The couples gave their all on Monday night for New York Night, but they had a whole other night of performances ahead of them! On Tuesday, October 2, it was Las Vegas Night, featuring performances all about the greatest city in Nevada, featuring live performances from Blue Man Group, Boyz II Men, and Donny Osmond!
At the end of the night, despite phone call votes being thrown away due to a glitch of some sort, the second elimination of the season occurred, based solely off of online votes.
Here are thoughts on the night of dances from Paul Bentley, along with scores from The Readers, determined by a poll posted on Twitter Tuesday night!
Las Vegas Night Dances
For the second night of performances in week two, the twelve couples performed dances dedicated to the city of Las Vegas!
[Order of the Judges’ Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli]
Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke
Foxtrot
Why Don’t You Do Right? by Peggy Lee
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: This was a pretty decent Foxtrot, and it had some nice minor tricks that really tied everything together. It was sexy and classy, but I was left wanting more. I’m not sure what it is, but I wanted just a little more oomph. His left arm in hold could have used a bit more work, too But overall, this was a good week two dance. And even though it received a high score, it still leaves room for Juan Pablo and Cheryl to improve, because I’m still waiting for a “wow” moment from these two… and I think it will happen soon!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamChernando 1(800)868-3408
Milo Manheim and Witney Carson
Tango
Ashes by Celine Dion
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 9
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: And Milo and Witney continue to nail it! This was a nice change of pace from their last two dances, and it showcased how dynamic Milo is with his movement and emotion. He had a strong performance in hold, albeit he danced a bit “small” in his upper body. This Tango was full of that classic ballroom intensity, and it went perfect with that drop in the music. It gave me goosebumps! As Len said, Milo needs to dance “up” more, but besides that, this was a pretty solid routine overall!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 9
#TeamWitlo 1(800)868-3410
Danelle Umstead and Artem Chigvintsev
Quickstep
Eliminated- 12th Place
Luck Be a Lady by Donny Osmond
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 6 (19/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Danelle needs to be commended for all she has done on this show. Doing Dancing With the Stars must have been frightening for her, and the fact that she is able to dance the way she does while blind is astonishing. Her Quickstep with Artem was fun, and even though she looked a little lost at parts again, it was still an upbeat and respectable performance. Even with the stumbles and all, I still loved this routine. And because of all of this, I am incredibly bummed that these two were eliminated. I wanted to see Danelle grow as a dancer, and it was clear that she was starting to adapt from this dance. Danelle was hard on herself about constantly messing up in her dances, but I hope she is proud of all she has accomplished on this show. She is such a lovely person!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 7
#TeamBlindFaith 1(800)868-3403
Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten
Salsa
Booty by Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Yet another fun dance from Alexis and Alan! There was no messing about but still didn’t take itself too seriously. Alexis still has technique and personality for days, but she still needs to work on her open arms and her center of balance. Some people have said that they felt like this dance was a bit boring, but I have to disagree. It was cheeky and humorous, and it even had a cool lift at the end! What more would we want?! Alexis is a competitor, and even with her strong dancing skills, she is able to turn her journey on this show into a party!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamRenTen 1(800)868-3401
John Schneider and Emma Slater
Jive
King Creole by Elvis Presley
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 7 (20/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: This is not a better person on the cast to be an Elvis impersonator than John… and Emma, of course! XD Their costumes were amazing, and they made it all a ton of fun! As for the dance, though, it was obvious that Jive was John’s strong suit. In fact, I think this was his weakest performance yet. It was on time and cool, but it just wasn’t up to par with the “hype” of the Jive styler. He needed higher knees, cleaner footwork, and pointed toes. But hey, he had to perform two dances two dances in the past two weeks (just like everyone else), and considering the challenge, I think he did a pretty good job.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
#TeamSuperDuke 1(800)868-3407
DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold
Quickstep
Ladies Man by Boyz II Men
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 7, 8 (23/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: In terms of technique and mood, this Quickstep from DeMarcus and Lindsay felt a lot like their Foxtrot from the night before, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It was fun and light, featuring big smiles and joy! There are some conflicting views about DeMarcus’ hold, but I don’t necessarily have a problem with his left arm considering the height difference, besides the fact that his elbow dropped a few times. And just like in his Foxtrot, he also needs to loosen up his shoulders a bit, even though I know his hold is in an awkward position, considering the circumstances. I don’t think ballroom is DeMarcus’ strong point, but he and Lindsay did a good job working around some of their circumstances.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamWaresOurMirrorBall 1(800)868-3404
Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson
Jazz
The Gambler by Kenny Rogers
The Judges’ Scores: 6, 6, 6 (18/30)
The Readers’ Score: 5
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Alright. So, this Jazz dance had a cute feel and a nice story, but boy oh boy, it felt like a whole lot of nothing. Sure, Joe was pretty solid throughout, but how can he not be when he’s just standing in place half the time? It was obvious that Jenna was sort of just dancing around him a bit, which makes it clear that this dance was on the backburner this week as compared to their Foxtrot on Monday night. Joe was off from the troupe for a lengthy portion of the dance, and it really stood out to me. And in completely honesty, I feel like I could learned this dance in 15 minutes and performed just as well as him. But maybe that’s just me. I think Joe really is trying, though. He’s just having a hard time grasping how dancing works.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 5
