Strictly Come Dancing 2010: Conducting the live band
Well, here we are back again in Studio One at Ö÷²¥´óÐã Television Centre for my fifth series conducting the live band on Strictly Come Dancing, after taking over from the great .
This year looks like it's going to be a good one, judging by the launch show. The new set looks amazing - it's so big, I don't know how it fits in to the studio, and even the band pit area is a bit bigger (most unusual!).
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My first task prior to the show was to decide, along with Tony Revell (the sound supervisor), how the guys in the band were going to be set up. I need to have a sight line to everyone, and Tony has sound considerations, especially placing the drum kit and so on. Hopefully we have come up with something that will work.
I have put together more or less the same band and personnel as last year, comprising of 15 musicians and four singers on this show. Depending on the material we have to cover, I'll be tweaking the line up through the series, but by and large, the instrumentation will stay the same.
For the first show we have five main routines to play, including one featuring all the dancers and their new partners. Now I know who the celebrities are, I think the competition will be fierce and the characters very entertaining.
I am really looking forward to when the live shows kick off in October. I only need to write 14 arrangements before then... now where did I put my manuscript paper?
Dave Arch is the musical director on Strictly Come Dancing and conducts the live band.
Series eight of Strictly Come Dancing begins on Saturday, 11 September at 6.25pm on Ö÷²¥´óÐã One and Ö÷²¥´óÐã HD.
Please visit the upcoming episodes page to check programme times.
You can read more on the origins of Strictly Come Dancing from head of Ö÷²¥´óÐã History Robert Seatter on the About The Ö÷²¥´óÐã blog.
Comment number 1.
At 11th Sep 2010, lagers wrote:so Anton has drawn the short straw again!!
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Comment number 2.
At 12th Sep 2010, Ratbag wrote:Anton I'm sure will be lovely with Widders, but surely sense should have prevailed and ended with him partnering Felicity. It was obvious from Anton whirling her around that he has to stoop to reach her. Vincent being one of the shorter dancers wouldn't have had such an issue and I'm sure would have been equally lovely with her. I foresee a lot of backache for our Anton.
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Comment number 3.
At 12th Sep 2010, Daisymae wrote:Watching Saturdays show was a dismal experience, predictable , drawn out and whatever happened to ballroom dancing? seemed more like an acrobats convention. The established professional dancers were sorely missed.
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Comment number 4.
At 14th Sep 2010, smithap66 wrote:Unless I missed it no mention from Bruce of the band or singers, but at least you were in the end credits.
I'd love to see Hayley Sanderson backed by the other singers feature as if a proper guest artist.
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