5/8 DWTS 14 : Results Show **West Coast Spoilers**

[DancingDad]

Hi, maude!



From Day One, I have liked and appreciated Katherine's movements as a dancer. I've stated that many, many times, and am still stating it.

And sure, the British culturally tend to be more reserved than Americans, usually. The time-worn phrase "stiff upper lip" comes to mind, here.

And that extends BACKWARDS across the pond, as well, I think. Personal example: When something serious hits the fan in MY family, I, sometimes, have no problem going into a full-on, full-out, full-tilt meltdown, when the proper time and appropriate venue permit (and sometimes when they DON'T, either!). My older (by three years) cousin, however, could give any Brit breathing a run for their money in the "stiff upper lip" championships. Both of us are Americans. Same family, same blood, but a 360 degree difference in dealing with emotionally-charged situations. That has ALWAYS been the case.

Also, I happen to have met and known Brits (actually worked with some of them) who can display this same variance in personality. Some have come across as "traditional stiff-upper-lippers", while others, well, except for the accent, you'd immediately think they were from THIS side of the pond, upon first meeting.

Coldness? Another example.

Don't know if you remember when Master P was on (he filled in for Romeo, his son, who'd sustained an injury and wasn't able to come on, I think). KATHERINE, at least, can dance ballroom. In addition to NOT being able to dance any part/sort of ballroom at ALL, Master P was surly, grumpy, ill-tempered, you can pretty much name any negative adjective, and he pretty much embodied it. Just came across to me as down-right SNAKE mean. The man was a walking, talking Sub-Zero Freezer.

Far as I can tell, there haven't been any --- or many --- of us who HAVEN'T readily acknowledged that Katherine is one helluva dancer. But, again, for me at least, perhaps she's a "stiff upper lip" or reserved-personality type of Brit and I have finally realized that it's that that plays into what's putting me off about her. Even though I like to see her dance movements on the floor.

I look to see and feel the JOY and happiness in a dancer when they perform. Even if they're doing a VW, or a jive, a quickstep, whatever. Even on the PBS ballroom shows, a couple will lose me REALLY quickly if I can't feel something from them other than perfect technique and execution of the steps.

This goes for the pros, too.

Could not STAND either Karina or Anna T when they first showed up, and for some time afterwards. THEY came across to me as ice-cold, ball-busting dancing queens. (Matter of fact, I used to wonder what in the HELL Jonathan ever saw in Anna, to have married her in the first place!) You COULD make the argument that that might be due to their Ukrainian and Russian roots, I suppose. However, over time, BOTH of them have loosened and warmed up, and I (and others of us, as well) are drawn to them BECAUSE they've let their guards down and have allowed us to peek into who they are as women and people, as WELL as showing us their dancing talents during each show that they do.

Nobody is asking or expecting Katherine to be, say, Sherri. But, it couldn't hurt her --- ESPECIALLY since she's partnered with Mr. Muggs! --- to loosen up and give a laugh or smile or giggle every now and then that doesn't seem programmed, or some sort of mask.

But then again, maybe being partnered with who she is IS keeping the warmer Katherine inside when she dances, because he can be such an overblown, outlandish force to be reckoned with.

Could be.

Or it could be that she is nervous as hell when she is on the dance floor that is causing you to sense a coldness. Different people deals with nerves in different ways. In the interviews I have seen she looks like she is a warm and open person when she is in her comfort zone. When she is on the dance floor she seems to deal with her nerves by internalizing and focusing on the dance. I have many dance students that do exactly this. Could they be better dancers if they could learn to loosen up? Of course, but it takes time to develop that in some people. Melissa had the same problem, but when she got nervous her technique suffered.

From what I have seen of Katherine she is anything but a cold aloof person. She is warm giving and generous - just ask the UK troops who she visits regularly in the war zones. She has a lot of fun too. One time last year she participated in a prank where she got disguised and went busking (singing while putting out a hat) in a London subway station. It was great.

[Arielflies]

What I found interesting in the non-appearance on Jimmy Kimmel (Tom said they would be there) is that he didn't even mention DWTS in his monologue; he moved directly onward to The Bachelorette. Weird.

[ness]

Or it could be that she is nervous as hell when she is on the dance floor that is causing you to sense a coldness. Different people deals with nerves in different ways. In the interviews I have seen she looks like she is a warm and open person when she is in her comfort zone. When she is on the dance floor she seems to deal with her nerves by internalizing and focusing on the dance. I have many dance students that do exactly this. Could they be better dancers if they could learn to loosen up? Of course, but it takes time to develop that in some people. Melissa had the same problem, but when she got nervous her technique suffered.

From what I have seen of Katherine she is anything but a cold aloof person. She is warm giving and generous - just ask the UK troops who she visits regularly in the war zones. She has a lot of fun too. One time last year she participated in a prank where she got disguised and went busking (singing while putting out a hat) in a London subway station. It was great.

A very good point, DancingDad . . . Bad nerves ARE a possibility, too.

And why am I saying that?

