Week 9 has already approached in this milestone twenty-fifth season, and as a challenge for the Semi-Finals, the couples danced two rounds of performances, one of which was to try to live up to a previous iconic dance performed on the show before!
With comments on the night of dances, here are Paul Bentley, Julia Delbel, and Dwtsdreams!
Round One: Songs Chosen by Pros
For round one, the professional dancers chose the song for their celebrity partners to dance to that reflect their personalities.
Drew Scott and Emma Slater
Tango
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
Bentley I really dug the theme of this dance, especially with how it showcased Drew’s Scottish heritage! Drew is the definition of the word “showman”, and even though it was not the type of level of performance that one would want to have in Week 9 of the show, it was still really fun. As we all saw, the dance itself had a lot of stutters and rushed parts, plus Drew’s awkward frame came back as well as his stop-and-go footwork, but I appreciate this dance as less of a technical Tango and more of a performance celebrating Drew’s background. Emma picked a nice, upbeat song for him with a unique concept that made it hard for people to forget!
Julia My main memory of this dance will always be Keo’s reaction to Drew ripping off his pants at the beginning! I liked that we got some insight into Drew’s heritage for this number, since the “life story” packages we usually get in the Semi-Finals were sorely missed this season! I think Bentley pretty much covered the technical issues in this performance so I won’t get into those too much but I’m surprised by how much Drew has struggled with frame lately, since it seemed like he was getting so good at it for a hot minute there.
Dream This dance was the way to cap off Emma and Drew’s partnership before the finals! This dance was a perfect mix of silly and fun, just like Drew and Emma! I loved how they tied in Drew’s heritage as it made this dance very special! In terms of technique, Drew still has a lot to work on. In hold, he still becomes so stiff, and his neck just stays in one place. He still needs to learn how to dance with his whole body.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
8
|
Len
8
|
Bruno
8
|
Total
24/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
7
|
Dwtsdreams
7
|
Julia
7
|
Total
21/30
|
#TeamHotProperty 1(800)868-3404
Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy
Contemporary
Eliminated- 5th Place
To Build a Home by Cinematic Orchestra featuring Patrick Watson
Bentley For most of the season, I have felt as though Victoria might have been holding back in the slightest with what she could deliver emotionally. Well, I think her breakthrough for that came on Monday. Sure, she has had uplifting and delicate performances before, but this dance was special not just because of the backstory and theme, but also because of what she presented to the audience with every expression and every movement she had. I know some people thought that the dance was too much like a trio because of the addition of Jenna, but I think that because of the story Val wanted to tell for Victoria, it was appropriate. And besides, being that we’re approaching the Finale, the troupe is bound to be used a whole bunch at this point in the competition. I would have like to have seen more outside of the lyrical arm movement and two-dimensional sections, but I understood what they were going for. For a Contemporary number, I think Victoria didn’t let her body become loose enough, which was noticeably less fluid that Val and Jenna’s in the part where she stood in the middle of them. But overall, it was a touching dance, and it was artsy without becoming drowned in the concept.
Julia I thought the concept for this dance was cool, and really liked the choreography for their arm movements. The legwork left a lot to be desired, though (I know Victoria can’t feel hers but she’s done other dances requiring more of them in the past) and I agree with Bentley the piece seemed quite limited in terms of what they actually did with it. And IMO, all those complaining about this being too much like a trio are being hypocritical if they didn’t have the same problem with Jonathan joining Drew and Emma’s Jive a few weeks back.
Dream This dance was the perfect ending to an emotional and heartfelt partnership. The choreography was brilliant, and it featured actually contemporary choreography! The part where they each did their own choreo and then came together for the arm phrase was amazing. Jenna was the perfect person to dance as Victoria’s Mom because she has incredible chemistry with Val, of course, and with Victoria. Val and Jenna’s love for each other helped make this dance very special.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
9
|
Len
9
|
Bruno
9
|
Total
27/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
9
|
Dwtsdreams
9
|
Julia
9
|
Total
27/30
|
#TeamViVa 1(800)868-3413
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold
Argentine Tango
Argentine Tango
Brother by NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw
Bentley Len nailed it on the head when he said that the standard Tango is like the story between a man and his lover, and the Argentine Tango is like the story between a man and his mistress. That is a great way to explain why I felt like there was quite a bit of flair lacking in this dance. I’ve noticed how Lindsay tends to choreography her Argentine Tango’s in a very Americanized way, which in itself isn’t bad, but with choreography like hers, it does not allow for a lot of those showcase sensual moments that ties together the drama and power that is so iconic to the style. This really didn’t feel like a Latin dance to me because of that, and with Jordan and Lindsay seeming disconnected (which was a bit surprising to see because of how connected I’ve noticed them as a couple in previous dances this season), this routine kind of fell flat in that essence. Luckily, Jordan’s technique was on point as always, keeping steady and sharp from beginning to end. This might have been one of Jordan’s less memorable dances, but at least that all changes with his next dance.
