was quite emotional at the end, and so was he.
Posts
Ruby my Rumba and Tango teacher was well in with the judges so in the junior class we were favoured, if we were among judges who did not like Ruby we were out.
The bit that made me smile was the senior High School dance, once a year, the teachers stood around us boys and the girls from the school next door, (never the twain shall meet) and they would push a flat hand between the dancing pairs to make sure only the hands connected. That was a bit awkward when Ruby would pull me right in saying i want to feel your bones on mine, her way of making sure we reacted without thinking about it, if you are that entwined you had to react.
The English Teacher who made sure we had distance between us asked me to dance and pulled me in so close I had a job to move, not the best Viennese Waltz I ever did.
Frank.
Strictly, in its current form, is doing a great deal to make dancing as couples sexy and fun again and schools and clubs have increasing membership which has to be good as is having the younger element like Joe Sugg who was, before this series, only interesting to teens as far as I can tell. Great too that they have older people doing well or at least having a go and people with handicaps showing what can be done and all that is to be applauded.
That said, I do want to see the feet and head and frame and I do want the judges to be fair and objective within their own field of skill/experience/discipline and not show blatant favouritism like Shirley does. I don't want smoke and mirrors and I would love music suited to the dances but it's still the only dance show in town and it's great fun and some of its is done so well it's movng and uplifting. Some of the choreographies this year have been exceptional and one or two utterly dire. I like the new couple's choice feature and am looking forward to Argentine Tango. I wish the salsa was salsa and not show dance.
I have danced at Blackpool and, frankly, there were some real hoolies on that floor so busy showing off they showed none of the curtesy I would expect to others sharing the space. It is a wonderful place to dance but not the only sprung floor around.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My Grandchildren Matthew and Hannah have like me danced since they were very young and both now have medals and diplomas. It brought back memories of Mother teaching me the Black Bottom and other flapper dances from the twenties, we usually ended up collapsing in fits of laughter.
My Daughters who thought mum and i old fashioned dancers as they danced around handbags or rowed boats sitting on the floor now go to dance classes as they go on cruises where dancing is a must it would seem.
My first Troop ship Empress of Scotland held a surprise. An announcement any man who can dance don your best bib and tucker then report to the Saloon as there is a shortage of dance partners?? Do not fall for that we probably have to move the piano. Then the deck officer came in the mess, we want dancers now and my ugly mate said he can dance pointing at me. Dragooned into going I found the place full of Married women going out to various eastern garrisons plus a lot of women forces, needless to say it was a long and quite eye opening night as were the ones that followed. We dropped those Ladies at various ports they kissed us goodbye and Husbands hello and on we sailed.
Dancing got me many places, a Banquet in Port Said in borrowed civvy suit, Waltzing in Vienna alone on the floor with a packed audience watching, Joan and I enjoyed that, so many places, dancing got you everywhere.
Now I have settled in my head Strictly is just another show and will watch it without casting a baleful eye over bad footwork and posture I may begin to enjoy it, let us hope so.
Frank.
BBC have half the story ending up on film in the 2005 anniversary of the end of the war.
Local Historical forums have the other half. Some is written down for the grandchildren when I vanish to the big parade ground in the sky, some can never be written.
Dancing was my life and luckily my Wife too we met in a dance hall, long story with a strange twist.
It was known I could smell a dance fifty miles away and we often appeared out of the night in what ever transport we could commandeer, it made for an adventuress often dangerous but mostly wonderful life when off duty.
The chance of me writing it is nil but boy did I enjoy living it.
Frank.