Tango Gatya

[Inell Krolick]

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The competition is heating up for Gavin and Katya, aka, Team Gatya. They've got instructions from Strictly Judge Craig to work on Gavin's "timing, rhythm and hips" and it's clear he's got real potential.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog is an area for fans of Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas to share their enthusiasm and show their support for Team Gatya. Overly-negative and critical posts will be removed as Off-Topic.

I feel slightly sorry for Katya. As nice as Phil was and as decent a chap as Gavin is (despite the vanity part, lol).. I just think that she has yet another up-hill struggle with getting her celeb to a standard where he can actually compete properly with the other celebs. And while of course I know there is absolutely no shame at all for Gavin to be competing on the level that is achievable for him right at this minute, I'm not sure how long that level will allow him to progress further in the competition.

I sympathise entirely that Gavin is out of his comfort zone but just feel that Katya is going to have to search abit deeper (than some of the other Pros with their celebs perhaps) in which to bring out the dancer in him which I'm sure, somewhere, is lurking deep within. Being less concious would help him greatly.

He's okay at the Ballroom so its not all bad (though obviously needs to apply more difficulty).. and I just hope he can get a breakthrough with the Latin. Good luck to both of them.

I was pleasantly surprised by Gavin's waltz, but winced slightly at his salsa. In my humble opinion, the sooner Katya gets him an acting lesson, the better. I think if he could lose the self-consciousness, he could be a decent dancer.

I'm glad he's survived actually, as I can't help think that until he becomes less self concious and just goes for it we will never really get to see if he could be any good. Hopef Katya can find a way through!

Gavin's waltz was beautiful so he can dance, he just seems very uncomfortable with the latin dances. Gethin Jones suffered from the same thing and in the end Camilla sent him to an acting class. The difference in his latin dances after that was incredible. Perhaps Gavin should try the same thing.

I love watching Gavin and Katya on strictly this year and can't imagine them not in the competition, so everyone get voting for them on Saturday, and keep them in, because last week was too close for comfort....

Totally agree with all the positive and supportive comments about Gavin and Katya on here!

I think he is really trying and to me does not come across as vain and selfish, as the newspapers seem to be suggesting. I never used to rate him before, but ever since watching 71 degrees north I have really changed my opinion of him. Proving that you should not just judge people on appearance!

He reminds me of how Gethin Jones was at the beginning of series 5, very self conscious! It's a shame as I agree with the judges and think he does have potential. At least he tries to dance, unlike Ann Widdecombe!

I hope people vote for them as I think Katya is brilliant and they really are the most lovely couple and genuinely seem to care about each other and the competition!

I think everyone is putting to much pressure on Gavin. Just because the last two rugby players on the show were top of the leader board-show off-fantastic doesn't mean all of them will be. I'm not saying Gavin will never be fantastic, cus i'm sure he will be one day, but just because he's not quite there yet dosn't mean he's not a good dancer.

On top of that,the standard is so high this year that is makes Gavin look not as good as he really is. He has also been lower down on the leader board than he should really be, as a result.

What a refreshing change to discover a celebrity who is genuinely uncomfortable with unnecessary intimacy- what a charming young man you are Gavin. To succeed in Strictly though, you just need to accept that these are the rules- just like you have rules in Rugby- and to achieve your potential you need to follow them. Im surprised no-one has told you about IPL treatment for permanent removal of unwanted hair (the darker the better), it would save you all the bother of shaving your chest and legs. And remember, beauty is only ever skin deep, and in the end, even your beauty will fade. Enjoy being the wonderful person you are......you're twice the man you see in the mirror. From one Welsh person to another, go get that trophy Gavin.

Gav you make me laugh! Your honesty is great and you don't know how funny you are. You say things and make facial expressions without realising how funny they are!!! Really support you and I think your rumba last week was good;Craig's score was ridiculous! You are making improvement.

Gavin, your Tango looks great and I really think it could be your dance (after the short preview you gave us last night on it takes two!)so keep training really hard and I'm sure you will be up there on top the leader board this week! Good luck!:)

Toatally agree with Lauren23 I think he is really trying and to me does not come across as vain and selfish, as the newspapers say he is. I never really used to take much notice of him before as well, but ever since watching 71 degrees north I have really changed my opinion and views of him. I actually fancy him, looking at him,when he's talking about his shyness, he reminds me of me.

