Style Workshop and Freestyle this Sunday (3rd Dec)

Jim & Nicky will be teaching a Style workshop this coming Sunday 3rd December from 1pm - 2.30pm. This is aimed at intermediates who want to look extra special on the dance floor. This will be followed by a 2½ hour freestyle session. Although if you just want to freestyle, that's ok too, just turn up after 2.30pm and pay 5 pounds.

Tickets for the workshop and freestyle are just 10 pounds and available from all venues.

If you can't get to a venue this week, ring Nicky on 020 8692 3821 to book your ticket.

Six of the Best become the Famous Five!

Former Emmerdale and Bad Girls star Claire King was voted off Strictly Come Dancing last night but left the show with her head held high. She and her 'bad boy' dancing partner Brendan Cole scored the lowest number of points in the series' eighth show, notching up just 25 points out of a possible 40.Her samba struggled to impress the judges, who had mixed reactions. While Arlene Phillips described it as a "samba from Southsea" and Craig Revel Horwood condemned her effort as "clumsy, limp and lacklustre," Bruno Tonioli said it "made me laugh" and Len Goodman said the couple had done a "blooming good job". Sadly for Claire and Brendan, however, the public thought otherwise and she was voted off the show. "I'd like to thank Brendan for at least attempting to teach me to dance," she said. [If tabloid rumours are anything to go by, dancing is not the only thing Brendan has been teaching the Bad Girls star. These reports are Strictly unconfirmed, it should be noted.][??]A relieved Carol Smillie and her dancing partner, Matthew Cutler, received the second-lowest number of votes and will be trying to get their heads off the Strictly block next week. It seems there are now three main contenders still in the running for the show's ultimate prize. Eastenders Louisa Lytton and former Spice Girl Emma Bunton scored 34 points out of 40 while it was ex-England cricketer Mark Ramprakash who took the lead, scoring 36 points for his "fantastic" Viennese waltz.

Thanks Christine, for this blog!

Why are Cricketers such good dancers?

Here's a great article about getting sportsmen into dancing!

Click here for the article.

Pass this on to those men who say they're going to come dancing and then don't turn up!!

Happy Feet

I mentioned this film a while back, but it's noe on release in the USA.

We should be seeing it soon, but if you want to know more go here

Jim x

Strictly Come Dancing - The Seventh Show Result

Peter and Erin were knocked out of the competition this week.
Seven couples danced for their Strictly lives this week, dancing a dance new to them, but not new to the viewers this series. But who would be dancing through to week eight?
The tension high, Bruce and Tess announced - in no particular order - the couples who would definitely be back next week: Matt and Lilia, Carol and Matthew, Louisa and Vincent, Claire and Brendan, and Mark and Karen, leaving Emma and Darren and Peter and Erin in the bottom two.

Shelagh's News!!!

Hiya all - I arrived back in Gozo on Mon night - completely worn out from both Camber and Warmwell weekenders!! I had an excellent time and soon got my dancing feet back on!! The weekends are so different, you cant really compare but Warmwell, with the live bands and laid back atmosphere, was just the perfect warm up to Camber which was full on partying. Big hugs and kisses to everyone I caught up with, it was lovely to see you all and catch up with your news.

As some of you may know, Pete and I have just bought a bar called Bo Jangles over here in Gozo so we are here to stay for the next couple of years at least - we are very excited although neither of us has had any bar experience - still I am sure we will have fun learning!!!! The bar is shut at the moment, having some refurbishments carried out (hopefully a little dance floor going in!!!!) but we should be opening mid February when the season starts. Our year off has nearly finished but we still have time to fit in a trip to South Africa over Xmas for 5 weeks - then it will be time to settle back down to working life - albeit in the sunshine and warmth of Gozo.

Take care everyone and enjoy the run up to Christmas - keep in touch, lots of love Shelagh xxx

Anyone fancy being in a TV commercial - ladies only!

A chance at stardom for Britains dancing queens
Are you ready to rumba?
Are you happy to hip-hop?
Are you willing to waltz?
Are you a fanatic for flamenco?
Are you sexy at salsa?
Are you the queen of the dance floor?
Are you aged 20-70 years old?

Then get your dancing shoes on. This could be your shot at world stardom.A major international concern is about to cast for an all-dancing (Yes, literally) commercial which will be shown all round the world. And it is searching the UK for its stars. The no expense spared film will be shot by one of the most sought-after directors in the world and the project is being cast Mark Summers whose clients include Madonna, George Michael and Elton John. So glitter is the game. It doesnt matter if you are fat or thin, tall or short, old or young. What does matter is that you have that certain sparkle, that sprinkling of stardust – and you want to shake your booty in front of the cameras. If you are that woman – or you know someone who is then come down to our open days.

