It’s week two in the wonderful world of Strictly Come Dancing. For the first time this series the public get to have their say and vote for their favourite dancers. The leaderboard now combines judges’ scores with this week’s all important public votes, and for one unlucky couple the glitterball dream comes to an end.
Sadly, the first couple to leave the competition was Tom and Amy. With that result the competition truly begins.
So, let’s see who has stepped it up this week and who might need a little more time in the practice room. The nerves of week one are out of the way and now it is all about building confidence, improving technique and winning over both the judges and the viewers at home. Once again, we will go through the performances in order of appearance.
La Voix – Jive (5)
La Voix what’s not to love about her. She’s fun and has great comedic timing. I really enjoyed her take on the jive, even if it did have a tango feel. A bit more work required on the technique, especially on the kick and flicks, but overall, very entertaining.
Karen Carney – Tango (5)
After last week’s amazing jive, I felt this dance was a little off balance. She had some really nice moments and showed great drive within the routine. I think nerves may have taken over this week, but I am sure that if she works with Carlos on the judges’ feedback she will improve.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank – Cha Cha (6)
He is full of surprises, and I think he is going to be a dark horse in this competition. His dance felt authentic and effortless. He showed great hip action and rhythm, which gave an ease and flow to his performance.
Lewis Cope – Viennese Waltz (6)
Call me old school, but this dance felt frantic and rushed, and perhaps that was the intention, but it was not my favourite. The basic elements were there, but I do feel that less is more could have been applied to this routine. I thought Lewis’s solo work was great though.
Alex Kingston – Samba (8)
Full of joy and energy, Alex really brought the party and the fun. When I saw the fans at the beginning, I thought this would be another cheesy dance, but it really was not. It made me want to get on my feet and join in. She showed the perfect amount of bounce needed for a dance like this, classic samba!
Ellie Goldstein – Waltz (6)
Beautiful, elegant and a pure delight. I love dances like this. She looked stunning in her pretty pink dress as she glided across the floor. I can already see the improvement, and I am really enjoying this couple.
Tom Skinner – Salsa (3)
Wow… I really did not understand the music choices. This did not feel like a salsa to me. There were salsa moves within the routine, but overall, it lacked the essence of the dance. I do not think this was completely Tom’s fault, as the music simply was not suited to salsa. The lifts were strong, but the Latin hips still need a lot of work.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Quickstep (8)
Harry looked brilliant both in his outfit and in his dance. He came across as a true gentleman in this performance with a lovely hold. The control he showed was impressive and the choreography had real style. I would love to see more of him in ballroom dances.
Ross King – Viennese Waltz (4)
Definitely better than last week. This was a really thoughtful dance with true emotion. I think he has improved a great deal, and I agree with the judges that he looked much more at home in the ballroom.
Amber Davies – Samba (7)
The sambas are really coming out strong this week, and this one embodied the true feel of the dance. I loved her solo work, and it had great bounce. I do agree that more fluidity is needed when moving from step to step, but I admire her tenacity and enjoyed the performance.
Vicky Pattison – Foxtrot (7)
A real breath of fresh air. I absolutely love her. Her hard work and progression really shone through in this dance. Her frame was lovely, and her elegance carried her beautifully across the floor.
Chris Robshaw - Viennese Waltz (5)
The last Viennese Waltz of the night was a very passionate one. I thought it was a really good attempt with a softness that made the performance very enjoyable. He just needs to focus on lengthening through the back, as his shoulders looked a little rounded in places, but overall, it was a lovely dance.
Stefan Dennis – Cha Cha (4)
Pow! Those outfits came out with a bang. This was another enjoyable performance from the pair, although there were a few mistakes and some issues with timing. If the routine had been cleaner, I think it could have been a really great dance.
George Clarke – Paso Doble (8)
Amazing. The intensity, the strong arms, the powerful drive, what a performance. He was so strong on his own, which could intimidate anyone. He brought a strength to this dance that was great to see in week two. Incredible. I cannot wait to see what he brings next.
Balvinder Sopal – Charleston (7)
The first Charleston of the series and what a cheeky one it was. I loved her facial expressions and her whole attitude to the dance. She brought fantastic energy and had a lovely swivel to boot. I really enjoyed the lifts and the entire performance. What an improvement!
The standard this year is so high. It’s clear that there has been a lot of improvement from all. I think it’s going to be a tight competition this year. We are definitely in for more surprises that’s for sure. On to next week we go.
Do you have a favourite couple? What’s your thoughts on the judges scores? Let us know in the comments.
Keep dancing!
Catherine
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