Here we are! The third episode of season 27 of Dancing With the Stars aired on Monday, October 1, and it was the first night of the second week of performances! For this night, the couples danced to songs with themes that related to New York City. There was not an elimination in this episode.
So, here is blogger Paul Bentley with thoughts on the week 2, night 1 episode, along with scores from The Readers, as determined by a poll that I posted on Twitter earlier!
New York City Night Dances
The twelve remaining couples performed dances in honor of New York City.
[Order of the Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli]
DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold
Foxtrot
Boy from New York City by The Manhattan Transfer
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: DeMarcus held himself really well in this dance. I think he does better with “bigger” types of dances, but he proved himself at managing a more traditional dance like the Foxtrot. It was just a smidge tight in some places, and his frame looked a bit too tight, but it was a cute dance with a nice, upbeat feel. I would have liked Lindsay to put a little bit more hold in the performance, but other than that, I thought the choreography was pretty solid. They did a commendable job.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamWaresOurMirrorBall 1(800)868-3404
Danelle Umstead and Artem Chigvintsev
Cha-Cha-Cha
Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift
The Judges’ Scores: 6, 6, 6 (18/30)
The Readers’ Score: 6
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Danelle definitely looks more comfortable on the dance floor, but she still seemed a little frazzled, especially after her misstep in the beginning. I loved the solo bit in the beginning with the walking cane, but once she got to the Cha-Cha-Cha with Artem, it got a bit unstable. And I know that it is very difficult for her to notice her technique, but her arms were very stiff, and her legs were a jumbled in the middle. She got a low score compared to the rest of the dances from the night, but I sure as well hope she got enough votes to stay so we can see her grow as a dancer!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
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John Schneider and Emma Slater
Charleston
New York’s My Home by Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 7, 8 (23/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Well, well, well! John is quite the showman, isn’t he?! John had that perfect Broadway feel in this dance, even though it could have had some more Charleston content. Despite a lack of refinement and a slight timing issue, John kept up really well with Emma and the other “youngsters” in the troupe! This was the perfect number for him, and even though I think it was overscored, he made a tremendously noticeable improvement. He might have been in borderline jeopardy last week, but I’d say that he is safe this time around!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 7
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Nancy McKeon and Val Chmerkovskiy
Cha-Cha-Cha
Uptown Girl by Billy Joel
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 7, 7 (21/30)
The Readers’ Score: 6
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: After two Quicksteps where Nancy had to keep up with the fast pace, it was nice to see more of a relaxed dance from her this week. I didn’t necessarily feel like a Cha-Cha-Cha, but I liked the unique tempo and pace for this routine. Nancy did have a couple missteps, and she was a bit shaky with her footwork, but she was had a nice flair of cheeky sass to give us some charm when the technique wasn’t quite up to par. My only issue with this dance is that I don’t think it made nancy stand out that much, and it makes me think that she and Val might be the ones to go on Tuesday!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
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Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten
Argentine Tango
Swan Lake by Ray Chew Live
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 9, 8 (25/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Wow! This Argentine Tango was absolutely stunning! Just like in her Jives, Alexis had beautiful legwork, although this time it was was with more poise and attention to detail. I did notice a bit of hesitation and a slight flinch in the beginning, but besides that, this dance was a masterpiece. Sure, maybe there could have been some more traditional Argentine Tango content, but I think Alan did a terrific job creating a dance for this, especially to the music they were given!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 9
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Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson
Foxtrot
New York State of Mind by Matt Beilis
The Judges’ Scores: 5, 6, 6 (17/30)
The Readers’ Score: 6
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: This Foxtrot was a hell of a lot better than that Quickstep he did that week-- there’s no question about that! Joe was still stumbling in certain sections, but he maintained a steady posture, and he needs to learn how to move the bottom half of his body without moving his top half as much. It was a pretty dance, but it was shaky. These two are at the bottom of the leaderboard again, but after seeing them in the top seven of combined votes and scores after receiving a 14/30, I think they’re safe this week… or maybe that type of thinking makes for a false sense of security!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
#TeamCheckUsOut 1(800)868-3406
Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong
Argentine Tango
New Dorp. New York by SBTRKY featuring Ezra Koenig
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 9
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Oh my goodness, this was so good! Tinashe once again proved herself as a contender, and Brandon once again showcased some incredible content as the newest official professional dancer to compete! Tinashe was fierce and precise, even though there could have been some minor brushing up here and there. The lifts were incredible, and the leg action was fabulous. I do have to say, though, that even though I liked the club theme of this dance, I would have liked just a little more Argentine Tango flair, featuring more slow moments to transition into the fast, and little bit more of a connection between the two of them. But overall, this dance was a showstopper!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 9
