Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 11 (Finale) Review

The Finale of Dancing With the Stars season 21 was jam-packed! The Judges' Choice redo dances were fun to watch, especially because it wasn't just dances that we have already seen before on this show. I loved every single Freestyle this season, but I think Bindi and Derek's was my favorite, despite Carlos and Witney's Freestyle being the most entertaining to me. It was unfortunate to see Carlos go home, but it was expected. I was just glad that he finally got a perfect score (two for that matter)! The second night of the Finale was something that I have never seen before! I was absolutely in love with the holiday-themed set at The Grove, and was bopping my head at Chaka Khan and Andy Grammer singing Baby, It's Cold Outside! I was glad to see everyone back (except Tamar, who couldn't make it because she is still sick, but slowly recovering). And I was exceptionally glad to see Kim and Tony perform that Samba that we never got to see from them! Nick and Sharna's Viennese Waltz was even better the second time, and so was Bindi and Derek's, which gave me shivers! Alexander Jean was a highlight if the guest performances, although I loved every single one of them! The final dances, the Fusion dances, were a great way to end the season while reminiscing about the amazing journey all the celebrities had in the past several weeks. In the end, Alek came in third, Nick came in second, and Bindi came in first. I'm glad Alek made it as far as he did, especially because he is a hero- and who doesn't like a hero?! Both Nick and Bindi deserved the Mirror Ball Trophy in my opinion, but when the chips fell, Bindi had more of the viewers' votes than Nick. Nick and Sharna were always entertaining to watch every single week, and Bindi and Derek brought something special to the show that I have never seen in all twenty-one seasons of this show! I'm going to miss this season, but I am too eager for season 22 with the return of Len Goodman next year!

Night One: Judges' Choice Redo Dances

Each finalist couple was assigned a judge to help them out in the rehearsal studio to perform a dance style that they already did this season decided by the judge depending on what they needed to improve on. Although the couples repeated a dance style, they did their performances to different music with different choreography.

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar) Eliminated- 4th Place
Foxtrot- The Hills by The Weeknd
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard
Judge's Choice Redo: Foxtrot from Week 2, Night 1 (Bruno Tonioli)

Unlike most others, I actually really liked this music to go with a Foxtrot, especially for a dancer like Carlos. With music like this, it's easier to make an elegant form of emotion. Carlos didn't have much to improve on from his Foxtrot during week two, but he definitely did improve. Bruno, of course, did a great job with his feet and shoulders, which is what he usually calls people out on in dances like this. I give Carlos and Witney's Foxtrot a 10. It's about time Carlos got a perfect score!

Video of Carlos and Witney's Finale Foxtrot

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Rumba- The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore by James Morrison
Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 57/60) Bottom of the Leaderboard
Judge's Choice Redo: Rumba from Week 5 (Carrie Ann Inaba)

I was worried that Alek would get a Latin dance for perform, because frankly, that is not his strong point- especially with the Rumba. Nonetheless, there was a little bit of an improvement from his Rumba with Emma. Granted, he did look to be more into it with Emma, so I guess that just further proves that Emma and Alek need to get married. XD Carrie Ann didn't seem to focus on Alek's weak points, which really isn't shocking by this point. I give Alek and Lindsay's Rumba a 9. Alek threw his arms away and had lackluster hip action, but I expected that from looking at his previous Latin dances.

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Finale Rumba

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Jive- Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard
Judge's Choice Redo: Jive from Week 2, Night 1 (Julianne Hough)

DAYUM, Sharna! Both of them were on fire, but Sharna was heated to the core! Nick improved tremendously from his mistake-filled jive during Hometown Glory week. I think the fun dynamic between Julianne and Team SharNick during rehearsals actually helped Nick get a better feel to the routine. I give Nick and Sharna's Jive a 10. This was one of the hottest dances of the season!

Video of Nick and Sharna's Finale Jive

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Quickstep- Dr. Bones by Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard
Judge's Choice Redo: Quickstep from Week 3 (Carrie Ann Inaba)

This might just be my favorite dance of the season (it's a hard choice between this and Nick's Viennese Waltz)! Considering Bindi nailed all of her dances this season, there wasn't much Carrie Ann could choose from for this redo dance. By the way, why out of all judges did Carrie Ann get two couples to go into rehearsals this week?! Anyway, Bindi was perfection in week three, and in this dance, she was beyond that. Derek choreographed the perfect dance for her, and that's what I love about his choreography. I give Bindi and Derek's Quickstep a 10. I love how Derek was able to be creative with the troupe in this routine while still staying in hold!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Finale Quickstep

Night One: Freestyle Performance Round
The Freestyle round gave all of the four finalist couples creative control over what their routines would be. In this round, there aren't any rules. After the Freestyle dances, a couple was eliminated before night-two of the finale.

