It’s Week 3 already!! And it’s Monday. 🤩 That means it’s time for a RISE review.
🎬 This week was “Movie Week” and each of our team members have judged the dances based on a different aspect and picked their favourite performance based on this.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
Best technical performance by Rosie. 🔍
A tough choice between the top two on the leaderboard, however I am going to have to go with the Street Commercial routine by Rhys & Nancy. I loved the fact that it had a movie theme but without the gimmicks as this allowed the brilliant technique to shine through. The difficulty of this style should not be underestimated. Incorporating the different styles found within the street genre requires serious energetic movement throughout the full body. Rapid changing of levels and directions, agility and using the full body to create lots of different dynamic shapes. All of this to syncopations that match and enhance what you are hearing in the music the music. Rhys absolutely delivered all of this as well as great use of his feet to create the rhythm, energy and movement needed. For me I thought he deserved a few more 10’s!
Best choreography by Ian. 🏆
The choreographic choices for all the routines were very good. My favourite would have to be the Titanic Foxtrot as the use of content in this dance was outstanding, simplistic and pure. The use of weave actions, double Fallaway whisks and articulated use of foot work dancing through some characteristic Foxtrot figures like the Feather Step, 3-Step and Feather Finish were great to see, it just goes to show that there’s power in basic work.
Best Artistic Interpretation/Performance by Nic. 🎭
Hands down this was John & Johannes for me! It was believable and John completely committed to the character and the style of the dance. The way he held his face and mouth throughout and just slightly tilted his chin to depict the matadors stance without compromising his posture or position is quite a tricky thing to master, but he pulled it off wonderfully. Looking down without actually looking down. It was fierce! I also loved the use of an occasional "AH" or two, very traditional in a Paso Doble for the dancers to vocalise sounds which adds to the authenticity of the Paso. To take the famous Spanish dance that usually depicts a bullfight and transform it onto a pirate's ship deck so seamlessly and with such intention, I had to watch it twice to take it all in.
Most Entertaining Dance by Emma. 🎪
With so many entertaining dances this week I’m really struggling to pick just one favorite! One couple that really stood out to me was Katie and Gorka with their Cruella De Vil American Smooth. It’s mainly Katie’s portrayal of Cruella that did it for me! Her performance skills, her facial expressions, her whole character just screamed Cruella from the moment she walked down the stairs to the end of the dance. I think putting Gorka in a Dalmatian suit let the whole performance down a bit however….