For anyone who cares….

Bottom two couples – Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalani, Chuck Wicks and Julieann Hough.

Going home… Chuck and Julieann

Goodnight.

Tanglefoot

Another week another injury. This week Reality Star Melissa Rykroff suffered an injury to her ribs and will be out of the competition for the week. This week the couples split into two teams, Team Mambo and Team Tango for team performances. Those scores will be added to each couple’s score at the end of the night.  First out of the dancing blocks on the night…

 Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke danced the Lindy Hop. I came home towards the end of the performance. Ducky enjoyed it. The judges enjoyed it giving them straight 9’s for 27 points.

 Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough danced the Paso Dobles.  It was bold, full of attitude, great facial expressions, nice footwork, lots of power to their movements, and oodles of passion. The judges scored them 9 – 9 – 10 for 28 points and the top of the leader board.

 Chuck Wicks and Julieann Hough danced the evening’s Cha Cha.  It was fun, flirty, good hips and feet, great attitude. The judges scored them 9 – 9 – 8 for 26 points.

 Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas delivered a Samba. Fun, not overly energetic, needed a bit more hip action, nicely finished moves, and it was flirty.  The judges scored the 10 – 8- 9 for 27 points.

 Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalan we’re to have performed the Jive. Because of Melissa’s rib injury, the couple were judged on their rehearsal this morning – which is about danced at 50 percent, therefore the judges must judge them on what they see. The judges scored them straight 7’s for 21 points and the bottom of the leader board.

 Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower danced a Samba. Wow,k he did a great job. Good fast footwork movements were not stiff. He looked like he was really enjoying himself.  The judges were mixed scoring them 9 – 7- 8  for 24 points.

 Team Mambo – Chuck and Julieann, Shawn and Mark, and Lacey Schwimmer filling in for Melissa with Tony performed the first team dance of the evening.  Good synchronicity, fun spotlights, and a great ending with a tip of the hat and a nod to the head to Beyoncè and Justin. The judges scored them 8 – 8 -8 for 25 points.  Scored on just Church and Shawn’s dancing 25 points are awarded to each couple and added to their scores including Melissa and Tony.

 Team Tango – Gilles and Cheryl, Lil Kim and Derek, and Ty and Chelsie danced the Tango. It featured great footwork (though Kim did have a good size error where she forgot or lost her place in the choreography) and wonderful physical attitude.  The judges scored them 9 – 9 – 10 fir 28 points.

 Leader board after the team dances…

 Lil’ Kim and Derek 28 plus 28 points for 56

Gilles and Cheyl 27 plus 28 points for 55

Shawn and Mark 27 plus 25 points for 52

Chuck and Julieann 26 plus 25 points for 51

Ty and Chelsie 24 plus 25 points for 49

Melissa and Tony 21 plus 25 points for 46

 Tomorrow night another couple leaves the ballroom, we’ll find out which young pros leave the competition for a spot on next season’s pro team and watch their next round of performances. Until then,

Sith,

Tanglefoot

The Season Eight, Sixties Group Dance is tonight’s encore performance

Musical guest of the evening, Natasha Bedingfield performed her latest single Soulmate accompanied by Lacey Schwimmer and Dmitri Chaplin on the dance floor. Beautiful.

Dance guest of the week was Burn the Floor, who did just that with a dance review number History Repeating. 

Six young professional dancers began the competition for one slot on the professional team for season nine of Dancing With The Stars. Each member is dancing as a couple, but competition against each other.

Brent Borbon and Afton Del Grassio danced a Cha Cha.  There were well matched, but my eyes definitely followed him and his sharp clean movements – despite her orange.

Anna Demidova and  Mayo Alanen danced a Waltz. Classical, effortless, lilting, lovely, but no emotional connection; he has incredibly beautiful lines.

Snow Urbin and Genya Maso (yes, younger brother to Alec and bro-in-law to Edyta) danced a Rumba, there were beautiful, fully connected, amazing footwork, beautiful lines. Wow.

The two lowest vote getters (one man one woman) will leave the competition with the remain four vying for the one position on next season’s pro cast list.

