Week Two

Alas poor Johnny, his number has now been called. A combination of the first viewer vote and the dreaded dance off has seen him pack up his dancing shoes.   Here is a quick run down of Week 2 (better late than never - my blogging has been thwarted by a combination of a configuration deadline and otitits interna - I prefer Otis Redding but didn't get a choice!).

Dance 1 - Nicky & Karen

Type	Cha Cha
Music	“Dynamite” (Taio Cruz)
Costume	Black swimsuit, plunging neckline, fishnets, killer heel, glittertastic
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	4	5	4	5	18
Combined Score	35 – Joint  last place with 4 points
Comments	Len proclaimed it was too much of a boy band number, with very little dance to rave about. A thought backed up by Ravioli who declared it was “Take that 1995” Breville Toaster compared it to a Zumba class (for which I would recommend Birch Arnica Oil as the perfect companion). Darcey – "Confidence, attitude, funky isolations" (what is an isolation??)

Dance 2 -Collin & Kristina

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	"Kiss From A Rose" (Seal).  I had chosen Rose Day Cream as his Hauschka code so now believe I have the same psychic ability as the Mystic Meerkat (this belief may be quashed when I fail to pick up even £10 on the National Lottery). Rose Day Cream is indeed like a kiss from a rose, especially in the colder months.
Costume	Floating Pink, fairy tale princess number in gentle shades of rose.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	6	6	6	24
Combined Score	47 – 10th place with 10 points
Comments	Ravioli admitted it is hard for someone so tall, but he had achieved "nice and extended long lines". Breville Toaster agreed, but stated there was too much rise and fall, with double hand flicking. Darcey thinks he is a man “that can Ballroom and Latin”

Dance 3 - Dani & Vincent

Type	Salsa
Music	“Mama Do The Hump “ (Rizzle Kicks) Bruce said it sounded like a “pigsty”
Costume	Red – made me think of fake Christmas Tree from B&Q for some bizarre reason.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	6	7	7	27
Combined Score	48 – Joint 4th with  11 points
Comments	Toaster was not fond of the dismount (or rather “splat”). Darcey said there were amazing isolations of the upper body (not helping with my understanding of an isolation) Len stated it was “full on and flat out" like a “little munchkin” (strangely enough in Hollywood week they are doing a dance to song from Wizard of Oz).

Dance 4 -Fern & Artem

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	“Always a Woman” (Billy Joel)
Costume	Red with shaw lots of details but somehow reminded me of a caped crusader (possibly not the desired effect!).
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	6	6	6	24
Combined Score	43 –6th place with 9 points
Comments	Ravioli made me laugh with the comments “it looked like you were casually dusting”.  Breville Toaster used the F word “Fantastic”.

 Dance 5 - Richard & Erin

Type	Cha Cha
Music	“Love Shack” (B-52’s)
Costume	Hmmm… I fear another malfunction with the hair curlers Floral explosion – winter pansies, window box display…
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	3	6	5	5	19
Combined Score	41 – 8th place with 7 points
Comments	Again Ravioli made me laugh with his comparison to a cockatoo on a live wire.  This was the weirdest cha cha he had ever seen. Breville Toaster was not convinced that Richard wanted to take Erin to a Love Shack rather that their cha cha belonged in a drag show.

Dance 6 - Victoria & Brendan

Type	Fox Trot
Music	“Moon Dance” (Van Morrison).
Costume	Lavender softness with bands of bright colours. I would have preferred the dress  without the reds and blues (but I am in a hard to please costume mood…maybe jealous as I have none of my own and as my great aunt used to say jealously is never a pleasant shade of anything!).
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	6	7	7	26
Combined Score	42 –7th place with 8 points
Comments	If Victoria took my advice and had a footbath, it obviously paid off.   Apart from a few criticisms - rigid turns and splayed fingers -she was declared well and truly back in the race - “Clean, classy and confident.  A fantastic improvement”.

Dance 7 - Michael & Natalie

Type	Jive
Music	“This Old House” (Shakin Stevens)
Costume	Daisy Duke meets sequins
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	2	5	4	4	15
Combined Score	35 – joint last place with  4 points
Comments	Ravioli compared this jive to a wild goose chased by a bunch of foxes, claiming it should be in a nature programme.  A thought backed up by Breville Toaster, he declared it was the oddest jive he had ever witnessed in the 10 series of Strictly with Michael looking like he was "busting for a wee"!

