Having never heard of Layton Williams, l looked him up and found he played Billy Elliott in the West End at the age of twelve and has appeared in several West End productions. I assume that any ballet training he's had won't help in in the Latin and Ballroom fields but he will be used to the rehearsal room side of training .
Amanda Abingdon commented that she was looking forward to the rehearsal side of things as she was used to that as an actress.
I've probably said this before, but when you look back at the early series of Strictly there were no "experienced" dancers that l can recall. These days people want to be entertained from the start, and although watching people go on "the journey" is interesting, l enjoy the balance of say Ashley Roberts (who faced a real backlash for her apparent experience ), Ed Balls and Joe Sugg. A load of Christopher Parkers would not appeal to me, and neither would an entire programme of Rose Ayling Ellis level dancers. She was a beautiful natural dancer and a worthy winner, but it's the mix of abilities which makes it entertaining for me .
Angela Rippon trained as a classical ballet dancer. I know the criteria have changed over the years, but there were far fewer with in depth dance training in the early days. Admittedly it hasn't stopped 'non-dancers' doing well. I simply don't like the imbalance.
It'll be 60 years, more or less, since she trained @KT53 as her role as a journalist won't have allowed consistent attendance at classes in the evenings or at weekends. There's also a huge difference between the posture, techinque and steps in ballet and those in ballroom. The main thing is that she's kept herself fit and supple and that should pay dividends.
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)."
@KT53 Firstly, taking ballet classes does not automatically make you an excellent dancer and certainly not in all types of dance. Secondly, like myself, she only did ballet until she was in her mid teens and there's only so far you can go in that amount of time. Unless you're going to live and breathe ballet, take numerous classes, most likely with more than one dance school, you're not going to go very far with it. She couldn't have gone into a career as a journalist straight from school without her focus having been academic achievement. In all likelihood she did the same as most of us and took weekly classes. She clearly has an aptitude for dance, from most of what we've seen she moves very gracefully but it gets a bit messy when the pace picks up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rma6KyS4A80&ab_channel=BBC and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL2dLPWB5k4&ab_channel=BBC That's not to take anything away from her, even when the technique isn't great she puts on an incredible performance and I'm looking forward to watching her.
If previous dance experience was such an advantage then the finalists would only ever be those with that experience and the winner would always be someone with a dance background. I could understand people's frustration if that was the case but it isn't. Given his experience in the West End, which includes starring in Cats, Danny John Jules should have aced it except he went out week 8. As for the balance of dancers/non dancers, in the first series, two of the eight contestants had dance experience including musical theatre. Last year's Strictly had 15 contestants and three had dance experience. If it wasn't for the fact that Strictly has 20 series, I'd check all of the former contestants background to get the exact figures. I feel confident though that the number of contestants with dance experience isn't nearly as imbalanced as is being made out.
Zara McDermott. I have no idea, and so l quote. "Zara McDermott is a broadcaster and content creator. She was a government policy advisor working for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Education, before appearing on Love Island in 2018."
I was six for six until Zara McDermott although admittedly I only know Eddie Kadi from his appearance on Richard Osman's House of Games. Although it hasn't been mentioned, Angela Scanlon also presents Your Garden Made Perfect which is Garden Rescue for people with deeper pockets.
Posts
I assume that any ballet training he's had won't help in in the Latin and Ballroom fields but he will be used to the rehearsal room side of training .
Amanda Abingdon commented that she was looking forward to the rehearsal side of things as she was used to that as an actress.
I've probably said this before, but when you look back at the early series of Strictly there were no "experienced" dancers that l can recall.
These days people want to be entertained from the start, and although watching people go on "the journey" is interesting, l enjoy the balance of say Ashley Roberts (who faced a real backlash for her apparent experience ), Ed Balls and Joe Sugg.
A load of Christopher Parkers would not appeal to me, and neither would an entire programme of Rose Ayling Ellis level dancers.
She was a beautiful natural dancer and a worthy winner, but it's the mix of abilities which makes it entertaining for me
If previous dance experience was such an advantage then the finalists would only ever be those with that experience and the winner would always be someone with a dance background. I could understand people's frustration if that was the case but it isn't. Given his experience in the West End, which includes starring in Cats, Danny John Jules should have aced it except he went out week 8. As for the balance of dancers/non dancers, in the first series, two of the eight contestants had dance experience including musical theatre. Last year's Strictly had 15 contestants and three had dance experience. If it wasn't for the fact that Strictly has 20 series, I'd check all of the former contestants background to get the exact figures. I feel confident though that the number of contestants with dance experience isn't nearly as imbalanced as is being made out.
"Zara McDermott is a broadcaster and content creator. She was a government policy advisor working for the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department of Education, before appearing on Love Island in 2018."
Adam Thomas l have heard of, he is an actor who has appeared in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road.
Nikita Kanda is the breakfast show presenter on the BBC Asian network.