Michelle Moseys Off!

Well it came as no surprise last night to say farewell to Michelle. There was a glimmer of hope last week with the waltz (although it has to be said Brendan is a very strong lead and literally pushed her around the floor), but as well as always looking absolutely gorgeous she was, unfortunately, always a trifle stilted too.

It's quite interesting that I have sort of automatically erase Ann out of the equation when I ponder who will be voted off; although she possibly guaranteed herself a spot in Blackpool by announcing to the judging panel (and the world) that she would be dancing a Rhumba in two weeks time. Good Luck, Rhumba is considered to be the hardest latin dance.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that Anton is morphing into 'Gigolo Joe' the robotic character played by Jude Law in the film AI?

Right, moving on. Gavin kept his clothes on but snogged Bruno, Pamela did a bit of a cheesy striptease and Felicity got into a bit of a tangle, but (hooray) managed to refrain from doing the splits.

Kara performed a very accomplished Argentine Tango, in fact one of the judges commented that is was like watching two professionals on the floor and while that is praise indeed and she is a very talented dancer it brings me on to my final point.

Sometimes the dance isn't always about technical perfection, sometimes it's about a connection with the audience or taking risks or just that undefinable 'thing' that makes an unforgettable performance and I absolutely have to agree with Len that what makes Sccooott so mesmerising to watch is that he does 'dance on the edge' and it is absolutely electric.

Ballet Bitch xx


  

 

Farewell To A Misty Eyed Mistry

Well they'll be under starters orders again tomorrow, so let's have a brief recap of the past two weeks.

First off it was Ta Ta to Tina O'Brien, proving there's a (very limited) time and place for Pleather and Saturday Night Prime Time Television isn't one of them.

Followed last week by a Misty Eyed Jim Mistry:

Gawd Bless him; I'd be emotional too if I'd delivered that Quickstep and I was booted out while other talentless contestants stayed.

Talking of which, Anton might finally realise (although in a rather twisted manner) his dream of dancing in the competition at Christmas.

I am actually starting to find the Ann Widdecombe circus slightly cruel. I know there are two schools of thought and in the beginning I did think 'Well done to you for having go'. I also thought she may be an unlikely ambassador for dance, proving that it has massive benefits for all shapes, sizes and ages and that you don't necessarily have to be young, lithe and Hollywood perfect to participate and enjoy dancing.
However I'm now worried that she may be having the opposite effect as I fear the public is laughing at her not with her and I'm a little tired of the same 'Comedy' routine that gets rolled out each week, which always involves Anton dragging her around the floor and bad mime.

Whilst we're on the subject of repetitive: 'Felicity enough with the splits'. I actually found myself agreeing with Alesha Dixon last weekend and had to immediately check that Hell hadn't frozen over!

Yes, we get it, you do yoga three times a week, you're flexible, well done. Although if I'm being picky, technically you're not actually doing the splits:

Scooootttt! I have developed a little bit of a Ballroom crush on you; your Tango actually made me cry and the last time I wept at anything on the Telly it was Darcey's Farewell Curtain Call at Covent Garden, well I say wept, howled like a Banshee whilst tears poured down my face would be a more accurate description of that Balletic Event.

And your Halloween Viennese Waltz was superb:

Whilst we're on the subject of my Nemesis I would also like to say 'Ten Out of Ten' to Matt and Aliona for their music choice on Saturday night; an arrangement of the Kylie Minogue/Nick Cave Duet 'Where The wild Roses Grow' and for incorporating a garden swing into their routine. Outstanding!

Special mentions should also go to Patsy for embracing her inner Kylie and thoroughly enjoying her (in the words of Revel Horwood) Chavtastic Cha Cha Cha. Go On Gal!

And also to Gavin Henson, not only for a rather accomplished Cha Cha Cha (very impressive hip action!) but also, more importantly, for managing to keep some of his clothes on. Well done Gav!

