Blog by @DWTS2016: From captivative to cringey , season 21 of Dancing With the Stars had some of the most iconic dances ever performed on the show. So, without further ado, here are the MOST MEMORABLE performances from the 2015 Fall season of DWTS!
10. Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold's Waltz Not only was this Waltz Alek's first perfect score of the season, but it was also an uplifting symbol to represent unity in the world after the attacks on Paris. This amiable performance was astonishingly memorable because it was beautifully patriotic, and supremely fitting for a hero such as Alek.
9. Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas's JazzDancing With the Stars meets Breaking Bad? Meth wasn't the only thing generating all types of different reactions on the dance floor! This was a iconic dance for a memorable series, showcasing a rather dark side to the plot's premise.
8. Paul Deen and Mark Ballas's JivePaula Deen's a flasher. . . Enough said there.
7. Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough's Viennese WaltzThe song, the blindfold, the choreography-- everything in this dance fell perfectly together to form something more prodigious than words could create. It was a stand-out performance on the show, and actually contributed to making the song Roses and Violets by Alexander Jean hit the top of the music charts!
6.Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess's ContemporaryThe most memorable part of Icons Week for Nick was not necessarily his dance, but what the dance represented. Before this breathtaking performance, he told about some of the difficult things that has happened in his life. Then, the exquisite dance routine performed in honor of his wife was heartfelt, creating an atmospheric glow of hope in the audience. But, the cherry on top was afterwards, when Nick found out that he is having a baby "Backstreet" boy!
5. Tamar Braxton and Nick Carter's Rumba Probably the most dramatic night of the season, this Rumba because iconic due to the shear fact that Tamar was in such a unique position, and did something that was never done before. Just minutes after arriving from the hospital, Tamar was able to push through this Rumba, truly showing her dedication for her show. Even Nick, her duet partner for the week's challenge, showed sincere leading qualities to care for Tamar every step of the way throughout the showstopping performance. What a night!
4. Team Nightmare's FreestyleSome people call this the best team dance ever on the show. It is, indeed, a unified performance that exemplified the power of teamwork, which could be why it received such rave reviews. But then again, it could be because of the choreography, costumes, set, song, etc.
3. Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess's Jazz Backstreet's back, alright! For Backstreet Boys fans young and old, this concert-style Jazz rocked the house with all sorts of nostalgia and power moves. It was funky, it was uplifting, it was clean, it was sexual-- it was everything that made this throwback dance spectacular!
2. Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough's Contemporary Almost everyone can remember Steve Irwin's death like it was yesterday; it was a phenomenon that stunned everyone around the world. Bindi made herself vulnerable while in center stage, expressing every raw emotion that flowed through her being. She channeled her father in the most tear-jerking way possible, not leaving a single dry eye in the studio.
1. Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Tony Dovilani's Salsa Kim's Salsa was the lowest-scored dance of the season. It was probably the slowest dance I have ever seen on this show before. So why is it so memorable? Well, everyone kept talking about it! It was so bad that even popular news outlets criticized how Kim was practically just carried around the dance floor. Not only was the negative feedback a reason why this was so iconic, but all the behind-the-scenes drama about the Biermanns added on to it. This was probably the cringiest Salsa ever performed on TV, but I can never forget about it!
So what do you think is the most memorable dance from season 21? Remember to follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2016 for Dancing With the Stars news, fan opinions, and more!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
I loved Famous Dances Night! It's a fresh new idea, and had a lot of great songs that shocked me that they got cleared for the show. I would have rather had all of the performances to be Freestyles, though, because of the dances had a huge departure from the original dance styles. Besides that, Monday night was a show to remember in Dancing With the Stars history! Singer Olivia Newton-John was a guest judge (sitting in between Julianne and Bruno) for the show, and Leah Remini was a guest host on Monday to fill in for Erin Andrews this week. Olivia Newton-John gave consistent scores, but to me, her comments to everyone were pretty much the same, and she was bit too politically correct. Leah did a good job hosting, and had some comical moments, as always. The night was filled with spectacular recreations of iconic performances, so I have song strong opinions about them! Here they are:
Opening Number
Flashdance, Singin' In the Rain, Single Ladies, and Chicago
What an iconic opening number! The fusion of the unlikely matched songs made for an epic opening number! The professional dancers are on point with bother their dancing and their portrayal of certain dances this season!
Hayes Grier and Emma Slater (#TeamSlayes)
Jazz- You're the One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
Score: 8, 8, 8, 8 (32/40)
Famous Dance: Grease
From what I can see, Hayes still has a lot to learn. He seems to be slipping lower in the pack not only with his scores, but for his performance value as well. The Jazz number he did was fine, but this is week six. We need to see bigger improvement from the stars. I understand that some of this routine, especially the beginning, but choreographed and staged to be comical, but it did not translate well on the dance floor. It's not that Hayes is doing anything "wrong" per say, but it is the way he hits his lines that makes it feel flat to me. I give Hayes and Emma's Jazz an 8. This scene did justice to the movie Grease, and had quite a few difficult tricks that were performed well. I just need to see Hayes and Emma to raise the bar soon.
Andy Grammer and Allison Holker (#TeamAndison)
Jazz- Good Morning by Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly, and Donald O'Connor
Score: 10, 10, 10, 10 (40/40) Top of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Singin' In the Rain
In all honesty, I thought that Andy's star performance last week would be the peak of his dance quality that we would quickly see die out, but I am very pleased to be wrong! The entire production from beginning to end was jam-packed with all sorts of content, but not too much content for Andy to lose track of the steps. The stairs part was brilliant, the lifts were executed well, and the theme matched up perfectly to the dance. I give Andy and Allison's Jazz a 10. The entire dance was excellent, and the iconic couch scene at the end made it complete!
Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (#TeamBAEga)
Cha-Cha-Cha- I'm a Slave 4 U by Britney Spears
Score: 8, 7, 7, 8 (30/40) Bottom of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Britney Spears at the 2001 VMA
Alexa's Cha-Cha-Cha was probably the most controversial dance of the night. Many fans are saying that Alexa was underscored, but I have to disagree. Her score seemed fair to me. She lost her footing more than once, and it didn't help that she wasn't wearing any type of heel. Her lines were also not as powerful as I have seen them in previous weeks. She did have some strong moments, but most of the performance ended up looking awkward to me. Along with that, the entire set (especially the outfits of Mark and troupe) was a real eye sore to me. I give Alexa and Mark's Cha-Cha-Cha a 7. Alexa handled that snake with fierce determination, but everything before that seemed to be too relaxed for my liking.
Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Rumba- (I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Score: 10, 10, 10, 10 (40/40) Top of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Dirty Dancing
The pressure must have been on for Bindi and Derek this week, considering they had to recreate one of the biggest moments in all musical history, and they had to nail such a difficult lift. The lift was executed okay, but I have to give them props since Bindi is not an experienced dancer. I know I have complained about Carrie Ann's inconsistency with calling out lifts many times before, but this time, I somewhat understood her position, especially since the biggest lift is one of the most iconic lifts of all time. Let's just hope she continues her retirement of being the police for the rest of the season! The Rumba had some nice Mambo elements infused into it, even though she stepped a bit too hard for a good majority of the Rumba content. I give Bindi and Derek's Rumba a 9. I only really saw a few minor mistakes, but overall, this girl has star quality for days!
Paula Deen and Louis van Amstel (#TeamButtercup) Eliminated- 9th Place
Jazz- Vogue by Madonna
Score: 6, 6, 6, 6 (24/40) Bottom of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Madonna at the 1990 MTV Awards
This dance was very interesting! There was so much going on, I had no clue what to look at! Paula pulled off the feel and character really well for this dance, and even synced up really well with Louis and the troupe for the simple choreography. As always, she brought a bit of her own personality into this performance, which I really appreciate. I can't say her elimination this week was shocking, but I can say that Paula's hilarious comments will be missed very much! Now, the competition is tighter than ever! I give Paula and Louis's Jazz a 6. There was not a lot of floor work, but Paula definitely improved with matching up to the beat since week one.
Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)
Rumba- Pony by Ginuwine
Score: 10, 9, 9, 10 (38/40)
Famous Dance: Magic Mike XXL
A Magic Mike Rumba? Okay then. For what they were given, Carlos and Witney did really well. There was minimal Rumba content because of the awkward chair dancing, but the Rumba was actually pretty decent. The footwork was very off, but it looks like judges didn't really mind that. I found that when Carlos did his solo parts, there was some timidness that blocks his true potential. If he can do that, I will consider him to be a true competitor in this competition. I give Carlos and Witney's Rumba a 9. Carlos has the hips down, it's just the feet that he needs to focus on for future weeks.
Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Samba- You Should Be Dancing by Bee Gees
Score: 9, 10, 10, 10 (39/40)
Famous Dance: Saturday Night Fever
It was so refreshing to see some actual content in a dance on Monday! Nick and Sharna's Samba was the perfect combination of Samba content and high-level production. Not only that, but Nick stayed true to Saturday Night Fever as well. I saw lots of recognizable content from the movie, which shows how well Nick actually executed it. The fact that Carrie Ann didn't give him a ten is beyond me. But I always say, she is very inconsistent. I give Nick and Sharna's Samba a 10. This was my absolute favorite dance from Famous Dances Night!
Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Jive- Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley
Score: 8, 8, 7, 7 (30/40) Bottom of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Elvis Presley Music Video
The Jive might not be Alek's best dance, but I can say that he did not deserve to ripped apart by the judges like he was on Monday night. Sure, he could have been sharper with his lines, but he had such a huge transformation since week one. This was also one of the few routines of the night that actually had a good amount of Ballroom content. He lasted throughout the entire dance, and did it all with great facial expressions that we have never seen from him before! I give Alek and Lindsay's Jive a 9. Alek rushed a few of his steps, but his personality this week saved it for me.
Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (#TeamValenTay)
Jazz- Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson
Score: 10, 10, 10, 10 (40/40) Top of the Leaderboard
Famous Dance: Janet Jackson Music Video
Luckily for Tamar this week, this routine did not require a lot of connection with Val. She owned that Jazz routine, which made me forget all about her being sick this week. She might have lost some rehearsal time from it, but it didn't look like she did on the dance floor. Some of choreography seemed out of place at first, but by the end of the routine, I found the dance to be cohesive and complete. I give Tamar and Val's Jazz a 10. This song was perfect for Tamar! She looked like a professional dancer out there!
So what did you think of Famous Dances Night on Dancing With the Stars? What was the most iconic performance to you? What did you think of Paula and Louis's elimination this week? Next week is Halloween Night, along with some spooky team dance freestyles! The competition is very tight, so make sure you vote for your favorite couples!
Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @DWTS2015 for DWTS updates, news, opinions, live-tweets, and more!