Dance 8 - Lois & Flavia

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	“Puppy Love” (Donny Osmond)
Costume	Pale yellow fru fru..perfectly suited the song.
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	7	8	8	30
Combined Score	57 – joint  1st place with 14 points
Comments	A Valentine postcard brought to life, the best dance so far (well that was Ravioli’s opinion) Len stated it had more turns that the government, agreeing it was the best dance of the night so far. Darcey felt there was a lack of emotional connection.

Dance 9 - Denise & James

Type	Jive
Music	“Tootti Fruiti” (Little Richard)
Costume	Red polka dots reminiscent of Minnie Mouse , another scary quiff…
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	8	8	8	8	32
Combined Score	57 – joint 1st place with 14 points
Comments	Everyone agreed that this was a dance full of energy, bounce and perfect timing.  "Fab-U-Lous"! A dance will more energy than a bottle of Lemon Bath (and that is a lot of positive energy!)

Dance 10 - Johnny & Iveta

Type	Fox Trot
Music	“Everything” (Michael Buble)
Costume	Hollywood glamour, gemstones and grace.  It struck me that if this were a Hauschka product it would belong to the regenerating range
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	5	5	5	5	20
Combined Score	37 –9th place with 6 points
Comments	Darcey said that he needed to believe in himself and keep the moves “grand”.  Toaster declared it was a decent effort despite splayed hands, gapping and poor posture (note to self: never take up dance, I have all the grace of a spider in clogs!).

Dance 11 - Sid & Ola

Type	Salsa
Music	“I won’t give up” (Jason Mraz)
Costume	Pink and Gold minimalism (with tassles)
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	6	6	5	5	22
Combined Score	48 points – joint fourth place with eleven points
Comments	First standing ovation of the evening. However, the judges’ comments were at odds with the audience reception. I am beginning to think my Hauschka code of pump dispenser is applicable as his lack of technique was criticised (still trying to convince myself that I’m as good as the psychic meerkat!). Len declared their Salsa was more “Kingston Upon Thames than Kingston Jamaica”

Dance 12 - Kimberley & Pasha

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	“Someone Like You” (Adele)
Costume	Beautiful black ball gown, floated across the dancefloor..
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	6	6	7	26
Combined Score	48 – 3rd place with 12 points
Comments	Oh dear, this week Kimberley is the contestant in need of Lavender Bath to soothe her following the comments .  I can see Len’s point of view that she is capable of a much more sparkling performance, but I really felt for her as he pronounced the routine “limp”.  I thought Darcey had turned into Forest Gump - it seems in the box of chocolates of life Kimberly  has a soft centre.

Dance 13 - Jerry & Anton

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	“Pennies from Heaven” (Frank Sinatra)
Costume	White, pure Hollywood glamour (which leaves me wondering what exactly she will wear for the actual Hollywood glamour week??).   I am slightly confused though, as the Strictly website pictured her dress as follows – perhaps she made them change?
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	3	5	5	5	18
Combined Score	36 –10th place with 5 points
Comments	Dodgy accents abound during the judges’ comments!  I am definitely never ever going to enter  a dance competition, if Jerry Hall is compared to Mr. Burns and a praying mantis!  Even the lovely Darcey states that she has stooping shoulders. I laughed when Len stated “You want to give the others a chance, you have accomplished that for sure!”.  I don’t think Jerry is in need of Deodorant.  I agree with Ravioli, she never breaks a sweat.

Dance 14 - Lisa & Robin

Type	Vietnamese Waltz
Music	“Never Tear Us Apart” (Paloma Faith)
Costume	Waltz Disney princess
Score	Craig Breville Toaster	Darceyah? Bussell	Len 7 Goodman	Bruno Ravioli	TOTAL
	7	6	6	6	25
Combined Score	55 –2nd  with 13 points
Comments	Standing ovation from the crowd.  Another strong performance and  lovely comments from the judges, but agreement that she needs to let the man lead ; )