Strictly Review: Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev

Ashley Roberts scored a hat trick after she received three 10s with her dance partner Pasha Kovalev for their Halloween themed Charleston. At the end of the night, they were joint top of the leaderboard with Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice.

Ashley and Pasha received a standing ovation from not only the audience but also from Bruno Tonioli and head judge Shirley Ballas after their “swivellious” Trolls-inspired routine. Bruno even exclaimed it was the highlight of the season so far. But what made it so good and stand out against the other Charleston routines we have seen so far?

First of all, I know what you are all going to say ‘She trained professionally!’ which is true, but let’s put that aside and take a look at the choreography and content on this dance which is what made it shine.

First of all, the pair are great at setting the scene. Pasha, the troll, puts a spell on Ashley, a bergen, to get her to fall in love with him. She executes the flapper walks and isolation steps of being under a spell perfectly. (If you are unclear of the reference, the characters are based on the Disney film Trolls).

Once the spell has been cast they break into Helicopters, Rock Steps and Charlestons in perfect sync. We see some other nice classic steps at 0:51 seconds where Ashley performs Camel Walks, Birdie Flaps, Lock Turns and Swivels on one leg which then goes straight into Charleston kicks across the body with two Bunny Hops. This is followed by Charleston in hold and a nice turning section. The whole section is jam packed and they keep going with great content as this is followed by Flapper Walks, a Basic Charleston with a kick and some lifts. 

As soon as they break out of the lifts, they perform two Smack the Babies and some classic Pushes and another seamless lift. Towards the end of the routine, they bring it back to the storyline where Ashley then tries to cast a spell on Pasha this time which leads to them throwing the spell book away and them being happy little trolls in love which each other.

What we love about this routine is the story and the choreography are perfectly put together. Sometimes the storylines are quite loose and don’t make sense but this one was clear and beautifully presented. It was also very fast, full of content and the pair of them were perfectly synchronised. Ashley is also the first celeb this series who has mastered the art of the swivel.

The only drawback to this routine is the music. The tune is so annoying that it distracts from the routine and If they had used something with a bit more swing, we could have seen some even more complicated steps with the use of cross phasing and syncopation which would have made it stand out even more. However, we are being picky and as this is a family show, I’m sure lots of kids loved the Disney reference and the music.

Judges Scores:

Bruno: "Astonishing! A magical spellbinding, exuberant, action packed, musical comedy Charleston. One of the best Strictly moments of the season." (Score: 10)

Craig: "Swi-vel-licious, darling." (Score: 9)

Darcey: "A terrific contrast from last week. How the choreography is led by the story, and that face was working as hard as the body." (Score: 10)

Shirley: "One of the best choreographic routines I've ever seen. Fantastic." (Score: 10) 

Our Score: 9 

Move of the Week: The Shimmy

This week we are breaking down the shimmy, a simple yet confusing move that sometimes throws our students in class. The key things to remember when learning to shimmy is the movement comes from your spine and shoulder blades not from your chest.

The shimmy is not about trying to make your chest wobble, it's about moving your shoulder blades to create the movement. Imagine you have a broom running up your spine and you are trying to grab hold of it with your shoulder blades. Keep your weight in the centre and engage your core to keep control and flow to the step. Remember do not let your chest collapse in.

This is a great move to mess about with, so try it around the house or next time you are out dancing!

Strictly The Best

Sadly we didn’t get to see a Charleston number this week on Strictly Come Dancing so we have picked out two of our favourite routines from a previous series. This week we are looking at the best Charleston dances from 2016.

Claudia Fragapane & AJ Pritchard Charleston to 'You Give a Little Love' - Strictly 2016: Week 3

We’ve picked this out as a highlight routine for a couple of reasons. Firstly the set up is perfect in terms of the music and costume. It is not fancy dress flapper girl at all. Claudia’s costume is really nice, they have put together a beautiful playsuit with a lovely back and AJ’s outfit also matches the era.

The music also plays a big part in making this routine works. Sometimes Strictly picks some really ‘mass appeal’ songs which we understand they are trying to do to capture the audience of a really broad demographic but sometimes it really misses the mark and makes the dance really awkward as the song doesn’t fit the right time signature or style.

It has a nice story line, with the dancing peaking in the Charleston side to side and then a funny ending, it’s a bit clumsy but who has ever been glamorous with a custard pie?

In terms of content, we see heaps of Charleston along with variations :
20s Charleston - at least 3 sections
30s Charleston
Around the world Charleston

Other classic moves include:
Bunny hops
Trucking
Side to side Charleston
A ‘smack the baby’ variation
Flapper walks

So in terms authentic we see tons of classic steps.

It also has what we sometimes call some ‘Wow steps’ the pair do some really complicated lifts which are all done really beautifully. 1920s Charleston doesn’t really have any lifts but obviously this is TV and it has to have some ‘wow’ moment for the audience which is executed really well.

