It is Movie Week on Strictly Come Dancing, the first of the themed weeks. Week three opens with a spectacular performance from the professional dancers to the music from Wicked. I always enjoy when the themes begin, as this is the first time we get to see the celebrities’ acting abilities and how they bring well-known characters to life, alongside their continuing dance improvements.
For the first time on Strictly, a celebrity mentor joined the panel of judges to offer advice to the contestants and comment on their progress throughout the night. The incredible Cynthia Erivo was warmly welcomed by everyone, and I really enjoyed her feedback, which gave the dancers a deeper understanding of how to improve their overall performances.
Once again, we lost another couple, and this week we sadly said goodbye to Ross and Jowita. Although I agree with the result, as he was the weakest dancer, I cannot help but feel a little sad. He came across as a genuinely lovely chap who was simply trying his best to dance his heart out. I am glad he was not the first to leave, and his efforts showed that, no matter your age or ability, everyone should feel happy and confident to give dancing a try.
So, as we usually do lets rate the dances in order of appearance.
Amber Davies – American Smooth (9)
(Sound of music)
I love this song from The Sound of Music, and Amber really captured the sweetness of the character in her dance. The lifts were stunning, and her musicality was beautiful throughout. Her attention to detail is key and truly adds to the charm of this lovely piece.
Chris Robshaw – Paso Doble (6)
(Thor)
There is definitely an improvement in his posture. The dance had a strong, intense energy, which suits the Paso perfectly. I felt a little more work could be done on the traditional Paso shaping, and I only wish we could have seen some cape work, as it would have suited his character brilliantly.
George Clarke – Couples Choice (8)
(K pop demon hunters)
I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this film, so I can’t really comment on the character side of things. Overall, I thought the dance was great fun and packed full of choreography. It had a lively, playful tone and showed a completely different side to George.
La Voix – Waltz (7)
(Mary Poppins)
Gorgeous. Magical. Lovely. No gimmicks, no silly props, just proper old-fashioned ballroom dancing. I absolutely adored it.
Ross King – Paso Doble (4)
(Thunderbirds)
Great characterisation. He really embodied the role of a Thunderbird. However, this one did not quite work for me. Everything felt a little stiff, and it was clear he was anticipating each move.
Balvinder Sopal – Foxtrot (7)
(Fred and Ginger)
Who does not love a tail coat and a beautiful ballgown? She glided across the floor, giving a real sense of airiness to the dance. A little work is needed when she is in hold, but overall it was elegant and effortless. She did not deserve to be in the dance-off at all.
Karen Carney – Cha Cha (6)
(Miss Congeneality)
I loved her commitment to the character; it was a very good choice for Karen. I really enjoyed the energy and passion she brought to the dance. Going forward, a little more control is needed, as there were a few wobbles in balance. The turns, however, were excellent.
Jimmy Floyyd-Hassell Bank – Rumba (7)
(James Bond)
The rumba is such a hard dance for the man, but Jimmy took total control. He has hips, and boy did they move. He fully embodied his character as 007. It was brilliant and fantastic, a strong ending to a lovely dance. There was a real connection between the two of them, and I can really see him going far.
Vicky Patterson – Charleston (6)
(The Great Gatsby)
A funny, cheeky dance full of energy. I do think the swivels could use a little work, and the transitions in and out of the lifts could be a bit cleaner. However, it was fun and very entertaining.
Ellie Goldstein – Samba (7)
(Barbie)
Lots of energy and a joy to watch. It is clear that Ellie works very hard on her dancing, and it is really showing. This dance demonstrated much more control, and she totally nailed it.
Alex Kingston – Quickstep (7)
(Devil wears prada)
The characterisation was on point and his frame is improving. I loved this choreography as it worked so well with the dance. There is a natural ease when Alex dances and wow, that ending was fantastic. I could even feel that power from home.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Salsa (8)
(Mufasa)
I really liked this different take on a Salsa, with the African beats in the song alongside the African moves. It lent itself perfectly to this dance. He was strong and controlled and definitely in safe hands.
Lewis Cope – Paso Doble (9)
(Zoro)
A great way to end the show. Intensity, check. Passion, check. Amazing, check. I can see an improvement as he starts to control his energy within the dance more, giving it a much cleaner and more natural look.
This was a great night for our Strictly cast. The costumes were all amazing, along with the hair and makeup. I also thought it was great to be given a short glimpse into the props side of things and how seamlessly all the changes happen. I cannot wait to see what next week brings.
Did you agree? Who was your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
Keep dancing,
Catherine
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