Dream This dance did not feel like an Argentine Tango, which was a little disappointing. The Argentine tango is all about power, romance, and passion. This dance seemed too sweet to pass for a real, passionate Argentine Tango. In terms of technique, it was flawless like always. I say this every week, but Jordan truly dances like a professional.
Julia I wish they’d do the “Pro Chooses the Song” theme earlier in the season, since doing it so late in the game limits the styles that each celebrity has left as options and as a result the songs and dances don’t always fit together, as with this Argentine Tango to Brother. There are definitely ways of making a non-sexual Argentine Tango work, but I don’t think this song lent itself to the style in general, and this performance was a bit lacking in “punch” as a result. However, the technique was amazing as usual, and it was still a pretty strong performance overall.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
9
|
Len
9
|
Bruno
10
|
Total
28/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
9
|
Dwtsdreams
9
|
Julia
9
|
Total
27/30
|
#TeamFishUponAStar 1(800)868-3406
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas
Contemporary
Head High by Alexander Jean
Bentley Lindsey is phenomenal in dramatic roles, and this Contemporary embodied that. Her changes she showcased in the rhythmic and hard-hitting music with her powerful, yet steady execution did great numbers to the amount of engagement I had in this routine. Lindsey was both her own and one with Mark at the same time with how she was able to fill up all the space around her but still stay engaged with Mark. I loved the Alexander Jean in the music, not only because I love their artistry that they put in their songs, but with this song in particular, it helped with the essential build-up in the dance that let Lindsey and Mark portray what they wanted to tell. It was beautiful in the way the deep-rooted story was told.
Dream Mark is one of the only pros that creates real, true contemporary executed with perfect technique, emotion, power, intent, and style. This dance fit perfectly with the powerful, strong, heavy beats. For not being a professional dancer, Lindsey's legs looked great. She had a good point and turned out from her hips, and really pointed her legs from her knees without overextending. There were a couple times where her technique wasn't perfect, but I don't expect it to be. Incredible job to her!
Julia This was such an intense piece, and Lindsey fully embraced that vibe. In fact, she was noticeably fiercer and more on-time than Mark! (There was one bit when he was out of sync but she just kept on trucking along like a champ!) I think this was a great performance that showed her darker side and rawness in a way we hadn’t seen it before, and I really wish it had received a perfect score!
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
10
|
Len
9
|
Bruno
10
|
Total
29/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
10
|
Dwtsdreams
10
|
Julia
10
|
Total
30/30
|
#TeamSTARK 1(800)868-3407
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson
Salsa
Shake by Ying Yang Twins
Bentley I’m still not too sure why, but I was living for this dance! Carrie Ann said that the song wasn’t really suitable for Frankie, but I beg to differ; I actually thought that it was perfect for his open-to-fun and humbly cool personality! It’s no secret that Frankie can be awkward at times, but with how he just let loose and let himself have fun by himself out there, it was loads of fun without any cringe! Frankie was pretty suave with the Salsa content, too, but with the troupe behind him, I could tell that he was not dancing as “full” as they were. Plus, Frankie got so consumed with the music that he was off in which directions to go in two different sections. But at this point of the competition, the entertainment value is what’s most important, and that’s exactly what this couple brought to the table!
Julia I also thought this was a very enjoyable dance to watch! This seemed like an odd theme for a Frankie routine, but I thought he did a decent job with the technique (apart from a couple stumbles) and really brought the entertainment!
