STRICTLY’S Instant Dance Challenge was a fun frenzy but not as off the cuff as it claimed to be, insists a former show star.
For the first time ever, the six
celebrity pairings frantically picked garish outfits of a rail and scurried off backstage to change, before returning to the ballroom where they were each given 10 seconds to discuss how they’d tackle a routine assigned at random.
3 Strictly’s Instant Dance Challenge caused chaos but proved very popularCredit: BBC
3 Ex pro James Jordan liked it but felt it was stagedCredit: Rex
They then had to each perform the impromptu
steps for 40 seconds, before the show judges ranked them from worst to best.
The chaotic nature of the whole thing thrilled viewers and ex show pro James Jordan, but the opinionated dancer doesn’t believe it was completely random.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, he said: “I thought it was a great addition to the show. It was something different. I really enjoyed it. Claudia was hilarious.”
But when it came to selection process, he wasn’t convinced.
“I don’t believe it. I’m sorry. I actually know it’s not true,” he said on behalf of Freebets.com, the home of new casino sites.
“I did the show for eight years. I know if you had to learn a section of all your dances that you’ve done previously for 40 seconds and put a routine together, you’re not going to be able to do it. And you’re also not going to be able to, with a non-trained Latin dancer, suddenly do a flawless 40 second dance.
“It doesn’t happen like that. It’s just mind boggling. Maybe because the public don’t fully understand dance like I do, they maybe kind of go, ‘oh, yeah, that was amazing that they were able to create such a great routine with it, just talking to each other for 10 seconds’.
“No, it’s not true.”
James claimed all the dances suited the celebs, from Johannes Radebe and Alex Kingston getting the rumba to Balvinder Sopal and Julian Callion getting the Paso Doble.
“I thought it was brilliant. Bring it back next year. If you want more chaos, do it properly. Let’s do it live. Pick your dance live. Put six dances in the hat. Let’s see a tombola.”
James did defend challenge winners Katya Jones and Lewis Cope after they were hit with cheating allegations.
It stemmed from viewers spotting Katya making a shape with her leg as the duo waited on the studio steps to dance, which they went on to finish their routine with.
Lewis athletically dived through an almost impossibly small; square made by his pro partner.
James believes Katya was likely stretching her leg due to the awkwardness of the shape, though added that the pair’s impressive winning jive did look choreographed.
There’s another challenge this weekend.
The five-minute Relay Dance Challenge will see each couple take to the dancefloor as part of a high-energy celebration of musicals.
The pairs will be backed by eight additional dancers, and they will dance relay-style.
Keeping in with the theme of Musicals Week, the song that Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin will dance to it is Trip A Little Light Fantastic from Mary Poppins Returns, while Balvinder and Julian’s tune is With A Little Bit Of Luck from My Fair Lady.
George Clarke and Alexis Warr have been given Consider Yourself from Oliver!, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu’s musical song is Flash Bang Wallop from Half A Sixpence.
Last, but not least, Lewis and Katya will dance to Me Ol’ Bamboo from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
3 Nikita Kuzmin loved the dress-up part, choosing garish pink bottomsCredit: BBC