The group Celtic Woman performed you raised me up, I didn’t not catch the names of the two dancers accompanying the group on the dance floor, but wow, athletic and daring.

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinskia and Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower were left standing at the end of the evening, with LT and Edyta leaving the ballroom.

Next week the remaining competitors will divide into two teams for the team dances, and another couple will go home, until then…

Sith,

Tanglefoot

Tonight the celebs designed the costumes, some were unforgettable, others amazing. Really, Edyta wearing clothes, amazing…then she took them off, well at least the jacket.

The couples performed dances they’s not yet mastered, then for the first time danced a second dance, the group dance.  So let’s see how they did (in my esteem at least) and get the judges scores…

Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalani opened the night with an Argentine Tango.  The foot work was crisp, the kicks and flicks were sharp. Great effortless lift, great physical attitude.  The judges scored them 10 – 9 – 10 for 29 points on the night and the leader board.  Melissa’s costume design was black, red, shiny, and hot.

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinskia danced a Waltz. Wow, she was beautiful. Lawrence though was flat footed and he doesn’t finish his moments, his arms just flop. There was one small stumble.  The judges scored them straight 7’s for 21 points on the night and the bottom of the leader board.  Taylor should take up costume design; LT designed a beautiful gown and coat ensemble for Edyta that was classy and elegant in shades of blue.

Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough performed a Rumba. Boring with a capital B and that isn’t her fault. There was an emotional disconnect and that was her fault. She performed the dance technically but it was just blah, blah, blah,  The judges scored them 9 – 8- 9 for 26 points. Oh, and the pink costume, blah.

Chuck Wicks and Julieann Hough danced the Samba. At one point he had two handfuls of breast and kept his face straight, I was impressed…she did too.  He is pigeon- toed and I might not have noticed if she’d not stressed to him to watch his toe in. Very nice footwork, although there was a spot where he just stopped performing for a beat or three and then continued. Great moves.  The judges scored them straight 9s for 27 points. Wicks designed red satin costumes with lots of fringe for Julieann, very dance appropriate.

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower performed a waltz. The dance began with a beautiful lift where Chelsie tried hard to keep her toes on the floor. The dance was wonderful, smooth, he was elegant, in hold. Nice tight footwork.  The judges scored them straight 8s for 24 points. Murray’s costumes were waltz appropriate, noting to splashy.

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas danced the only Cha Cha of the night.  Very entertaining, nice snap to the movements, great rhythm, great technique, she has lovely legs. The judges scored them 9 – 9 – 10 for 28 points. Johnson’s costume was a gold bronze and black sequin dress perfect for the Cha Cha but not too revealing, Mark’s outfit evoked Michael Jackson to match the music.

Gilles Marini and  Cheryl Burke performed the last couples dance of the night, the only Viennese Waltz. Hmmm lovely movement, but I didn’t feel an emotional connection to the dance by Marini. Technically it was lovely. The judges scored them straight 9s for 27 points. Marini designed an simple, modest yellow tiered satin dress for Cheryl, it was actually quite fitting the Viennese waltz, but the tiers were wired for a wavy effect.

Christian Perry choreographed the evening’s group number, the first and possibly only group number of the season.  A sixties themed number featured the women on go-go boxes, each couple designed and choreographed their own spotlight. Very entertaining.

Tomorrow night’s results show will feature a Pro Dance Competition between six  young pros, currently not on the show, vying for a pro spot on season nine’s pro-cast. Tomorrow night another couple will leave the dance floor.  Until then,

Sith,

Tanglefoot

The night opened with the encore performance of the week, Lil’ Kim and Derek’s Jail House Jive revisited.

(I couldn’t get the video to embed correctly – my appologies)

Before the couples were told they were safe or in the bottom two, part of the Broadway cast of West Side Story performed America.

There is no dance off tonight, in the bottom two on the leader board after the judges votes were

Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer with 16 points

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower with 18 points

Joy of joys – or maybe that should be horrors of horrors the Stars will be designing their dance partner’s costumes for next week. We Lawrence will have it easy.

