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

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

Round One Performances

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

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

Video of Bindi and Derek's Salsa

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

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

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Waltz

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

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

Video of Carlos and Witney's Contemporary

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

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

Video of Nick and Sharna's Tango

Dance-Offs

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

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

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

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

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

Video of Bindi vs Nick's Samba

Trios Round

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

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

Video of Bindi, Derek, and Mark's Jazz

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

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

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

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

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

Video of Carlos, Witney, and Karina's Charleston

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

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

Video of Nick, Sharna, and Peta's Salsa







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

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

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

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

Round One Dances

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)

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

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

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

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Salsa

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

Contemporary- Make It Rain by Ed Sheeran

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

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

Video of Alexa and Mark's Contemporary

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)

Argentine Tango- What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber

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

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

Video of Carlos and Witney's Argentine Tango

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)

Viennese Waltz- Roses and Violets by Alexander Jean

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

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

Video of Bindi and Derek's Viennese Waltz

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

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

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

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

Video of Tamar and Val's Contemporary

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)

Quickstep- A Cool Cat in Town by Tape Five

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

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

Video of Nick and Sharna's Quickstep

Showstopper Duet Dances

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold with Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson

Paso Doble- We Will Rock You by Queen

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

Showstopper Inspiration: We Will Rock You (the musical)

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

Video of Alek and Carlos's Paso Doble

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas with Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough

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

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

Showstopper Inspiration: Chicago on Broadway

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

Video of Alexa and Bindi's Charleston

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy with Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess

Rumba- Hey Jude by The Beatles

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

Showstopper Inspiration: LOVE by Cirque du Soleil

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

Video of Tamar and Nick's Rumba

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

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

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

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

Icons Dances

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)

Salsa- Valió la Pena by Marc Anthony

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

Carlos's Icon: Marc Anthony

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

Video of Carlos and Witney's Salsa

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)

Contemporary- Holding Out for a Hero by Ella Mae Bowen

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

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

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

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Contemporary

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

Viennese Waltz- Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder

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

Andy's Icon: Stevie Wonder

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

Picture From Andy and Allison's Viennese Waltz

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (#TeamBAEga)

Argentine Tango- Viva la Vida  by Coldplay

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

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

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

Video of Alexa and Mark's Argentine Tango

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)

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

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

Nick's Icon: His wife Lauren Kitt Carter

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

Video of Nick and Sharna's Contemporary

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)

Foxtrot- Grace Kelly by MIKA

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

Bindi's Icon: Grace Kelly

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

Video of Bindi and Derek's Foxtrot

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (#TeamValenTay)

Paso Doble- Born This Way by Lady Gaga

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

Tamar's Icon: Her sister Toni Braxton

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

Video of Tamar and Val's Paso Doble

Dance-Offs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough versus Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson

Jive- Travelin' Band by Creedence Clearwater Revival

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

Winner: Carlos and Witney (+2 Points)

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

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy versus Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas

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

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

Winner: Alexa and Mark (+2 Points)

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

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold versus Andy Grammer and Allison Holker

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

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

Winner: Andy and Allison (+2 Points)

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

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

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

Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 7 (Halloween Night) Review

If you couldn't tell from the smoke show on the dance floor, Monday was Halloween Night on Dancing With the Stars! Once again, Leah Remini filled in for Erin Andrews this week, and I think that she was better this week than last week by a long shot! Monday was also the night for team dances, which I always find to be fun. I feel as though Team "Nightmare" did have an advantage over Team "Who You Gonna Call?" based solely off of the fact that Team "Nightmare" had more dynamic music. But in the end, it seemed clear which team was the stronger group. As many of us have predicted, but many people were shocked as well, Hayes and Emma were eliminated. I think that Hayes is the best partner that Emma ever had, and they will definitely be remembered this season! The show was filled with intense Halloween passion, and I loved every second of it! Here are my thoughts on the show:

Couples Dances

Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess (#TeamSharNick)
Argentine Tango- Bring Me to Life by Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy
Score: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) (Final Score: 54/60)

There was so much high energy and eeriness to this Frankenstein-inspired performance that I feel like it almost threw Nick off. I agree with Bruno with the fact that Nick was anticipating every step, which made the dance a bit stop-and-go. Nick had great posture, although it did not compensate for the clumsy lower half of his body. I give Nick and Sharna's Argentine Tango an 8. Nick has a great character, but he gets too shuffled in certain moves that involve turns and lifts.

