Week 6

Jennifer Grey!  Great to see her....but... No Ballroom Judge.. how will this week fair?

Lulu & Brendan   7 (Tango)

Being up first with the Tango isn't a great position to be.  And I fear for them.  Lulu is getting so much better but she lost her frame somewhat after making the mistake and it was very obvious to the camera-audience from the position they were in at the time.  It was a nice tango but I don't think it's going to get them many votes especially seeing as they are out first and may get forgotten about :(   On another note..  I LOVE Lulu's outfit.  Very classy and beautiful colours for her!  (Just watched it again..  forgot about the lovely  opening sequence up on the top stage.)

Audley & Natalie 7 (Viennese Waltz)

Very nice.  A slow Viennese Waltz which was manageable for Audley.  There was barely any rise and fall but there was a nice smooth rhythm.  A correct performance with that dashing smile and a solid top half.  I've awarded the same mark that I gave Lulu & Brendan but I feel that Lulu has lots more potential and that Audley seems to be at his peak.

Harry & Aliona 8 (Samba)
Hmm.. of course Harry has lots of potential.  Large parts of the routine he seemed to be hitting positions while Aliona danced around him which for me broke up the Samba rhythm too much.  His attempt at the basic steps was good and he was trying hard with the technique though he did look very slighly pigeon-toed on those basic steps and like he was concentrating too much on trying to get it correct instead of letting the rhythm really flow through his body.  Easier said than done I know.  Russell had the right idea last week with the samba rhythm and also Lulu a few weeks ago.  They both just let go and it looked natural.  Harry looked like he never let go.  Having said that..  he's a great mover and surely he'll stay for many more weeks.

Anita & Robin 8 (Charlston)
Fab set!!!  Lovely routine and executed very well.  A couple of moments where Anita slightly lost timing but the performance was great.  The music of 'I got rhythm' didn't seem to be the best charlston music but great to hear the audience clapping along. 

Jason & Kristina  8 (Rumba)
Would like to give an 8 1/2 as I feel it was better than Anita & Robin but I know the rules.  I think he suffered slightly from the 'trying to get the technique correct' syndrome and lost some of the intensity.  I did think the connection was lovely between them  both and the song was gorgeous but I think there was just a little something lacking in feeling the music with the body all the way.  It's hard when you're trying to dance on the "2" in a rhythm that is unfamiliar to you and I think he did a great job.  (Loved the shirt!)

Alex & James 8 (Quickstep)
Another 8.  I'm a terrible judge today.  Everyone is getting the same marks.  Lovely light and bright quickstep.  Shame about the dress being caught but it didn't distract barely at all.  Loved the dress and the yellow underneath (and James looked rather swish in the grey too).  I was distracted  by the swinging ponytail - I don't think that was a good hair choice.  Overall, a great dance and I'd like to watch it again.

Robbie & Ola 7 (Waltz)
Another  beautiful pairing.  Very nice waltz.  Shame that in key moments the footwork wasn't good.  I literally grimaced at heels on a lockstep going forward.  The rise and fall looked good which was why I was surprised by the footwork errors.  I do think this dance could be really good with some more practise.  Robbie again has a lot of potential and I did enjoy it.

Russell & Flavia 6 (Paso Doble)
Good posture throughout and a good attempt.  Not sure I enjoyed the comedy aspect too much.  It must be a difficult decision for them to choose between going for an 'entertainment' routine or a classic routine.  I guess Flavia knows what Russell is capable of.  He seems to be fairly capable and is certainly a wonderful entertainer

Chelsee & Pascha  8 (Charlston)
It could have been a great dance but seemed slightly out of sync with each other.  Chelsee just seemed behind the beat a lot of the way through.  The dance steps had energy however and Chelsee is very capable.

Holly & Artem 8 (Jive)
This was a laid-back jive.  It suited Holly's laid-back attitude (that comes across on camera).  It wasn't a performance I'd want to see again but it worked.

Couple to leave:-  Audley & Natalie.  I like him but I think he's come to the peak of his performances.
Couple I think are in danger of leaving:  Lulu & Brendan :(
Performance of the night:- Alex & Jame's quickstep.