DWTS Season 27 - Week 7 (Country Night) Dance Overviews

It was a real hoedown on Dancing With the Stars for week 7 of season 27, which was Country Night (the Quarter-Finals)! The night featured several guest performances from country singers as well as the team dances. Plus, at the beginning of the night, they revealed that after both rounds of dances, the season’s first double elimination would occur.

With thoughts on the night of performances, here is Paul Bentley, along with scores given by The Readers from an online poll!

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Individual Country Night Dances

The eight remaining couples performed individual country-themed dances for the first round of dances during Country Night.

[Order of the Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli]

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John Schneider and Emma Slater

Jazz

Eliminated- Tied for 7th Place

Thank God I’m a Country Boy by John Denver

The Judges’ Scores: 8, 9, 8 (25/30)

The Readers’ Score: 8

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: I’m glad John made it to Country Night because, well, he’s all about that Country Night feel! He is a country singer afterall! I wouldn’t consider this Jazz to be one of John’s stronger performances, but he his heart and soul was poured into it. He did a respectable job dancing among the troupe, even though it made his weaker footwork more noticeable than it would have been without them. Once again, Emma’s choreography snapped, and brought out the best in John once again. I wasn’t surprised by this couple being eliminated this week, but by looking at the competition left, I think I would have been happy with him lasting another episode. At least we got to get to know him better when he opened up in his emotional dance package before his dance!

Paul Bentley’s Score: 7

#TeamSuperDuke 1(800)868-3407

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Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe

Rumba

Every Little Thing with a live performance by Carly Pearce

The Judges’ Scores: 10, 10, 10 (30/30)

The Readers’ Score: 10

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: As much as I am glad that Evanna and Keo finally got their first perfect score of the season, I unfortunately would not give this Rumba a 10. While I loved the changes between fast and slow in this dance, it was just a bit too staccato at times. I also felt as though Evanna could have performed more from her core, since her extensions seemed to just… stop. And choreographically, I personally would have liked some more hip action to really highlight some sections that felt a tad bit empty. But in the end, it was still a beautiful number, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Evanna continues to grow, even this far in the competition.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 8

#TeamKevanna 1(800)868-3405

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Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke

Charleston

One Shot by Hunter Hayes

The Judges’ Scores: 10, 10, 10 (30/30)

The Readers’ Score: 9

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Is it just me, or was there a lot of overscoring on Monday night? Once again, I thought this dance was good, but I disagree with the perfect score. First off, this Charleston simply did not have enough Charleston content. A lot of this dance was just country steps disguised as Charleston, which is okay for the theme of the dance, but it took over too much of the choreography. I also felt that Juan Pablo lost a bit of polish in his footwork from when he got in the back of the pickup truck, and it never really fully covered. His feet were hard-hitting, which I see as an improvement from last week, but it felt almost robotic in certain sections. Maybe it’s just me, but I think this was one of Juan Pablo and Cheryl’s weakest dances this season… but I am confident they will come back next week with some more strong content!

Paul Bentley’s Score: 8

#TeamChernando 1(800)868-3408

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Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson

Tango

Burning Man by Dierks Bentley ft. Brothers Osborne

The Judges’ Scores: 7, 7, 7 (21/30)

The Readers’ Score: 6

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Dancing With the Stars really needs to chill out with the crazy lights they feel the need to add in to their more “fierce” performances. I can’t be the only one who gets headaches from that. This Tango wasn’t terrible, but for a dance this far in the competition, I am looking for more. While it was strong and mostly stable, there wasn’t much else. Joe was awkward in his core, he was unsure in his movement, and his elbows were just... wrong. At least he’s trying, though. It just seems like even Jenna can’t get him to his breakthrough point… at least not yet.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 6

#TeamCheckUsOut 1(800)868-3406

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Milo Manheim and Witney Carson

Foxtrot

Born to Love You with a live performance by LANCO

The Judges’ Scores: 10, 9, 10 (29/30)

The Readers’ Score: 10

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Milo has been absolutely nailing his dances lately, and this performance is no exception, minus a few little quirks here and there. This was a refreshing, delicate dance to see from Milo and Witney after all of the higher energy dances they have done this season. It was youthful, smooth, and full of lots of great content. The only things that could have been tweaked were Milo’s neck and face. I felt like I could see Milo counting the steps in his head, and that’s the first time I felt like that with one of his performances. Maybe it’s because this dance had a different pace than his other ones. I would give this performance a 9, but I’m content with 10’s, too!

