http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

http://ystv.york.ac.uk/watch/York-Come-Dancing/09-10/

So, a little update from the final Sunday night rehearsal. The bulk of practice time was taken up by a run through, which was, surprisingly, really good. Every couple did depressingly well, meaning there was unfortunately very little ‘funny’ to be found. BtD is most impressed with the progress of Mr Steve Miller, who was a lot less soldier and a lot more dancer this week. Jason Rose also did surprisingly well. In a frantic search for something funny BtD did a little poll of the contestants to find out who they thought was:

a. most likely to win:
Gruff Jones – 9
Tim Ngwena – 5
Peter Warner-Medley – 5

b. most likely to fall over:
Emily Scott – 10
Ollie Hutchings – 2
Peter Warner-Medley – 2
Tim Ngwena – 1
Jason Rose – 1
Steve Miller – 1

and c. most likely to drop their partner:
Ollie Hutchings – 5
Lewis Bretts – 4
Jason Rose – 2
Peter Warner-Medley – 2
Gruff Jones – 1

The thing that excites BtD about this year’s York Come Dancing is the size of the event. It is going to be Off The Chain. Better than a whole freshers week. Now you’re excited. It really is going to be huge. Massive. Ginormous. Colossal. A whole list of campus icons are lying their necks on the line in the name of charity, causing potential embarrassment for themselves. It’s something anyone should want to see. It’s one of the reasons why York Come Dancing is going to be so brilliant. BtD has watched every couple grow from taking it as a joke to getting their head in the game and focusing on pleasing you, the University of York. So York, in the words of the once great (and apparently not *actually* engaged) Robbie Williams – let [them] entertain you!

Nathan Burles – 1 button – it’s getting hot in here!!!

And now for some pictures, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood photographer, Mr Sam Newsome..

..we may be too emotionally involved:

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

Jason Rose, YUSU Campaigns officer, figure head of the portering campaign, and just generally a surplus committee member, is dancing the Viennese Waltz with his partner Claire Cornock. Unfortunately this immediately puts them at a disadvantage as the dance isn’t very exciting to watch. Even Jason conceded that it simply “looks unimpressive”. “Hopefully we look like we know what we’re doing though” he continued. The couple do seem to know the routine, but Jason’s technique leaves a lot to be desired, in the opinion of BtD. In his defence, Jason says that the “spinning doesn’t help”. The couple have a nice dance – they look fine. But that’s it. Sorry Jase, but BtD isn’t tipping you for victory.

As for Gruffudd Jones, BtD is very excited by him (Chris “I’ve got a girlfriend, I swear” Young thinks he’s dishy – “in a heterosexual way, if I was a woman, I would” he argues) and Abigail Fenton’s, his partner, dance. The Mr York 2009 is quite a man. Chizzled jaw and bursting gunz at the ready, Gruff is looking like a potential winner of this year’s competition. The routine looks very smooth and confident (as, apparently, does Gruff). Furthermore, to Gruff’s credit he looks in control of the dance, leading Abigail through the steps, giving the dance a nice polished finish. The two have been working hard to the extent that they’re “sick of the song”. Despite being the man of campus, Gruff admitted to BtD that he is “enjoying himself massively” and that he “loves to dance”. “Who would turn down the opportunity to learn to ball room dance?” he asked BtD (we won’t tell the rugby team, promise!). BtD is very excited about this routine though.

Our last focus couple is Zoe Stones, YUSU RAG Officer, and her partner Philip Sellers dancing the Waltz. In BtD’s expert opinion, Zoe had a nice posture. However she was being led a lot, which at this stage of proceedings, where so many of the couples are looking so polished, is slightly worrying. But Zoe thinks things are “going well”, conceding though that they had a “slow start”. “We just don’t want to be humiliated” the couple told BtD, “but everyone’s really good!”. For Phil, the judges scores matter the most, but Zoe’s RAG focused mind is thinking about all the money that could be raised for charity. BtD recommends Zoe gets her head in the game. Wildcats.

Finally, time for BtD’s favourite; The Nathan Burles Button Countdown, counting down the number of buttons left done-up on Nathan Burles, dancing with Anna Bucks, shirt. This week we are down to 2. It’s getting hot & heavy!!

piccies to follow.

Why not start with the most important person on campus. The campus celebrity of campus celebrities. Tim Ngwena. YUSU President Tim Ngwena. We’ve been to London with him you know – sat in his car. However, after seeing him in today’s practice we’re slightly concerned. He was constantly filming his partner, Harriet Waghorn. Tim claims it’s so he can watch how to dance when he’s at home, but BtD thinks there’s something more fishy going on. He could be right though – Tim looks like he’s been putting in lots of practice. “There’s a lot of technical stuff in the Samba” he told BtD, but he seems to be coping. He also said he’s been dancing in front of the mirror in his room.

Steve Miller was looking impressive too. For those who don’t know Steve Miller, BtD’s gossip queen Rhianna Kinchin described him as a “puppy in a big dog’s body”. His steps were certainly of pedigree class, and he looked very focused on the job. Steve does seem to be enjoying himself, although BtD thinks there is still a certain of air of ‘escorting out of a club’ that Miller might want to work on. “We’ve done the choreography” he told us, “so I’m confident I won’t make a fool of myself”. He also commented that he prefers Nouse to Vision, as you “get something out of it”. BtD believes that Miller certainly isn’t making a fool of himself with that decision.