Can't wait until the live show tonight. I think, from what Craig said yesterday on it takes two, Gavin's Tango will be by far his best dance yet and hopefully one of the best on the night!! Good luck for tonight Gavin, just keep focused and try not to get too distracted by Matt and Scott's dances and you and Katya will be brilliant!!!! x

Gavin, your tango was one of your best, if not your best dance so far in my opinion - I loved it! I couldn't see anything wrong with it personally. But what ever you do, don't let it get to you. You may not be up there with Matt and Scott, but it doesn't mean you can't dance, because you can! Just keep putting in all the effort, keep your head held high and don't let it get you down!!!

I don't know what's wrong with the judges, but they seem to have taken a slight dislike to Gavin and Katya, I just can't understand it!? All they can seem to say are negative things, and it's just not fair! They make it sound like every single second of the dance was bad and none of it good! You know, it wouldn't hurt them to say "Well done" once in a while would it!!!!

And as for Len giving Gavin the same mark as Ann!! It's totally wrong! In fact, if I was Gavin, I would find it quite insulting.

But what annoys me the most, is if you stuck Gavin or one of the other celebrates in a harness and made them fly, then they danced that badly no one would give them a 7 would they, so why give Ann a 7?! I think the dance should be marked on the overall performance and I think Len just marked the flying! And (going back to Gain and Katya) I don't think their dance deserved a 5 overall from Craig. I would have given that at least a 7 if not an 8!!!

Eee up Gaving and Katya - I have found the dancing super - I have natural dance in my socks and admire you for showing us stupendous choreography and dancing. If you were in a dance club or my local highly trendy club we'd all just simply watch and wish we could dance like you two.

Katya should take Gavin to an acting coach as the judges comments seem to criticizing his lack of performance - it worked wonders for Gethin in series 6...

Just wanted to say that their dancing is a lot better than they get credit for and I agree with the comments about undermarking this week especially in contrast to other couples!

Go on team Gatya!!!

So glad Gavin and Katya are back next week!

I think the dances next week are the Argentine Tango and the Paso, both of which would suit Gavin perfectly! I think it might be the Argentine Tango that there're doing, because they did two Latin dances and now I think they should be doing two Ballroom dances

I think getting an acting coach for Gavin is a great idea, because everyone seems to be saying Gavin struggles from nerves when he performs (especially with the Tango), so hopefully it will boost his confidence a little (or maybe even a lot!!)

Gavin - when you run out on the pitch at the Millennium Stadium, you just have your mind on the game and being a team player. You aren't thinking about what people in the crowd think about you.

Yes, I realise that the crowd at Strictly are much closer physically, but if you concentrated on being a team with Katya that might help.

Visualisation is really helpful here. When you go to sleep, think yourself into the situation of walking out onto the Strictly stage, and then straight away visualise into the first steps of the dance you will be doing and forget that the audience are there.

Read Rhonda Byrne's 'The Secret' and you will understand the power of visualisation.

Apart from that, how about hypnosis to help you get over the self-consciousness? Really - serious suggestion.

Best wishes, from rugby fan Jen.

TashaLouise-Kv-x,

No I don't have twitter, but keep us posted if Katya tweets anything else important, especially if she says what dance they are doing this week, cus everyone seems to be doing different...?

@ Zoe, I believe that Gavin is doing the Jive this week, which I think is a bad choice. The vw would have been better, let's just hope the acting lessons help. The fact that he is playing rugby again may help.

Deb Morgan (52)

I think that you have cracked a major part of Gavin's issues, with his current problems of trying to leave the Ospreys and get nearer to London to see his children more often.

The offer by Saracens seems to be near to conclusion and once he can see his future more clearly then Gavin will be more able to get settled and back on track.

The public tend to forget that being a celebrity does not make the pain of everyday living go away. Gavin has had a pretty hard year with injuries and personal issues, some weaker people would have broken by now but he seems determined to win through.

Being an Ace in any activity does not give you a passport to instant happiness. The trail of broken marriages and relationships bear witness to the pressures that celebrity brings.

Let us all hope that Gavin can find the strength to get a second wind and face that next tackle to score another try!

Keeeep Dancing!!!

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