OMG! Pro Dancers 2013

Just seen on the BBC site that Flavia and Vincent, Aliona and Erin will not be returning this year!

Erin is not a huge surprise to be honest, I believe that she's been dropping hints for a while, but Flavia and Vincent? I can only hope that it's their own decision, otherwise that makes no sense at all.

I'm surprised that Aliona is going, but can't say that I'm particularly upset.

New dancers are Iveta - who stood in for Aliona last year. A Slovakian guy who has been the Slovakian Latin and Ballroom champion for a ridiculous number of years (have heard of him and he is very good as a dancer, no idea what he'll be like on TV of course!). A British woman who has done a lot of West End musical type stuff (not at all shaw about this) and an American woman who is a salsa specialist. Salsa is not my favourite dance, but that's personal taste.

It will be interesting anyway. Someone on the BBC blog has suggested that they've kept Housewives choice because he will be "You can call me Sir from now on" and You can call me Sir from now on will take a step back, please noe!

Sadly no word of tess daley's retirement yet.

Surprising exit has to be Vincent Simone as he has been a stalwart of the show. With four going together you do have to think that perhaps it is something they are unified in ie have they had their pay cut or don't like changes in the pipeline?

As for Sir B he is going nowhere. He was on Breakfast Time about a week ago and confirmed he has signed up for another series.

Sad Vincent and Flavia are going but they've had a good innings and much success, perhaps it was time for them to move on. I was beginning to find Vincent rather irritating. Not surprised that Erin's off - she's seemed out of place for a couple of series now. Surprised Housewives choice hasn't moved on with her but perhaps they have something else planned for him in the future.

Like the look of the replacements - new blood is always welcome and will bring a freshness to the show I'm sure. Sad that Tess and the old duffer are still in it - if it was time to pension people off they would have been at the top of my list!

Still, what do I care! After nearly 2 years living in Australia I only get to see a few minutes of the actual dances from the BEEB site and no ITT or in between bits anyway. I really on all you lovely people here on the forum to give me all the goss!

Glad Vincent and Flavia will be doing the Xmas show, maybe with their own show doing so well they are too busy to commit to the full show.

Like Sadie, I'm surprised to not see A.nton waltzing off too, and very happy to see Iveta return.

Hi to you all by the way!

From what I've seen on other forums and the beeb site, it looks as if Flavia and vincent chose not to return. Midnight Tango has done extremely well and they have other things lined up. Also Vincent and his partner are expecting their second baby in October and Vincent has said that he felt he missed out on the first few months after Luca was born in August (due to Strictly), so it's understandable that he wants to be around this time. Also it sounds as if Flavia and Jimi may be planning to get married in the autumn so I can see that she wouldn't want to be in the middle of Strictly then.

Still surprised (and I have to say disappointed) that A.nton isn't going with Erin, and i do wonder what role he will have now.

Im surprised by Aliona going! Flavia & Vincent have had terrific success with their own show! I thought they would have their own tv show! A.nton filling in possibly as a semi host role as B.rucie takes rests? I had thought Kristina might have gone as thought she & Joe getting married too & trying for a baby.J.ames & O.la remain the consistent couple!
Not sure why we have a salsa dancer as replacement unless they are changing the dance format? Wished Ian would have come back!

Sax

Apparently Aliona has tweeted (is that right? not a Twitter person, me) saying that it definitely not her decision to leave Strictly, which suggests that the Beeb gave her the push for whatever reason.

Reading Digital Spy ( scary stuff) there are links to an interview where Aliona is very disparaging about Iveta's work with Johnny and says that Harry had no talent - their success was all down to her hard work with him. Hmmmm. Difficult to say how it's been edited of course, but I suspect that didn't go down too well. People over there are saying that she was not popular with the other pro dancers, but the sources for that are not clear and I have no idea whether it's true or not.

I suspect that there's maybe more to the injury story than we were made aware of last year, but that's pure speculation on my part. We'll probably never get the full story.

Tina you are right re tweeted! I shall have to have a read through tweets. I agree re D/S I rarely go in!
Aliona I liked & felt a bit of fresh air!! I thought Brendan might have had enough?
Iveta is staying on Im unsure still re Iveta!! I wished they had brought the young guy from USA that. stayed only one season!?

Sax

Well I'm very sad that Vincent and Flavia are going. They are my favourites. I've seen them in live shows several times now and Flavia is sensational. I wonder how long it will be before Flavia joins the 'is she, isn't she pregnant' brigade? I would have liked to have seen the little sausage smurf dancing a Charleston.

I'm not surprised Erin has called it a day. Only a shame that An ton hasn't hung up his boots at the same time. If he's dancing this year, he'll certainly look out of place with all the younger male dancers and latin has always been his achilles heel. It would be nice if he and Erin did some guest appearances doing their ballroom stuff.

Shame Aliona is going. I was just starting to warm to her spunky nature.

I think Ian will have his hands full with ITT and his and Natalie's new dance fitness project.

