What makes Bryan and Carmen #1?
I have watched quite a few tapes of profesional competitions from the last few years and it wasnt apparent to me as to why their dancing is considered better then that of the other top couples (Paul&Hanna, Michal and Joanna, Slavik and Karina) Any thoughts?

I love to watch Bryan dance. Carmen is lovely, but I much preferred Karen Hardy. I don't know what it is, but I'm drawn to them. I've heard a few teachers knock his style, but I love it.

I have had this doubt for a long time.
Their dancing is good
but so are a lot of the top level dancers in that category.
I too prefer the others, Paul&Hanna, Michal and Joanna, Slavik and Karina.
What exactly makes Bryan and Carmen win?

technique!!!
and each movement are quite accurate

I'm very glad to see this post, as I have the exact same opinion as anonymous. I've watched Bryan and Carmen in the 2004/5 Blackpool comps and also in some international exhibitions.

My initial reaction is that their choreography is very repetitive (particularly Carmen) and Bryan is very full of himself. I contrast that to Michal and Joanna who move more as a couple and, in my opinion, are breath taking to watch. Interestingly at the 2005 Blackpool event, the applause was overwhelmingly in favour of Michal and Joanna.

Any thoughts??

The #1 thing at which Bryan and Carmen blow away the competition is timing. Look at the tapes, in jive and samba especially, their feet do supersharp timing throughout, no other couple has this feature.

As for me, they are only couple left who provide the highset quality dancing. They are together, they have chemistry, they have amazing timing. They simply enjoy of dancing together. A lot of people will say that they are too simple and what they do is too easy. But, in my opinion, only they are showing really professional dancing. Pros shouldn't impressed us with crazy variations or lines. They should give to the audience beauty of dance. And Carmen and Brian can do that.

I read somewhere once that the goal of a true competitive level profressional ballrrom dancer should be to concentrate on the preciseness and technique of each step, rather than using all the variations in their routine. Maybe that is why they excel.