We think this is a really solid and strong performance and excellent for Week 3.

Danny Mac & Oti Charleston to ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ by Gregory Porter - Strictly 2016: Blackpool

Similar to week 3 routine, this dance has a nice storyline but it’s quite similar to Claudia’s at the start. Table, chair, fur thing around her neck but it is jam packed full of content. Sometimes Strictly fills a routine with quite a lot ‘fluff’ in the storyline (Which Vick and Granziano were marked down for this week in their Cha Cha Cha) but this cuts straight in and they really challenge Danny to keep up with Oti starting with some tricky footwork with a Charleston squat variation into flapper walks and Charleston squats on a table.

There is some basic Charleston into flapper walks which has a great swivel to it and then we see the Charleston in hold and then they break out into a tick tock from those formations.

What we really like about this routine which a lot of dances lack is you can really see the inflexion in the move so if you watch Oti’s feet they really have a swivel and flick which makes the steps so recognisable.

Again, it is a great song choice. A classic swing song which suits the routine and the storyline is very clear - maybe a bit repetitive, we have seen quite a few tables and chairs in the Charleston  - remember Brendon and Sophie Ellis Bextor? Strictly often falls short of this. How many times have we seen the lonesome street light wheeled out for the Argentine Tango? However, they fill the space and once again have plenty of wow moments with some great lifts.

The steps to look out for in this one are:
20s Charleston - both solo and in hold
20s Charleston with kicks and taps down to the ground
Squat Charleston with variations and on tables

Other classic moves include:
Flapper walks
Hitchhikers on the spot
Some Lindy steps
Trucking
Grapevine
Tick Tock
Fall on the log variation with a jump

Next week the Charleston is back and we can’t wait to see what Ashley Roberts and her pro Pasha Kovalev deliver for the Halloween special.

Move of the Week: Apple Jacks

Apple Jacks is a dance move which is full of joy, so much so that I would guess this move has gospel routes.

It start with a flick ball change on beat 8, as you do this the chest should open in a celebratory manner. The arms Swoop across the body to make a big circle or sunshine arms as I often say when teaching children.

The footwork is then a series of little steps which lead with the ball of the foot and follows through with the heel pressing down firmly as if crushing grapes (no one ever gets that analogy, I’ve never crushed grapes in my life either but hey it works for me.)  Another way to look at it, is it's as if you really need the toilet, so your crossing your legs in front of one another as if your really holding on. 

The challenging aspect of this move is that your feet should feel grounded whilst the upper body is light and lifted. It’s what I would call a yummy move and when you feel it come together you’ll fell immensely satisfied.

Good luck practicing and don’t fall over!

Charleston Shoes - Where to look?

The most important thing for a dancer is the shoe. For us Charleston dancers it is important to find a footwear, which we are stable in and which has a smooth sole, so that we can swivel over the dance floor. In this blog we would like to introduce you to some shops, which are worth checking out in the search for your perfect dance shoe.

Charlie Stone shoes

Aris Allen
Aris Allen is a shoe brand which offers dance shoes with a suede sole for women and men. The shoes are designed by swing dancers for other swing dancers.
Price range: £39 - £62
https://arisallen.com/

Charlie Stone
This brand offers Greek Sandals with a unique design with hidden elevation for better arch, ankle and knee support. All shoes have leather upper and lining and a smooth sole, so that you can swivel perfectly over the dance floor
Price range: £82 – £93
https://www.charliestoneshoes.com/collections/all

Slide&Swing shoes

Bleyer Shoes
Bleyer Shoes offers many different styles of dance shoes for both, men and women. The brand is run by a UK based company called The Swing Dance Company Limited.

Price range: £40 - £115
http://bleyershoes.com/

Slide&Swing
Slide&Swing is a really new brand, which established in Spain in 2013. You can get dance shoes for both men and women there, and they are all handmade with an upper, lining and sole all in leather, so the shoe is very light and smooth.
Price range: £111 - £155
https://www.slideandswing.es/shop/

Saint Savoy
These dance shoes for men and women are a bit more pricey, but you get really beautiful classic dance shoes with leather soles or synthetic soles. All shoes are tested by professional dancers to see if the shoe really makes a good dance shoe considering the comfort of your feet while dancing.
Price range: £165 - £196
https://www.saintsavoy.com/

Saint Savoy shoes

If you don’t want to buy dance shoes, because you already have shoes which fit your feet perfectly and you know you could dance in them all night long, but the sole is not smooth enough, you could resole your shoes with a leather sole.

We already wrote a blog about the different types of shoes there are. If you want to know which shoe could be fitting for you and the pros and cons of each type of shoe, you should have a look at Fiona’s blog too!

