Strictly Review: Will Mellor and Nancy Xu

With only a week to go until the Quarter Finals of the competition, last Saturday we were treated to a leader board topping routine from actor Will Mellor and professional partner Nancy Xu, who opened the show with a Charleston, set to the unconventional tune, “Hush,” by Kula Shaker

It appears that Will and Nancy’s Charleston has caused controversy amongst the Strictly fandom with mixed opinions being shared about the dance. Even though some were in agreement with the higher scoring from the judges and believed it was a “Sauvé, stylish take on the Charleston,” many, “Weren’t keen,” on this new approach to this centenarian dance.

Do you think the couple deserved their score or are you more in agreement with the harsh criticism? Let’s take a closer look…

The routine begins with both Will and Nancy setting the scene wearing headphones and rocking out to the tune. After a few bars of music, the pair strut out of their boxes towards the centre of the dance floor, where they launch straight into a Paddle Turn and Basic Charleston Swivels, shortly followed by a sequence of 30s and multiple Kick Charlestons. They then come together for a brief section in hold where they complete a series of Happy Feet, and Will using Nancy’s leg as an air guitar- igniting a multitude of whoops and cheers from the audience.

Later on in the routine, further 1920s Basic Charlestons are completed in hold, followed by Cake Walks and a lift. At 0:50, a sequence of Hitchhikes, Slow Motion Running (with exceptional facial expressions), and Side-to-Side Charlestons are danced with immense intensity- further establishing the Charleston-esque qualities of the dance.

Just when the audience thought there couldn’t possibly be room for anymore Charleston content, the pair complete a sequence of Tick Tocks, Cake Walks, a Lindy Hop inspired section, a Pirouette, and a Jump Lift with apparent ease.

They then have just enough time for a further few Robotic Walks, Flicks, Kicks, and Spins before coming together for a James Bond inspired ending where the crowd erupted into a cacophony of applause.

The choreographer behind this techno masterpiece was Jenny Thomas (check out her Instagram here) and her assistant Sean Moon. The routine that the pair created for Will and Nancy was well suited to Will’s dancing abilities and not only allowed him to show-off his newfound dancing abilities, but also perfectly encapsulated what the Charleston is all about- having fun!

Overall, I really enjoyed this routine. Although it was not traditional in the sense of upholding a Jazzy tune, the routine itself was jam-packed full of original and authentic Charleston content which was enjoyable to watch. Due to the amalgamation of the older Charleston style and modern music, I thought a fresh new perspective was shone on this dance, which therefore highlights, an array of possibilities and ways that the Charleston can be danced and enjoyed. Further reinforcing this dance as timeless. It is clear that I am not alone in thinking this as one critic claimed they were, “Jumping off [their] sofa at this innovative and unique performance.”

As a result, the Judges were also unanimous with their admiration and complimentary opinions. Head Judge Shirley gave the pair a standing ovation and stated, “Every single thing worked for [Will],” as he, “Nailed it.” This alongside Anton’s comment that, “This was [his] best performance of the series,” left the couple beaming with pride. Even Craig could not stop himself agreeing when Motsi stated that, “This [performance] has set the standard high for the rest of the night.”

Due to these highly praising comments, Will and Nancy Flapper Walked their way to success and topped the leader board for the first time since Week 1 with their score of 38; therefore, securing their spot in next week’s Musical Special.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood – 9

Motsi Mabuse – 10

Shirley Ballas – 10

Anton Du Beke – 9

MyCharleston – 9

By: Eleanor O’Donnell

Strictly The Best

An average of 10.9 million viewers tune in each Saturday to Strictly Come Dancing. Over the course of the series, loyal Strictly fans will spend around 1,970 minutes watching it. This is equal to nearly 33 hours sat in the comfort of their living room, watching the professionals and celebrities dance their way round the studio dancefloor each Saturday and Sunday.

To commemorate Strictly Come Dancing waltzing its way back onto our screens for its 20th series, Fenetic Wellbeing have looked back over the years to determine the best of the best – the UK’s favourite dance style, the most popular theme week and the most viewed Strictly performance.

The UK’s Favourite Dance STYLE

There’s no denying that sitting and watching the Strictly contestants Quickstep, Cha-Cha and Waltz around the dancefloor gets you in the mood for dancing. No matter what age or ability we all begin to wonder whether we’ve still got what it takes to make some moves on the dancefloor. But what dance is it that makes you want to get up and boogie too?