Dream Wow! This was a very fun dance but it lacked salsa content. I thought there was a little too much fluff with the basketball and troupe members, but it was an okay Salsa.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
8
|
Len
8
|
Bruno
9
|
Total
25/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
9
|
Dwtsdreams
8
|
Julia
9
|
Total
26/30
|
#TeamFranneyPack 1(800)868-3405
Round Two: Recreated Iconic Dances
In the second half of the show, the couples recreated iconic dances that were performed in previous seasons of the show. Then, one last couple was eliminated before the finale.
Drew Scott and Emma Slater
Jazz
Yeah! By Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
Iconic Dance: Corbin Bleu, Karina Smirnoff, and Witney Carson’s Jazz (Season 17)
Bentley It’s hard to live up to Corbin’s original Jazz dance, and even though Drew and Emma’s dance didn’t quite do that, it was still pretty spectacular in its own way. Just like his Tango, it wasn’t the most technically amazing thing, but it was really fun to watch. Drew looked kind of dazed and lost at times, and some of his moves seemed kind of perfunctory, but again, the production and concept kept me intrigued. Drew just literally flinging Emma around was probably the most insane lift I have seen on this show, but when it when the lift was over and I realized that Emma’s head was attached to her body, it turned out to be a risk that paid off. I still prefer the original iconic dance, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate this routine as well, despite the subpar technique.
Dream Corbin’s Jazz was perfection, so it is nearly impossible to recreate it, but Emma created a new piece that still had elements of the great routine! Although Emma created a fun, high-energy dance, I felt a lack of energy from Drew. It sounds funny because he had a lot of crazy energy, but it just seemed a little dazed as Bentley put it.
Julia This dance wasn’t as good as Corbin’s, we all knew it wasn’t going to be as good as Corbin’s, and yet- surprisingly enough- some people apparently expected it to be as good as Corbin’s, because dance is getting way too much crap. I expected it from the judges since they probably wanted to ensure Drew’s elimination this coming Monday (which I think they did) but it’s getting absolutely panned by fans of the show, and undeservedly so. (I’ve seen more hate for this than his Tango, like WTF?) Anyway, I think Drew had the energy down but there was a clear lack of finesse. His movements felt very choppy and one-note. Unusually for him he didn’t have the character down for the whole thing, looking very focused on getting the technical stuff right at first and only adding in the dynamic entertainment he has been known for this season closer to the end. And to be honest, despite what we saw in the package, I wasn’t really nervous for “the move,” because I knew Emma would have taken it out if she didn’t have full confidence in Drew’s ability to execute it (but seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a celebrity swing a pro around that many times in a row!).
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
8
|
Len
8
|
Bruno
8
|
Total
24/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
8
|
Dwtsdreams
8
|
Julia
8
|
Total
24/30
|
#TeamHotProperty 1(800)868-3404
Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy
Charleston
Eliminated- 5th Place
Bang Bang by will.i.am
Iconic Dance: Amber Riley and Derek Hough’s Charleston (Season 17)
Bentley Amber’s Charleston with Derek was my number one favorite dance of season 17, so going into Victoria’s recreation of it, I thought that there was going to be no way that they would be able to be as memorable as the original. But to my surprise, I ended up loving this routine just as much as I loved the original. I liked how they put their own twist on it, too, with the classical costumes and traincar theme reminding us of the original, but also by not copying the original. I was stunned to see how much Victoria’s leg work improved as compared to her Jive from last week. Not only did she improve, but she blew me away with how well everything came together from the lifts to the savoy kicks. There couldn’t have been a more show-stopping routine for Victoria to end her run on the show with. Her elimination was upsetting, especially after seeing her cry after Tom said that she and Val were eliminated, so I hope that she realizes just how much she has inspired the audience and how much we all appreciate her incredible story, because people as awesome as her are one in a million.
Dream This was a great nod to this iconic routine. Victoria had sass and energy that I haven’t seen since her Week 2 Tango. I wish she went to the Finale, but she was improving so much.
Julia The recreation theme bothered me because it was never made clear on whether or not the teams were supposed to keep it as close to the original version as possible or do something new with it, and they were all judged differently in that regard. Personally, I liked it better when the couple took a new approach, like what Victoria and Val did with their Charleston. The old-timey train theme was AMAZING, and I loved how the choreography worked so well with the concept! Victoria demonstrated excellent technique and performance skills throughout this number. I did notice a couple times where her steps were off-time from the music, but luckily she was able to catch up quickly without difficulty, so it wasn’t that big an issue. It’s always hard to see someone be eliminated right before the Finals, but Victoria’s elimination was extra sad to watch because she was clearly blindsided by it. :( I hope she takes away lots of good memories from the experience and that her career only flourishes from here!
