When I'm not watching Strictly Come Dancing - or teaching in the Strictly style at my own London dancing school - I also watch the American “Dancing with the Stars”. There is a world of difference between the two shows, and “Strictly” is superior in every way. Although the judges manage to make it great fun they actually remember that it is a dance competition. So the judging is relevant, and not just a barrage of gushing praise or scathing criticism.
Also, in Strictly the dances actually look like the official versions. In the US version you sometimes have to search hard for the real figures as the contestants seem to be so intent on performing acrobatics and stunts. Len Goodman often gets exasperated, and yet the professionals seem not to care. This seems to be less about the actual dancing and more about showmanship.
The costumes in the American show are bizarre, much more suited to a Las Vegas show, while the “Strictly” costumes are elegant, classy and absolutely stunning.
In the breaks between dances I don’t understand why the US producers feel the need to get the celebrities and professionals to jump up and down making faces and poking each other in a cutsey way that is entirely demeaning and embarrassing. Do American audiences really like this kind of thing?
On the plus side I have watched four series now and some of the celebrities do manage to reach an incredible level of dancing ability.