Remember when she and Spatz were getting their results from Rock Week? When Tom announced them safe, Katherine didn't hear him clearly. I remember she leaned forward, and almost stuttered: "What does that mean?" I recall thinking that her eyes appeared to be as big as two extra-large pepperoni pizzas. Tom (IIRC) said that with all the noise in the place, he could understand she'd maybe not heard clearly, then repeated that they were safe, so there was NO misunderstanding. I remember her screeching, clapping her hands over her head and taking off flying/running across the stage, still screeching in relief, pleather paso dress/cape flying behind her.

I've said it elsewhere on these threads (the results thread from that show, more likely than not) and I'll say it again, here:

In that moment, I found her and her reaction at Tom's news to be VERY endearing. She wasn't on the floor dancing, she was just another OBVIOUSLY nervous human being, waiting to hear whether or not she'd make it back next week. I cracked up laughing, because in that moment, her reaction warmed my heart. I could easily have seen myself doing the same thing, or something very similar. It was something I'd've not expected HER to do, and it tickled and warmed me at the same time to see her cut loose like that.

It was HER Sherri moment, and I still remember that about her.

I've also said that for her, being a Brit opera singer on an American TV dance show that she essentially came into without a fanbase to call her own HAD to be tough. And I've ALSO said --- clear across the board --- my hat's off to all of 'em for having the nerve to get up there and try it, as well as endure the barbs and under-and-overscoring of The Three Stooges, as well as tabloid speculation about what's going on AFTER rehearsals and between whom, and so on, in addition to OUR opinions and commentary (that they DID leave themselves open to when they signed on).

Plus, God love her, she got partnered with Spatz.

And I've also made note --- even as I remarked upon what I perceive to be coldness from her --- that I think she is a fabulous dancer. And I still stand by that, as well. She's GOOD.

Her telegraphing what is reading as coldness while she dances to myself and others on this board could be a result of her being a traditional "stiff-upper-lip" Brit, or nerves, or so on. I wish she could loosen up enough to bring the warmth you've witnessed from her in interviews (and what I saw when she screeched and ran) OFF the floor TO the floor, consistently.

But that may take more time than she has during the run of this show to come to fruition.

It certainly took time for Karina to thaw out and show a warm, human side OFF the dance floor, so I have no reason to think that to do the reverse might be just as --- if not more --- difficult for Katherine.

But, until she can, bless her heart, she DOES read as cold to myself and some others while she's dancing.

And, as for me, I'll keep what you've said about her in mind and try to remember that nerves CAN be masked in what appears to be coldness.

[TIA__MA]

What I found interesting in the non-appearance on Jimmy Kimmel (Tom said they would be there) is that he didn't even mention DWTS in his monologue; he moved directly onward to The Bachelorette. Weird.

Repeat of the exodus with Hope. Maybe it was because two couples were eliminated instead of just one?

[iwatchtv]

I like watching Katherine but don't like watching Mark. I don't see her as being "cold", but I don't see her as passionate either. I think part of it is nerves, part of it may be because she has NO chemistry with Mark. I don't think he brings out the passion in his partners. Passion for the dance that is!!

I didn't like Karina when I started watching the show, but was so glad to see how much fun she had with Gavin and then in the trio jive with Donald and Peta. It changed my perception of her. This may be because she finally won the mirror ball with her partner last year. So if you put Maks in the same equation, would he seem to enjoy it more if he was given praise for his work instead of the dressing down that the judges enjoy giving him. I used to really enjoy watching Cheryl but I don't now. She doesn't appear to enjoy being on the show.

[ilja]

Thanks for the explanations everyone! I've been watching all season, and reading along, of course, but just didn't understand. I really like Katherine, and I thought Mark got his paybacks by being voted off so early last season. He never really has bothered me. I like watching both Derek and him dancing, but maybe that's just because I'm just a rookie.

eta: Oh, and darn them for playing Carole King! I hear two notes of any of her songs and I'm immediately blubbering. What a great songwriter she is.

Just so you know, not everyone feels that way about Mark. While he can be a bit of a ham, I don't hate him for it probably because I can be a little hammy myself at times.

I think Katherine is a beautiful dancer though today Maria is my long-shot favorite with Donald a close second. Next week that could change since I do take into account their dances from week to week along with their progress.

[karalott]

What I found interesting in the non-appearance on Jimmy Kimmel (Tom said they would be there) is that he didn't even mention DWTS in his monologue; he moved directly onward to The Bachelorette. Weird.

According to Lizzie Grubman, Roshon/Chelsie are going to be on Live! With Kelly-but Melissa/Maks aren't. And it wasn't their decision.

[MFWalkoff]

Is she Maks' publicist, or just a friend who likes to stir the pot?

I just hope that he or Val never get in a car with her...

[karalott]

Is she Maks' publicist, or just a friend who likes to stir the pot?

I just hope that he or Val never get in a car with her...

Their publicist, I guess. Yes, I've heard all about her, and even those who can't stand Maks says he and Val need to run far, far away. First the guy who was in the porn industry that was always making Maks promote his tea, and now this

I think Maks is pretty intelligent, but he doesn't seem to make the best choices in regards to friends.