DWTS: Individual dances plus Team Tango and Team Paso in week 7
Week 7 of Dancing With The Stars has each of the couples performing two dances again this week – an individual dance and then a team Tango or Paso Doble. This is the third week in a row that the couples have had to have two dances prepared, and let’s not forget about the double elimination tomorrow night. I’m sure having to learn three dances is going to play on the celebrities this week.
The show began with a performance by six of the show’s professional dancers, demonstrating what a team dance should be. If the dances later tonight are half as good as this one – or even one-quarter as good – they should be getting very high scores.
Oh, yeah, and one other thing – the celebrities designed the pro costumes tonight. This could be interesting.
Here’s what I thought about the individual dances tonight, in the order of the performances.
Michael and Anna. This week they were performing a Foxtrot. Her costume was really lovely, a purple dress with a pink scarf off the shoulder. When asked about his inspiration for the costume he said Barney the Dinosaur. Actually, he said that he really had fun when he watched that show with his kids so he wanted to bring that fun to the costume. The dance itself was really nice. Michael shows himself as a gentleman on the dance floor. Len called the routine brilliant and well done. Bruno said that it was an improvement and his musicality has improved too. Carrie Ann said it was gracious and fluid with great content. He got his highest individual score of the season so far, 23 out of 30.
Donny and Kym. Their individual dance tonight was the Quickstep. Let me begin by saying I hated the costume he designed for Kym. What the heck was he thinking? That costume was more appropriate for a Latin dance in my opinion. That being said, no one else on this show this season can touch Donny in terms of performance. He was right on tonight. Bruno said that no other performer could cover up the mistakes as well as he did tonight. Carrie Ann said that it was pretty good and that he was light on his feet but there were mistakes tonight. Len said it was full of attack and when you don’t play it safe you sometimes do make mistakes. They got a score of 24 out of 30.
Mark and Anna. Yes, Anna. Lacey was ill and unable to train or perform this week so Anna stepped in to partner with Mark this week in the Samba. I really like Mark so it was so hard for me to hear this, because you know it’s going to affect his performance. Heck, he had three partners in the course of the week, and just partnered with Anna on Saturday. It was a hard dance to watch because I know how good he is. Carrie Ann called it a mess. Len said that he didn’t agree that it was as bad as Carrie Ann said, and that he was dealt a bad hand – a difficult dance in a really tough week, but under the circumstances he did well. Bruno said it was Kung Fu Panda doing the Samba on the Planet of the Apes. They scored 19 out of 30.
Mya and Dmitry. Their dance this week was the Foxtrot. All I could think when I was watching the performance was that Len would hate it. And I was right. He said he liked parts of it, but there were too many gimmicks and he’s not interested in seeing that. Bruno said she captured the glamour of Hollywood, and the performance was sexy and sassy. Carrie Ann said she loved Dmitry’s costume and also loved the dance – it was dynamic, fluid and graceful. They scored 25 out of 30.
Aaron and Karina. They performed a Jive tonight. I thought the costume he created for Karina was beautiful. I haven’t been a big Aaron fan so far this season, but that changed tonight. I loved his dance. I thought he did an amazing job. Bruno told him he kicked ass with the performance. Carrie Ann said it was really excellent but there was some weird thing in the middle that turned her off (huh?). Len said it had enough energy to light up Hollywood and he was tempted to dust off his paddle. Len, you kidder you. He did give them a 10, as did Bruno. They scored 29 out of 30.
Kelly and Louis. This week their dance was the Salsa. After watching Kelly and her behind the scenes interviews I’m not going to be sorry when she goes. I think she was a novelty at the beginning of the show. I mean, who really thought that Kelly Osborne could be a legitimate ballroom dancer? She pegged herself right when she said this was the first situation where she isn’t able to bull s@#$ her way out of the situation and she had to just suck it up and do it. The judges thought she was improved from last week. Carrie Ann said she was unafraid of the dance and had a new elegance about her. Len said it was the first time she really controlled her nerves but Louis was right to push her so hard because all aspects of her dancing need to come up a notch. Bruno didn’t say anything meaningful or even anything that I could understand, except that when Kelly thanked him for calling her beige last week he said it gave her the kick in the ass she needed. They scored 24 out of 30.
Joanna and Derek. They had the Rumba tonight. I really didn’t like it at all and thought it was uncomfortable to watch. She is so beautiful she looked like a doll tonight and I just didn’t feel any passion or sex. But then again, it must be an entirely different experience when you experience the performance live. The judges and audience loved it. Len said they met all the expectations of all the judges and it was well done. Bruno said it was so sexy he could taste it. Carrie Ann said she loves watching her. They scored 27 out of 30.
After the individual dances, there were the team dances – Team Tango and Team Paso. The first team to perform was Team Paso, composed of Aaron and Karina, Mark and Anna, Mya and Dmitry and Michael and Anna. I thought the routine was good, but nothing spectacular. Bruno said it was strong and dynamic but at times they lost the timing and synchronization. He said that he thought Mya and Dmitry were standouts. Carrie Ann said the choreography was a bit basic for this point in the competition, but Mark redeemed himself from the previously poor performance. Len said it got better as it went on. They scored 24 out of 30.
Team Tango performed next, and I thought it was amazing. With the pros involved and their skills in choreography (especially Louis) you just knew it was going to be a good routine. Carrie Ann left the judges’ table to spank the men for putting in a lift in the routine, because it was not the Argentine Tango and lifts were not allowed. Otherwise, she said, the routine was awesome and perfect. Len said that the Tango was easier for them because it was in hold (and the Paso is not) but that being said it was obviously a much superior dance. Bruno said they were excellent as individuals and superb as a team. They scored 28 out of 30, with Bruno giving them a 10.
In the end I really don’t know what teams will be going home. Mark, Mya and Michael are in danger just based on their lower scores (in the 40s) while the other teams all hit the 50s with their points. It will be interesting, that’s for sure.
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November 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Personally, I wouldn’t feel bad if Aaron were eliminated. There’s something about him that just doesn’t ring true. Same with Michael Irvin, it’s hard to equate his not too stellar former reputation with the “nice guy” he’s trying to portray. And you’re right, enough of that Kelly Osborne crapola – grow up or hit the road.