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar) Eliminated- 4th Place
Freestyle- WTF (Where They From) by Missy Elliott featuring Pharrell Williams
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard

This was the most entertaining Freestyle of the night in my opinion. I thought it was amazingly hilarious to add Paula in the dance (she is my spirit animal, LOL), along with Hayes and Alexa. Carlos was kind of feminine at certain points, but I don't mind because it's a Freestyle, not a ballroom dance. It was expected for Carlos to be eliminated on Monday, but that doesn't mean his dances were not incredible! I give Carlos and Witney's Freestyle a 10. I can't get Missy Elliott's new song out of my head because of this creative performance!

Video of Carlos and Witney's Freestyle

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Freestyle- Marchin' On by OneRepublic
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 57/60) Bottom of the Leaderboard

This was a Freestyle that I felt like I've never seen before, which made me really respect the choreography of this dance. Alek has had a unique journey on this show, and this dance really showcased that in a type of style that suits him perfectly. I give Alek and Lindsay's Freestyle a 10. Just like Carrie Ann, I will remember this Freestyle when I look back on this season because of this uplifting and powerful military-style Freestyle!

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Freestyle

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Freestyle- Footprints in the Sand by Leona Lewis
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From Night 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard

Not a lot of dances on this show make me emotional, but Bindi's Freestyle was an absolute exception. I have never seen imagery as powerful as the footprints in the sand at the end of the routine, along with the unexpected picture of Bindi and her father on the screen. Sometimes Contemporary performances can have fake and forced emotion, but I can tell that everything about this dance was pure and from the heart. I give Bindi and Derek's Freestyle a 10. Bindi and Derek transferred me into another realm with the explainable beautiful nature of this Freestyle!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Freestyle

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Freestyle- Larger Than Life by Backstreet Boys
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score From NIght 1: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard

As I have stated before, I have never been a Backstreet Boys fan, but I think this show-stopping performance converted me! His Backstreet Boys Jazz in week four was fun, but this Freestyle trumped over that with an even greater energy and performance value! The background dancers added a high voltage level of entertainment as well. I give Nick and Sharna's Freestyle a 10. Nick's Freestyle was definitely "larger than life"!

Video of Nick and Sharna's Freestyle

Night Two: 24-Hour Fusion Dance Challenge
The final three couples had less than twenty-four hours to create and perform a routine that combined two dance styles that they already performed this season. After this round, third place and second place were announced, as well as revealing the winner of the season twenty-one of Dancing With the Stars with the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick) Runner-Up- 2nd Place
Salsa/Tango Fusion- Turn Up the Music by Chris Brown
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Finale Score: 90/90) Top of the Leaderboard

I know that it is difficult to combine two dance styles in less than twenty-four hours, but I would have like to seen some more Tango in this Fusion dance. Nick did forget his steps for a few seconds, but he had a great recovery. It will still fiery hot, just like his Jive, and made me want to get up on my feet, but it did have it a few tiny flaws. It could have been a tad more precise, but I do realize that it is hard to do that in such a short time frame. I give Nick and Sharna's Salsa/Tango Fusion a 9. Nick had had a steady progression throughout this season, and even though he did not win the Mirror Ball Trophy, I think that Nick will truly appreciate this experience for the rest of his life. Sharna was the perfect partner for him, being able to guide him in both the rehearsal studios and on the dance floor. These two were memorable to season 21, and I hope they know that.

Video of Nick and Sharna's Salsa/Tango Fusion

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown) 3rd Place
Rumba/Tango Fusion- A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay
Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Finale Score: 84/90) Bottom of the Leaderboard

Surprisingly enough, I actually thought that Alek's Rumba was a lot stronger from his redo dance on Monday, but his Tango was off balance. Alek finally showed off his hips that everyone has been waiting for since week one! I also have to give major props to Lindsay once again for a cohesive and creative blend of two dances in such a short period of time. I hope she stays as a pro for next season! I give Alek and Lindsay's Rumba/Tango Fusion a 9. Just a few months ago, Alek was just an average person living his life like everyone else, when suddenly, he was known to the whole world as a hero along with Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler. Then, in the next second, he was a celebrity on Dancing With the Stars! He managed to get a feel for the cameras around week eight, and in the end, he became a star! I love the showmance that he and Emma have, even though his partnership with Lindsay was fun to watch as well. Lindsay has proven to be a star choreographer, and with that creative choreography, she made Alek become the eccentric person that he is today.