Fenetic Wellbeing have looked into the google search volume for each genre of dance that is performed on Strictly to determine the UK’s favourite style of dance. Here are the results per Google Search Volume:

1. Salsa - 20,000

2. Tango - 19,000

3. Charleston - 15,000

4. Samba - 10,000

5. Rumba - 7,800

6. Jive - 4,300,

7. Rock ‘n’ Roll - 4,200

8. Waltz - 3,400

9. Foxtrot - 3,100

10. Paso Doble - 2,600

The Salsa takes the top of the leader board – the sexy and high energy Latin American dance is a combination of a variety of Cuban and American dances. Following closely behind, the Tango is a very sensual dance and is known for it’s dramatic, vibrant and sharp movements. In contrast, the Charleston is a really fun and upbeat dance. Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Brendan Charleston to 'Rock It For Me' has had over 6 million views.

The Best Strictly Performance of all time!

Although all of the performances on Strictly are spectacular (well, nearly all of them!), we have looked at the number of YouTube views each performance has got and whittled it down to the top 10 performances over the last 5 series.

Danny Mac and his partner Oti Mabuse have taken the lead with over 6 million views! Their Samba to ‘Magalenha’ by Sergio Mendes made Strictly history as he became the first contestant to EVER score a perfect 40 for the dance! The Samba is usually considered one of the hardest dances for the celebrities to learn as it’s so fast-paced and technical, however Danny Mac defied the odds with his outstanding performance.

Professional dancer, Giovanni Pernice, features in the top 10 performances an impressive 3 times, not only for his performances with Faye Tozer but also for his moving performance with Rose Ayling-Ellis in the final. During Giovanni and Rose’s couples choice dance to ‘Symphony’, the music paused and there was around 10 seconds of complete silence while the pair kept dancing in perfect time to one another. Their breath-taking performance not only won a BAFTA for ‘Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment’, but also made headway in increasing awareness and understanding of deafness.

Dancers  VS YouTube Views

1. Danny Mac & Oti Mabuse  - 6,126,237

2. Joe Sugg & Diane Buswell  - 3,056,825

3. Karim Zeroual & Amy Dowden - 2,880,539

4. Aston Merrygold & Janette Manrara  - 2,857,287

5. Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice - 2,694,947

6. Kelvin Fletcher & Oti Mabuse - 2,683,035

7. Joe Sugg & Dianne Buswell - 2,457,527

8. Rose Ayling-Ellis & Giovanni Pernice - 2,376,848

9. Faye Tozer & Giovanni Pernice -   2,251,693

10. Alex Scott & Neil Jones  - 2,228,491

The UK’s Favourite Themed Week

We know just how much viewers love the Strictly themed weeks, but which one is the UK’s favourite? Looking at viewing figures over the last 5 series1, we have calculated which themed week has the highest average viewing figures. As the dancers have been unable to travel to Blackpool to perform at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, this week was excluded from the data. Having said this, viewing figures for Strictly’s week at Blackpool usually increase by around 6%.

Theme Week vs Average viewing figures

1. Final - 11,696,840

2. Musicals -  11,121,258

3. Halloween -  10,602,723

4. Semi-final - 10,985,994

5. Movie -  10,965,445

6. Launch - 10,965,445

There’s no surprise that the final achieves the highest viewing figures on Strictly, with the couples’ show dances, special guest performances, a final performance from the Strictly Class of 2021 and of course ... the crowning of the winners and the lifting of the glitter ball!

This year there is a special themed week to celebrate BBC’s 100 years of broadcasting where the BBC have said that dancers will dance to ‘’a theme tune from an iconic BBC programme or in tribute to one of the BBC’s most loved services’’.

Credits
1 https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/most-viewed-programmes/ - NB. This data doesn’t include 2020 as the series only ran for 10 weeks due to COVID.

Strictly Review: Ellie Taylor & Johannes Radebe

With Blackpool only a week away, the competition standards are beginning to skyrocket as everyone wants a chance to dance in the famous Ballroom. Last Saturday, Comedian Ellie Taylor and professional partner Johannes Radebe opened the show by dancing a Charleston set to the tune, “Friendship,” by Elaine Paige and Bernard Cribbins.

