Strictly Come Dancing Snippets

Pippa Middleton-for-Strictly rumours are in full flow - a five figure sum offered. I can't see it, can you? Anita Dobson though, is more than possible, and, twice as likely, So You Think You Can Dance winner Matt Flint, teaming up with Sir Brucie - that's a duet I'd love to see.


Len Goodman knocked Anton Du Beke into 2nd spot in a charity golf match hosted by John Inverdale.

Lucky Claire was guided around the dance floor by Vincent Simone and tells us all about it ... in five pages!

If you're going to Argentina ...

... then here's a handy guide for where to tango, courtesy of Sabotage Times' Daniel Neilson.

More rumours - will he, won't he? Football pundit, Robbie Savage, all signed up for Strictly apparently, is now saying he's allergic to lycra. Or something. Come on Robbie, embrace the sequins, don't be shy! The Lineker would do it ...

Strictly Come Dancing Snippets

Finally this week, the news we've been wanting for years - it's Arise, Sir Brucie, as Bruce Forsyth gets the knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours list! Inevitably, now though, the rumours will start that he'll now retire. Oh wait - they start those rumours every year ...

The professional line up has been confirmed and it's as it was, apart from Jared Murillo, who is replaced by Siberian hottie, Pasha Kovalev, a Latin specialist (thanks Moira!).

As for those rumours, Fern Britton hasn't been denied, Geoff Hurst has and Alesha is staying!

So You Think You Can Dance: The Final!

I'm sure you're all well aware that our favourite dancer is the wonderful and stylish tap dancer Matt Flint (which I think has been pretty obvious from very early on!) So how did he make it so last night?

From the opening Pop Jazz Don't Stop Me Now with its aerial beginning, full of passion and energy, Matt pitched into a Jazz routine with Katie, looking very New Romantic, very Adam Ant (Cat agreed, I thought it was just me!) Dynamic, fluid and strong, both of them. Nigel concurred, Arlene called it a retro pleasure, Louise said Matt was different and quirky and Katie full of fire, while Sisco called them awesome and amazing.

Luke and Kirsty impressed with a Contemporary, almost uptempo routine considering the slow song, not as slick but more raw which added to the appeal. Louise tells Kirsty she's getting better and better and Luke that his flexibility is amazing; Sisco calls Luke a true survivior and found Kirsty's vulnerability appealing; Nigel was a little disappointed in comparison with last week; Arlene calls Kirsty honest and tells Luke he walks on air.

The solos and Katie looked a little tired, unsurprisingly, whereas Matt confirms what we all know in our hearts, tap dancing to Nina Simone, musicality, cheekiness, style, energy - just supreme. Kirsty is more inspiring in her VT if I'm honest, but a solid solo; Luke dabbles with a bit of hip hop amongst the gymnastics.

Matt takes Kirsty onward with a dreamy American Smooth foxtrot, his arms are gorgeous, lovely lines. Arlene says he's mastered the dance with grace and style, swing and sway and said Kirsty nailed the heel turn; Louise called it true romance; Sisco praised the commitment, heart and soul; Nigel said they had a beautiful connection, very special.

Katie and Luke follow wth a slick Artem created tango, very stylish and well presented, both held the intent, great timing. Arlene said they seduced her heart; Nigel said they didn't, not sharp enough; Sisco called it sexy, mysterious and enchanting; Louise called it dark and passionate.

Turns out Luke can tap dance - so they give him and Matt a Broadway tap dance to Putting on the Ritz. Fantastic routine by Bill Deamer, so entertaining, full of pizazz, spot on finish. Luke lost timing a couple of times but to keep anywhere near Matt was stunning. My typing might go off a bit here, because I just leapt out of my chair as Jenson Button overtook Vettel to win the Canadian GP - after six pit stops!! My hands are still shaking .... anyway, where was I? Nigel said they swapped styles in the middle; Arlene said it razzle dazzled with elegance; Louise said it doesn't get much better than this (rumours she'll be presenting Masterchef next series are being strongly denied) Sisco said it was great to see Matt in his element and Luke sailing away.