Paul Bentley’s Score: 9

#TeamWitlo 1(800)868-3410

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DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold

Viennese Waltz

Eliminated- Tied for 7th Place

Tennessee Whisky by Chris Stapleton

The Judges’ Scores: 9, 9, 9 (27/30)

The Readers’ Score: 8

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: I must be quite the oppositionist this week because while I thought a lot of the dances this week were overscored, I actually thought that DeMarcus and Lindsay’s Viennese Waltz was underscored! :P I was actually a bit surprised how much DeMarcus improved in the ballroom department, especially since he hadn’t done a ballroom dance since week two. Even with the significant height difference, this pair had a great hold, and they stayed strong yet elegant from start to finish. I would consider this a performance deserving of a perfect score, but clearly that doesn’t seem to be the popular opinion… Like, really, readers? An 8?! XD I was surprised that DeMarcus and Lindsay were eliminated this week, especially with how much support it seemed like they were getting on social media. They were one of my favorite couples, and it’s sad to see them go when they have had pretty strong scores throughout the season.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 10

#TeamWaresOurMirrorBall 1(800)868-3404

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Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten

Samba

Ladies in the ‘90s with a live performance by Lauren Alaina

The Judges’ Scores: 9, 10, 10 (29/30)

The Readers’ Score: 9

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: I’ve been seeing a lot of mixed views about this Samba, but I think the general consensus is that this wasn’t Alexis’ best dance, but it was still good. And I sort of agree with that, although I’d give Alexis more credit, especially because I thought this was Alexis’ best Latin dance yet. This dance was just some lighthearted fun that stuck to traditional Samba dancing, with some country elements thrown in, and I think it worked out pretty well. Sometimes Alexis’ “bounce” came off a bit rigid towards the end, even though the rest of the dance was pretty smooth. Clearly, Alexis and Alan have a pretty strong connection, as shown by their kiss in their video package, and that helps them “sell” their performances, and I guess it helps them get votes, too.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 9

#TeamRenTen 1(800)868-3401

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Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess

Viennese Waltz

Can’t Help Falling in Love with a live performance by Chris Janson

The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)

The Readers’ Score: 7

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Oh, how I love Can’t Help Falling in Love! Sharna did a good job choreographing the Viennese Waltz to this song, just like she did with Nick Carter’s Contemporary in season 21. Bobby, however, was fairly week in this performance. As we have seen from his ballroom dances in the past, he’s just too sloppy and peppy for the style. Oh well, at least has a joyful exuberance in how he executes all of his routines. This Viennese Waltz could have used some more ease, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. But as far as Bobby’s technique goes, with only two weeks of competition left, he needs to step up now, because right now it doesn’t look like he’s going to get the Mirrorball.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 7

#TeamBeautyAndTheGeek 1(800)868-3402

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Country Night Team Freestyle Dances

For the country-themed Freestyle team dances, the cast was split up into two teams of four couples each. As the celebrities with the lowest cumulatives scores of the season up to week six, Bobby Bones and Joe Amabile were the team captains, and were able to pick the other three couples on their teams, taking turns to pick one by one. Each couple would have their team dance score added to their overall score for the night. After these performances, the double elimination occured, where two couples were to leave the competition.

