Anton du Beke, Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Vincent Simone, Ola Jordan, Flavia Cacace, Erin Boag, Kristina Rihanoff, Natalie Lowe, Aliona Vilani, Katya Virshilas

Added to this are three new professional dancers (3 girls were added last year so 3 guys are added this year):

ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, a Latin Champion who is a graduate of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ in the US and has unique experience of very different dancing genres in addition to his ballroom champion-level skill.
JARED MURILLO, who at 21, was a US open Swing Youth champion. Trained in America, Jared was a principal dancer in the movies ‘High School Musical’ 1 & 2.
ROBIN WINDSOR has completed five world tours of the worldwide ballroom dancing phenomenon ‘Burn the Floor’, in which he has starred and choreographed routines.

The BBC have reduced the number of celebrities from 16 to 14 this year (I think a good move as last year did feel like there was just too many).  This has meant however that 5 of the existing professionals are now not going to compete this year – Darren & Lilia, Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler and Brian Fortuna.  They have been offered the opportunity to form a ‘dance supergroup’, along with some other as yet unnamed professionals, that will come on each week and perform a dance spectacle for the audience.

At present Brian has confirmed that he will not take part, and will concentrate on the West End production of Burn The Floor with Ali Bastian, and it is rumoured that Darren & Lilia have also declined – they may also wish to concentrate on their Latin Fever tour.  Ian and Matthew have yet to respond, neither have a show on the side as they are both on the Professionals Tour, so may both agree to take part this year.

So, the BBC tinker with the formula again and only time will tell whether they have more luck than last year.  Amid rumours last week that Alesha was due to quite as judge (yay!) the Daily Star and Sun have stated that she is due to re-sign for another year (boo!).

Have any of your favourites been ditched this year, or are you looking forward to some new blood?

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We were shown a highlights reel of the morning dance sessions (we were on the afternoon session) and this was pretty much the same video you’ll have seen on the live show.

Rav Wilding and Mark Foster were re-introduced onto the stage and we were shown some highlights of their appearances on the show before they had to duck out to head over to the Tower, but not before Mark put his arm round Karen and commented on how great she looked, how she should still be in the show, and ‘You’re my favourite’.

Dominic then introduced highlights of Karen’s appearances on Strictly, including Gary Rhodes Cha Cha (receiving a lowly 1 from Craig) and Mark Ramprakash’s Salsa. Karen talked about how much she loved dancing, which she’d being doing since the age of 5, and had been so honoured when Strictly had convinced her to come out of retirement after her 6 year break (and a baby).

Matthew and Aliona made a surprise visit to perform an elegant Viennese Waltz

Aliona talked about how this was her first time visiting in Blackpool, and how much she was enjoying it.

Before the live show was due to start Karen gave her comments and predictions on the show to follow:

• Ali Bastian was still suffering from her injured foot, and with a dance such as the Viennese Waltz – heavy on technique – she could find it difficult to perform.

• Craig Kelly would most likely be going out as it was definitely his time to go.

• Ricky Groves started as a clown but is now taking it seriously and could be a real dark horse in the competition.

It was then time for the live show, Karen told us she’d be sticking around to comment on the show at intervals, and I settled down ready to make my notes on the evening performances…

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Penny will be teaming up with Strictly professional dancer, Matthew Cutler, to perform a Cha Cha Cha during Rod’s performance.

This will be the first time that Penny has returned to the show since competing in series five in 2007.

Penny didn’t get to perform the Cha Cha Cha when she was on the show so it’s a dance she has waited a long time to do.

Rod and Penny will be flying up to Blackpool in their own private jet, while the rest of the Strictly crew will be travelling up by coach. Strictly professional dancer, Ian Waite, partnered Penny when she was on Strictly so he may try to cadge a lift for him and Jade!

Oh and if anyone fancies getting me in for the show on Saturday I definitely won’t say no – private jet not required!

The post Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster to perform at Blackpool appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Think both couples were unfortunate to be in the bottom two and thought Martina had more promise than Rav, but that’s life I suppose.

Wish I could lip-read what Matt and Martina are saying to each other during their last dance!

Oh well, here’s to next week and the remaining 8 celebrities.

Although I’ll mention now that this blog won’t be running live next Friday night due to our practice session on 25th September, but i’ll blog per dance after we finish.

Hope people have found this interesting to read and i’ll try and update during the week if anything interesting catches my eye!

By the way, if you want to apply for the ballot to get tickets for a special Strictly recording at Blackpool Tower on Saturday 7th November then please visit http://shows.external.bbc.co.uk/help/shows/Strictlycomedancing to apply before Sunday 27th September 10pm.  Only one application per household though!

The post The result appeared first on Learn To Dance.

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Rumba I think will work for Martina but she will need to use her core ab muscles better tonight. 

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Not too bad to begin, still needs to use the floor better – and maybe take smaller side steps in the Cucaracha’s.

Hands not too bad but need work.

Make sure your weight is over the foot when moving.

I think this will be a 6-7

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Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna – Very nice and elegant Waltz last night, could struggle if she’s been given a Cha Cha, might be able to pull off an acceptable Rumba but I think she’s too shy at present to really use the hips.

Lynda Bellingham & Darren Bennett – I hope for Lynda’s sake she has a Cha Cha tonight as I think she could perform a very cheeky Cha Cha, with the Rumba it would be interesting to see how Darren choreographs another (mature-ish) celebrity routine – after failing with Gloria Hunniford in Series 3.

Joe Calzaghe & Kristina Rihanoff  – Disappointing performance last night (though I must admit it always surprised me that he was the bookies favourite).  I think his Latin tonight will be clunky and awkard – sorry Joe, please don’t hit me!

Ricky Groves & Erin Boag – Good performance just suffered from nerves and tightness in the shoulders, however I think Ballroom will be his forte.

Martina Hingis & Matthew Cutler – If she’d just stood up straighter (brought the rib-cage up and strengthened her core muscles) her Waltz would’ve been a lot better.  I think she could do quite well in the Latin but she will need to perform more.

Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan   – Poor Chris, second on the table last night but I think his flat-footed approach to the Tango will spill over into whichever Latin dance he does tonight, I’m afraid i’m not expecting good things – let’s hope i’m wrong.

Jade Johnson & Ian Waite – Tall is always good when it comes to Ballroom but most people find it a hindrance in Latin – there’s just too much body to move around, not that that’s ever stopped Ian!  Jade, I think, will struggle with controlling her body during the Latin, and needs to avoid flicking her hands once extended.

Rav Wilding & Aliona Vilani – Too muscly I think to portray either Latin dance effectively, but could be wrong – just look at Austin Healey last year.

My prediction for tonight is between Ali and Martina for top spot (dependant on dances allocated to each) and Joe to stay fixed to the bottom and I think he’ll be relying heavily on audience votes.

But as always we will just have to wait and see how the dances get allocated tonight, and i’m sure there will be at least a few surprise performances in there.

Do you agree with what i’ve said above, or how do you see it going?  Please feel free to leave your comments below by clicking on “comments” and posting your message there.

The post 3 hours to go appeared first on Learn To Dance.

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Again just need to relax the left shoulder slightly, though not as pronounced as Jade’s.

Nice movement but something’s lacking, think she needs to stand up a bit straighter, maybe lift from the rib cage.

Think this’ll be a 7

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