Video of Nick and Sharna's Argentine Tango

Hayes Grier and Emma Slatter (#TeamSlayes) Eliminated- 8th Place
Waltz- Once Upon a Dream by Lana Del Ray
Score: 8, 9, 9 (26/30) (Final Score: 56/60)

I think that Hayes's inconsistency in his performances, along with his demographic of voters, unfortunately caused him to go home. I can't say I didn't see it coming, but it looked like Hayes was starting to like to be on the show. On Monday, he gave it his all, and delivered a solid performance. He still had some of the same reoccurring mistakes that he has had in some of his previous ballroom dances, but he was improving. I loved the costumes, and I think that Hayes should keep the beard! XD I give Hayes and Emma's Waltz a 9. Hayes has loosened up a bit, but there was still room for improvement, especially with his shoulders and arms.

Video of Hayes and Emma's Waltz

Alexa PenaVega and Mark Ballas (#TeamBAEga)
Paso Doble- Hora Zero by Rodrigo y Gabriela
Score: 9, 9, 9 (27/30) (Final Score: 55/60)

The costumes were so incredible for this Paso Doble that I could not recognize at all in her outfit and wig! Mark dancing with the scissor hands was a big risk, but it all paid off in the long run! Alexa is becoming a much stronger dancer, but I want to see her be able to shift her own weight in a more natural fashion. Besides that, this was one of Alexa's biggest breakthrough dances! I give Alexa and Mark's Paso Doble a 9. She is a bit forward with her traveling in hold, so if that small detail could fixed, it would make her performance quality much better!

Video of Alexa and Mark's Paso Doble

Tamar Braxton and Valentin Chmerkovskiy (#TeamValenTay)
Foxtrot- People Are Strange by The Doors
Score: 8, 8, 8 (24/30) (Final Score: 54/60)

After Tamar's low scores and not-so-good video package, I am worried about her safety in this competition. However, since there is so much great competition, it will be a very close call of who will be eliminated next week. The biggest issue that Tamar has with her dances is that she is not aware of her surroundings. She has to connect not only with Val, but with the audience and cameras as well. I feel as though she was underscored, though, because technically, she has lines of a professional dancer. I just want her to finally have a breakthrough before it is too late! I give Tamar and Val's Foxtrot a 9. There was not a whole lot of hold, but those were her strongest points in this dance.

Video of Tamar and Val's Foxtrot

Andy Grammer and Allison Holker (#TeamAndison)
Paso Doble- The Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson
Score: 9, 9, 8 (26/30) (Final Score: 56/60)

Is it just me, or was everyone on edge this week? I have never seen Allison become so frustrated before, so I know that she is extremely dedicated to trying to get Andy to be the best that he can be! Of course, Lain dances are not Andy's best styles, but this hard-hitting Paso Doble turned out to be his best Latin routine. With the small amount of Paso Doble content that I actually saw, Andy needs to be more fluid with his lines. I give Andy and Allison's Paso Doble an 8. Andy brought a dark side out this week, and was able to control the high energy with stability. He needed, though, to make his movements come from the core, rather than having awkward arm spins.

Video of Andy and Allison's Paso Doble

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough (#TeamCrikey)
Argentine Tango- Cry Little Sister by Gerald McMann
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) (Final Score: 58/60) Top of the Leaderboard

What I like about Bindi is that with every step she takes, she steps hard. She doesn't cheap out on one move to get the strength of the other. She makes every move seem like the finishing move. The Argentine Tango was filled with content, and Bindi filled every movement with her character. I give Bindi and Derek's Argentine Tango a 10. Bindi nailed being a super sexy vampire!