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Milo Manheim and Witney Carson
Charleston
Living in New York City by Robin Thicke
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 9
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: There were some pretty stellar performances on Monday, and Milo and Witney’s Charleston was one of them! Witney really hit it out of the park with this dance, which was not only perfect for Milo, but also a cool combination of modern moves and classic Charleston. Milo was a great performer in this routine, and he had style throughout the whole thing! If I were to nitpick, though, I would say that Milo could have had sharper limbs and “bigger” momentum to match up Witney, but how much more could I ask for from week two?! These two dominated this dance.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamWitlo 1(800)868-3410
Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber
Waltz
A Natural Woman by Sarah Bockel from Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 7, 7 (22/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: This was just such a darling Waltz! After seeing Mary Lou doing really well with the Latin style last week, I was starting to think that the ballroom styles might be he weak point, but I think that she’s actually just as good with a Waltz as she is with a Cha-Cha-Cha! Despite a dropping elbow, tossed limbs, and a slight bit of shuffling, this was a solid performance. Mary Lou was in tune with both Sasha and the music, and she had class throughout! Such a lovely routine!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 7
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Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke
Quickstep
4nd Street by Cherry Poppin’ Daddies
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 9
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Juan Pablo and Cheryl’s Quickstep was a lot different from their Salsa last week, so it was nice to see these dynamic sides to Juan! While I still prefer him doing Latin, his ballroom technique is nothing to look over. He was swift and charismatic, albeit a little unsteady and loose in his hold. His upper body could use some work with filling in some gapping and keeping control of those shoulders, but from seeing Juan Pablo’s determination, I think he’s going to take his criticism from the judges and improve on his dancing accordingly. Fun dance overall!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
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Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe
Samba
Can’t Touch It by Ricki-Lee
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Now this is a comeback! Evanna and Keo’s Foxtrot during the premiere felt somewhat safe, but this Samba anything but! Evanna is clearly an amazing actress with how different her “character” has been from this week as compared to last week, and I am all for it! This Samba was sexy and hard-hitting, which it made it more than just a regulator Samba-- it was a genuinely fun performance! Evanna’s technique is already miles better than it was last week (even though this was a completely different style), but she could still work on keeping her shoulders in check and putting just a tiny bit more fluidity in her arms. After seeing this performance, I can’t wait to see what these two have planned for Las Vegas Night!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamKevanna 1(800)868-3405
Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess
Foxtrot
Theme from New York, New York by Frank Sinatra
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 7 (20/30)
The Readers’ Score: 6
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: I liked this performance because it was a toned-down version of the Bobby was saw from last week, but it still implemented his quirks and personality traits. He had a solid start in hold, but as the dance went on, he broke apart a bit. He was also too tight in his frame and erratic in his side-by-side sections, though, so it kind of took away from the ease of the dance. I still prefer Bobby and Sharna’s Jive, but I appreciate this for what it was. I just hope to see yet another side of Bobby that is a completely different character than what we have seen already!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
#TeamBeautyAndTheGeek 1(800)868-3402
New York City Night Scoreboard
Dancing With the Stars Season 27, Week 2, Night 1 Scoreboard
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Couple
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Dance Style
|
Judges’ Scores
|
Overall Score
|
DeMarcus and Lindsay
|
Foxtrot
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
|
24/30
|
Danelle and Artem
|
Cha-Cha-Cha
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6, 6, 6 (18/30)
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18/30
|
John and Emma
|
Charleston
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8,7, 8 (23/30)
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23/30
|
Nancy and Val
|
Cha-Cha-Cha
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7, 7, 7 (21/30)
|
21/30
|
Alexis and Alan
|
Argentine Tango
|
8, 9, 8 (25/30)
|
25/30
|
Joe and Jenna
|
Foxtrot
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5, 6, 6 (17/30)
|
17/30
|
Tinashe and Brandon
|
Argentine Tango
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
|
26/30
|
Milo and Witney
|
Charleston
|
9, 8, 8 (26/30)
|
26/30
|
Mary Lou and Sasha
|
Waltz
|
8, 7, 7 (22/30)
|
22/30
|
Juan Pablo and Cheryl
|
Quickstep
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
|
26/30
|
Evanna and Keo
|
Samba
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
|
24/30
|
Bobby and Sharna
|
Foxtrot
|
7, 6, 7 (20/30)
|
20/30
|
New York City Night Awards
Most Entertaining Dance: Tinashe and Brandon’s Argentine Tango
Everything from the club vibe to the lifts was just spectacular. Tinashe and Brandon were completely immersed in the dance, so it helped me get immersed, too!