Rascal Flatts performed their latest number one hit on the Country Charts, Here Comes Goodbye accompanied by Julieann Hough and Tony Dovalani on the dance floor.

Editorializing ahead…

The Macy’s Stars of Dance featured Carmen Electra, who I’m pretty positive can’t dance. Maybe she’s auditioning for next season’s competition?

And of the night could get any stranger, Rascal Flatts performed their rendition of the Beatle’s Revolution – shoo be dooo wah!

Left wondering until the last moment who was going home were

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower and Steve O and Lacey Schwimmer have left the ballroom.

Next week the couples will perform a 1960s themed group dance, and perform the first night of dual dance competitions. Until then,

Sith,

Tanglefoot

Because of my schedule and sleep restraints (no I don’t sleep restrained – although I’m sure some have considered it) I will just jump into my critiques and the judges scores from the night.  May I just say thought, some couples were robbed.

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower opened the night with a Jive. Ty continues to improve but while his lower body kicks and flicks, his upper body moves like a stick…. Figure.  The judges scored their Jive with straight sixes for 18 points.

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas  danced the first Rumba of the night. I felt it wasn’t believeable as a Rumba (no romantic connection,) but it was well danced. Ballas later commented that he choreographed it age appropriately, which made total sense.  The judges scored them 8 – 9 – 9 for 26 points.

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinskia danced the second Jive of the night.  It was flat footed, he really didn’t dance. The judges were overly kind in their scoring of 8 – 7 – 7 for 22 points.

Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalan Rumba’s. It was slow, sensual, but needed more hip movement.  The judges scored them straight 9’s for 27 points.

Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough danced a Jive?  Nice tight footwork, but really he did more of the dancinging, she was not big enough in her movements.  I think the judges were overly generous, scoring them 10 – 8 – 10 for 28 points and the top of the leader board for the night.

Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer Rumba’d. She did a lot of the dancing – he walked through the rest. The judges scored them 7 – 4 – 5 for 16 points on the night, and the bottom of the leader board.

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke danced the final Jive of the night.  It offered fast and furious footwork, good flicks and kicks, and he danced as much as she did. Energetic and entertaining.  The judges scored them 9 – 8 – 9 for 26 points.  The were robbed.

Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough Rumba’d and it was hot and passionate. His footwork was good, his body attitude was nice, but he needs to work on his expression (such a small thing) because his face was almost perfect. Sultry dance.  The judges scored them 8 – 7 – 8 for 23 points on the night.

Next week the couples will perform a 1960s themed group dance, and perform the first night of dual dance competitions. Before that though is tomorrow night’s results show.  The night’s musical guest will be Rascal Flatts, the Macy Stars of Dance will feature an original Pussycat Doll, and a number for the Broadway production of West Side Story.  Until then,

Sith,

Tanglefoot

The ballroom is less one more couple, but did you figure out which Celeb didn’t cut the rug?  Time will tell.

My encore performance of the evening will be Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burkes’ Paso Dobles

The show highlighted great dancing with great music, including the legendary Etta James singing her signature At Last accompanied by Maks and Karina on the dance floor.

The Macy Stars of Dance features a dance troupe from a Las Vegas Revue Le Reve missed ballroom with acrobatics with tribal fusion (aka men dancing in skirts) from the Wynn dried off for the dance floor.

Demi Lovato was accompanied by Benjie Schwimmer (brother to Lacey Schwimmer and So You Think You Can Dance victor season two) and his partner for the second musical guest of the evening.

All this happened before the naming of the bottom two couples who will dance off to improve their scores before one couple goes home.  Falling into the bottom two were -

David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson, who revisited their Viennese Waltz for a set of straight 8s and 24 points on the night.  And Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinskia, who’s Paso earned them 6 – 7 – 7 for 20 points on the night.

 Going home….

 David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson

Up next week the remaining couples will dance either a Jive or the Rumba.  Until then.

Sith,

Tanglefoot

The ballroom had a decidedly different feeling this week as couples faced the Paso Dobles and the Viennese Waltz.  The ten barrier was broken in stride, with Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough receiving the first ten. Later, Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalani scoring the first pair of tens. Then to cap the evening off last Monday night, Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke score the first perfect score of the season.  The bar has been raised.