It appears that Ellie and Johannes’ Charleston has caused controversy amongst the Strictly fandom, with mixed opinions being shared about the dance. Even though many were in agreement with the scores from the judges, some also thought it was overmarked and one critic even stated that the routine, “Was too simplistic for week 8.”

Do you think the couple deserved the score or are you more in agreement with the critics? Let’s take a closer look…

The routine opens with barely any time for setting the scene as both Ellie and Johannes launch themselves into high energy Charleston choreography. After a few bars of music, where pair complete a brief section of ‘Hat-Ography,’ they then go into a series of Charleston Swivels and Cake Walks; shortly followed by a quick Lindy-inspired section.

Immediately after, a further sequence of Basic 1920s Charleston Swivels, Truckin’, and 30s Charleston are completed. At 0:48, the couple come together for some, ‘Shirt-Ography’- this, alongside Ellie’s fantastic facial expressions, really establish the comedic tone of the dance and highlights how much fun they are both having.

At 0:57, more Charleston content is provided as they launch into a series of Side-to-Side Charlestons, a brief moment of skipping, followed by a lift. A sequence of Chicken Arms (with added sound effects) is also completed and adds a sense of hilarity to the already comedic dance.

They then come together for a brief section in hold consisting of Basic 1920s Charleston Swivels, Squat Charlestons, and Kicks. They then have just enough time for one more 30s Charleston and a quick spin before ending the routine with further duck imitations and collapsing on the floor for their final pose.

Overall, I respectfully disagree with the critics as I thought this was a jampacked whirlwind of a routine. I thought Ellie really came into her own during this dance as her personality shone throughout. Although the choice of tune is not a traditional 1920s jazzy number, I thought it was well suited as it clearly reflects how much of an established partnership, as well as friendship, Ellie and Johannes have. Adding to this idea further, one critic said that “[They] loved the partnership [and thought] Ellie was on top form in terms of dancing.” However another disagreed and, “Didn’t understand the song and [they felt] the routine was too stop-start.”

Due to this, the comments from the judges were overall very positive as Head Judge Shirley gave Ellie a standing ovation whilst stating how there was, “A lovely swivel, lovely connection and [Ellie was] definitely, definitely on a roll.” Adding to this praise, Anton felt there was, “A huge improvement from last week.” However, the comments were not absent of slight criticism as Craig, “[Felt] it could have been sharper,” but even he could not keep a smile from his face for long as he went to say, “There were some really difficult rhythm patterns that [the pair] coped with so well.”

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood – 7

Motsi Mabuse – 8

Shirley Ballas – 8

Anton Du Beke – 8

MyCharleston – 8

Thankfully, it appears the curse of the Charleston has now been broken as Ellie and Johannes avoided the dreaded dance off and have successfully swivelled their way into next week- therefore securing their place to dance in Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

If you’re now feeling inspired to channel your own inner 1920s Flapper, why not check out our Charleston adult dance classes

Or head over to MyCharleston’s ‘Move of the Week’ and get those feet swivelling to transport you back to the 1920s…

Charleston Move of the Week - YouTube

By: Eleanor O’Donnell

Strictly Review: Ellie Simmonds & Nikita Kuzmin

We are now halfway through the Strictly Come Dancing competition for 2022 and last Saturday, Para-Olympic Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and Professional partner Nikita Kuzmin took to the stage dancing the Charleston to the jazzy tune, “Too Darn Hot” from the musical Kiss Me Kate.

Watch their full routine here:

However, despite the couple scoring a highly respectable score of 33, Ellie and Nikita were the sixth couple to leave the competition. This, in turn, caused an uproar across the Strictly Fandom with many believing, “The wrong couple went home.”

Do you think the couple deserved to remain in the competition, or were you in agreement with the overall decision? Let’s take a closer look as to many felt this way…

With both Ellie and Nikita dressed in their finery, the routine opens with Ellie flamboyantly wafting a feathered fan; therefore, perfectly encapsulating the vibe of a 1920s Cabaret act.

After a few moments of momentary wafting, Ellie breaks into a solo piece consisting of basic 1920s Charleston Swivels; she then sassily saunters across the stage to meet Nikita where further kicks and flicks are performed.

At 0:22, we see the first of many lifts which is shortly followed by a brief section in hold, further Charleston Swivels, a Kick Charleston, and another lift-which was highly appreciated by the audience as one member commented on how, “[Her] agility in those lifts is just amazing!”