Video of Bindi and Derek's Argentine Tango

Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold (#TeamTakedown)
Viennese Waltz- Haunted by Beyoncé
Score: 9, 8, 8 (25/30) (Final Score: 53/60) Bottom of the Leaderboard

This dance was a pure Viennese Waltz. There were not any gimmicks to cover Alek's dancing ability. Even with Lindsay entering with the electric board, it did not take away from the performance. I do feel like he has been over scored a few weeks in the past, so I understand him not being so happy in his video package. This week, though, I thought that he was judged fairly. I give Alek and Lindsay's Viennese Waltzs a 9. I think that Artem was able to help Alek with the fact that now Alek is a leading man in the ballroom hold. I didn't, however, see too much intensity in face to match the haunting theme.

Video of Alek and Lindsay's Viennese Waltz

Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson (#TeamBrownSugar)
Paso Doble- O Fortuna by Carl Orff
Score: 9, 10, 9 (28/30) (Final Score: 56/60)

Carlos has finally redeemed himself after having some inconsistencies throughout the earlier part of this competition. He is in it to win it! It's unfortunate that the dry ice covered a lot of this Paso Doble because Carlos portrayed a type of manliness that he has not yet shown on the dance floor. In my opinion, Carlos deserved a perfect score. I give Carlos and Witney's Paso Doble a 10. Carlos didn't use the cape as a prop, but he used it as an accessory to show to the audience that his technicality is raw and from the core. From beginning to end, Carlos maintained an intensity that filled up the entire room!

Video of Carlos and Witney's Paso Doble


Team Dances


Team "Nightmare" (#TeamNightmare)
Nick and Sharna, Tamar and Val, Andy and Allison, Hayes and Emma
Freestyle- This Is Halloween by Danny Elfman
Score: 10, 10, 10 (30/30) Winning Team

The theatricality of this performance tied together a unity that made this a team dance to remember! The parts of the dance with everyone together were my favorite because the cohesive nature of it put together a store that had an attention-grabbing beginning, middle, and end! Andy and Allison had probably the sexiest Halloween chair dance I have ever seen. XD Hayes and Emma had a very visually appealing approach to the lifts that me want them to dance longer! Nick and Sharna really captured the fun Halloween spirit of the dance. Tamar and Val were very clean and crisp with their lines. All of these factors put together made me in awe from how much I actually enjoyed this team Freestyle! I give Team "Nightmare" a 10.

Video of Team "Nightmare"

Team "Who You Gonna Call?" (#TeamWhoYouGonnaCall)
Bindi and Derek, Alexa and Mark, Carlos and Witney, Alek and Lindsay
Freestyle- Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.
Score: 9, 10 , 9 (28/30) Losing Team

I absolutely loved the plot to this routine! There were a few parts out of sync, mainly from Alek, and partly from Bindi, but I was too memorized by the dance to even care! Alek and Lindsay pulled off some great tricks that went well with the flourishes in the music. Carlos and Witney rolling in on those electric boards was such a great idea that was executed really well. Alexa and Mark really rocked the house with their refreshing section in hold. Bindi and Derek were on fire with their fat-paced choreography! The team was absolutely amazing, but they could have had more team spirit, by which I meant that they could have worked together to show express their strengths more. Besides that, this team Freestyle was highly entertaining and technical! I give Team "Who You Gonna Call?" a 9.

Video of Team "Who You Gonna Gonna Call?"









So what did you think of Halloween Night on Dancing With the Stars? What was your favorite dance of the night? Which team did you like better? What did you think of Hayes and Emma's elimination this week? Next week is Icons Night about the inspiring people in the contestants' lives along with the Immunity Dance Dance Battle challenge, with America voting for the dances! Make sure you vote for favorite couples, because immunity will only be granted to one couple next week!

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

Dancing With the Stars Season 21- Week 6 (Famous Dances Night) Review

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!