#TeamCheckUsOut 1(800)868-3406
Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe
Jive
Heat Wave by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)
The Readers’ Score: 8
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Evanna always brings something different to the table with every dance she does, and I love that. From elegant to fierce to fun, she can do it all! The choreography and execution of this Jive was great. It was fun and precise, although somewhat stocky and stompy and parts. I’m really digging this partnership between Evanna and Keo, especially with how they have still never done anything “expected” yet. Unfortunately, with quite a few good dancers this season, though, I’m a bit worried that these two are not getting enough recognition to get as many votes as they think they would… but I hope I’m wrong about this!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamKevanna 1(800)868-3405
Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess
Quickstep
That Old Black Magic by Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 6 (20/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: The magic trick was cool at the beginning and the end of the dance, even though it has been done to death in all the magician shows! XD But once the performance got to the actual dancing, it was just a bit too frenetic. I thought Bobby’s high energy and enthusiasm were going to be good for a dance such as the Quickstep, but I guess it was hard for him to contain his energy in a certain way. Because of this, it was jumpy and sloppy, but it also kept the dance from getting dull… so there’s that. I’m not sure what to think of Bobby and Sharna as a couple right now, but I do think Bobby is holding himself back in a way, and he should just have fun without it without going crazy. It would make a huge difference.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 6
#TeamBeautyAndTheGeek 1(800)868-3402
Nancy McKeon and Val Chmerkovskiy
Paso Doble
Storm from KÀ by Cirque du Soleil
The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 7 (20/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Well, if we aren’t supposed to get a Cirque du Soleil Night this season, at least we got one Cirque-themed dance! And I think the power and fierceness of the Paso Doble actually suited Nancy really well. Sure, the misdirected arms and lack of certainty in her movement was prevalent, but that didn’t stop her from absolutely owning the dance floor and fully immersing herself into the drama of the theme! And I have to disagree with Carrie Ann when it comes to Nancy’s “cartwheel” arms-- I thought they were actually very correctly shaped and turned in that solo section! So props to Nancy and Val for a stellar Paso Doble after a tame Cha-Cha-Cha the night before.
Paul Bentley’s Score: 7
#TeamMcVal 1(800)868-3411
Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong
Cha-Cha-Cha
Circus by Britney Spears
The Judges’ Scores: 9, 8, 9 (26/30)
The Readers’ Score: 9
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Tinashe and Brandon are dancing beasts, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every dance they’ve performed so far. In her Cha-Cha-Cha, Tinashe had clarity in her movement, poise, passion, and the perfect sultry expressions! She nailed every aspect of this dance, except there was one side-by-side part where she was just a hair behind Brandon on the beat. I know it’s nitpicky, but with a celebrity as good of a dancer as Tinashe, I know she is going to have plenty of other amazing routines. All in all, this was the dance of the night for me!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 9
#TeamFireAndFlames 1(800)868-3413
Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber
Samba
Copacabana (At the Copa) by Barry Manilow
The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8 (24/30)
The Readers’ Score: 7
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: There’s that glitzy and tacky Vegas style I was looking for all night! Even though I thought this dance was shaky at times, I still thought it was a valiant effort, especially for a week two dance! Mary Lou had mindful shaping this time, although I would say that it was slightly too “gymnasty” for the Samba, meaning that that the transitions were a little too sharp, and the bounce was not subtle enough. But overall, it still captured the party flair of the style, and it further showcased Mary Lou’s excellent rhythm!
Paul Bentley’s Score: 8
#TeamStickIt 1(800)868-3409
Las Vegas Night Scoreboard
Dancing With the Stars Season 27, Week 2, Night 2 Scoreboard
| |||
Couple
|
Dance Style
|
Judges’ Scores
|
Overall Score
|
Juan Pablo and Cheryl
|
Quickstep
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
|
52/60
|
Foxtrot
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
| ||
Milo and Witney
|
Charleston
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
|
52/60
|
Tango
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
| ||
Danelle and Artem
|
Cha-Cha-Cha
|
6, 6, 6 (18/30)
|
37/60
|
Quickstep
|
7, 6, 6 (19/30)
| ||
Alexis and Alan
|
Argentine Tango
|
8, 9, 8 (25/30)
|
49/60
|
Salsa
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
| ||
John and Emma
|
Charleston
|
8, 7, 8 (23/30)
|
43/60
|
Jive
|
7, 6, 7 (20/30)
| ||
DeMarcus and Lindsay
|
Foxtrot
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
|
47/60
|
Quickstep
|
8, 7, 8 (23/30)
| ||
Joe and Jenna
|
Foxtrot
|
5, 6, 6 (17/30)
|
35/60
|
Jazz
|
6, 6, 6 (18/30)
| ||
Evanna and Keo
|
Samba
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
|
48/60
|
Jive
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
| ||
Bobby and Sharna
|
Foxtrot
|
7, 6, 7 (20/30)
|
39/60
|
Quickstep
|
7, 6, 6 (19/30)
| ||
Nancy and Val
|
Cha-Cha-Cha
|
7, 7, 7 (21/30)
|
41/60
|
Paso Doble
|
7, 6, 7 (20/30)
| ||
Tinashe and Brandon
|
Argentine Tango
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
|
52/60
|
Cha-Cha-Cha
|
9, 8, 9 (26/30)
| ||
Mary Lou and Sasha
|
Waltz
|
8, 7, 7 (22/30)
|
46/60
|
Samba
|
8, 8, 8 (24/30)
| ||
Las Vegas Night Awards
Most Entertaining Dance: Nancy and Val’s Paso Doble
I always love cinematic-type dances, and this performance highlighted why that is. Not only was Nancy and Val’s Paso Doble successfully fierce and hard-hitting, but it told a cool story, and had it had Nancy absolutely killing it at the centerstage!