At 0:49, the pair go on to complete a series of Kicks, Silly Runs, and Bunny Hops in perfect synchronisation which further establishes the idea that Ellie really has put her heart and soul into this dance.

Nearing the end of the routine, Nikita throws Ellie upside-down as the pair complete a series of complex lifts before they return to Truckin’, repeated Jumps, and Swivels- also perfectly in time with the music.

The pair then have just enough time for a few more Kicks, Flicks, and Jumps before Nikita flips Ellie into their final pose- which results in a cacophony of noise from the audience.

Overall, I though this routine was well thought out and well executed by both. The choreography, although appearing basic, contained a sufficient number of Flips, Tricks, and Lifts to keep the audience entertained. However, there wasn’t quite enough Charleston content for me as I kept waiting for moves such as, ‘Check your Nails,’ ‘Apple Jacks,’ and ‘Side-to-Sides’ to really make it scream ‘Charleston!’ I also thought that Ellie’s basic Charleston step could do with a little more Swivel Action and I was surprised that this was not picked up on- especially by Craig. It appears I was not alone in thinking this, as one Critic also thought that “There [wasn’t] enough energy or exaggeration and the technicality of each move [lacked] finesse.” However, it also has to be said that many others really enjoyed this routine and, “Loved her musicality and performance.”

As a result, the Judges comments were mostly full of complimentary praise for the couple as Head Judge Shirley, “Loved it” and felt it was, “Heartfelt and had the wow-factor that every good Charleston should.” Motsi was also ecstatic in her response as she stated that, “[Ellie has] raised the level […] and really put [her] heart onto the dance floor.” Although Craig was slightly critical of Ellie’s footwork, overall, he also thought it was, “Incredible.”

However, despite Ellie and Nikita receiving their highest score of the series so far, it was not enough to save them as they found themselves defeated in the Dance-Off against Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu. In her final speech, Ellie mentioned how she would now be, “Dancing forever” which reinforces the inclusive nature of dance and how much of an everlasting, positive impact it can have on someone’s life.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood – 7

Motsi Mabuse – 9

Shirley Ballas – 8

Anton Du Beke – 9

MyCharleston – 7

If you’re now feeling inspired to channel your own inner 1920s Flapper, why not check out our Charleston adult dance classes

Or head over to MyCharleston’s ‘Move of the Week’ and get those feet swivelling to transport you back to the 1920s…

Charleston Move of the Week - YouTube

Why choose a Charleston dance class for your hen party?

MyCharleston has been running Charleston dance classes for hen and stag parties in Brighton & Hove and across the UK for the last 6 years. It’s a great dance to learn as a group and we will get you swivelling and sliding in no time.

The brilliance of the Charleston, aside from it being upbeat and incredibly fun, is that anyone can be taught it - no dance experience required! But yet it is still appealing for the seasoned dancer because it looks great once learnt. Another lovely aspect of it is although you may have seen them Charlestoning on Stricly Come Dancing, we actually teach it solo so no partner is required.  

You may be asking yourself how can it be easy to learn yet look so good? The answer is in the footwork and arm movements. The Charleston is a basic footstep which once accomplished then allows you to concentrate on stylish arm movements, flair and expression - transporting you back to the 1920s before you know it.

On our hen party dance class we will teach your group an array of Charleston steps and then put them altogether and teach you an energetic dance routine. We also intersperse the teaching with some games to get you all really moving and gives you the chance to get to know your fellow hens better. We’ll then film your final routine which we’ll edit and email to you as a keepsake.

We can take care of providing the venue as we’re in direct contact with many of the stylish dance studios in the centre of Brighton. Let us also know if you would like traditonal jazz music or something more contemporary or maybe a mix of both.

Ready to give the Charleston ago? For availability, questions and costs phone 07521 645445 or fill in the contact form below.

“Our hen party with MyCharleston was brilliant! We all laughed so much our cheeks hurt and the end result was amazing! A brilliant thing to do for a group who don’t all know each other as we were all best friends afterwards!” Lucia

“The dance class was utterly fantastic. There were 27 of us, all different ages and abilities and the class was so perfectly tailored for all. So much fun, and so many giggles, we even managed to pull together a routine by the end which will definitely be coming out on the dance floor at the wedding.” Cat

Autumn Term Dance Routines

We’ve been busy editing away all the routines from our Autumn term classes which are now live on our website . These routines has been taught to a 12 different groups across the UK, Holland, Italy plus our students across the globe on Zoom. You can view the Charleston Musicals & Street groups below.