Tonight the couples attempted the romantic, lyrical Viennese Waltz and the tense passion of the Paso Doble. How did they do?

Chuck Wicks and JulieAnn Hough  opened the night with the Viennese Waltz. It offered nice, tight footwork – not spectacular, but nice.  He’s finishing his moves more but needs to tuck in his thumb. And for a couple in real life he doesn’t offer a lot of emotional connection with JulieAnn.  The judges scored them 7 – 8 – 8 for 23 points on the night.

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinskia danced the first Paso of the night.  His stance is all worng, no emotional connection, no emotion. He lacks connection with the dance.  The judges scored them 6 – 7 – 7 for 20 on the night.

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas performed the Viennese Waltz, it was very elegant, wonderful hold, close tight footwork, with wonderful musicality. Lovely dance.  The judges scored them 9 – 8 – 9 for 26 points.

Melissa Rykroff and Tony Dovalani offered up the Paso Doble. Nice footwork, she lost her body attitude a few times and needed a bit more tension in her stance and pose, plus a little less smile.  The performance was entertaining.  The judges scored them 8 – 8 – 9 for 25 points.

David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson danced a Viennese Waltz; Grier was wearing the face of the bullfighter in the Paso – all wrong.  He was wooden, the face was highly distracting, there was no connection.  It just didn’t work for me.  The judges scored them  7- 8 – 7 for 22 points.

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke danced a hot Paso Doble. Fabulous, the tension and passion were so thick you could cut it with a knife.  The choreography offered up great passion, emotion, footwork and Gilles did most of the dancing. Great body attitude. Bravo! The judges liked it, but not as well as last week’s tango awarding the duo 10 – 9 – 10 for 29 points and the leader board for the night.

Steve O and Lacey Schwimmer were the sole surviving couple from last week’s bottom three, this week they danced a Viennese Waltz. I loved the French storyline, but his hold was wrong, his posture was forward, his body language was down. The choreography was nice. The judges scored them straight 6’s for an 18 and the bottom of the leader board for the week.

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower offered up the final Paso Dobles of the week. He is so stiff, but the dance was enjoyable (maybe because he is winning me over) I didn’t care for the musical choice.  His stance as fine (stiff, but fine) but then he had to move and it got lost.  The judges scored them straight 7s for 21 on the night.

Lil’ Kim and Derek Hough closed the night with the Viennese Waltz. Lovely, but he did most of the dancing. Nice connection, lovely footwork and emotion.  The judges scored them 9 – 8 – 9 for the night.

Who will go home? I’m thinking David Alan Grier and Steve O are in the bottom two, their fans will determine who goes. Tomorrow’s musical guest are Etta James and Demi Lovato. We will also see the return of Macy’s Stars of Dance. Until tomorrow night.

Sith,

Tanglefoot

The writing was on the wall, although I easily thought who left the ballroom this week was toss up between three couples. But only two left? Who, stay tuned?

The evening began with the return of the Encore Dance. What better way to start the show than with Gilles and Cheryl’s smoking hot, sexy Argentine Tango. Hot.

The first couple announced into the bottom three, no surprise, Holly Madison and Dmitri Chaplin.

Musical guest Kevin Rudolph performed his current single, Let It Rock accompanied by Chelsie, Julianne, Lacey, Derek, Maksim, and someone else who’s name I missed.

The second couple to be placed in the bottom three, no surprise, Steve O and Lacey Schwimmer.

Last season professional Louis Van Amstel choreographed a beautiful waltz presentation (the things little girls dream of, and some of us big girls too.)

The final couple going into the bottom three, no surprise, Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff.

The final musical guest of the evening was the 1990s legendary Motown trio, Boyz II Men singing a medley of Motown hits to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Hitsville USA.  Boyz II Men were companied by Cheryl, Kym, Tony, and Dmitri.