Katie and Kirsty's Broadway routine by Karen Bruce to Defying Gravity isn't the tidiest but is one of the happiest and I loved it. Full of joy in the movement. Sisco loved it; Louise tells Kirsty she lives and breathes it and Katie performed every bit and more; Arlene said Katie has a softness and appeal and Kirsty says everything about a girl who wants to dance; Nigel called them beautiful and said they both dance from the heart.

That was the main show, on to results with the Top 20 returning to a Party Poppers in the House Mandy Moore routine with our final four making an appearance towards the end. The judges choose their fave routines for the series - the boys Paso, Matt and Charlotte's Broadway (Lou); Matt and Katie's Contemporary, the boys Jazz routine (Arlene). Sisco loved the contestants growth and called them all inspirational; Nigel loved the boys' jazz routine and Bethany Rose in Kiss of the Spider Woman - everyone, at some point. And he said the true winner was dance!

We're losing two - first out, Kirsty! I'm surprised, I thought she might be closest to Matt. She's very sweet and so inspiring. Second out - Katie! Nigel was right, it's between the boys but first, it's Jennifer Lopez and another aerial appearance, complete with seatbelt, now she's On The Floor. Is she live? A bit of both, I think. What a star!

The Moment of Truth or, confirmation of what I've thought all along but didn't dare say out loud in case I put the mockers on - Matt wins! Now to hunt down all his routines on Youtube!

So You Think You Dance - Semi Final!

Cat's raided Sisco's wardrobe again! Big, uptempo opening number, not giving away who's dancing with who!

Five routines each! Five! Tough - that's a dancer's life, says Nigel. Arlene tells potential contestants for next season - go for it, one evicted dancer has been called for audition in the West End, following her performances on the show.

Judges comments on the semi-finalists: Kirsty - loveable, revelation in Argentine Tango and rumba, dark horse. Matt - chameleon, cute little package, personality and technique. Katie - a pleasure to watch, owns technique. Luke - exciting, raises his game every week, consistent. Bethany Rose - hungry, best technique of the girls. Lee - eccentric, weird and wonderful.

Brand new partnerships tonight and first out are Lee and Bethany Rose, with an Artem futuristic Cha Cha a la Ga Ga. WOW - superb routine, full of attitude, I saw enough cha cha within the theme to satisy me, plenty of tricks and basics, stunning!

Nigel said Lee was so strong and Bethany sensational. Arlene said Lee fizzled like champagne, it had a wow factor. Louise loved Lee's masculinity and said Bethany had everything working. Sisco told Lee he always delivers and Bethany was so convincing.

Solos: Kirsty, a sultry blend of contemporary and a little hip hop! Luke, his usual powerhouse performance.

Matt and Katie, Contemporary Mandy Moore and "the hardest dance of the series" - a double WOW, the height in that throw/lift at the start! Total eclipse of the heart, mind, body, spirit and soul - phenomenal performance from both, lyrical and emotive and that incredible flying leap from Katie into Matt's arms, stunning. Jeez, I'm exhausted too. How fantastic was that?
Louise said emotional and tremendous, Matt with great sense of style, Katie so beautiful. Nigel said Mandy excelled herself, both delivered.Arlene said she needs them both tonight and next week. Sisco called Matt technically fearless and he hates him; Katie is fearless, beautiful and breathtaking.

Solos: Bethany Rose with a beautiful lyrical piece, really upped her game. Lee, creative and bendy, definitely eccentric!

Luke and Kirsty and a Bill Deamer Broadway "swing with a Charleston rhythm" - another scorching hot routine delivered brilliantly, although Kirsty was a little behind Luke at times, her personality made up for it.
Sisco called it amazing, living and wanted to join them. Louise praised Luke's timing and Kirsty's characterisation.

Solos: Katie - confident and sassy.Matt - nice finish, great timing, loving the Happy Feet reference.

In respect of the solos, Arlene felt that Kirsty needs finesse; Matt is Fred, Gene and Flint; Bethany skims, so light; Katie gives you chills; Lee is werid and quirky. Sisco said every dancer proved themselves.