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Rumba/Tango Fusion

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey) WINNER- FIRST PLACE
Argentine Tango/Cha-Cha-Cha Fusion- All The Way by Timeflies
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Finale Score: 90/90) Top of the Leaderboard

Just like Riker and Allison's Salsa/Quickstep Fusion last season, I couldn't tell that this Argentine Tango/Cha-Cha-Cha Fusion was done in only twenty-four hours! Her leg action was completely in sync with Derek, and was clearly a crowd-pleaser to everyone in the audience! Bindi's spirits have never been broken even once in this competition, which made it a shoe-in for her to bring the usual high-energy to the dance floor! I give Bindi and Derek's Argentine Tango/Cha-Cha-Cha Fusion a 10. It was a perfect score to end a perfect season. Bindi seems like such a genuine person with her positive attitude that is infectious to everyone around her. She and Derek shined on that dance floor! And although Derek has won seven different Mirror Ball Trophies, I think that he absolutely deserved this one the most, which shows for the very special win that these two have had together. Bindi and Derek deserved to win, especially because I think that they tried the hardest and wanted it the most!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Argentine Tango/Cha-Cha-Cha Fusion









That's it! Season 21 of Dancing With the Stars is over! It was a fun season, but I already can't wait for season 22, which premieres on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 8/7c on ABC! It has been so much fun interacting with all of you this season on Twitter and on my blog! Thank you for reading my blog, sharing your opinions on the show, and updating me with all sorts of DWTS news! I will be back blogging for next season, too! This Winter, I will also be blogging about other things relating to Dancing With the Stars. Suggestions for blog post topics are welcome!

What did you think of the Dancing With the Stars season 21 Finale? What was your favorite Freestyle dance? Who did you predict to win? What did you think of the final results? Who do you want to see next season on DWTS? Next season will feature an all new celebrity cast with returning judge Len Goodman!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2015 for Dancing With the Stars news, updates, surveys, live tweets, and more!

Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 10 (Semifinals) Review

Although the beginning was kind of dragged out, I ended up really enjoying the Semifinals on Dancing With the Stars. Despite Tamar's unfortunate withdrawal from the competition, I was glad to see Val and Jenna's amazing performance halfway through the show! And even better, there was no elimination on Monday. I'm a bit skeptical that Bindi and Nick were actually in jeopardy, though, but who knows? It was interesting to hear about everyone's life stories in round one, even though some of the dances were a tad mellow dramatic. The dance-offs seemed to be just be thrown in (which they kind of were), but they were still fun to watch nonetheless. As for the trios round, I was on the edge of my seat with all of the incredible routines. I would have given everyone tens in that round! Here are my thoughts on the show:

Round One Performances

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Salsa- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile by Sia
Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score: 60/63) Top of the Leaderboard

This Salsa was cute- and I like that. I find it really irritating that the judges wanted Bindi to get "down and dirty". She's seventeen years old! Calm down! She had loose, yet controlled, hip action, so I have no clue what the judges wanted from her in that respect. One note that I do have is that, oddly enough, she threw away some of her lines, which she doesn't usually do. But I do have to give her major props for doing both a Samba and Salsa in one week, and pretty much nailing both of them. I give Bindi and Derek's Salsa a 9. It was a fun start to the night, so shame on you for calling it boring, Carrie Ann!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Salsa

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Waltz- America the Beautiful performed by Ray Chew
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 57/63)

Touching, beautiful, smooth. . . those words don't even describe how captivated I was by Alek and Lindsay's Waltz. This dance was done at such an appropriate time, which made it even more glorious. Alek is great at ballroom, but I didn't realize that he would become this great at ballroom! I'm a patriotic person myself, so this was easily my favorite dance of the night. Alek lead Lindsay on that dance floor with amazing ease that we've never seen from him, which I did not expect at all. I give Alek and Lindsay's Waltz a 10. This couple, to me, was the standout couple of the night.

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Waltz

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)
Contemporary- Drag Me Down by One Direction
Score: 9, 9, 10 (28/30) (Final Score: 60/63) Top of the Leaderboard

This is nothing against Carlos or Witney in any way whatsoever, but when I saw this, I literally said "What the hell?" at more than one point in this routine. Don't get me wrong, Carlos executed this dance with intense passion and emotion, but the whole concept was just, I guess, wrong. And I'm not blaming the choreography, either. I just think that the rope didn't translate well on TV. Maybe if the rope was utilized more, it would have made more sense, but it seemed like it was just a gimmick. As for the dancing quality, it was spot on. I give Carlos and Witney's Contemporary a 9. Unlike Carrie Ann and Julianne, I thought that the expressions on Carlos's face really added to the performance. He became vulnerable in a way that helped him in his overall performance.