Three of the newbies seem to have come from 'Burn the Floor' shows. Janette opens the current Burn the Floor show by walking down the central aisle and dragging a couple of men up to practice a few dance steps before the main show starts. You can tell she's done musical theatre. Very expressive face and bendy dancer. Aljaz the new male, featured in a lot of the ballroom dances on stage. Several of the men in the London show were sporting Mohicans which should go down well with Old Pickled Walnuts.

Just by the by - Karen danced her socks off in the show and really impressed me. Her hip extensions in the latin were a-ma-zing.

During the show, two men did a Paso Doble duel with their capes which was brill, but the tango stuff seemed a bit flat to me. I've been spoilt I suppose by watching Vincent and Flavia. A hard act to follow.

Hi all. Just popping in! I am gutted about Vincent and Flavia, but hardly urprised - Midnight Tango is huge now and they are almost bigger than Strictly. Time for them to move on. Sad for us, but I can understand their decision. I wonder if they'll drop the Argentine Tango from the show now? Without V & F I can't imagine it earning its place. It's an amazing dance (I'm still loving my classes!) But the performances the last couple of years have been uninspired and only V & F were ever really consistently good at it.

I am not surprised about Erin either, though I'd have preferred to lose Housewives choice. And I was really warming to Aliona but as soon as I heard she was going I assumed a sacking related to the injury business last year. Shame, but I suspect there was some bad feeling there.

Glad to hear Iveta is returning - sad that she's not replacing Karen, who I didn't like a bit.

Also sad to see Vincent and Flavia leave - I really hope it doesn't mean that they drop the Argentine Tango from the show (though I do wish they'd leave it till the later weeks)

Glad you're still enjoying your classes Littlebear:D 

Can't believe we're near the end of July and still no confirmed c.elebs yet.....

Hi Jingle!!I agree its quite lateon re the hype of which celeb will Ppear on SCD!! Maybe the BBC are being cagey this year!!! A shame to hear re DVO and Lee seperating.Is it the SCD curse? It aso advised O.la furioys re J.ames & DVO's close friendship

Sax

I think Kevin Clifton has the looks of a very young James Jordan:)

Really interesting thread - I have just popped in tonight and have read all the posts -most of which I not heard about.   In some ways I am not surprised that some of the dancers who have been with the series a long time are now moving on - it is inevitable given the number of series that there has been and with 'biological clocks' ticking and all that.....................   However, it is a shame for us and I am really sorry that Vincent and Flavia are going - they always brought so much to the show, they weren't 'clones' and I am so glad that they went out on a high having both both done well in their last year on the show - it won't be quite the same without them.  The Jordans are obviously hanging on in there and I am surprised that Karen is back - didn't warm to her but will give her another chance this year.

Looking forward to seeing what the new dancers are like - it is always exciting and I am pleased that they have invited Iveta back.   Surprised about A liona as I thought she was 'flavour of the month' but looking back she has always been a bit of a maverick, I think she irritated the judges at times and was not my personal cup of tea but she was always innovative  and I can imagine that she does speak her mind.  I too thought the injury story was suspect when she never returned to even dance in one of the pro dances later in the series last year. I thought she might have thrown a wobbly at getting partnered with Johnny................

Lastly - E rin, I'm not surprised but again very sorry.  I think she was mis matched with partners a few times in recent years.      I took my Mum to see E rin and A nton's show last February - they are very good all round entertainers and do the Fred and Ginger thing perfectly - and sing too. Lance Ellington is in the show and it was excellent this year - I'm really glad I went now - not realizing that it was one of the last opportunities to see E rin and see them dancing together - I can't imagine they would break up their professional partnership off screen after so many years and like others I can't see where Housewives choice will fit into the show now........Very interesting, maybe he will be Deborah Meaden's partner?  That would be funny.

Just read that A liona is in the show after all - Nathalie Lowe has a foot injury (boo hoo - I love Nathalie). She is in the 'Red Carpet' show but can't find any official announcements on the BBC - I don't do Facebook or Twitter so I expect everyone else knows about this..................... 

Oh dear poor Natalie I had warmed to her a lot.Whoohooo for A.liona as she is innovotive & I like her maverick style & her love of custard! Partner can see her with Dave!

Sax

Poor Natalie! I wasn't sure about her in her first year, but since then I've come to really like her.

I'm a bit surprised that Aliona agreed to come back, but I suppose that a job's a job!

Yes I agree Tina - this is a strange one but I suppose they needed someone quickly and have 'kissed and made up' with A liona for the time being - it can't be argued that she has a lot of fans out there.   Not sure if Nathalie will be out for the whole series?  Still haven't had a chance to read up on any reports of it - I suppose the beeb are playing it down as the series hasn't actually started yet.  I wonder if they will shuffle round the intended partners in any way as a result???  Which of course we will never know............... Real shame as she is one of my faves and I felt she would be sort of flying the flag for the ballroom now that E rin is gone.   Funny - I too did not like her the first year but then completely changed my mind!