BAD GUYS - MUSICALS ROUTINE

SINGLE LADIES - STREET JAZZ ROUTINE

SMOOTH SAILING - SOLO JAZZ ROUTINE

Full routine coming soon…

CHARLESTON - WALKIN’ BLUES ROUTINE

The Walkin' Blues Dance Routine uses classic jazz moves from the 20’s and 30’s to create a fantastic routine which our Charleston dance groups learnt on a six week course with MyCharleston. Below our all the groups who learnt this routine from Sept- Oct 2022.

BRIGHTON GROUP

HOVE - TUESDAY EVENING GROUP

HOVE - THURSDAY MORNING GROUP

PORTSMOUTH GROUP

ONLINE GROUP VIA ZOOM

WORTHING GROUP

ALKMAAR - HOLLAND

DARLINGTON GROUP

Strictly Review: James Bye and Amy Dowden

Last Saturday, Strictly Come Dancing aired their annual spook-tacular Halloween Special, and it was Eastender’s Actor James Bye and Professional partner Amy Dowden’s turn to take on the Charleston. Dancing to, “Bumble Bee” by LaVern Baker, their routine caused a stir amongst the Strictly fandom, with many left feeling, ‘pleased with the outcome’ whilst others were disappointed to see them leave the show.

Do you think the couple deserved to remain in the competition or are you more in agreement with Critics? Let’s take a closer look as to why many felt this was the right decision.

The routine opens with James setting the scene, dressed as a beekeeper, and tending to multiple beehives, whilst Amy (suspended in mid-air, dressed as a bumblebee) gracefully floats down onto the dance floor.

After a few bars of music with James running laps in between the beehives, the pair then break into a series of basic 1920s Charleston steps, which are then shortly followed by a couple of Scarecrows. During the previous week on It Takes Two, James mentions the lifts due to take place in their routine have, “Never been done before,” and at 0:38, we see the first of these.

Later on in the routine, the couple complete a series of Grapevine Steps, Charlie Chaplins’, Kicks, and further Scarecrow variations before coming together for a short section in hold.

At 1:09, the audience are greeted with another complex sequence of lifts which left one critic stating, “[They] felt scared for Amy, as James [threw her] about the Ballroom.”

Nearing the end of the routine, further 1920s Swivel Steps are completed alongside a sequence back in hold. The pair then have just enough time for one final spin before James lifts Amy upside-down and into their final position.

Overall, I did not know what to think of this dance in its entirety. Whilst the choreography was good and well-suited to James’ dancing abilities, I felt it lacked the energy and excitement that makes an iconic Charleston.  Although he upheld good musicality and partnership with Amy throughout, technically, it wasn’t his best as multiple mistakes were made both on Saturday night and in the Dance-Off. As a result, many audience members were left feeling, “deflated” and, “Expected more from a Halloween-themed Charleston.” One even went as far to say it was the “Epitome of meh.” Despite this, there were some positive words of encouragement with one stating that, “James’ personality really [shone through] as he took on the role of his character.”

As a result, it appears the Judges were also feeling mixed opinions about their Charleston. On one hand, Head Judge Shirley was full of excitement as she exclaimed, “[She] felt like a kid in a Halloween shop […], the technique, and flow are all getting better!” and Craig felt, “The Charleston steps that [James] did were very very good.” Whereas Anton on the other hand, felt it was a “Little bit throwaway.”

