STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL: It Takes Two To Tango

December 17th 2025

 

This year’s “Strictly Come Dancing” (2004-Present) is the final series hosted by Tess Daly (21 years) and Claudia Winkleman (15 years). Reading about the Argentinian Tango (Denniston, 2025) inspired me to write a blog about this year’s Strictly tango performances. 

 

“The following is a brief description of the International Style Ballroom and Latin dances codified in England between 1929 and 1968...Traditionally tango music had the distinctive sound of the bandoneon, an instrument similar to an accordion. The ballroom tango has retained the dramatic intensity evolved from the Argentine tango, with staccato steps, no rise and fall, and a more compact hold than the other ballroom or ‘swing’ dances.” 

(French, 2022:280-1) 

 

In this year’s series of Strictly, we have seen 15 tango dances that originated in 1936 (if earlier, 1910) in its 21st year. A breakdown is 12 pro-am couples, 1 professional couple, and 2 professional group tangos. 

 

The first tango of this series was by former Lioness Karen Carney and Carlos Gu in Week 2. Top of the leaderboard in Week 1, they scored 20 the following week. Karen has Scheuermann’s disease which makes her back immobile and restricted.  

 

There was no tango on Week 3 At the Movies until Week 4. Love Island competitor and Pretty Woman Amber Davies danced the first Argentine Tango with Nikita Kuzmin, scoring 33! We must remember she competed in ITV’s “Dancing On Ice” and the difference between the tango and the Argentine Tango... 

 

Although they are both related, they are 2 distinct styles with their own history, technique, and aesthetic: The Argentine Tango originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the late 19th Century among immigrants and working-class communities. It developed organically in social dance halls and is deeply connected to Argentine culture and music. 

 

The Ballroom Tango developed later in Europe (especially England) and North America, in the early 20th Century. It was standardized for ballroom competitions, leading to 2 main styles: The American Tango and International Tango. The Argentinian style/technique is improvised unlike the Ballroom tango which choreographed and sharper. 

 

So, to summarize in a nutshell, the Argentine Tango is a socially improvised art form rooted in emotional connection and musicality whereas the Ballroom Tango is a formalized, competitive dance focused on power, precision, and spectacle. 

 

We must also appreciate that Amber replacing Dani Dyer due to injury is no big mistake! I know from stepping in to play Danny Zuko in the school production of “Grease” (1978), and understudy roles, all within the last minute, albeit non-professionally. It saves the day, and therefore it is rewarding! 

 

Week 4 was big for the tango, as we saw a professional group number in the results show, choreographed by Jason Gilkison who choreographed the BBC Showcase at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool 10 years ago, and a Ballroom Tango by YouTube vlogger and podcast host, George Clarke and Alexis Warr in her first series as a new professional dancer! 

 

Alexis was the first dancer specializing in ballroom and Latin styles to win the 7th series of “So You Think You Can Dance” (2005-Present) in 2022.1 George and Alexis’ Ballroom Tango showed more focus than their Squid Game-themed couple’s choice from Movies Week. Its storytelling was adored by Strictly judge, Shirley Ballas, until it became lost midway.  

 

George has a calm demeanor and carefree presence like Ferris Bueller. However, it was not until later in the competition that the judges’ feedback included that he does not realize just how good he is. As per the judges, I wanted more from him throughout the competition. Nonetheless, George and Alexis scored 30 for their tango. 

 

By this point, the female-identifying professionals did more dancing than their male celebrity partners. And George and Alexis’ tango epitomized that. Other examples were Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer (Week 4), and Lauren Oakley’s Rumba (Week 3). 

 

The professionals’ group number choreographed by Gilkinson saw same-sex pas de deux facing each other either end of desks doing footwork, and changes of desk formations midway – vertically aligned center stage then off stage with one remaining upstage (audience perspective) - to a live rendition of Chris Brown’s “Beautiful People.” 

 

Week 5 was Icons Week! Harry Aikines-Aryeetey's (a.k.a., Nitro in “Gladiators” (1990s, 2024-Present) was the second in this series to dance the Argentine Tango as Usher! This was his professional partner Karen Hauer’s first Argentine Tango in 13 years.  

 

Their Argentinian Tango divided the judges: Motsi Mabuse (as Grace Jones) and Anton Dubeke (as David Bowie) were biased whereas Shirley Ballas (as Elvis Presley from “Jailhouse Rock” (1950s)) and Craig Revel-Horwood (as John Lennon) were constructively critical.  

 

It was Staccato for an Argentinian Tango which Harry and Karen could only have gotten away with if it was a ballroom tango, as according to Revel-Horwood (I am paraphrasing). The nation watched Nikita dance with Luba Mushtuk to “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from “Evita” (1978, 1996), sung by Rachel Zegler (Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025)). 