No dance off tonight just getting to business, the first couple to leave the ballroom tonight was Holly Madison and Dmitri Chaplin; the second couple to leave, the popular Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff.

Until next Monday night,

Sith,

Tanglefoot.

This week the couple’s worked the kinks out of their routines to two new dances for Dancing With The Stars; the Lindy Hop and the Argentine Tango tested the agility and passion of all on the dance floor. Pressure was on all of the couples to perform in light of this week’s double elimination for the ballroom.

David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson opened the night with a Lindy Hop. Known for it’s lifts and upbeat mood the Lindy Hop is the bigger brother of the Jitterbug. Strenght is definitely required to support the lifts and flips, Grier decidedly didn’t have the strength to throw is partner or add height to Kym’s flips and jumps. While not exciting, the dance was fun and suffered one or two unsynced moments. The judges cored them 8 – 7 – 7 for 22 on the night.

Li’ Kim and Derek Hough offered up the first Argentine Tango of the night. A passionate, fiery tangle between dueling lovers Kim and Derek executed the dance with sharp and dramatic movement and flair, the footwork was tight, the hold wonderful and strong. The judges scored them 9 – 8 – 10 for 27 on the night. It was the first ten to be scored of the season, but not the last to be scored on the night.

Chuck Wicks and Julieann Hough danced a Lindy Hop that offered up good energy and only suffered one miss step that I could note. While good it wasn’t great. The judges scored them 8 – 7 – 7 for 22 points.

Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska drew the Argentine Tango, a dance decidedly made for Edyta, but not so much for LT. His strength showed, his footwork while chunky was tight (inter-meshing well with Edyta’s,) but it was chunky. The judges scored them 7 – 5 – 7 for 25 points.

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower did the Lindy Hop this week, and wow. Ty may still be shy but his dancing is coming out of the closet – itty bit stiff, but he is improving by leaps and bounds. Great choreography show cased his strength, offered great energy, great lifts, but he still needs to work on his transititions. The judges scored them 9 – 8 – 8 for 25 points.

Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff danced the Argentine Tango. The dance wasn’t overly challenging, and yet was still a bit clunky. He needs to learn to glide to each movement, not step to each movement. But he’s better than last week, gave 110 percent. The judges gave them better marks this week with straight 4s for 12 points (2 up from the previous week.)

In a really nice note for the season, Mac Daily News is reporting that Karina has asked Woz to escort her down the aisle later this year when she marries Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Melissa Rykroff and Toni Dovalani offered up a fast paced Lindy Hop. It was fun, energetic, and very entertaining. The dance featured challenging choreography, you could tell they were really enjoying themselves. The judges liked it too scoring them 10 – 9 – 10 for 29 points, just below the perfect 30.

Holly Madison and Dmitri Chaplin attempted an Argentine Tango. The footwork was close, but off and often lethargic. Her nervious giggle drives me crazy. The judges scored them 5 – 6 – 5 for 16 points, and I’m sorry hey were not better than the Woz and Karina who were scored considerable lower.

Steve O and Lacey Schwimmer performed a Lindy Hop. I like Lacey’s choreography usually, but tonight’s dance was ackward and often off balanced… along with the timing. The judges gave then straight 5’s for 15 points.

Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke smoked up the room with their Argentine Tango. Wow! Smollering hot sex-appeal. The dancers were full of passion, anger, and smoking passion again. The footwork was fabulous, quick, tight, sharp. The holds! Wow! The judges liked it too awarding them the first perfect score of the season – straight tens for 30 points and the top of the leader board.

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas closed the night with a Lindy Hop. While the dance was very energetic and full of tricks it was heavy footed. She definitely carried her weight, but needed to lighten up. An enteretaining dance. The judges scored them 8 – 8 – 9 for 25 points.

Two couples will leave the ballroom at the end of tomorrow night’s results show. Gilles and Cheryl lead the leader board with 30 points; Karina and Woz are at the bottom again, but this week with 12 points. Who will go? I’m betting it’s Holly Madison and Steve O – but time will tell, and you have to ask how long will Woz’s fans carry him?

Until tomorrow night,

Sith,

Tanglefoot.