Video of Carlos and Witney's Contemporary

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Tango- Scars by Alesso featuring Ryan Tedder
Score: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) (Final Score: 54/63) Bottom of the Leaderboard

Not even referring to his bad start at the beginning of the routine, Nick was "squatty", rushed his steps, and lost his balance. Sharna's quick pep-talk in the middle routine helped a little bit, but Nick seemed to not match up with Sharna at all. However, besides looking like he was about to pass out, his "oops" face actually did help build the character in his dance. I give Nick and Sharna's Tango a 7. This Tango almost looked like a Paso, but the fierce movements made me forgive that.

Video of Nick and Sharna's Tango

Dance-Offs

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold versus Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson
Cha-Cha-Cha- Fun by Pitbull featuring Chris Brown
Votes: Alek, Carlos, Carlos
Winner: Carlos and Witney (+3 Points)

I'm so glad that even though Alek was clearly the less technical dancer in this dance-off, he sure seemed like he was having fun on that dance floor. He is so much fun to watch! Carlos showed off his crisp and sharp Latin technique, which sold it for me. Both couples were hot, hot, hot, even though Carlos and Witney was the clear winner to me. I would have voted for Carlos and Witney to win the Cha-Cha-Cha dance-off. They were both entertaining, so I wasn't disappointed by either performance.

Video of Alek vs Carlos's Cha-Cha-Cha

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough versus Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess
Samba- Lean On by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ
Votes: Bindi, Bindi, Bindi
Winner: Bindi and Derek (+3 Points)

Surprisingly, I found both Bindi and Nick to be a bit low-energy in their Sambas on Monday. Bindi had superior hip action, but Nick had stronger leg action. Both couples were on fire (not on a big fire, though), and both celebrities were very technical. At the end of the day, I enjoyed watching Bindi more, but I think that Nick was a hair sharper than Bindi. I would have voted for Nick and Sharna to win the Samba dance-off. I wouldn't have minded either of the couples winning, but it seems like the majority thought that Bindi was the clear winner.

Video of Bindi vs Nick's Samba

Trios Round

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Jazz- Resolve by Nathan Lanier
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 60/63) Top of the Leaderboard
Trio Partner: Mark Ballas

Bindi and Derek just like to throw surprises at us left and right, don't they?! I don't usually say this, but that Jazz number was a work of art. Bindi has shown so many different sides to herself this season, while never disappointing the audience in the process. I could tell that Derek and Mark both had heavy influences in this routine, which is evident because those two together are unstoppable! I give Bindi, Derek, and Mark's Jazz a 10. This dance is tied for my favorite dance of the night!

Video of Bindi, Derek, and Mark's Jazz

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Argentine Tango- Ex's and Oh's by Elle King
Score: 9. 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score: 57/63)
Trio Partner: Emma Slater

I'm not going to lie- I love the fact that Alek chose Emma to dance with him! I don't usually "ship" people together on DWTS, but I honestly think that there could be something between Alek and Emma (we'll see!). This Argentine Tango was super hot in all ways possible without any missteps in the process! I call total BS on the judges saying that Alek "lost steam" at the end. I did not see that at all. It seems to me like they were just looking for something to deduct points on. But then again, nobody ever said that this show was fair. I give Alek, Lindsay, and Emma's Argentine Tango a 10. This is the other dance that was tied for my favorite trio of the night! Clearly, from both his Waltz and his Argentine Tango, Alek and Lindsay was the stand-out couple from the Semifinals to me!

Video of Alek, Lindsay, and Emma's Argentine Tango

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)
Charleston- Booty Swing by Parov Stelar
Score: 9, 10, 10 (29/30) (Final Score: 60/63) Top of the Leaderboard
Trio Partner: Karina Smirnoff

I was so excited to see this Charleston after I found out Karina was dancing with Team Brown Sugar this week because I absolutely loved the trio Jazz number from Karina and Witney with Corbin in season 17 in 2013! My favorite part of the dance was the creative and intriguing lift towards the end of the routine; I've never seen a lift like that before! Carlos was on point during the trio round, which was a huge relief after the awkwardness in his first dance of the night. I give Carlos, Witney, and Karina's Charleston a 10. Carlos is doing well when it comes to the scores, but I am wondering if he is getting the votes to allow him to win the Mirror Ball Trophy.