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
9
|
Len
10
|
Bruno
10
|
Total
29/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
10
|
Dwtsdreams
10
|
Julia
9
|
Total
29/30
|
#TeamViVa 1(800)868-3413
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold
Jive
Proud Mary by Tina Turner
Iconic Dance: Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas’s Jive (Season 22)
Bentley Never in a million years did I think that someone could recreate Paige and Mark’s Jive and turn it into an even more iconic dance. The amount of times this couple shocks me with how they manage to have even more improved dances every week while already being perfection just blows my mind, and with constant dances like this coming pretty much every week, it makes me think that Jordan is possibly the best– if not one of the very few best– celebrities to ever dance on this show, period. I am not exaggerating when I say that I don’t think I have seen too many dances as technically and aesthetically as breathtaking as this dance. I know that I have a lot of favorite dances from just Jordan alone this season, but I have got to say, even after his Salsa from last week, that this is my favorite performance of the season overall. His seemingly effortless footwork, his sparkling personality, and his physical charisma made for the perfect combination for an iconic recreation! And I know that we still have yet to see night one of the Finale, but I have quite a strong feeling that we are going to be seeing Jordan and Lindsay holding up that shiny Mirrorball Trophy very soon!
Dream I can’t believe I am saying this, but I loved this dance as same as Paige’s, maybe even more. Jordan executed his kicks and flicks with perfection, and he created nuances of slow and fast incredibly. He knows how to utilize his power to create a show-stopping routine. Jordan is the winner of this season ‒ I’m calling it.
Julia I definitely enjoyed watching this routine a lot more than Paige’s because Jordan and Lindsay were actually in sync with each other the entire time (I can’t stand to watch Jives with timing issues because it’s very noticeably when the performers are dancing side by side and I can’t seem to focus on anything else when it happens, even in just the tiniest way. :P) Of course, the technique and energy we saw in this performance was fantastic as well! I agree they are probably going to win- their performances have been excellent all season and that package from last week about Lindsay not having won yet seemed to resonate with a lot of viewers.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
10
|
Len
10
|
Bruno
10
|
Total
30/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
10
|
Dwtsdreams
10
|
Julia
10
|
Total
30/30
|
#TeamFishUponAStar 1(800)868-3406
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas
Tango
Feel So Close by Calvin Harris
Iconic Dance: Meryl Davis and Maks Chmerkovskiy’s Tango (Season 18)
Bentley The assignment for Lindsey and Mark to recreate a dance from Meryl and Maks was quite an interesting one. While both Lindsey and Meryl are pro-like dancers, they both have such different styles that make them so special. And the same could be said about Mark and Maks. But as Lindsey and Mark planned to do, they managed to make this Tango somewhat of their own. Even with this dance being sort of their own, I still think that it was the iconic dance on Monday night that embodied the “characters” the best and stayed the most true to the original concept. It was nice seeing these two in this familiar, yet different role. Both of them caught on to the little nuances of the original dancers, paying attention and staying conscious of every tiny detail. Lindsey enunciated her lines with great clarity, and transitioned from one bar to another with great accuracy. Unfortunately, though, I think that coming after Jordan might have hurt her scores a bit!
Dream Meryl and Maks had insane chemistry during this dance that Lindsay and Mark could never achieve it, which made it a tad underwhelming. In terms of technique, Lindsey had a great frame, but it was just lacking that intense power between the couple.
Julia Like I said before, this theme was confusing because the expectations seemed to be different for each couple- some just had to do a dance to the same song to get praise, others nail similar choreography to the original, and Lindsey and Mark were compared in terms of chemistry which seemed a little odd to me. None of the remaining couples are known for their sexual tension the way Meryl and Maks were, so I wish this was just one of those “use the same song” performances. :P I think Lindsey did a great job, but most of her turns seemed wonky and not very sharp. However, I agree with Bentley about her attention to detail really making this a powerful performance.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
9
|
Len
9
|
Bruno
10
|
Total
28/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
10
|
Dwtsdreams
9
|
Julia
9
|
Total
28/30
|
#TeamSTARK 1(800)868-3407
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson
Paso Doble
Carnival De Paris by Dario G
Iconic Dance: Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough’s Paso Doble (Season 4)
Bentley I can tell that Frankie put in all the force and strength that he could into this dance, but even with his dedicated effort, it felt a bit small to me. Not to mention the need for more shaping, too. Sure, this was almost like Apolo’s original Paso Doble, but I do have to give an A to Frankie and Witney for adding in and executing the most iconic parts into the choreography. Frankie also had the intense Paso fire in his facial expressions that always makes the aggression of the dance seem so much more believable! With that being said, though, I wouldn’t necessarily call this dance underwhelming, but I do think it was on the less memorable side of things when looking at all of the iconic dances of the night!
