Semi Finals

Salsa & American Smooth: Week 12  

This is tenterhook week. Four celebs are left in the competition. Our boy has come far since his extreme anxiety to the point of 'bringing up my breakfast' first day.  

We knew that one slip up, like that pesky Foxtrot week and our team might well end up on the chopping board. But Danny has grown so much in stature and confidence since that first top score of 40 in Blackpool.

He was feeling slightly panicky because he has to learn two dances in the same amount of time taken to do one. Oti in her own words was 'chilled out'. Well that's how professional dancers do it.

The anticipation was huge but we Divas had every confidence that our team would do well based on their extraordinary performances over the past eleven weeks. 

 

Head Judge Len Goodman's assessment: Danny is the one to beat. However, the four semi finalists were running neck and neck. At this stage one false move and it would be all over.

The first performance was a Salsa to Marc Anthony's Vivir Mi Vida. This was a sort of 'cheeky chappie has fun with attractive girl' kind of routine. It was very enjoyable to watch and from Oti's private videos of the training room they both had fun with it. It was also, according to judge Len 'hot and steamy'.

First dance of the semi finals duo over and done with. Danny had not put a foot wrong, the first time ever he had managed to run faultlessly through the routine.  An excited and elated Oti exclaimed in surprise "what was that?" In response Danny gave her another of those mega hugs as if to say 'see, you didn't have to pull and push me around the floor this time'!

Excitably as ever, judge Bruno was impressed by the flair and flamboyance. He proceeded to fall of his judges chair (a usual occurrence) but this time it happened as a response to Darcey. Although amazed at the intricate lifts, she wanted more 'wildness'.  It was wild enough for the rest of us. Obviously Darcey had not had enough free abandonment from last week's Samba!

Len and Craig noted the lack of figure-8 rotations in the hips. Well that tells us what the scores will be. Three judges point out the tiniest fault they could find: and so it was 9*9*9*10. Nevertheless not a bad score.

No time to stand around...it is time to move on to the second dance in semi finals night.

 Act VII Scene 2

American Smooth

Misty Blue

This beautiful song by Dorothy Moore formed the backdrop to the second part of our Team's bid for a place in the Finals. The words of the song tell the story of the dance.

Oh, it's been such a long, long time

Looks like I'd get you off my mind
Oh, but I can't
Just the thought of you
Turns my whole world misty blue

Oh honey, just the mention of your name
Turns the flicker to a flame
Listen to me good, baby
I think of the things we used to do
And my whole world turns misty blue

Ooooh baby, I should forget you
Heaven knows I tried
Baby, when I say that I'm glad we're through
Deep in my heart I know I've lied I've lied, I've lied  。。。

Ooooh honey, it's been such a long, long time
Looks like I'd get you off my mind
But I can't
Just the thought of you, my love
My whole world turns misty blue

Ooooh, Oh, I can't, Oh , I can't
Oh, I can't forget you
My whole world turns misty blue

Ooooh, Oh, my love
My whole world turns misty blue
Baby, baby, baby, baby
Baby, I can't forget you
My whole world turns misty blue 

The American Smooth generated some of the most beautiful #TeamDoti images in the entire series.


 

  

It was not yet over. The Dream Team was in jeopardy. To be continued...

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[1] Acknowledgement for source material: BBC & Linda Kent
[2] Related Posts: a)  http://amariblaize.blogspot.com/2017/01/oti-mabuse-wild-child.html?spref=tw  & http://www.writtenbytracey.com/2017/02/15/favourite-finds-oti-mabuse-black-girl-magic-in-the-ballroom/
[3] dotidivas.blogspot.com Editors: Amari Blaize, Maria Connolly, Mai-Britt Rodway, Denise Guyett