Video of Carlos, Witney, and Karina's Charleston

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Salsa- No Doubt About It by the Empire cast featuring Jussie Smollett and Pitbull
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 54/63) Bottom of the Leaderboard
Trio Partner: Peta Murgatroyd

I was so disappointed that Peta couldn't be in this season, so I was beyond ecstatic to see her back on the show (And I bet I'm not the only who was)! Anyway, Nick had a huge comeback from his Tango with his Salsa, nailing both the Latin moves and the Hip Hop moves in this routine. Nick was the perfect center man, and Sharna and Peta were the perfect girls to showcase his true talents! I give Nick, Sharna, and Peta's Salsa a 10. I wonder if this dance saved him from possibly being eliminated on Monday before the part-two finale night on Tuesday.

Video of Nick, Sharna, and Peta's Salsa







So what did you think of the Semifinals on Dancing With the Stars? What was your favorite dance of the night? Which trio dance captivated you the most? Who do you think had the best dance-off routine of the night? Who do you think will be the season 21 champion of Dancing With the Stars, earning them the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy? Next week is the two-night finale! Monday will be the judges'-pick dance choices, along with the Freestyles. Then, after Monday's elimination, the final three will compete in Tuesday with a redo dance along with a Fusion dance for the 24-hour challenge! The whole cast from this season will be back, so make sure you check it out!

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2015 for DWTS news, surveys, updates, live tweets, and more!

Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 9 (Showstoppers Night)

Showstoppers Night was quite the eventful episode! From Tamar's illness to Alexa's elimination, people all over social media were taking about Monday's show! I was glad to see some actual dancing in round one, considering there was not a set theme to go overly crazy with the production. However, I loved the showstopper duet dances for the complete opposite reason! The production values were top notch, and all of them had me on the edge of my seat! With both Alexa and Tamar out of the competition, only four couples remain! But before all of that happened, there was jam-packed show of high-energy performances! Here are my thoughts on them:

Round One Dances

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)

Salsa- Back It Up by Prince Royce featuring Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull

Score: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) (Final Score: 48/60) Bottom of the Leaderboard

Just from hiss rehearsal packages and comments, I can tell that Alek has really built up his confidence, and has finally gotten use to the cameras and publicity. That is the character that everyone has been wanted to see from him since week one! Alek certainly still stomps all around the dance floor, though. Those lifts he did were the highlights to this performance. for me. I give Alek and Lindsay's Salsa an 8. Alek really needs to work on his hips and feet if he wants to win this competition!

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Salsa

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (#TeamBAEga) Eliminated- 6th Place

Contemporary- Make It Rain by Ed Sheeran

Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard

Mr. Mark Ballas does it once again! Using this dance as a metaphor of Alexa's struggle with bulimia was so powerful, and actually quite genius in a way. There were a whole lot of lifts, and Alexa powered through all of them with such fierce might. And along with her technicality, Alexa gave such a strong message to the audience as well, so I am glad that she ended this show on a high note, especially with her duet dance later in the show. I give Alexa and Mark's Contemporary a 10. There was not one dull moment in this Contemporary piece!

Video of Alexa and Mark's Contemporary

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)

Argentine Tango- What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber

Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score: 51/60)

This dance made me turn my head in confusion a bit. I wasn't sure what I just saw when I watched it for the first time live. Was it an Argentine Tango? I guess. Did it have a lot of varied Argentine Tango content? Kinda. My issue with this performance is that although it was executed well, there was not much for me to see that really showed Carlos's superior dance abilities. Witney needs to push Carlos more if they want that Mirror Ball Trophy? I give Carlos and Witney's Argentine Tango a 9. Carlos has always done really well framing Witney, but I really want to see him shine now.

Video of Carlos and Witney's Argentine Tango

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)

Viennese Waltz- Roses and Violets by Alexander Jean

Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 60/60) Top of the Leaderboard

I still never stopped laughing from Carrie Ann's comment to Bindi, saying "watching you is like a sun rise". That is one of the most ridiculous and scripted lines I have ever heard from the judges on this show! What she should have said was about how well Bindi's form is hold. The blindfold was a nice touch, too. Oh, and yes, I listen to "Roses and Violets" on repeat just like everyone else! XD I give Bindi and Derek's Viennese Waltz a 10. I love how in-touch Bindi is with all of these high-emotion contemporary pieces. That is what truly makes her performances so special.