Please email to confirm any that you are coming Mark@castingdirector.co.uk

London Casting:

Thursday 16th November 3pm - 8pm

Friday 17th November 10am - 6pm

Mark Summers Casting, 137 Freston Road, London W10 6TH

The Boring Bits......

• Applicants should be between 20 and 70.
• Shape or size is not important.
• You must be free to film the week of the 11th Dec 06
• Please note that you must not have featured previously in any major TV or print advertising campaign
• We are not looking to cast professional performers
• A substantial fee will be paid to the successful applicants
• As we are casting a skin care commercial all women must also bring swimwear to the casting

I may go along if anyone fancies joining me, let me know!

Nicky

Camilla's Strictly bawlroom

WEEPING Camilla Dallerup locked herself in her dressing room after getting the boot from Strictly Come Dancing. The ballroom dance champion, 32, refused to come out for an HOUR after the BBC1 show.
Her partner, ex-Corrie mechanic Ray Fearon almost broke down too following their eviction. Judges had tipped wooden Peter Schmeichel and partner Erin Boag to go.
A show source said: “Camilla was really devastated.”
The dancer refused to go to the after-show drinks. She later changed her mind but stayed for just 45 minutes.

Clem teaching Beginners at Gravesend this week

Our new beginners teacher Clem will be teaching down at Gravesend this week (15th Nov) so come down and support him. Gravesend is a lovely venue with a great bunch of people with lots of new people joining so there's plenty of people to dance with.

Jim & Nicky will be doing the intermediate class, so ladies if you fancy a dance with the lovely Jim, you know where he'll be this week :-)

See you there.

Nicky

Competition - Whose Nose is it?

Competition time!! Can you guess which Dance Coach this is? Next time you're at one of our venues, grab one of our dance coaches and get their side profile :-)

Winner gets a Riviera Reward!

Nicky

Congratulations - New Teacher

A very well done to our very own Clem becoming a new teacher for Dance Riviera.

Clem taught on Tuesday and went down a storm.

He has a natural charm and is very keen for people of all abilities to get the moves whilst having fun. He'll fit right in then!

Nicky - I was incredibly proud of Clem on Tuesday night, he's a real natural teacher. He'll be teaching beginners at all our venues, so watch out for him at your local.

Well done mate, Jim.

Happy Birthday Nicky

It's Nicky's birthday today (can't say her age), so I'm sure you will all join me in wishing her many happy returns for the day.

Jim xxx

Dominic & Laura's "Stags & Hens" Pictures are up!

Dominic & Laura had a fantastic night! Dominic very kindly demo'd with me for beginners even though he had no idea I was going to drag him up - he did brilliantly, well done! Laura was completely in her element with Pete for the intermediates doing some sexy dirty dancing moves (well, she's allowed on her hen night eh :-)

Everyone made such an effort to dress up, Dom & Laura were really made up by everyone's kindness.

Congratulations guys, we're looking forward to the wedding on the 11th.

Pictures are up - click here. If you have any you'd like on the website please send them to info@danceriviera.com

Nicky x

Party Weekender

Our favourite weekender is upon us yet again. If your down there this weekend make sure you save us a seat at the left hand side of the stage hehehe.

Nicky & I will be teaching on the Saturday morning (early start) and helping out where possible with Darren the organiser. We count ourselves lucky to know such a great guy!

If you ever fancy dipping your toe into the weekender then this is the one to start with.
Lots of fun and very friendly!

Cya there,

Jim x

WEEPY LOU FOXTROTS OFF

EASTENDERS babe Louisa Lytton fled the Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals in tears AGAIN yesterday.
The teen beauty cracked under pressure in the crucial final dress rehearsal for last night's live show.
She told shocked partner Vincent Simone: "I can't do this. I'm no good at it and I'm going to make a fool of myself. It's too much to remember."
Louisa, 17, broke down in tears while struggling to master the foxtrot - just as she did two weeks ago after fluffing rehearsals for the quickstep.
An insider revealed: "She prefers the Latin styles and scored full marks last week. But it made her even more worried that she'll let Vincent down with her ballroom routine.
"Louisa's the youngest contestant by far and can't cope with the pressure. She is hard on herself and doesn't think she's as good as her main rivals like Emma Bunton, who has much more dancing experience."
Sexiest
But Louisa - voted Sexiest Female as gangster Johnny Allen's daughter Ruby at this year's Soap Awards - is joint favourite with ex- Spice Girl Emma to scoop the Strictly Come Dancing crown. A triumph would ease the disappointment of being axed from EastEnders - her last appearance in the soap will be next month.
Our source added: "Everybody's expecting big things from her and it's a huge burden.
"During dress rehearsals her friends and family aren't even able to support her as the producers need contestants to be focused in the final hours before the show.
"Vincent has been supportive though and it's thanks to him that she hasn't just given it all up.
"Her confidence needs building and she'll soon be in full swing."