Strictly Review: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones

The odds were against comedian Seann Walsh and his professional partner Katya Jones this week in Strictly Come Dancing as they have been engulfed in a media storm after pictures emerged of them kissing were splashed across the tabloids followed by Seann being publicly dumped on Twitter. 

However, after all the drama of ‘kiss-gate’ the public chose to save them, sending Katie Piper and Gorka Marquez home. 

Rumor has it that the pair were supposed to be dancing a raunchy Rumba but instead that had to be scrapped and replaced with a Charleston set in a pizzeria which was put together by Choreographer Jenny Thomas. The music was 'Bills' by Lunchmoney Lewis. 

Dressed in the most unsexy outfits the costume department could find that the pair managed to get an 8 from Head Judge Shirley Ballas. But did it really deserve such a high score? 

Let’s take a more in-depth look:

For the first 20 seconds, they set the scene or as we would describe a lot of faffing with cheese until they start dancing. Once they get going, we see a basic 20s in hold, followed by some flapper walks. Katya seems to be counting out loud at this point and there is a tiny stumble at 27 seconds in. Did Seann accidentally pull her over?

They then move into a lindyhop section and break out of it with a helicopter at 42 seconds. The knees are not closed here nor is there any swivel on the supporting leg which are vital for this move.

We then see some impressive lifts from Katya and we jump straight back into another lindyhop section and then into rather weird lift where she climbs up his back. We’ve not see this in any style so we are not really sure what genre that is from. It also breaks the flow of the dance. Maybe they were just looking for unsexy moves to perform in their Where’s Wally outfits?

Seann does get a little Charleston solo break, which he mouths his counts and goes wrong. He looks very stiff in this section.

Once they chuck the pizza boxes in the air, it’s back to the oven for some some more faffing followed by a Charleston Around the World and 3 lifts. The final one looks a bit wobbly and the transition into their final position is not very smooth, in fact they don’t hold their end position.

Overall, this routine had some nice elements but it was very unpolished and messy. We see them falling over, mouthing counts and in terms for content compared to last weeks Charleston we barely see them in hold and only see classic 20s Charleston and a helicopter. 

Judge Scores and Comments:

Darcey: "That was a full routine! You delivered it with great energy, great attack. There were some really tricky lifts in there. There are moments where you do become slightly clumsy, but overall, very strong character." (7)

Shirley: "That routine was outstanding. Totally entertaining. I loved it, I thought you did extremely well." (8)

Bruno: "You threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. It was so manic but manic in a good way. The finish at times was a little bit gangly, but you went for it." (7)

Craig: "What I love about you, Katya, is you will say, 'Yes, let's do it and let's do more' and that's what you did. A lot of it was left to the gods, but you did it really, really well." (6)

I’m afraid we don’t agree with Shirley on this one. We do love Jenny Thomas as a choreographer but it was excuted poorly. The only thing that saves it is Katya’s energy so its a 6 from us. Do you agree?

Charleston Move of the Week: Squat Charleston Variations

Last week we started to look at Squat Charlestons and we thought this one was worth another look as there some great ways to combine single and double kicks with arms.

The key to remember with this move is to keep your knees bent and you start with your feet in a wide second position. Each time you kick your leg, you are kicking to your side rather in front of the body. Your feet are always flexed and never pointed.

In terms of your arms, you can do them in to style: Either crossing in front of you on the single kicks with pushes over the left leg or in a swaying motion from side to side.

To stop you from falling over, you must engage your core. 

Strictly Review: Graeme Swann & Oti Mabuse

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by this weeks Charleston on Strictly Come Dancing especially as the last two had been lacking in content from week 2 in the show. This week’s Charleston performance was Graeme Swan with his professional partner Oti Mabuse. Admittedly, I was worried this might be a bit cringy especially due to the song choice (Spiderman theme tune) and Graeme’s performance last week was a bit of a shocker. However, it was a complete contrast from that and had some really lovely sections. 

Let’s start with Oti’s solo at the start whilst they detached Graeme from the wires. She starts with some perfect flapper walks into a high kick Charleston variation into some Charlie Chaplin legs followed by a sort of Shorty George step and then greets Graeme with a basic Charleston, followed by a turning trucking step -  within in first 40 seconds every move has been a classic Charleston step which is refreshing to see.

From there, Oti jumps head first at Graeme and comes straight into a partner Charleston, followed by bunny hops. It’s so nice to see them in hold as last week both couples nearly danced the whole thing as a duet rather than a partner dance.

After a bit of silly faces (which we always like to see) there are some Charleston variations with kicks followed by two huge lifts that Oti lands perfectly. Again, straight after the lifts they go into another nice section in hold and come out of it with a Sailor Step (not sure if Graeme was supposed to let go of her hand here) into Squat Charlestons, Flapper Walks and a Fall Off The Log. If I am being picky this should have more bend in the legs but overall it was packed full of great steps and ended with a another great lift which they hold right to the end. 