Video of Bindi and Derek's Viennese Waltz

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (#TeamValenTay) Withdrew- 5th Place

Contemporary (rehearsal footage)- Wicked Game by James Vincent McMorrow

Score: 8, 7, 7 (22/30) (Final Score: 49/60)

It is so unfortunate that this dance could not be live due to Tamar's absence, but I am glad that Tamar is taking care of her health. It was very evident that Tamar missed many counts of the dance, so it was easy to tell that she was sick. She was a warrior, though. Props to her for doing that rehearsal, and returning later for her Rumba with Nick. And as everyone knows, it turns out that Tamar's lungs are much worse that she thought, and she could have even died on the dance floor. Of course, she had to withdraw due the blood clots in her lungs, so I hope she has a quick recovery. I give Tamar and Val's Contemporary a 7. Tamar was an underestimated performer, but she proved herself to be hard worker with her determination and power to push through anything that comes her way.

Video of Tamar and Val's Contemporary

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)

Quickstep- A Cool Cat in Town by Tape Five

Score: 9, 9, 10 (28/30) (Final Score: 55/60)

There was a whole lot of out-of-hold Jazz and Charleston, but not a whole lot of traditional in-hold Quickstep, which is quite a shame. Nick was great for the most part when doing his solos in front of the troupe, but I wanted to see more, just like with Carlos's Argentine Tango. In hold, he looked really good. It would've been better if Sharna (AKA the Statue of Liberty in her blue dress) showcased his skills in that aspect. I give Nick and Sharna's Quickstep a 9. Nick was a bit off time, but my main issue was the lack of content. It was an amazingly fun routine, though!

Video of Nick and Sharna's Quickstep

Showstopper Duet Dances

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold with Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson

Paso Doble- We Will Rock You by Queen

Score: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)

Showstopper Inspiration: We Will Rock You (the musical)

Somehow, Lindsay and Witney always end up doing a Paso Doble together on the show (i.e. Alfonso's trio, Chris Soules's trio)! I don't mind, though, because Witney and Lindsay make a great team! Alek and Carlos really created a high-testosterone rock routine, and I loved every second of it! The solo showed an in-sync match of their strengths, but when they were with their partners, they were both off time. Alek, however, was much more noticeable with his off-beat moments. I give Alek and Lindsay & Carlos and Witney's Paso Doble a 9. I usually don't like the techno-style Paso Dobles, but to me, this was an exception due to the high performance value!

Video of Alek and Carlos's Paso Doble

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas with Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough

Charleston- All That Jazz and Hot Honey Rag by Kander and Ebb

Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30)

Showstopper Inspiration: Chicago on Broadway

What an exciting Charleston number! Bindi and Alexa looked like they could have been on Broadway; they were the stars of the show! Every element implemented into this dance had a signature of Chicago written on it. Alexa and Bindi were dancing as one in their solo part, which made that number truly showstopping! I give Alexa and Mark & Bindi and Derek's Charleston a 10. It was my favorite dance of the night hands down!

Video of Alexa and Bindi's Charleston

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy with Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess

Rumba- Hey Jude by The Beatles

Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30)

Showstopper Inspiration: LOVE by Cirque du Soleil

Apparently, according to many people on set, Tamar could barely stand before dancing this Rumba, so once again, props to her for barely making it on time to be there for her team. Nick deserves some credit as well for guiding Tamar through the performance like a professional, matching her movements under the circumstances. Tamar did miss a few steps with the umbrella, but with the chaotic, yet breathtaking, Cirque du Soleil performers around everyone, it was very well-hidden. Tamar and Nick had a non-permeable team spirit that was required to make it through that routine with such elegance and grace. I give Tamar and Val & Nick and Sharna's Rumba a 9. The theme of this performance made it a superb uplifting finish to the show!

Video of Tamar and Nick's Rumba

So what did you think of Showstoppers Night on Dancing With the Stars? What was your favorite dance of the night? What is your opinion on the showstopper duet dances? What do you think of Alexa and Mark's elimination? What do you think of Tamar and Val's withdrawal from the competition? Next week is the Semifinals, which will feature trio dances and more dance battles!

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2015 for DWTS updates, news, opinions, surveys, live tweets, and more!

Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 8 (Icons Night) Review

We have learned a lot from the celebrities with the several themed dance nights on Dancing With the Stars. Icons Night was yet another theme to showcase the celebrities' lives and inspirations. Despite the repetitive theme, I did like to see some the dances that showcased very emotional stories. Oddly enough, for probably the first time ever, I agreed the most with Carrie Ann's comments and scores. As for the Dance-Offs, they were very confusing at first, but I ended up liking them. Here were my thoughts on the jam-packed night:

Icons Dances

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)

Salsa- Valió la Pena by Marc Anthony

Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score: 29/33)

Carlos's Icon: Marc Anthony

I feel like this season has been lacking in Latin heat, so it was very refreshing to watch Carlos's Salsa. It was very traditional, with some complicated steps. Of course, the lift one lift towards the end was messed up a bit (although I felt like that happened a lot on Monday night). Carlos looked relaxed during this routine, but at certain parts, he looked so relaxed that the Salsa was not executed with enough force. I give Carlos and Witney's Salsa a 9. At just a few points, I felt as though Carlos's feet were beneath him, so if he just picked up his feet a tiny bit more, it would be perfect. Although, that is such a small detail in a routine like this.

