Barclays Live - Live in London!

The competition to find the best new up and coming dance act round the country moved to Leicester Square in London today, so I hopped aboard Southeastern's finest and joined the crowd to enjoy 10 acts fighting it out to make the judges top 5.

First up were Bromley's Breeze Street Crew (I think that was their name, apologies if that's not quite right!) who I thought pretty tight and full of energy - and a nice tribute to judge Brendan Cole, with a spot of salsa! And boom - knicker flashing to end, very cheeky - no pun intended! Judge Manny, Kiss 1oo DJ said it was a good job with nice choreography; Lionel Johnson, the dancing Barclays staff member said well done, an amazing performance; Brendan loved the changes within the routine and advise making it cleaner and crisper if they get through.

Soloist Saban next, promising a 'journey into music and sound' - he has quite a unique style, very fluid and used the best bit of music - Rick James 'Give it to Me Baby', which he acted as well as danced! Manny like the expressions while popping and locking, good energy; Lionel said he had great body control, comfortable - make it a little tighter; Brendan enjoyed the engagement with the audience.

Another soloist, George Phipps is slick and tight but needs to inject some personality into it, to engage with us they way Saban did. Manny said the popping and locking was more creative than the floor work; Lionel said it was amazing at the beginning, creative and good use of the stage but needs to engage more; Brendan said there's some real talent there but he needs to sell it.

Fusion Dance Group next and from an acrobatic beginning they launch into a fantastic, energetic spectacular, taking more than a hint from Diversity. The sheer numbers (22) mean it isn't as tight as it should be but they're great performers, full of personality. Manny loved the music choices; Lionel said they kept the whole crowd entertained; Brendan said it was marvellous (but not in the style of Anton!) everyone was smiling and to get 22 of them together like that was incredible.

Definitives were the first of what I'd call a real, urban street crew and didn't disappoint. The slightly older age range meant we got a bit more sass and sexier moves. Great interpretation of the music, co-ordination fantastic, powerful, slick and tight, loved the inter-action between them. My faves so far. Manny said it was a good job, very tight, top choreography; Lionel was captivated all the way through, individually very good, kept the energy; Brendan said it had a little something for everyone, slick, tight, energetic.

Calthorpe All-Stars were a dance/cheer/acrobatic group - and had everyone's hearts in their mouths as they launched a couple of girls upwards, since the stage roof was not that high! It didn't make for relaxing viewing, and although the dancing had personality and energy, they needed to be more together and smoother. Manny enjoyed the energy and that they were enjoying it; Lionel loved their smiles and the good use of stage; Brendan has never been so nervous, enjoyed the many different things going on but individually they need to keep involved.
Dem Lot have plenty of attitude and are potentially a very tight crew. Nice rhythmic choreography, but being a small group of youngsters, lost a little energy towards the end. They got Manny's attention with their name and he advised to work on tightness; Lionel said the good crowd engagement kept him watching; Brendan called them an exciting little group with good content and music changes.

Next up, Gravesend's Remix - Dutch Open Champs and BGT semi-finalists! They really had the whole package - I'm not biased because they're (fairly) local! Personality, energy, well choreographed, good music choices, very together. Manny was wowed, everything good; Lionel said great choreography, expression, memorable; Brendan said they're what this competition is all about, thoroughly rocked it.

Soloist Krisha brought us something different as she danced Bollywood to the now classic Jai Ho, a fab choice for her, very stylised, very smooth and clearly loving every moment. Well done! Manny wasn't expecting it and loved all of it; Lionel said her confidence showed in a really good performance; Brendan said it was beautiful to see something different, did fantastically.

Last up, the explosive Retaliation, great co-ordinaton, even when split in two sections doing their own thing - and they did that backwards slo-mo thing I like! Full on all the way and the seguing (not sure that's a word, but whatever) into Madonna's Like A Virgin, sending it up in a good way, was genius. I have to single out green jacket girl - in a stage full of experts, she really stood out with personality, attitude and charisma as well as technique. May have nicked my vote. Manny impressed they could go from Sierra to Madonna, good energy; Lionel said great timing and formations, creative choreography; Brendan said they mixed it up, very entertaining, went to another level after the start.

The judges retired to deliberate and their top 5 turned out to be: Definitives; Retaliation; Remix - my top three - with Dem Lot and Fusion also there. With so many streetdance crews, I thought they might be tempted to put Krisha in there to mix it up and I slightly preferred Breeze Street to Dem Lot and Fusion, but overall, there's no disagreement from me! Visit the Barclays Live website http://www.barlcayslive.co.uk/ to see videos of the Top 5 and vote for your favourite.