[Order of the Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli]

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Team Hay Now

Bobby & Sharna, Evanna & Keo, John & Emma, Milo & Witney

9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

The Judges’ Scores: 10, 9, 10 (29/30)

The Readers’ Score: 10

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: I have to hand it to both teams for really making their performances “big” and energetic. Team Hay Now in particular just let loose and had fun, and that’s exactly what I would want to see from a dance like this! John and Bobby weren’t necessarily the strongest dancers on the team, but they did a good job matching up to the rest of the team. Milo was a great addition to this team, too, with his investment in the dance and execution of the southern style. But the star of this team Freestyle to me was Evanna, who matched perfectly with the female pros, looking like a pro herself with her hard-hitting moves and fabulous technique. It was a nice number overall, and it seemed like most people preferred this team over the other one. And since they got the higher score over Team Joe Down, it seems like they were the “winners,” which I am perfectly content with.

Paul Bentley’s Score: 9

#TeamHayNow

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Team Joe Down

Alexis & Alan, DeMarcus & Lindsay, Joe and Jenna, Juan Pablo & Cheryl

Country Girl by Luke Bryan

The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)

The Readers’ Score: 9

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Both teams had commendable effort in my opinion, but I would give Team Joe Down the slight edge over Team Hay Now. I loved how team-oriented the couples were in this routine, and how each celebrity had their own highlight moments, including Joe on riding the mechanical bull! XD I do think Joe was the weakest link, though, despite him doing a better job with the content than I have seen him handle content in the past. DeMarcus went full-on cowboy in this team Freestyle, which I really dig, and Alexis brought out the sexy side of the Western theme, which I also really digged. Juan Pablo was the stand-out performer in this dance, though. He was in the zone, and he was overall flawless. Such a fun routine!

Paul Bentley’s Score: 9

#TeamJoeDown

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Week 7 Scoreboard

Dancing With the Stars Season 27, Week 7 Scoreboard
Couple	Dance Style	Judges’ Scores	Overall Score
John and Emma	Jazz	8, 9, 8 (25/30)	54/60
	Team Freestyle	10, 9, 10 (29/30)
Evanna and Keo	Rumba	10, 10, 10 (30/30)	59/60
	Team Freestyle	10, 9, 10 (29/30)
Juan Pablo and Cheryl	Charleston	10, 10, 10 (30/30)	56/60
	Team Freestyle	9, 8, 9 (26/30)
Joe and Jenna	Tango	7, 7, 7 (21/30)	47/60
	Team Freestyle	9, 8, 9 (26/30)
Milo and Witney	Foxtrot	10, 9, 10 (29/30)	58/60
	Team Freestyle	10, 9, 10 (29/30)
DeMarcus and Lindsay	Viennese Waltz	9, 9, 9 (27/30)	53/60
	Team Freestyle	9, 8, 9 (26/30)
Alexis and Alan	Samba	9, 10, 10 (29/30)	55/60
	Team Freestyle	9, 8, 9 (26/30)
Bobby and Sharna	Viennese Waltz	8, 8, 8 (24/30)	53/60
	Team Freestyle	10, 9, 10 (29/30)

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Country Night Awards

Most Entertaining Dance: Team Joe Down’s Freestyle

Every section of Team Joe Down’s Freestyle was high energy. This team really felt unified and part of the music. Alexis, Juan Pablo, DeMarcus, and Joe all brought something different to the routine, but it all came together neatly. My favorite part was the section at the end after the tables, which really showed off some pretty good technique from all of the celebrities.

Best Costumes: Alexis and Alan’s Samba Costumes

Alexis and Alan’s Samba costumes didn’t necessarily scream “country,” but they definitely had a sexy country feel to them. The blue color complimented Alexis really well. And as for Alan, you can never go wrong with a cowboy hat and an open shirt! XD

Best Choreography: John and Emma’s Jazz

John and Emma’s Jazz was the most country-like dance of the night. And even though it was a bit of a caricature of the style, there were lots of good country steps and partner work in there. The choreography worked well for John’s skill set.

Strongest Couple: Evanna and Keo

I haven’t lost any interest in Evanna and Keo once this season, which exemplifies how memorable and strong they are as a couple. And that’s really saying something since I usually feel like couples have “off weeks.” But not these two! They are consistently growing each week, making me more and more engaged in them as a couple.

