DWTS Week 6: Waltz, Jitterbug and Competition Mambo
Week 6 of Dancing with the Stars featured the Waltz, the Jitterbug and a Mambo dance marathon. Here’s what I thought of the individual dances, in the order they performed.
Mya and Dmitry. They started off tonight with the Jitterbug. After Carrie Ann said last week that Mya lacked an emotional connection to the performance I really noticed that this week. Her performance just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t feel that excitement and enthusiasm you’d expect from a Jitterbug. I knew that Len was going to be ticked about the opening – when they did a close up of Mya at the judges’ table you could see him frowning. Len said that gimmicks and props are for those without dance skills and that she is too good of a dancer to waste time with them. Bruno loved it. He said she was spot on in terms of style and that the timing was impeccable. Carrie Ann said it was soft and muted, not what she would have expected from Mya. They scored 24 out of 30 for their individual dance.
Melissa and Mark. Tonight they performed a Waltz. I didn’t think it was a superior dance, but I didn’t think she was as bad as Bruno made her out to be. He told her the performance wasn’t good, that it didn’t look like she was dancing, that her posture was bad and the performance had no flow. Carrie Ann said it looked sticky and rigid at times. Len said it had musicality and told Melissa she looked elegant. He did say she had some problems with technique but that the other two judges were a bit harsh on her. They scored 20 out of 30 for their individual dance.
Mark and Lacey. Their dance this week was the Jitterbug. I loved the performance. I thought Mark was so energetic on the dance floor. The judges mentioned a stumble or loss of timing near the end of the performance, but my very untrained eye missed it. Carrie Ann said she loved it – that it was fantastic and had the energy she was looking for in the Jitterbug. Len said it was absolutely full on and great. Bruno said it was truly spectacular but pointed out the timing issue at the end of the routine. They scored 26 out of 30 for their individual dance.
Aaron and Karina. This week they had the Waltz. Aaron had been in the bottom two for the last two weeks so he really wanted to give the dance his all. I didn’t care for it, but the judges really liked his performance. Len said he danced with maturity and that it was his best dance and he was proud of him. Bruno said the boy has become a gentleman and that he had great posture. Carrie Ann said it was beautiful, but both she and Bruno made note that he had a few stumbles. They scored 25 out of 30 for their dance.
Michael and Anna. They also performed a Waltz this week. I don’t think there is any celebrity who works harder than Michael. I do love how he recognizes his fans. He knows that they are the reason he’s still in the competition and doesn’t make any excuses for it. I think deep down he knows he’ll never be the best dancer on the stage, but he does make improvements every week. Bruno hated the waltz. He said that it wasn’t as good as it should be for week 6. Carrie Ann said it was charming but had a few stumbles and (heaven forbid!) a lift. Len said it had charm, it was gentle, that Michael had great posture and that it had the best footwork of any Waltz this evening. (Len must have gotten some last night because he is in such a good and forgiving mood for the most part.) They scored 20 out of 30, with an 8 from Len.
Kelly and Louis. Their dance this week was the Jitterbug. I didn’t like it. It seemed as if it was a prim and proper Jitterbug. Carrie Ann said she brought her sense of fun back but she needs to stay in a happy place. Len said it was flat footed and lacked the wildness and freedom he’d like to see in a Jitterbug. He compared it to a blueberry muffin without the blueberries. Bruno said it was cute and nice but she needs to ignite her performance. He said her performance tonight was kind of beige. They scored 20 out of 30.
Louie and Chelsie. This week they performed the Jitterbug. He brought a lot of energy and excitement to the dance and I did enjoy it. Len said that parts were fantastic and he appreciated that he gives 100% all the time but there were some parts where he lost it. Bruno said he went wacko and lost precision and timing in the dance. Carrie Ann said the dance suited him but the fact he dropped his partner twice was unacceptable. They got 21 out of 30.
Joanna and Derek. They performed the Waltz tonight. It was nice, I guess. I didn’t find it bad or anything. Tom Bergeron called it the “get a room dance” of the season but I didn’t get that out of it. Bruno said it was like watching a butterfly. Carrie Ann said she sensed some hesitation in the performance. Len said her footwork was poor but it had great posture, great holds and it was the best Waltz of the night. They scored 26 out of 30.
Donny and Kym. They finished up the individual dance portion of the night with a Jitterbug. I loved the performance and thought it was great. Carrie Ann said he knows how to work a room but there were a few moments where they were out of sync. Len said that no matter what dance is thrown at him he attacks it and while Len didn’t care for the entire dance he thought it was entertaining. Bruno said he lost timing but always gives a great performance. He compared Donny to a steam train trying to keep up with a bullet train (Kym). They scored 24 out of 30.
The “Competition Mambo” was next. All of the couples dance together and as they get tapped they leave the dance. The first couple out gets 2 points, while the last couple standing gets 10 points (added to their individual scores). The dance should last about 4 minutes. Some of the couples were planning a choreographed routine, while others were planning to freestyle.
I thought this was going to be ridiculous, but I was wrong. I thought it was great. The format was great and I liked seeing all the couples at the same time doing the same dance. I would hope to see this type of dance again in the season, or at least in upcoming seasons. Here’s how they finished in the Competition Mambo:
1: Joanna and Derek (36 points total tonight)
2: Mya and Dmitry (33 points total tonight)
3: Aaron and Karina (33 points total tonight)
4: Donny and Kym (31 points total tonight)
5: Mark and Lacey (32 points total tonight)
6: Kelly and Louis (25 points total tonight)
7: Melissa and Mark (24 points total tonight)
8: Louie and Chelsie (24 points total tonight)
9: Michael and Anna (22 points total tonight)
I think that tomorrow night it’s going to come down to the couples with scores in the 20’s – Kelly and Louis, Melissa and Mark, Louie and Chelsie and Michael and Anna. Since Kelly and Michael seem to have fan support I’m guessing it’s going to be Melissa or Louie who goes home as the lowest scoring couple. With the dance off who knows what other couple will go home. It should be interesting.
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October 27th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I am a great fan of ballroom dancing; that said, this show is slowly going downhill. Maybe it has been over used, or maybe the format is a little old hat. This season, with the exception of Donnie Osmond, there are really no likeable celebrities. Where are the Cloris Leachmans, the George Hamiltons, the Lisa Rennas et al? That Aaron has the personality of a twig, and the snowboarder, forget it. As far as the female contestants, they seem quite brittle. Just a comment.