Best Costumes: Joe and Jenna’s Foxtrot Costumes
Joe and Jenna wore a pretty shade of blue that really complimented the dance. Jenna looked absolutely elegant, with her patterned skirt, and Joe looked dashing with his nicely fitted suspenders!
Best Choreography: Milo and Witney’s Charleston
Witney did a good job at giving Milo a Charleston that was new and refreshing, yet still felt like a recognizable Charleston!
Strongest Couple: Alexis and Alan
It was a hard picking between Alexis & Alan and Tinashe & Brandon for this category because they were both powerhouses on Monday, but I ultimately ended up choosing Alexis and Alan because I felt more of a connection between them that captured the tone of their assigned dance style!
Most Improved Celebrity: John Schneider
John might not be a very strong dancer, but he’s getting there! But for what he lacks in technique, he makes up for in stage presence! And overall, John just felt so much more “alive” in this dance than he was in his Foxtrot!
Stand-Out Moment of the Night: Bobby Doing “The Floss”
Yes, I know I put two of Bobby’s stunts in this category, but how can I not? I love that “The Floss” dance, and y’know what? Why not add that in to the Foxtrot? It’ll get people a little more interested in the stuff between all the glitz and glam of this show!
Furthermore
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: First of all, I just want to say that I thought the New York City opening was okay, but it just felt so… long. I don’t know it is, but I guess I just wanted a little more “flair” in it or something.
As for Tuesday’s elimination, I think Nancy & Val, Danelle & Artem, and maybe even Bobby & Sharna are going to be in jeopardy, depending on how the audience will react to these three very different personalities. But if I had to put money on it, I’d say Nancy & Val are the next ones to go!
Tuesday Night Show Information
For night two of the week two, two-night event, it is Las Vegas Night! The twelve remaining couples will dance with a Vegas theme! The night will feature live performances from entertainment such as Celine Dion, Wayne Newton, Blue Man Group, and Donny Osmond!
And at the end of the night, there will be an elimination. But rumor has it that there might be a double elimination!
- Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten will dance Salsa to Booty by Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
- Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess will dance a Quickstep to That Old Black Magic by Sammy Davis, Jr.
- Danelle Umstead and Artem Chigvintsev will dance a Quickstep to Luck Be a Lady, with a live performance by Donny Osmond
- DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold will dance a Quickstep to Ladies Man, with a live performance from Boyz II Men
- Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe will dance a Jive to Heat Wave by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
- Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson will dance Jazz to The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
- John Schneider and Emma Slater will dance a Jive to King Creole by Elvis Presley
- Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke will dance a Foxtrot to Why Don’t You Do Right? by Peggy Lee
- Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber will dance a Samba to Copacabana (At the Copa) by Barry Manilow
- Milo Manheim and Witney Carson will dance a Tango to Ashes by Celine to Dion
- Nancy McKeon and Val Chmerkovskiy will dance a Paso Doble to Storm from KÀ by Cirque du Soleil
- Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong will dance a Cha-Cha-Cha to Circus by Britney Spears
Along with this, themed nights such as Most Memorable Year Night and Disney Night are making a comeback this season!
Links
What did you think of New York City Night on Dancing With the Stars? What was your favorite dance from the night? What do you look forward to for Las Vegas Night? Which couples do you think are in jeopardy of being eliminated next?
#DWTS #DWTS27
#NewYorkCityNight
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