Most Improved Celebrity: DeMarcus Ware

Earlier in the season, it seemed like DeMarcus’ biggest disadvantage was his height. Well, on Country Night, he made a complete 180 with his ballroom technique. It was easy to forget the height difference in his Viennese Waltz with Lindsay because of how he now had a feel for how to make the dances work for him.

Stand-Out Moment of the Night: Keo Kissing Len

Keo running down the steps to kiss Len after getting a 10 from his is actually kind of iconic. It’s so great seeing Keo making it so far and getting such high scores! I know Bobby also kissed Len on Monday, too, but Keo did it first, and I feel like it was more meaningful. XD

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Furthermore

Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: This season is… different. I’ll talk more about this after the season is over, but this season of Dancing With the Stars just feels a bit off. And it doesn’t help that we keep getting eliminations of higher-scoring couples. DeMarcus and Lindsay getting eliminated was a shocker for me, and John and Emma getting eliminated seemed a bit too soon when looking at some of the remaining couples.

The final six couples are Bobby & Sharna, Joe & Jenna, Milo & Witney, Juan Pablo & Cheryl, Evanna & Keo, and Alexis & Alan… and we only have two weeks left. It’s almost the end, even though it doesn’t really feel like it. Could next week be a double, or even triple elimination? It very well could be, especially because it looks like we are not getting a two-night finale this time around. So who I think is going to be eliminated next? I have no clue. This season is so confusing. Maybe Joe & Jenna and/or Alexis & Alan? I honestly have no clue.

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Week 8 Show Information

Next week is the Semi-Finals of season 27 of Dancing With the Stars! The six remaining couples will perform two different rounds of individual dances. The first round will consist of the couples dancing a new style. For the second round, it is the Judges’ Choice Challenge, where each couple will be mentored by one of the three judges, and will perform a new dance to the style they performed during the premiere episode.

According to the DWTS press release, here are the dances the couples will be performing for the first round:

• Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten will dance a Waltz to Water by Bishop Briggs
• Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess will dance Salsa to GDFR by Flo Rida
• Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe will dance Contemporary to Stand Up for Something by Andra Day
• Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson will dance Contemporary to This Year’s Love by David Gray
• Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke will dance an Argentine Tango to Libertango from Forever Tango
• Milo Manheim and Witney Carson will dance an Argentine Tango to Pray for Me by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar

For the second round, the couples will dance the performances they would have done during week 1, night 2 during the jeopardy dances, using the same music and style. However, since Alexis and Alan already did perform their second Jive when they were in jeopardy, they were given different music for their next Jive, which was originally intended for Tinashe and Brandon if they were to have been in jeopardy. Here are the performances that will be featured for round two:

• Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten will dance a Jive to Yes by Merry Clayton, mentored by Bruno Tonioli
• Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess will dance a Jive to Gimme Some Lovin’ by The Spencer Davis Group, mentored by Len Goodman
• Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe will dance a Foxtrot to Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman, mentored by Len Goodman
• Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson will dance a Quickstep to Check It Out by Oh the Larceny, mentored by Carrie Ann Inaba
• Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke will dance Salsa to Tu Sonrisa by Elvis Crespo, mentored by Bruno Tonioli
• Milo Manheim and Witney Carson will dance a Cha-Cha-Cha to Good Feeling by Austin French, mentored by Carrie Ann Inaba

An elimination will also occur at the end of the night.

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Links

DWTS Interact: Season 27 Halloween Night Dance Overviews

DWTS 27 Country Night Dances on YouTube

Follow DWTS Interact on Twitter at @DWTSInteract!

Follow Paul Bentley on Twitter at @ThePJBentley!

What did you think of Country Night on Dancing With the Stars? Which individual dance from round one was your favorite? Which team dance did you like better— #TeamHayNow or #TeamJoeDown? What did you think of DeMarcus and Lindsay, and John and Emma being eliminated during the double elimination? Who do you think will be eliminated next?

#DWTS #DWTS27

#CountryNight