Dream This dance was underwhelming for me, and I wanted more. I could tell Frankie was giving his all, but I just wanted to see more passion and power.
Julia Frankie started this performance strong, but as the dance went on some shaping issues cropped up, as well as an incident during which he was off time from the music. I was happy to see that he nailed the knee slides and skirt/cape work, since that seemed to be one of the things he was most nervous about while rehearsing. Frankie definitely brought passion and strength to this performance, but it needed to be channeled a little better.
The Judges’ Scores
|
Carrie Ann
9
|
Len
8
|
Bruno
9
|
Total
26/30
|
The Bloggers’ Scores
|
Bentley
8
|
Dwtsdreams
8
|
Julia
8
|
Total
24/30
|
#TeamFranneyPack 1(800)868-3405
Dance Rankings
Bentley
1. Jordan & Lindsay’s Iconic Jive
2. Victoria & Val’s Iconic Charleston
3. Lindsey & Mark’s Contemporary
4. Lindsey & Mark’s Iconic Tango
5. Frankie & Witney’s Salsa
6. Victoria & Val’s Contemporary
7. Jordan & Lindsay’s Argentine Tango
8. Drew & Emma’s Iconic Jazz
9. Frankie & Witney’s Iconic Paso Doble
10. Drew & Emma’s Tango
Dream
1. Jordan & Lindsay’s Iconic Jive
2. Victoria & Val’s Iconic Charleston
3. Lindsey & Mark’s Contemporary
4. Victoria & Val’s Contemporary
5. Lindsey & Mark’s Iconic Tango
6. Jordan & Lindsay’s Argentine Tango
7. Frankie & Witney’s Salsa
8. Drew & Emma’s Iconic Jazz
9. Frankie & Witney’s Iconic Paso Doble
10. Drew & Emma’s Tango
Julia
1. Jordan & Lindsay’s Iconic Jive
2. Lindsey & Mark’s Contemporary
3. Victoria & Val’s Iconic Charleston
4. Lindsey & Mark’s Iconic Tango
5. Jordan & Lindsay’s Argentine Tango
6. Frankie & Witney’s Salsa
7. Victoria & Val’s Contemporary
8. Frankie & Witney’s Iconic Paso Doble
9. Drew & Emma’s Iconic Jazz
10. Drew & Emma’s Tango
Bentley I’ve been thinking lately about what my favorite episode of the show has been this season, and for a while, I thought it was going to be A Night at the Movies, but after Monday night, I have got to say that the Semi-Finals was my favorite night by far! When originally looking at the concept of the night, I didn’t think that the celebrities were going to be able to live up to their iconic dances for the most part, but boy, I was very wrong! I was thinking at the theme was going to be somewhat of a flop because I didn’t think that one could simply just “plan” for a dance to be iconic, and then have it happen, but it actually worked out a lot better than I thought! Jordan’s Jive and Victoria’s Charleston were definitely iconic to me, and Lindsey’s Tango was pretty epic as well! It’s cool seeing how show-stopping a lot of the dances were this week when comparing it to the relatively weak premiere we had!
Julia Apart from the first three dances on my aforementioned rankings I actually found this week to be kind of underwhelming. The Semi-Finals is usually one of my favorite episodes of the season, but compared to most of the other episodes in Season 25 so far I don’t think I’ll remember as many routines in this one. However, I’m fully expecting next week’s Finals to be my favorite week of the season (maybe even one of my favorite DWTS episodes of all time?) since the songs are all amazing and I love all the couples left, and wanted them in the Finals from the casting announcement!
Follow DWTS Interact on Twitter at @DWTSInteract, and follow the bloggers at @TheBentleyNinja, @juliadelbel, and @dwtsdreams!
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