Despite the positive comments, James and Amy found themselves in the bottom two facing Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dreaded Dance-Off and unfortunately missed out on their spot in Week 7, making them the fifth couple to leave the competition.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood – 6

Motsi Mabuse – 7

Shirley Ballas – 7

Anton Du Beke – 7

MyCharleston – 6

By: Eleanor O’Donnell

Free Online Taster Via YouTube

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Join Fiona for a free online Charleston session via our YouTube channel where she’ll be teaching you some of the basic steps from the 1920s as well as a short Charleston routine. This taster is suitable for all levels, including beginners and is perfect for anyone interested in learning to dance online or joining our next online course. Take a look at the video with below as Fionanbsp;explain a bit more about the taster class. The session is on Thursday 3 November, 6pm - 6.40pm GMT. Click the link below to be taken to the live stream. We hope to see you there! GO TO THE LIVESTREAM MORE ABOUT THE TASTER Watch our video here which tells you more about the taster class on 3rd Nov at 6pm GMT. WATCH VIDEO COURSE STARTING NOVEMBER Our next 6-week online Charleston course starts Monday 6 November, 6pm GMT and we'll be teaching a routine to 'Five Foot Two'. Take a look at the video and find out more below. Starting on the same day is also our musicalls course at 7pm set to 'All That Jazz' from Chicago. BOOK NOW Hope to see you there! Fiona Fiona Ring MyCharleston Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Strictly Review: Helen Skelton & Gorka Marquez + Jayde Adams & Karen Hauer

Last week was a very special week for the British Broadcasting Corporation (the BBC), as BBC1 turned 100 years old, and what better way to celebrate than with a 100-year-old dance like the Charleston. From a Doctor Who inspired Tango to a Cha Cha Cha set to the Grandstand Theme- this trip down memory lane really did treat us to everything imaginable and in amongst all this nostalgia, were two Charleston Routines! Both dances have received mixed opinions from both the audience and the judges, but which was your favourite?

The choreographer behind both of these amazing dances was Jenny Thomas and her assistant Sean Moon. The routines that they created for both couples really captured what the Charleston is all about and included a great mixture of classic Charleston steps and trick moves; overall producing two routines of which were extremely fun to watch. I would also highly recommend checking out Jenny’s Instagram to find out more about the making of these routines.

First up, we have CBBC Blue Peter Presenter Helen Skelton and professional partner Gorka Marquez who opened the show with a highly entertaining Charleston set to the Blue Peter Theme Tune.

Watch their full routine here:

The routine opens with both Helen and Gorka setting the scene in a replica of the ‘Creation Station’ which is part of the CBBC show Blue Peter.

After a few bars of music, the pair skip into the centre of the stage and immediately break into, Fall off the Logs, Kicks and a variation of Arm Tutting. At 0:31, Gorka proceeds to flip Helen over his shoulder, which is shortly followed by a further, complex Lift. Later on in the routine, the audience are greeted with a perfectly synchronised basic Charleston step and Truckin’.

It is clear that both Helen and Gorka are both fully immersed in this routine as they go onto complete some complex, ‘Ball-Ography’ which Motsi thought was, “High, high-level choreography.” At 0:54, Helen’s confidence skyrockets as she dances a solo piece consisting of, Scarecrows, Kicks and Flicks and a Jazz Square (also known as a Box Step), which left one critic stating that, “[They] almost forgot Gorka was there!” The couple then come together for a quick partnered sequence before diving into Tick Tocks, further Tutting, and another Lift, shortly followed by a comedic sketch of Tug-of-War- adding further elements of hilarity for the audience.

They then had just enough for a few skips and kicks before running back to the starting positions to produce a (very life like) handmade model of the Judging panel.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this Charleston routine. Although the choice of song is not a traditional Charleston Tune, (or a dance tune at all for that matter), I think they managed to encapsulate and maintain what the Charleston is all about. I feel Helen really came into her own during this dance and her energy, bounce and characterisation could not be faulted as she gave 100% right through the very end.

As a result, the Judge’s comments were full of complimentary praise. Head Judge Shirley Ballas could not contain her excitement as she exclaimed that, “[She] should remain standing for [Helen] because that was absolutely outstanding” and Anton thought, “This was [their] best dance to date!”

When talking to Claudia, Helen stated that this was a come-full-circle moment for her, and it was a “Privilege to bring joy and excitement to [our] screens.”

Due to their performance being a huge success with the Judges, Helen and Gorka received their first 9s of the series and swivelled their way to success with their score of 35; therefore, finding themselves joint top of the leader board with Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal.

 Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood - 8

Motsi Mabuse – 9

Shirley Ballas – 9

Anton Du Beke – 9

MyCharleston – 8

---

Next up we have Comedian Jayde Adams and her professional partner Karen Hauer who danced the second Charleston of the night to, ‘The Ballad Of Barry and Freda’ as a tribute to the late icon, Victoria Wood.