However, I have to say the stars of the day were the Barclays Guards Precision Marching Band! Never have I seen a bunch of grown men having such a blast - all the qualities you want in performers were there, engagement with their audience, inter-action with each other, great music choices, creative choreoraphy, they had rhythm - there were even moments of slickness, particularly in their Vogue segment! Whoever put them together, I salute you! And how they got James Nesbit and Piers Morgan (in the middle there!) to agree to it, I'll never know ;-)

The lovely Brendan held a salsa masterclass for us - apologies to the girl behind me whose foot I stood on! He also assured me his head is fine, following his encounter with Edam cheese on Shooting Stars, there's no lasting damage! Strictly Come Dancing should be with us around the beginning of October and he was intrigued to learn some of the rumoured contestants! The pros, of course, don't find out their partners till three or four weeks before!

We were also entertained throughout the day by a fantastic tribute band, Kins of Leon. If you weren't into dancing, you could have mooched around quite happily just listening. They have a Facebook page if you want to look them up!

And the pro street crew, Funkstylerz, showed off their incredible moves, no doubt giving the 10 acts plenty of inspiration.

A thoroughly enjoyable day, if you have the chance to go along to the remaining rounds, you won't be disappointed.

Snippets: So You Think You Can Dance, Camilla, Over The Edge

Trav's Thoughts are in for the recap and vids of So You Think You Can Dance - a bit of a scare re more injuries but it's ok and the eliminations this week are on merit.

2008 Strictly Come Dancing champion Camila Dallerup and Kevin Sacre were married in a simple ceremony in Ibiza this week. One question: If you've no interest and can't be generous to wish them well, why bother commenting? Honestly, some people ...

And a review of an intriguing sounding show at the Barbican, Over The Edge. No, not a live musical version of an animated Bruce Willis movie!

Snippets: Burn the Floor, Glee, So You Think You Can Dance, Barclays Live

Burn the Floor with Ali and Brian is under way, but with limited shows until 5th September, you'll need to get in quick! One off Sport Relief Strictly Come Dancing winner, Kara Tointon, stole the limelight apparently, at the launch.

Interview with Glee's Jane Lynch; interview with Arlene Phillips.

Trav's Thoughts are in! No injuries but two to go this week!

Brendan Cole and the Barclays Live gang will be on stage in London's Leicester Square on Saturday 31st, with things kicking off around 10.00am. Tribute act Kins of Leon will be there, along with Funkstylerz and the top auditionees. See you there!

Kempton's Got Diversity!

UK Dance sensation Diversity are set to be the mane event at Kempton Park Racecourse this summer, performing a one off spectacular on Friday 13th August.

The dance troupe, who shot to fame in the final of last year’s Britain’s Got Talent, will bring their unique show to the Surrey racecourse for Come Dance – a night of horse racing, family entertainment and breathtaking performances from finalists of last year’s biggest national talent contest.

Having beaten Susan Boyle to claim the crown of Britain’s Got Talent winners for the 2009 show, Diversity have since taken the country by storm – with sell-out tours, countless TV appearances and a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Performance. They now bring their unmistakable street dance flavour to Kempton Park for one night only.

Other Britain’s Got Talent stars joining Diversity on stage include urban dancer Aidan Davis and father/son act Stavros Flatley, two acts who captured the nation’s hearts and won over celebrity judges on last year’s show. Amy Starkey, managing director of Kempton Park Racecourse, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Diversity to Come Dance this summer for an evening of entertainment that racegoers are unlikely to forget in a hurry. The UK fell in love with their moves on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent, so we’re expecting their performance, combined with a great evening of racing and family fun, to be a real one off experience.”

Come Dance forms part of the Racecourse’s Summer Series – a range of events being held at Kempton Park offering floodlit racing and feel-good family entertainment over the summer months. Adult admission is £15 with value added packages starting from £18. Under 18s go free and for this event there is a maximum of two children per one adult. Hospitality is available from just £37 which includes admission, racecard & two course meal. Call 01932 753518 for more information or for further details and to purchase tickets for Come Dance visit http://www.kempton.co.uk/.

Don't Stop Believing, Week Two

Introducing Three Spires, Roulette, Blok, The Redroofians, Dawson's Academy and Singlive to Like A Prayer/Living on a Prayer. They seem a lively lot.

First up, Dawson's Academy, a performing arts school, been doing it for years, doing a mash up of Michael Jackson/Take That with Kim Gavin, TT's choreographer. Only there wasn't so much of Back for Good and I don't think it acutally worked that well, not all the vocals were strong either BUT - overall, a bloomin' good effort, enjoyable and a great theme. Chucky says Michael would've been flattered; Tamsin loved the concept; Anastacia tells them to take in more oxygen, overall a god job; Duncan says he didn't hear a bum note. But then, he was in Blue.