After doing some digging online I discovered that this weeks routine was choreographed by the main Charleston choreographer Jenny Thomas as compared to last week and you can really tell as they content is much more rich and dynamic.

As always there could be a bit more swivel but overall I think Graeme and Oti did a great job especially as he a ‘non-dancer’ compared to say Ashely or Faye plus it was very entertaining.

Only thing that doesn’t add up if the holding image for the YouTube video shows Oti with a spider’s web around her. Maybe that prop got cut from the routine?

Craig: "Welcome back to the competition." (7)

Darcey: "That was a super comeback. To hold on to the character and to produce all that style, and you didn't get tired in any of those lifts – that was impressive!" (8)

Shirley: "You've come back fighting. I just loved it – everything about it. Fantastic." (8)

Bruno: "From zero to superhero! Keep it up for the sequel next week because now we're used to your magic." (8)

Our Score: 7 

Let us know if you agree?

Move of the Week: Squat Charlestons

This week in our series of move of the week we are looking at something which we consider a slightly more technical move: A Squat Charleston.

The key things to remember when learning this move is to keep your knees bent in and hips slightly hinged back. You need to make sure you stay low and you are not bobbing up and down with the move.

Each time you try this move you need to bend the leg in then kick out to the side. Once you kick, you swap legs. It is very quick and the best way to make it look flawless is to bend your legs and keep close to the ground.

3 flapper girls you must know

In the 1920s flappers girls broke the image of what a traditional woman should be. They cut their hair short, wore make-up and are what many considered the "modern" woman, breaking away from victorian womanhood.  Flappers Josephine Baker, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks are maybe the most famous three from the era but what made them stood out and stand the test of time?

Josephine Baker

JOSEPHINE BAKER
Josephine Baker was born in Missouri in 1906. Originally she was named Freda Josephine McDonald, but after immigrating to France she was known as Josephine Baker.
She is one of the most famous Charleston dancers of the era and her career began as a street dancer, which attracted attention and helped her being recruited as a dancer for the St. Louis Chorus Vaudeville show at the age of 15. Not long after this, she moved to New York City where she performed at the Plantation Club and in the Broadway chorus line of Shuffle Along and The Chocolate Dandies.
After New York, she moved to Paris in France where she stayed until she died. Her Danse Sauvage brought her success overnight, because her skirt was consisting only of a griddle of artificial bananas. It’s one of her most famous pictures and a symbol of the Jazz of the 1920s, and it also gave birth to the term “Art Deco”.
Baker was not only an entertainer but also an activist. During World War Ⅱ, she aided the Red Cross, the French Forces and the French Resistance. And in the United States she refused to perform for segregated audiences and is noted for her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1975 Josephine Baker died in France.

Louise Brooks

LOUISE BROOKS
Louise Brooks, who was born in 1906, has one of the most iconic flapper looks: Her bobbed hair, The American was a famous dancer, an actress and later in her life an author. She came into the spotlight as Lulu in the film Pandora’s Box.
Her career began at the age of 15, when Brooks dropped out of school to move to New York City to join the Denishawn dance troupe. She performed two seasons with Denishawn, but was dismissed at the end of her second season, because St. Denis, one of the most renowned artists of that time, thought that Brooks was possessed by a superior attitude.
After this, she found work as a Broadway chorus girl and became a Zeigfeld showgirl.
Brooks travelled to England, where she found work at the city’s famed Café de Paris and became the first person to dance the Charleston in London. This helped her get noticed by film star Charlie Chaplin, with whom she had an affair that lasted one summer.
When Brooks was 18 years old, she signed a five-year contract with Paramount, which is still a leading film studio, but in her days, she was never really considered a major star in the film industry. In 1985 Louise Brooks died of a heart attack.

Clara Bow

CLARA BOW
Clara Bow, born Clara Gordon Bow in 1905 was an American actress which became famous through silent films during the 1920s.
At the age of the 16 she participated at the nationwide acting contest, because previous winners got film roles, and Bow wanted to be an actress. She won an evening gown and a silver trophy, but the breakthrough never came after the competition.
In 1921 Bow was introduced to the director Christy Cabanne, who cast her in Beyond the Rainbow and was really impressed by her, but she was cut out in the final print. Bow dropped out of school after this incident and worked a normal job.
But her father encouraged her to keep looking for a film role because it was a huge dream of her. In 1923 she was featured in the silent film Down to the Sea by Elmer Clifton, which helped her getting known as an actress.
One year later Bow got her first lead role in the film Poisoned Paradise.
The appearance in the film It brought her global fame and the name “The It Girl”. Now she is still the personify to the Roaring Twenties and is often described as its leading sex symbol.
In 1965 she died of a heart attack.

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