Lastly, this week we focus on Ollie Hutchings, Alcuin College Chair. In previous weeks, Ollie’s dress sense has been extravagant to say the least. However, this week we were greeted by Ollie wearing the shortest short shorts we have ever seen (maybe he’s been shopping at the same place as this guy!). BtD thinks they show off his waxed legs and perfectly formed calf muscles nicely though. In his defence, Hutchings claimed that he was “worried about his sexual powers”. We’re yet to decide if we approve. As for Ollie’s dance, we did approve. His partner, Sarah Naylor, described the dance as “fit”. When practicing on his own, BtD would agree with Sarah’s analysis of the dance. We’d even describe him as dainty. However, when the music came on and the pressure of keeping time kicked in, he looked confused and lacking in quality. Ollie confessed that he “doesn’t know his routine as well as the other dancers”, and BtD agrees.

Finally, BtD would like to introduce a new mini-feature called “The Nathan Burles Button Countdown”, which will countdown the number of buttons left done-up on Nathan Burles, dancing with Anna Bucks, shirt. This week we are down to 3. The tension mounts..

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

I (Young) first walked into the second week’s practice to find Ed Lewis-Someone doing nothing but standing and talking. What else would a “campus showman” do. His moves, however, looked sleek and, although Ed couldn’t stop looking at his feet, he seemed confident and knew what he was doing. “Competent” is how I described it in my notes. There is a bigger question though – WHO IS ED LEWIS-SMITH. Mr Bulley and myself asked Rhianna Kinchin, who seemed to think he was in “pantos and stuff.” He did (Lewis-Smith, not Rhianna) also mention that he’s currently performing in a one man rock musical transvestite transexual german rock star production at the moment though. His partner Sarah described a part of the dance. “At one point, he pushes me to the floor and I’m meant to crawl back cos I need him.” Should be fun to watch. If you’re into that sort of thing..

It was equally as ominous for Anna Bucks. “Whilst learning new moves, I look confused” she said to me. Still ambitious though, Anna says she wants to change to tap dance. “Neither of us can tap dance though. I can’t spin or wiggle hips either.” As I said, ominous. Digging her never ending hole, she continued, “I don’t really know what I’m doing”. Sensing things were going from bad to worse, Bucks handed me a love heart. ‘Hunk’. Cheers Anna. “I’m hungover you know.” Things can only go up can’t they? If you still somehow want to vote for her, Anna does say that she “loves charity”. To sum up, there’s work to be done in the Bucks camp. She, however, remains her normal feisty self, proclaiming “Foy (ex-campus somebody and second place last year) should look, I’m gonna rumba his ass off.” Ehem. BtD recommends that Mr Foy stay firmly seated.

And now on to our early favorite, Lewis Bretts. His dedication is there, no one can doubt that. He was totally focused throughout practice, as shown by the sweat dripping off his brow, back, crotch and pits. You could tell he was tired. He’s “enjoying a lot more than I thought I would”, with his partner Emily Sargeant saying that he’s “picking it up”. Enthusiastically, they wanted me to see their lift. “Have you seen our lift? Have you seen it?!!”. “No I haven’t! Show me! Show me!” This is the sort of investigative stuff that wins Guardian Media Awards. However, the lift was actually quite impressive. Lewis picked Emily up with ease, gently placing her horizontally on his shoulder, her on her front. Emily then put her hand out as if copying that famous Titanic scene. Rhianna mentioned that we probably shouldn’t talk about the bruises on Miss Sargeant’s feet. Ooops…

Messrs Bulley and Young will be back next week to bring you the latest news from the world of dance.

(from left to right) Sarah Cook, Ed Lewis-Someone’s far more attractive (and in BtD’s opinion, much more likely to be a campus celebrity) dance partner; Ed Lewis-Someone

(from left to right) Nathan Burles; Bucks

(from top to bottom) Kate Winslet; Leonardo DiCaprio

Check out the other YCD blog at www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing

Nouse is exclusively bringing you the behind the scenes gossip, top-notch analysis and bitching from the student bodies favourite ‘celebrities’. More importantly, BtD will feature plenty of photographs and footage of these so-called ‘celebrities’ making mistakes, falling over and dropping their partners. Bring on the fun.

Last night BtD was joined by Rhianna Kinchin (too chicken to dance) at the first dance rehearsal. Together we analysed the contestants, using our advanced and sophisticated knowledge of ballroom and latin dance.

Rather than boring you with details of every candidate, although worry not, we will provide pictures of them all, BtD will focus on a few choice candidates a week.

This week’s favourite is YUSU LGBT Officer Peter Warner-Medley and his partner Abi Wilson. Dancing the Jive the couple emerged as a popular favourite from the start, much to the chagrin of contestant Ollie Hutchings, who commented “My dance is boring. My lifts aren’t as exciting. Unlike Peter and Lewis I don’t get to hump my partner.”

In other news, it turns out that YUSU Sports Supremo Emily Scott’s skills do not extend to the dance floor. Scott, who admitted that “I have lot’s of trouble with rhythm. I can count, but not in time” seemed to BtD to spend more time on the floor than anywhere else. Admittedly, Scott is dancing the Paso Doble, a notoriously hard one I’m told, so maybe she’ll improve in a few weeks time. BtD recommends that next time she tries shorts.

More York Come Dancing information and the YCD blog can be at http://www.yorkdancesport.com/yorkcomedancing