The Boys group dance - Paso Doble by Katya and Klaus, I'm excited already watching the training. Passion and power and hopefully topless. Oh, yes. And decent, proper music morphing seamlessly into the Pirates of the Caribbean theme. It's stunning, absolutely brilliant, best Paso I've seen in years. Everything perfect, attitude, attack, power, lines, delivery. Arlene said it had it all, delicious Spanish lines and fearless Lee, feisty Matt and Luke the Prince of Passion. Nigel said the Billy Eliot days of dads wanting their boys to be boxers are over!

The Girls with a Mandy Moore Contemporary. It's snowing. It's lyrical, elegant, lovely arm shaping and a beautiful routine. Another standation. Nigel called it beautiful and said Kirsty showed the required technique; Arlene called Bethany phenomenal and they all agree it'll be wrong to let one of them go tonight.

Louise said we've a tough job choosing (no, I've favourited Matt all through!) because everyone was brilliant. Sisco gives into his feelings and declares his favourite dance the Paso Doble Woof Woof...

Onto the results, opening with a Bill Deamer explosive Proud Mary 60s inspired routine - and you can't tell the girls apart with the speed the wigs (how did they stay on?) The leap by Katie to Matt in the recap still makes me catch my breath.

The one girl safely through is ... Kirsty! Could see that coming, leaving the judges with the choice they didn't want to make, Katie v Bethany. The one guy safely through is ... Matt!! Yippee!

Solos and Katie has a sight slip; Luke a more desperate performance; Bethany, quirky; Lee more eccentricity. The judges animated, while Glee's Matthew Morrison (Mr Schue) sings We've Got Tonight. *Channels Sue Sylvester* You think you can come over here and wrap us round your little finger wearing a frazzled hedgehog for hair ...and you do!

Nigel speaks: Girls, would like to have seen you both in the final but it's the public who decide and Bethany, you'll be leaving us (I thought she'd done enough tonight). Boys, we're unanimous, both unique, we love both, but leaving us is Lee.

So there we have it, the finalists are: Matt and Luke; Katie and Kirsty. And, guesting next week, the amazing all singing, all dancing Jennifer Lopez!

So You Think You Can Dance: Quarter Final Week

First of all though, I’m gutted I missed last week (bloomin’ holidays) and my fave girl, Katrina, went out! And I was too late for I-Player and I can’t even find videos for the whole show on Youtube! So, from what I can make out on the BBC highlights video, Katrina and Tom had a salsa and jazz numbers, Israel and Bethany with contemporary and Charleston, Matt and Charlotte, a disco and contemporary, Kirsty and Lee, Broadway and Hip Hop with Katie and Luke having a jazz and a Viennese Waltz.

BBC Youtube – why can’t you put all of them on there? Plus my internet is a complete pain in the aris, so the four vids I have found have taken me an hour to watch! *grumble grumble*
Matt and Charlotte’s contemporary was stunning. Hauntingly effective, beautifully delivered gorgeous choreography; Bethany and Israel’s contemporary was in fact a lyrical hip hop, which, whilst emotive and well danced, didn’t have the musicality and energy for me I expect from hip hop; Katie and Luke are a lovely partnership, well suited to the VW, fantastic movement, fluid and a gorgeous routine from current Strictly Come Dancing champ, Artem Chingvintsev; Kirsty and Lee grapple manfully with a Hip Hop, a fine effort, although neither of them ‘lived it’ as Sisco would say. And so I don’t even get to see what Katrina did or didn’t do so well that sees her out of the competition!

Moving on then, back to normal this week except we’re voting for individuals from now on in! They’ve been split into brand new partnerships, plus there are solos and group dances.

Katie and Israel with a Tyce Diorio Broadway to Roxy from Chicago and I’m lovin’ their attitude and timing, great partnership, very stylish routine.
Nigel said: I loved the style ...really proud of Israel’s growth in the competition and Katie is every inch a star.
Sisco said: Israel, you looked like a jazz dancer, you morphed into character.