Watch their full routine here:

(247) Jayde Adams & Karen Hauer Charleston to The Ballad Of Barry and Freda ✨ BBC Strictly 2022 - YouTube

The routine opens with the pair huddled around a piano where Jayde begins to sing the opening lines of the Ballad. For a few seconds following this, Jayde adopts the role of puppet-master and bounces Karen up and down- further establishing the comedic tone. This then smoothly transitions into a series of Walks, Silly Runs, Tick Tocks, and a quick Shimmy.

At 0:48, the pair then come together for a brief section in hold before launching into a sequence of Basic Charleston Swivels, Cake Walks, Pushes, an Assisted Cartwheel, and a Side-to-Side Charleston. This is quickly followed by further comedy presented in the form of lifts; therefore, bringing the cheeky elements of the Charleston (that we all know and love) to the forefront of the routine.

Karen then has just enough time for a quick forward roll before Jayde lifts her into their final position. By this point, the audience and the other contestants have erupted into a cacophony of applause for the pair.

Although this was not the best technically, I thought this routine was very effective from a comedic perspective. It is clear that Jayde upholds the ability to maintain high levels of characterisation throughout the dance which is fantastic to watch. One critic picked up on this and felt, “It was a celebration of comedy and a well-timed jazzy slapstick.” However, it also has to be noted that others felt differently as another critic stated that, “[Jayde was] overmarked and has a very stompy and laboured swivel.”

Due to this, there were very mixed opinions from the Judges also, with Head Judge Shirley wanting more fluidity between each step with, “Less moving from side to side.” Despite the fact that Anton loved how, “She can pick up the character in any style of dance” and, “fundamentally as a number [he] really enjoyed it,” he also felt, “Many of the Charleston elements [needed] a bit of work.”

Unfortunately, Jayde and Karen found themselves in the dreaded dance off alongside Singer and CBBC Star Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu. However, despite them giving it their all and Motsi stating they were, “The couple to beat on Saturday,” Jayde and Karen just missed out on a spot in next week’s Halloween special.

In her leaving speech, it became apparent just how much of an impact this dancing experience has had on Jayde as she went on to state, “Nothing can hold a candle to the way this show is run […] it has been an absolute pleasure to learn so much and be so well looked after.” Which further highlights the positive impact that dance can have on an individual level and as a collective.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood - 6

Motsi Mabuse – 7

Shirley Ballas – 7

Anton Du Beke – 8

MyCharleston – 6

By: Eleanor O’Donnell

Strictly Review: Kym Marsh & Graziano Di Prima + Tyler West & Dianne Buswell

Lights, Camera, Action!!

Last Saturday was to Movie Week on Strictly and we were treated to everything from a Meerkat and a Warthog dancing the Samba to a beautiful Grease themed Waltz. In amongst all the glitz and glamour were two Charleston’s and although they did not disappoint the judges, the scores have caused an uproar across the Strictly fanbase. Let’s take a closer look as to why many felt this way.

The choreographer behind both of these amazing dances was Jenny Thomas and her assistant Sean Moon. The routines that they created for both couples really captured the authenticity of the Charleston and included a great mixture of classic Charleston steps and trick moves; overall producing two brilliant 1920s routine of which were extremely fun to watch. I would also highly recommend checking out Jenny’s Instagram to find out more about the making of these routines.

First up, we have actress Kym Marsh and professional partner Graziano Di Prima who performed a highly entertaining Charleston to the tune, ‘If my Friends Could See Me Now,’ from the musical Sweet Charity.

After a few moments of setting the scene sat round a table, Kym jumps straight into a series of solo Basic 20s Charleston’s which signifies the starting of the routine. It is clear from the outset that this routine is going to be full of Charleston fun and cheekiness as Kym’s characterisation is already in full swing.

At around 0:32, professional Graziano Di Prima joins her and the pair launch into a sequence of synchronised Camel Calks and Pushes before coming together for their first lift, which is greeted positivity from the onlooking audience. It is clear that Graziano is not holding back with this routine, as later on, we are greeted with another complex lift which further wows the crowd.

However, at 1:05, the ambience of the setting changes as a spotlight focuses on Kym as she completes a solo piece consisting of multiple iconic Charleston poses with various transitions. At this point, for me, I felt as though she lacked the energy required to make this sequence appear punchy and dramatic which is a shame as it was a great piece of choreography.