Stag & Hen Celebration for Dominic & Laura this Thursday at Dartford

Dominic & Laura are getting married in a few weeks time and to celebrate their marriage, we're doing a special "Stags & Hens" night THIS THURSDAY 2nd November at Dartford.

They met at Dance Riviera 2 and a half years ago and have been loved up since! Even if you don't know them, it'll be a cracking party atmosphere with cake and nibbles.

Ladies if you can wear something pink and guys something black it'll make Dom & Laura's night.

Look forward to seeing you all there.

I'm starting to like him...

As you know I'm not a huge fan of Brendan, but Saturday saw him launch into the Judges for not scoring the contestants consistently. Arlene took the brunt of the abuse and she reacted by marking Brendan's & Claire's score down considerably.

Here's the scores

Votes: Craig: 7, Arlene: 4, Len: 6, Bruno: 7 = 24

As you can plainly see Arlene is voting with her heart and not her eyes!

Unfortunately, we see this in our small world of dancing when there are competitions, which is the big reason why I prefer not to compete. Seeing it on TV. and this blatant is just very wrong.
I'm hoping that words will be said to the judges to get their act together and not make this personal.

Time will tell.

I'd love to know what Brendan had to say about this. Anyone know where he comments if at all?
Here's a list of all the scores and their difference in scoring:

Votes: Craig: 8, Arlene: 7, Len: 7, Bruno: 8 Difference = 2
Votes: Craig: 7, Arlene: 7, Len: 7, Bruno: 7 Difference = 0
Votes: Craig: 5, Arlene: 5, Len: 7, Bruno: 7 Difference = 2
Votes: Craig: 8, Arlene: 9, Len: 9, Bruno: 9 Difference = 1
Votes: Craig: 6, Arlene: 7, Len: 8, Bruno: 8 Difference = 2
Votes: Craig: 5, Arlene: 6, Len: 8, Bruno: 7 Difference = 3
Votes: Craig: 2, Arlene: 5, Len: 6, Bruno: 6 Difference = 4
Votes: Craig: 7, Arlene: 5, Len: 6, Bruno: 8 Difference = 3
Votes: Craig: 7, Arlene: 8, Len: 7, Bruno: 8 Difference = 1
Votes: Craig: 7, Arlene: 4, Len: 6, Bruno: 7 Difference = 3

Jim x

Strictly Results

Which couple left the ballroom for good?
With feelings running high amongst the contestants, the stage was set for a tense and dramatic results show. Brendan's earlier outburst hadn't won him any friends on the panel, with both Arlene and Len naming him as the one who should be leaving.
In no particular order, the couples safe this week were announced: Ray and Camilla, Emma and Darren, Mark and Karen, Louisa and Vincent, Carol and Matthew, Matt and Lilia, Peter and Erin (to Peter's massive relief), and Claire and Brendan.
So who'd be dancing another week? The public had had their say, and it was Georgina and James who were waving goodbye to Strictly. Georgina didn't let the disappointment get to her. "I've had the best time of my life... and I think I'll carry on dancing," she said. And James had warm words for his partner, saying that "Even the judges would agree she transformed herself from a non-dancer to a dancer."
On next week's show we'll see the nine remaining couples performing a stately Viennese Waltz, or a sizzling Salsa. Don't miss it!

Halloween Pictures are up!

What a fantastic night, thank you to everyone that came and especially those that dressed up. The effort is much appreciated and really adds to the atmosphere of the night. Alan French had a wonderful birthday, especially having been sung Happy Birthday to a la Marilyn Monroe style and had a wonderful birthday cake and errrm, special birthday blow up present :-)

DJ Steve Strong played a great music set keeping the floor full all night with some special "spooky" tracks.

Don't forget next week is "Stags & Hens" special for Dominic & Laura who are getting married next month.

If you have any photos from the ball, please send them to info@danceriviera.com so I can put them on the website. Cheers.

Click here for the Halloween Photos

Something for the Ladies

There you go Ladies a very sexy man!