³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

With six of the remaining twelve couples tackling the American Smooth tomorrow, we've quizzed professional dancer Anton Du Beke on what to look out for...

What makes a good American Smooth?

Style! You've got to have lots of style and sophistication for the American Smooth. There should be a good balance in choreography in terms of being in closed hold and open hold, and some nice clean lifts that are in keeping with the style of the dance.

Is there a particular kind of music that suits the American Smooth?

I quite like a piece of music that's 'Foxtrotty' in its feel and tempo. You can go a little quicker - I think you can get some really good ideas from Quickstep styles of music too.

What type of person suits this dance?

The American Smooth suits someone who has a natural sophistication, charm and lots of personality. Couples who prefer the Latin dances, invariably don't usually suit this dance. But there are always exceptions for example Colin Jackson was great at both Ballroom and Latin, so it's difficult to say.

What should you look out for in the American Smooth?

The footwork, the lifts and choreography are all very important... and getting into the style of the dance. If you get the style wrong it just doesn't look right - the magic is lost.

What tips would you give?

Think Fred and Ginger and Breakfast at Tiffany's - the dance is of that very stylish era.

What are the hardest lifts to perform?

There's a technique to lifting - if you can use the correct technique then you can do any type of lift. The above-the-shoulder type lifts are more difficult because you need a certain amount of strength. It also depends on the couple for example if the partners are similar in height, it wouldn't seem right to incorporate really high lifts into their routine. But if you get a couple like Darren Gough & Lilia Kopylova or Kenny Logan & Ola Jordan - where the chap is much bigger then it's fine.

Can the girl ever do the lifting?

Not traditionally. Brendan Cole might do that sort of thing because he likes to rock tradition.

What will the judges be looking for?

Len will be looking for a nice balance of choreography and interesting work in hold. The other judges for example Craig will be looking out for musicality and he won't be offended by unusual lifts. Bruno is looking for the whole showbiz element.