Strictly Come Dancing spook-tacular Halloween Week special aired last weekend and the latest couple to take on the Charleston was Emma Weymouth and with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. Scoring a total of 30 was this fair or overmarked?

The dance was set in a library and the theme was Cluedo. Emma dressed as Miss Scarlett and Aljaž as Professor Plum.

The routine begins with Aljaž popping out a bookcase and they greet each other with a few Runs, Step Points and a Tick Tock.

They break into 3 Charlestons with various arms at 0:34 followed by a series of lifts. In hold they move into Sailor Kicks turning around each other then Flapper Walks.

At 1:07, they go back to the Cluedo theme and fight over a candlestick followed by some Flapper Walks at 1:14. Judge Craig Revel Horwood commented that this move was supposed to be a  Truckin’ Step but it didn’t look anything like that. I think it was just supposed to be walks.

For the final section, Emma spends most of it in the air with lots of trick moves and lifts. The routine finishes with Aljaž disappearing back through the bookcase.

This routine was well rehearsed and the pair gave a polished performance. Emma had plenty of swivels, danced in time and is very neat when she performs. I think she needs to go the extra mile now and become more playful as it was very controlled and a bit posey. 

In terms of technique, her movement needs to be continuously, without stopping so the dance flows a bit better. It came across and a bit stop/start.

Choreography could have been more dynamic. They were a few Charlestons and travelling steps but there was not that much Charleston content. I couldn’t find online who choreographed this but it can get a bit boring watching lift after lift and it’s a shame not to have more interesting footwork. 

The music they picked was from the Great Gatsby Soundtrack but it didn’t work very well with the theme of Cluedo. It seemed more like a party number rather than Halloween themed and all the elements didn’t quite come together.

Emma Weymouth and Aljaž Škorjanec received a score of 30 (6+8+8+8).

Our Score: 6 

Elena