After a brief interlude of music, the couple return together once again as they begin their section of what Kym named, “Props-Ography” with top hats. This really brought a sense of familiar authenticity to the dance which perfectly encapsulated the Vintage Hollywood vibe.

Coming towards the end of the routine, the pair complete their final lift without missing a beat and have just enough time for a quick spin before sliding into their final pose.

Considering we are only in Week 3 of the competition; I thought Kym did a great job. Her characterisation and facial expressions are perfectly suited to the dance as she upholds the ability to portray her character with flare and style without getting distracted. However, the Charleston is a high energy dance and for the most part, that was what was missing, which left one critic saying how, “There could have been more exaggeration across the dance, and her recovery from the lifts interrupted the transitions.”

As a result, the comments from the judges were overall quite positive. Head Judge Shirley stated that, “This was by far [their] best number as it was a wowzah routine” and Anton Du Beke believed it was, “The best dance of the series so far.” Craig, on the other hand, thought, “[Kym] needed to energise each move,” but even he could not resist saying how, “This was [their] best dance yet.”

Due to these positive comments Kym and Graziano were able to Swivel their way to success and have secured their place in Week 4 of the competition.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood - 7

Motsi Mabuse – 9

Shirley Ballas – 8

Anton Du Beke – 9

MyCharleston – 7

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Next up we have Television and Radio presenter Tyler West and his professional partner Dianne Buswell who danced the second Charleston of the night to the jazzy tune, ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’ by Tommy Steele from the 1963 musical comedy; Half a Sixpence.

However, despite the couple swivelling their way to the top of the leader board, there has been an uproar across the Strictly fandom over the scores given by Shirley and Motsi. Many believed that this dance was overmarked as Week 3 is too early on in the series to be wafting around 10 paddles.

Do you think the couple deserved the 10s or are you more in agreement with the critics? Let’s take a closer look as to why many felt they were overmarked.

After momentarily setting the scene, the couple immediately break into a perfectly executed Box Step (also known as a Jazz Square), Kicks and a Scarecrow; therefore, bringing Charleston content to the forefront of the routine. At 0:23, we see Tyler throw Dianne over his shoulder for their first of many lifts, which ignites an eruption of cheers from the audience.

The pair then take a moment and pause their dancing to set the scene further with a comedic camera sketch before Tyler further establishes his Charleston know-how with perfectly synchronised Swivel Walks, Turning Charleston Swivels, a Paddle Turn, Camel Walks and Can-Can Kicks, which left one critic saying, “It is difficult to differentiate between Celebrity and professional.”

At 0:50, we see the pair come into hold for a Side-to-Side Charleston sequence which was shortly followed by a further lift. The couple then achieve a death-defying move where Tyler swings Dianne around by her ankles- leaving many audience members on the edge of their seats.

The couple then complete a brief section in hold, followed by a sequence of Charlie Chaplin’s, Birdie Flaps, and Kicks before Tyler lifts Dianne into their final pose.

This routine really was a whirlwind of fun and with Charleston Content coming form all four corners of the routine, what’s not to like?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this Charleston routine as the content was established, well thought out, and in my opinion, very well executed. It is clear that Tyler upholds elements of musicality and his characterisation really shone through. Even after running the London Marathon, he was able to perform with immense gusto which is perhaps why the Judges were so generous with their scores.

As a result of their great performance, the Judges’ comments were full of admiration as they did not hold back the compliments. Head Judge Shirley Ballas stated that, “[Tyler] is still very much the real deal’ as, “[His] performance was brilliant on every single level.” This alongside Craig’s one liner, “FAB-U-LOUS,” sparked a wave of excitement across the Strictly Ballroom.

Due to these comments and an overall positive response from the general public, Tyler and Dianne received the first 10s of the series and swivelled their way to success with their leader board topping score of 38.

Scores:

Craig Revel Horwood - 9

Motsi Mabuse – 10

Shirley Ballas – 10

Anton Du Beke – 9

MyCharleston – 8

If you’re now feeling inspired to channel your own inner 1920s Flapper, why not check out our Charleston adult dance classes

Or head over to MyCharleston’s ‘Move of the Week’ and get those feet swivelling to transport you back to the 1920s…

Charleston Move of the Week - YouTube

By: Eleanor O’Donnell