Well lets see what tomorrow night brings!



Ballet Bitch xx

Goodbye Goldie

Well that was a bit of a shocker; Goldie became the first contestant to leave this series of Strictly.

My predictions were that Peter Shilton and Paul Daniels would be in the bottom two, but of course with the dissolution of the Dance Off, we are left with, what is basically a popularity contest.

I don't think Goldie deserved to be the first one to leave; yes there was plenty of room for improvement, but I thought he showed commitment, style and a great sense of self which are the key components to becoming a great dancer.

I promised myself that I wouldn't get into a Strictly Rant; but can we please bring back Arlene and the Dance Off.

Jeeves, I think I need Chardonnay STAT!


Ballet Bitch xx


    

Patsy Gets Her Mojo Back!

Well, what a difference a Strictly week makes; Patsy Kensit went from looking like she was a rabbit caught in the headlights to looking like she was having the time of her life!

Looking like a cross between a Felliniesque heroine, Madonna in the recent Dolce & Gabbana campaign and a grown up Crepe Suzette (her character in the 1986 film Absolute Beginners) she strutted round the floor giving it a huge amount of welly and making Len's night as she flung herself on the Judge's table.

Alright, there is a bit of technical nitpicking, but she looking so joyous compared to last week I'm going to leave well alone.

Anyone else remember the Fashion Show scene from 'Absolute Beginners' where Crepe Suzette ends up dancing on the Runway in a paint splattered black sequined dress? Because when I saw Patsy last night I was transported back 24 years and I think maybe she was too.

Here's a link to see Patsy talking about Absolute Beginners, with a little clip of the Runway Scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FIqVAwc6Q


Moving on to other Strictly business I though Goldie showed great improvement after last week's Dad Disco dancing in what looked like a sequined cardi, I thought his Foxtrot this week looked like a performance but still with his own character shining through. Again there is technical nitpicking, but I thought he showed that he had  paid attention to learning correct technique.

After last week I was a bit fretful for Kara Tointon, that due to her amazing figure (and the rather dubious Hot Gossip costume she was put in), she would spend the series being dressed as a cross between a Russ Meyer heroine and a surburban Ann Summers Hostess, but last night she looked beautiful and sohisticated as a Bond Girl in the 'From Russia with Love' Foxtrot and even performed a heel turn which made Len very happy!

I know, Heel Turn, it sounds so simply, but to do it without having 'Wicked Witch of the West' feet is quite difficult. Earlier in the evening both Len and Craig commented on Matt Baker's overemphasized Heel Leads; I've just had another look on the old i-player this morning and they are right, his foot is completely flexed to the point of comedy.

Now I know what your thinking, Heel Lead, you mean just like walking, how difficult can that be? The problem arises when you've spend most of your dancing life being taught to point your toes (I'm sure the same is true in Gymnastics); and believe you and me it's instilled in you from day one; Good Toes, Naughty Toes (Good Toes are pointed toes), so the tendency when learning Ballroom dancing is to over compensate the action to make sure you get it right, because it feels quite unnatural at first and I think that's what Matt is doing, but it will sort itself out.

The other problem I find with Ballroom, is reigning in the turnout. I actually had a comment on my last Ballroom Exam paper that stated 'Try to make your Heel Leads clearer by not rotating your stepping leg outwards in the Quickstep'. Pointed Toes and Turnout; what can I say once a Prima, always a Prima!

And finally, Gavin Henson, sigh and it all went so well last week, but the Latin can be quite challenging for the chaps and NO GAVIN, ripping open your shirt isn't going to make the situation any better, unless your next career choice is to join The Chippendales.

In the very wise words of my Optician Mr. Selbie (Mr & Mrs Selbie like to partake in Ballroom dancing), "You've got to be very comfortable with your own masculine sexuality to try some of those Latin Dances"



Ballet (and occasionally Ballroom) Bitch xx


 

And They're Off: Week One of Strictly!