Video of Carlos and Witney's Salsa

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)

Contemporary- Holding Out for a Hero by Ella Mae Bowen

Score: 9, 8, 8 (25/30) (Final Score: 25/33)

Alek's Icon: Chris Kyle ("The American Sniper")

Alek has shown that he executes lifts really well, but it seems as though he and Lindsay depend too much on them. Just like his Jazz routine in week two, this Contemporary piece was very consumed with lifts. One lift, just like Carlos's in his Salsa, had a mishap, but it wasn't his or Allison's fault. I like the lifts, but I would also like to see a variety with side-by-side lines and small "moments" to make a big emotional effect. Alek does have the strength and stability to nail a routine like this, but some of the key factors to this dance needed some polishing to it. I give Alek and Lindsay's Contemporary a 9. This dance was very beautiful. Alek did a superb job of showcasing Lindsay, and Lindsay did a great job of showcasing Alek as well.

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Contemporary

Andy Grammer and Allison Holker (#TeamAndison) Eliminated- 7th Place

Viennese Waltz- Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

Score: 8, 7, 7 (22/30) (Final Score: 24/33) Bottom of the Leaderboard

Andy's Icon: Stevie Wonder

As I said from Most Memorable Year Night, Andy has such a good outlook on life. That optimism was portrayed beautifully in this Viennese Waltz, despite there being some awkward moments while in hold. His posture continued to be problem, which causes his whole frame to look sloppy. His lines were also just thrown around a bit, but with the fast choreography that Allison gave him, that makes it extremely difficult to do so. Of course, Andy's high spirits will be missed in the ballroom, so I hope that he took something great from his journey on the show, because he did really show the world what an amazing personality he has. I give Andy and Allison's Viennese Waltz a 7. I loved this dance, especially because of the story that Andy told behind it. As Carrie Ann said herself, this performance was uplifting in a special way.

Picture From Andy and Allison's Viennese Waltz

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (#TeamBAEga)

Argentine Tango- Viva la Vida  by Coldplay

Score: 9. 8. 8 (25/30) (Final Score: 27/33)

Alexa's Icon: David from "Daivid and Goliath"

In all honesty, I was not sure how I felt about Alexa in the beginning of the competition. However, as time went by, she has went from one of the people that I didn't care for very much to one of my favorite celebrities on the show this season! I love her heart, and her new-found fearlessness in her performances. I liked the elements of International Ballroom Tango in this Argentine Tango, and the way it eased its way into the choreography. Since almost everyone was messing up last night, I do have to say that her missteps were, in fact, very noticeable. That didn;'t, however, take away from the cinematic value and intense passion. I give Alexa and Mark's Argentine Tango a 9. The intensity might be very prevalent in Alexa's face, but she also needed to add some of that strong character into her legs for fiercer flicks.

Video of Alexa and Mark's Argentine Tango

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)

Contemporary- Can't Help Falling in Love by Haley Reinhart

Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 33/33) Top of the Leaderboard (Immunity)

Nick's Icon: His wife Lauren Kitt Carter

Nick has clearly had a tough time in past year, so I am extremely glad that he and wife are going to have a baby "backstreet" boy! Everything about this Contemporary number gave me chills. From sad to happy, and low to high, the roller coaster of emotions in this performance set such a unique atmosphere that was like no other, just like his Viennese Waltz in week three. I give Nick and Sharna's Contemporary a 10. Nick had such finesse to tell a wonderful story that captivated me into another world through his and Sharna's atmospheric magic.