 

Week 6 was Halloween! Karen and Carlos performed another tango. This time, it was the Argentine Tango to the theme tune from “Peaky Blinders” (2013-Present). Scoring 38 points, they were second on the leaderboard (the top couple was former “Emmerdale” (1972-Present) actor, Lewis Cope and Katya Jones for their couple’s choice to Radiohead’s “Creep”, scoring 40 points!)  

 

Karen and Carlos will perform their Peaky Blinders-inspired Argentine Tango again in the final as chosen by the judges. When Lewis and Katya danced the tango to “12 to 12” by sombr in Week 8, they scored 37 points. That was second to the top of the leaderboard! Top of the leaderboard in question were Amber and Nikita! 

 

Ellie Goldstein – the first model with Down’s Syndrome to feature on the cover of Vogue magazine and appear in a campaign for Gucci 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 – and Vito Coppola dressed up as a rabbit to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” scoring 27 points. Although this was an outstanding, heartwarming partnership, they were evicted after their dance-off. 

 

Georgie Shore’s Vicky Pattinson entered her Cheryl Cole era in Icons Week with Kai Widdrington. Come Week 7, she entered her tango era! The facial expression was outstanding! It’s a fiery dance about a woman scorned and feminine rage! Top of the leaderboard with 39 points, it was the best dance of the week! One week later, they left... 

 

Balvinda Sopal a.k.a. Suki Panesar in “EastEnders” (1985-Present) and Julian Alvarez danced a moody and atmospheric Argentine Tango to a live rendition of Supertramp’s Logical Song in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. They were backed by two professional couples and umbrellas as props. 

 

Anton Dubeke (who had some Bruno Tonioli in him throughout the night) loved the intensity, characterization and her detachment from Julian. There was something about relationships as seen in the same-sex trio involving Balvinda.  

 

It may have needed smoother changes in weight and transition. Nonetheless, the tango suited her and scored 33 points. We were expecting no tango dance in Week 10 until its instant dance. After 21 years, 2025 was the first series that brought instant dances to the competition.  

 

George and Alexis’ instant dance was a tango to “When Doves Cry” by Prince. Their frame reminisced ‘spaghetti arms’ as put by Johnny Castle in “Dirty Dancing” (1987). They came 5th place, but it prepared them for their Argentine Tango to “The Point of No Return” from “The Phantom of the Opera” (1986) in Musicals Week – the quarter final! 

 

Andrew Lloyd Webber sent them a video message of good luck. They scored 35 points along with Balvinda and Julian for their Viennese Waltz to “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman” (2017) and Lewis and Katye’s salsa to the Dance at the Gym from “West Side Story” (1961, 2021). 

 

The Cell Block Tango from “Chicago” (1975, 2002) was choreographed by Elizabeth Honan and performed by the professionals. The six merry murderesses (or mistresses) were Karen Hauer, Lauren Oakley, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Katye Jones, and Amy Dowden. 

 

Although her frame improved, Amber and Nikita scored 37 for their Argentine Tango to “Higher” by Michael Buble in the semi-final. But their couple’s choice to “Fly Me to the Moon” scored 40 points! I will be attending the Storyhouse’s Argentine Tango workshop on Valentine’s Day! 

 

Who do you want to win this year's “Strictly”? Karen and Carlos? George and Alexis? Or Amber and Nikita? 

 

Be Yourself, 

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Adam John Roberts (He/Him) - Founder & Creative Performing Artist

Facebook.com/LabelledDanceTheatre | IG @labelleddancetheatre 

 

N O T E S 

 

1. This Morning (2025) This Morning [TV programme]. ITV, ITV1, 11 November. 

 

2. Siegal, T. (2020) An 18-year-old Jewish model with Down syndrome – Gucci's latest superstar [online] 

Available at: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/an-18-year-old-jewish-model-with-down-syndrome-guccis-latest-superstar-633749 

[Accessed: 03/11/2025] 

 

3. Weinstock, T. (2020) Ellie Goldstein, the breakout star of Gucci Beauty, on why we need to see more models with disabilities in campaigns [online] 

Available at: https://www.vogue.in/beauty/content/ellie-goldstein-breakout-star-gucci-beauty-on-why-we-need-to-see-more-models-with-disabilities-in-campaigns 

[Accessed: 03/11/2025] 

 

4. BBC News (2023) Vogue model Ellie Goldstein: ‘Doctors said I wouldn’t walk or talk’ [online] 

Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-67613146 

[Accessed: 03/11/2025] 

 

5. Lifestyle Reporter (2020) Teen model with Down syndrome gets world’s attention as one of new faces for Gucci Beauty [online] 

Available at: https://iol.co.za/lifestyle/style-beauty/beauty/2020-07-10-teen-model-with-down-syndrome-gets-worlds-attention-as-one-of-new-faces-for-gucci-beauty/ 

[Accessed: 03/11/2025] 

 

6. Hayden, J. (2020) Model with Down’s syndrome becomes first to pose for Gucci Beauty [online]