Well it's that time of year again; the nights are drawing in and as the trees shed their leaves the Glitter Balls descend in a BBC studio at Wood Lane.

Yes Strictly Come Dancing has returned to our screens and already provided quite a bit of entertainment, surprises and scandal.

We Ooohed over Matt Baker's very accomplished and athletic Cha Cha Cha (then we found out he'd been a gymnast and all nodded sagely), we were distinctly underwhelmed (maybe our expectations where unrealistically high) by Felicity Kendal and Michelle Williams (but OMG Girlfriend check out those pins), but were surprised and impressed by Pamela Stephenson's graceful and joyous waltz.

We Booed Paul Daniels over 'Sausagegate' (back peddle all you want mate, it still has a very strong whiff of Homophobia about it), our hearts went out to a terrified Patsy Kensit (Sweetheart, please relax; and I could see that you also had to deal with a costume problem which doesn't help), and we held our collective breath as Ann Widdecombe took to the floor. I believe the term is 'Stately as a Galleon'.

However I think the surprise of the night was Gavin Henson, who delivered a smooth, confidence waltz with good footwork and an air of sophistication and went from this:

To this:

I was also very taken with Katya's peach dress, which was very lovely and (by Strictly standards!) very simple.



BB xx

Careful Daphers!

Steady there Daphers, (that's The Honourable Daphne Suzannah Diana Joan Guinness to you) a platform boot and a cobbled street can be a tricky combination; because, I'm not being funny girl, there's not that much of you and I fear you may snap rather than bounce.

 Ohh, but look, how sweet, some of the Hoi polloi are trying to help you.

And in case you need a medical brace I have tracked down these:

These are from Alexander McQueen's S/S 1999 collection; so I couldn't really have found anything more appropriate if you had taken a spill at the Cathedral yesterday. I also came across (from the same collection) something that would have been mighty handy for me for the past few weeks:

The designer hip brace with built in lace camisole and a one legged Pantaloni; perfect!

And whilst I've been digging around in the McQueen archive today (which on a serious note, makes me, as always, absolutely awestruck at his talent, vision and creativity) I thought I might also share the components of Bjork's 'Angel Outfit' that she sang in yesterday:

Wings from the S/S 1999 Collection and Feather Skirt from the S/S 2001 Collection.

I'm still disappointed that I can't see the silver helmet she was meant to be wearing, unless it's perched on the back of her head, however possible contenders include:

Silver Helmet Givenchy A/W R-T-W 1998/99 (during McQueen's reign) and Chain Mail from Alexander McQueen A/W R-T-W 2009/10

Although I can see that the Chain Mail could have proved vocally challenging.

  

Well I'm off to see Professor Schilders tomorrow, so watch this space to see whether I will be needing to invest in one of those leather hip braces!

Ballet Bitch xx

    

A Very Fashionable Final Farewell

A memorial service was held today at St Paul's Cathedral in London to commemorate the life of Alexander McQueen following his suicide seven months ago; which included, amongst other things Bjork dressed as a McQueen Angel and performing Billie Holiday's Gloomy Sunday.

I had read in one article that she was wearing a silver helmet, which I'm disappointed not to see.

I know that some people view the funerals of the famous as ostentatious or vulgar or even disrespectful in their theatricality, but I disagree, as long as they are fitting to the character of the deceased I think, that in a society becoming increasing informal and often down right slobbish making 'a great big effort' should be encouraged.

Sarah Jessica Parker, with what looks like the ghost of 'Sarah Jessica Parker Past' sneaking up the steps behind her.

Anna (Nuclear) Wintour looking as terrifying chic as ever and Hilary Alexander in what looks like a marvellous tulle hat.

And of course finally my favourite; good old Daphers!

I thought she rather underplayed it today, given what she wore to the actual funeral in February.

Ahh well, see you Daphers and a final farewell to Lee:

BB xx