Nathan Clarke creating for Roulette, with a mash up of Take on Me/Starry Eyed. I was a bit concerned that we had another bad 80's video unfolding but it definitely improved with Starry Eyed coming in, which blended really well, with an interesting arrangement for the Take on Me vocals. I didn't care for the electro theme, too fast. Anastacia says they're not at the top of the vocal category, very interesting Bjorky sound; Chucky says they didn't quite own their individual moments; Duncan says visually strong, the concept of the pods worked well; Tamsin says it was creatively beautiful.

SingLive next and they're more in unison than the big group last week, mostly in time and a wall of sound to Queen's Radio Gaga and One Vision. Chucky said they executed it well; Anastacia says a splendid job; Tamsin loved Chris' voice, a massive smile on her face; Duncan said simple and effective.

The Redroofians sing and dance to Teenage Dreams and they're doing it for Rosie's charity. Kim Gavin directs and they sound great together at first but not so good invidually, lost some of the energy. Bright and cheery and they're very excited. Tamsin says the energy and enthusiasm made the performance outstanding; Chucky says they made the stage they're playground, awesome; Anastacia loved the energy; Duncan liked the inter-actions.

Blok we've seen before, but I can't remember which of the other shows it was! Nathan Clarke directs them in a Girls Aloud number - what is it with all the high octane stuff tonight? Phew, well I'm exhausted. Probably my fave so far, slick, tight - good move to have the non-dancing singers just singing while the dancers got on with it. Duncan says it's a hot performance; Chucky more excited than watching the Laker's cheerleaders; Tamsin says they're the best vocals so far; Anastacia didn't like that there seemed to be two separate groups.

Three Spires named after the Coventry skyline and it's another sob story - which they really did not need, as Sam is by far the strongest vocalist tonight. I loved the beginning of this and was thinking this could be a wow moment that blows me away when ... high octane, screw up the vocals time again! Choreogrpahers tonight - get yourselves out of the bloomin' eighties big hair hi-energy mode for crying out loud - that could have been so much better. Great theatrical presence ruined by going karaoke again. Anastacia cared for all of it; Chucky says it was rock star ready; Tamsin says complete theatrics; Duncan says they came together as a show choir.

Ok, they all worked hard - but I think the professionals let them all down quite frankly, that could and should have been a much stronger show. I haven't voted, I'm disappointed.

The Supergroup do Boys and Girls and invidually on the VT they're fab, but again, I think it's the arrangements letting them all down - too scrappy, too busy - less is more, Duncan said it earlier - simpler is sometimes more effective.

Votes are in, second and third are: Blok; Singlive. Straight through to the final are: Three Spires. What a surprise. Bloody hell Emma, that was longer than Brucie makes us wait.

Well, I think Blok were pretty together but Singlive impressed the judges earlier and from their comments there I think they'll take this. I'm still trying to figure out why the sailor suits. Decision time: Chucky - Singlive; Anastacia - Singlive; Duncan - Singlive. Tamsin would have gone for Blok. Ah, well. There's always next week.

Snippets: So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing, Burn the Floor, Glee,

Big news this week - (Foxy, you might want to sit down for this!) Matthew Cutler and Lilia Kopylova have decided not to take up roles in the Strictly Pro group, although Ian Waite and Darren Bennett have. Best wishes to Matthew and Lilia in their future projects and we may still see them guesting on the show.

Rumours wise, Tina O'Brien, who played Sarah Louise Platt in Coronation Street, is said to have signed, before taking up a role in Waterloo Road.

Alesha will be switching on the Blackpool Illuminiations.

And Yay! Our Claudia will be fronting the Sunday results show with Tess in place of Brucie! They made a great team last year when Brucie was ill, so good on the Powers That Be for going with it again permanently.

Trav's Thoughts are in, apologies for them being a little late this week - why does everything happen all in the same week! The show report here and the recap and vids here, three excellent hiphop routines tonight and a twist in the result!

Brian and Ali are burning up the floor!

The Stage interview Glee's Matthew Morrison.

Tamzin Outhwaite wants to bring a little music to Eastenders and hasn't ruled out Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing on Ice in the future!

Snippets: Strictly Come Dancing, Glee, Got To Dance

More rumours for Strictly - Frank Bruno, Jennifer Metcalfe (Hollyoaks) and the Masterchef guys, John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

The Got To Dance audition dates have been announced - time for you to apply!

Glee writers have been dropping hints about Series 2!

And sorry to end on a sad note - but there was a message from Cutest Blog on the Block this morning to say my blog background will disappear and I have to choose a new one! Devastated doesn't descibe how I feel, I love my background, it's the prettiest one I've come across! So just to warn you, because I don't know what else is out there, I may take the opportunity to change the look completely, so bear with me if things become a little erratic in the next couple of weeks!