Video of Nick and Sharna's Contemporary

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)

Foxtrot- Grace Kelly by MIKA

Score: 10, 9, 9 (28/30) (Final Score: 28/33)

Bindi's Icon: Grace Kelly

A lot of times when an untrained dancer performs the Foxtrot, it could turn out rather boring due to the limitations that many of the celebrities have. But as we all know, Bindi can do anything that Derek throws at her! I couldn't stop smiling from start to finish as Bindi glided her way around the dance floor with her Jazz flair! I know that she messed up in the star formation on the floor, but to me, that did not take away from the Foxtrot at all! Julianne said that Bindi's shoulder was up, but that was such a minor thing that it was insignificant in my eyes! I give Bindi and Derek's Foxtrot a 10. Bindi is definitely a competitor to beat because she is on fire, and she never gets phased by any challenges that far her way!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Foxtrot

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (#TeamValenTay)

Paso Doble- Born This Way by Lady Gaga

Score: 9, 9, 10 (28/30) (Final Score: 28/33)

Tamar's Icon: Her sister Toni Braxton

Tamar puts such incredible effort in her routines, but sometimes that effort does not always show itself in her live performances.Don't get me wrong, Tamar has some of the best Latin lines out of the female celebrities left on the show. As Julianne said, Tamar seems to have two sets of arms. She would execute one line perfectly, but the next would be a tad off. Besides that, Tamar match Val in all types of technique. I give Tamar and Val's Paso Doble a 9. There were only little things that kept this Paso Doble from being perfect, so I would suggest to Tamar to just be more aware of her arms at all times when doing Latin dances.

Video of Tamar and Val's Paso Doble

Dance-Offs

For the Dance-Off challenge, the couples that did not receive the highest score of the night had to compete in the head-to-head competition. Nick and Sharna had the highest score of the night, so they did not have to compete. In addition to that, they won Immunity from elimination, and have gained an additional three points to their final score of the night. If there had been more then one couple to have had the highest score of the night, then the couple with the highest cumulative score of the season would be the pair to win the immunity. The winning couples that compete in the Dance-Off challenge received two additional points for their final overall scores.

In the order of the leaderboard (highest to lowest), the couples chose the couples they would face against, and the couples that were chosen had to pick a dance style out of the remaining options to dance to. This was the decision-making process:

• Bindi and Derek chose to dance against Carlos and Witney.
• Carlos and Wintney chose to dance a Jive against Bindi and Derek.

• Tamar and Val chose to dance against Alexa and Mark.
• Alexa and Mark chose to dance a Cha-Cha-Cha against Tamar and Val.

• Alek and Lindsay chose to dance against Andy and Allison.
• Andy and Allison chose to dance a Samba against Alek and Lindsay.

The dance floor was split in half for the couples to dance side-by-side. The judges, as well as the viewers at home, got to decide on who should win the two additional points in each round of the challenge. In the event of a tie, the public was the tiebreaker vote. Whatever the majority of the public's vote was, that was the determined vote for America's overall vote with the judges.

*Note: The public's vote percentage is after Bruno's vote.

Immunity: Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (+3 Points)

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough versus Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson

Jive- Travelin' Band by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Votes: Carlos, Carlos, Carlos, Carlos (64%)

Winner: Carlos and Witney (+2 Points)

This dance-off was very close in terms of both performance and technique.While Bindi did do more basic Jive content than Carlos, Carlos picked his knees up higher, and applied more force to his kicks and flicks. In my opinion, either team deserved the points, which shows how close the competition really is this season. I think that Carlos and Witney should have won the dance-off.

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy versus Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas

Cha-Cha-Cha- Fun by Pit Bull featuring Chris Brown

Votes: Alexa, Tamar, Tamar, Alexa (76%)

Winner: Alexa and Mark (+2 Points)

Both couples nailed the sexiness factor that is needed for a Cha-Cha-Cha to a song like Fun! Alexa had so much more content than Tamar, but at the same time, Tamar really focused on the little details of the dance while focusing on extending her lines from the core. Once again, I think that both couples deserved to have won the extra points, but I feel like Alexa's effort of the Cha-Cha-Cha really payed off for her this time around. I think that Alexa and Mark should have won the dance off.

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold versus Andy Grammer and Allison Holker

Samba- Lean On by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ

Votes: Andy, Andy, Andy, Andy (54%)

Winner: Andy and Allison (+2 Points)

The two lowest scorers of the night had to compete to a very difficult dance style that neither of them have done on the show before. Before even watching, I knew that the performances would be a bit less technical than the dance-offs before them. Despite the many mistakes both Alek and Andy had, I do have to say that this competition was very entertaining to watch. Andy had some really fun tricks infused into the Samba. On the other hand, Alek and Lindsay did a whole lot more Samba steps than Andy and Allison. Neither couple completely nailed the dance, but I feel as though Alek had more flair and technicality in his performance. I think that Alek and Lindsay should have won the dance-off.

So what did you think of Icons Night of Dancing With the Stars? What is your opinion on the Dance-Offs? What are your thoughts on Andy and Allison's elimination? What was your favorite dance of the night? Next week will be Duet Dances in which two couples pair together to create a performance of a lifetime!

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2015 for DWTS news, updates, live tweets, opinions, and more!