Solos: Bethany Rose – bit frantic, lots of hairography; Luke – strong, powerful, fluid.

Charlotte and Lee and a Mandy Moore Contemporary – there’s a lot of trust evident, timing out a little, emotionally together. Charlotte did overdo the face a bit and it didn't grab me as much as it should have.
Louise said: Lee, you danced your way through each and every performance.
Arlene said: Lee B, stands for better and better!
Nigel said: I didn’t believe in it.

Solos: Kirsty, a bubbly number, well suited to her; Matt – tap dancing to Stevie Wonder? Works for me! “Tap makes me happy” Inspired by little penguins.

Bethany Rose and Luke and a Simeon Oysea Hip Hop which has great attitude but the timing is out, Luke awesome but Bethany struggled.

Sisco said: Luke, phenomenal, a great example of a professional dancer, convincing. Bethany, so thrown away, less complaining next time.
Louise said: I loved the energy, the buzz, Luke spot on, Bethany at times not fast enough.
Arlene said: Luke – Olympic; Bethany - popcorn exploding.

Solos: Katie – accomplished, sharp, falls really well; Israel – the timing and energy of hip hop gets me every time.

Kirsty and Matt – Rumba?! Oh, crikey ... Jaci and Chris on hand ... and oh, crikey – not only can he tap, Matt’s also got Hips and knows how to use them! Aye Carumba, sexy , sway, emotive – they nailed everything!
Nigel said: Sensual, terrific, hips, sway (and pervs after Kirsty.)
Arlene said: Kirsty – loved the technique.
Sisco said: Extremely sexual, both stunning, Matt every choreographers dream.

Solos: Charlotte, fast and fun, spinning like a mad spinney thing; Lee – B for bendy, very watchable.

Girls Group dance, a Sean Cheesman Jazz – they all blurred a bit for me there, apart from Katie who seemed more composed, although, according to Louise, the standouts were Kirsty and Bethany, feeling the sexiness.

Mandy Moore choreographs a Jazz for the boys and it’s brilliant – and all four are brilliant, with a very Michael Jackson inspired routine, strong, sharp, fantastic movement and blending together. Nigel said every single one was excellent, his fave routine in both series so far!

The Results!
Group dance by Katrin Wall to Rolling in the Deep and it’s amazing how they all let themselves go when there’s safety in numbers, fantastically styled, all very smooth and confident.

Matt, Kirsty, Luke and Katie all safe.

Girls in the danger zone – Bethany Rose’s solo is much the same and Charlotte is impassioned but I think it’ll be Charlotte going unless the judges feel that Bethany isn’t connecting with the public, second week at the bottom.

Boys in the danger zone – Israel still does hip hop but slower and it’s fab; Lee didn’t capture me as much but I think his overall performances may take it from Israel.

The Black Eyed Peas tell us not to stop the party while the judges deliberate.

Over to Nigel: Bethany, for some reason you’re not connecting ... you were best in the girls routine tonight. Charlotte – the vote was split tonight and I choose you to leave, you just need to grow in technique.

A real shame for Charlotte, because her routines with Matt have been the best throughout this series.

Back to Nigel: Israel, the entire panel agreed on you having the greatest journey, amazed at your development – but we’re unanimous that’s it’s your turn to leave us.

Semi Final next week! Matt versus Luke versus Lee; Katie versus Kirsty versus Bethany Rose!

Swarovski Elements Dancesport Competition

Swarovski Elements teamed up with USA Dance, Inc. to sponsor and bedazzle ten couples at April’s USA Dance 2011 National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore.

The ten couples, including Valentin Chmerkovskiy & Daria Chesnokova and Patryk Ploszaj & Anna Kaczmarski, were dressed in costumes and accessories made with Swarovski Elements to interpret the latest trends in ballroom fashion.

Swarovski Elements wants to know what their fans think of these amazing costumes and is hosting a voting platform on their Facebook page. Anyone can view the videos and vote for their favourite couple and costume!

Click on this link to find out a little more about each couple and to vote.