Best Costumes: Tinashe and Brandon’s Cha-Cha-Cha Costumes
The costume department deserves some major props on this one! The color, material, style-- everything about Tinashe and Brandon’s costumes were really cool! The “dark” circus feel was completely evident in their costumes, and they had nice little touches, like their top hats and Tinashe’s feathery skirt!
Best Choreography: Danelle and Artem’s Quickstep
While there wasn’t a whole lot of content in hold, I can see why Artem chose to do that. It was a smart idea to have the troupe help guide Danelle across the stage because it seemed to give Danelle a bit more confidence. Overall, the dance was crafted from start to finish with Danelle’s unique circumstance kept in mind, while still challenging her at the same time.
Strongest Couple: Tinashe and Brandon
That Cha-Cha-Cha from Tinashe and Brandon was probably the strongest dance we have seen so far this season! Tinashe doesn’t do anything half-assed, and that was even more so the case for this performance!
Most Improved Celebrity: Evanna Lynch
Evanna looks like she is on a steady upward trajectory at improvement this season. She has been a good dancer since the premiere episode, but now she is taking the judges’ comments and using that perfect her movements. She has shown that she can give any dance styler her all, and being able to nail both a Samba and a Jive this week says a lot!
Stand-Out Moment of the Night: Danelle and Artem’s Elimination
Although not unexpected, I was really disappointed in Danelle and Artem being eliminated… and I haven’t been this disappointed about an elimination in a while! Sure, she has consistently been towards the bottom of the leaderboard, but she started to show growth, and I really wanted to see her continue her journey overcoming all of her obstacles. It’s unfortunate, but at least we got to see Danelle accomplish something that almost no one else can say they’ve accomplished-- dancing blind! And with all things considered, Danelle did one hell of a job!
Furthermore
Paul Bentley’s Thoughts: Am I the only one a little burned out by so much DWTS lately? At least we are going back to one show a week, even though DWTS: Juniors is starting on Sunday! But hey, we’re getting a lot of dancing this season, so I’m not complaining!
As far as my prediction for elimination goes, I think it’s going to be Nancy, despite her improvements so far. I feel like she has fallen through the cracks a bit. But if she is safe on Monday, I think Bobby might actually be in a bit trouble, considering how “one-note” he might come off towards people. But I’m still not sure how the general audience feels about him yet.
Week 3 Show Information
Monday night is Most Memorable Year Night, where the eleven remaining couples will tell the stories about memorable things that happened in their lives, along with a dance to go with it. And these nights are always emotional! Plus, there will be an elimination at the end of the night.
- Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten will dance Contemporary to How to Save a Life by Ray Chew Live
- Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess will dance Contemporary to A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman
- DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold will dance an Argentine Tango to Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell & Kronos Quartet
- Evanna Lynch and Keo Motsepe will dance a Viennese Waltz to Hedwig’s Theme by John Williams
- Joe Amabile and Jenna Johnson will dance a Viennese Waltz to You are the Reason, featuring a live performance by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis
- John Schneider and Emma Slater will dance a Waltz to Smile by Ray Chew Live
- Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke will dance a Samba to Ni Tú Ni Yo by Jennifer Lopez featuring Gente de Zona
- Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber will dance a Viennese Waltz to We are the Champions by Ray Chew Live
- Milo Manheim and Witney Carson will dance a Jive to Can You Do This by Aloe Blacc
- Nancy McKeon and Val Chmerkovskiy will dance a Rumba to Love Someone by Lukas Graham
- Tinashe and Brandon Armstrong will dance a Rumba to 2 On by Tinashe
Plus, the new Winter Dancing With the Stars: Live! tour is coming soon!
Links
What did you think of Las Vegas Night on Dancing With the Stars? What was your favorite dance from the night? What do you look forward to for Most Memorable Year Night? What did you think of Danelle and Artem’s elimination? Which couple do you think will be eliminated next?
#DWTS #DWTS27
#LasVegasNight
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