#and they actually give a paso doble energy

[resssistance]

Kateřina Mrázková and Daniel Mrázek / RD at JGPF 2022

bonus:

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 5 Week 9: Rewatch

Hey y'all. Back for week 9 and I'm gonna say that just like season 4, this is still one of the strongest top 4s that we have ever had as well as one of the strongest semi-finals that has ever been on this show. Each couple is redoing two dance styles. So yeah, let's get started.

Ballroom Round

Marie and Jonathan- Quickstep (Judges' Score=29, My Score=10)- This was so much fun and the best dance that Marie has ever done in this competition. She finally hit on all cylinders. It was a brilliant dance. And the costume was brilliant because it hid some of the moments that were maybe a little iffy.

Mel and Maks- Viennese Waltz (Judges' Score=30, My Score=10)- This was the actually the Viennese waltz that made me fall in love with the dance. And it is still one of my all time favorite dances. The turns were amazing. The rotation was great. The technique was perfect. And those series of splits? The amount of strength it takes to pull them all off in succession without falling behind the music is incredible. This might be my favorite dance from this couple, period. And that's a hard feat.

Jennie and Derek- Tango (Judges' Score=28, My Score=10)- This is also one of my favorite tangos on this show. I feel like a broken record at this point, but season 5 was such an amazing season with amazing dances. Jennie locked in and didn't allow herself to get distracted by the few problems that did arise (the hair, the shoe and the dress). It speaks to her growth over the season. Also, her frame was so strong for this dance. Her posture has been a constant critique from me, so that was a HUGE thing for it to be as good as it was.

Helio and Julianne- Foxtrot (Judges' Score=30, My Score=10)- Like I said, this is one of the strongest top 4 that we have ever had. Everyone really came in here and knocked their first round dances out of the park. This was the perfect dance for Helio. He was so charismatic. He was so on top of everything. There were a couple of almost mistakes that he fixed right before they became mistakes. His frame was really good. Wow. This round was similar to the semi-finals Latin round of season 4.

Latin Round

Marie and Jonathan- Mambo (Judges' Score=27, My Score=9)- This was such a huge improvement over their first mambo and it was Marie's best Latin dance of the season. Her hips were moving. Her technique was much sharper and her posture was a lot better. The performance and energy was, as always, top notch. A few things though. She lost some control here and there which led to some funky posture moments and misplaced feet here and there. Otherwise, it was a great dance.

Mel and Maks- Paso Doble (Judges' Score=30, My Score=10)- The fact that these two managed to top an already perfect dance was incredible. Especially if you consider the fact that they were rushed onto the dancefloor seconds before they started dancing. Mel was working that whip. Her footwork was Sabrina-esque (probably the top comment I can ever give to a celeb). The attention to detail here was beautiful. Honestly, this was amazing. Their first paso was more iconic, but this one was so much better.

Jennie and Derek- Cha-cha (Judges' Score=30, My Score=10)- This is the last dance for these and honestly, it was amazing for them to go out with such a huge bang. It was so clean and tight. Jennie was confident. The spins were amazing. Hips were great. Her posture was good. Her feet were so precise. It all came together in such a big way.

Helio and Julianne- Cha-cha (Judges' Score=30, My Score=10)- First of all, I wanna say that I think that this was the best Helio ever looked on the show. This red fit? I need is for myself and have always wanted it. Anyway, the dance was several notches above their first cha-cha. Helio was sharp. He performed it incredibly. Julianne's choreo was so so so good. I am just in amazement of how good this semi-finals was. Two amazing semi-finals in back to back seasons? I see why DWTS became as big as it did. This is competition that you just have to see unfold in real time.

My Rankings and Scores Out of 60:

1 Mel and Maks- 60 (30 for both) = Jennie and Derek- 60 (30 for both) = Helio and Julianne- 60 (30 for both) 4 Marie and Jonathan- 57 (30 for quickstep, 27 for mambo)

As I said earlier, Jennie was the celeb that was eliminated. And while it's sad, it would've been sad for anyone to go. No one deserved to go. Everyone had a legit shot at winning. This is the first and maybe only season that any of the final 7 couples could have won and I would have been 100% okay with it. This semis was electrifying to watch. It is 17 years old and I'm still just as invested now. I might need to rewatch season 6 before I do this, but I'm going to write a post about the difference between the show now and the show back then. These rewatches have been the most excited I've been to watch DWTS in years. And it honestly has nothing to do with the nostalgia of it. It's just good. Anyway, the finals are coming up and I'll probably get those done tomorrow. I know season 5's finals were a bit underwhelming in comparison to the semis, but that's okay. I'm still excited to watch that bizarre freestyle from Marie.

[shookspearewrites]

Thank you so much for your request, Anon! I’m actually a dance teacher so, this was the most exciting thing to see in my askbox ^^ I kinda stuck to ballroom styles for this but, they’re all very intimate dances so, I hope you like it! I also included some fun examples from Strictly Come Dancing because its one of my favourite shows and an absolute staple for those of us in the UK! + It provides some lovely visuals for y’all 💛

- JJ x

~~~~~~~~~~

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

Okay, hear my out here but, I think that Wolfie would be so into you teaching him some more sensual styles of dance. And my goodness what I wouldn’t give to see this man dancing the Paso Doble. Now I’m not saying he could pull it off - As we all know, he’s a graceful, elegant man but, I think he’d have fun no matter how well he can manage the steps.

I think, what Mozart can’t manage in terms of speed and skill with the Paso Doble, he’d more than make up for sensuality. He’d never dream of dancing it with you where the two of you wouldn’t have complete privacy as he wants to keep that intense, sexy energy between the two of you alone. He gets really into it just to see you blush and get flustered in his arms. Here’s a lovely example!

Napoleon Bonaparte:

Napoleon gets really into it! This man is Mediterranean and the most modern of this group of suitors so, I see him being really good at sexier styles of dance. 

Arguably, one of the most sensual styles of dance is the Argentine Tango and Napoleon takes to it like a duck to water. There’s this absolutely enchanting Argentine Tango routine from Strictly Come Dancing here and I cannot help but imagine that it’s me and Napoleon dancing it whenever I watch it.

Dancing with you quickly becomes one of his favourite activities and at least once a week, Napoleon will invite you to the ballroom to dance with him. He’s an intense man and that certainly shows with just how intimate and sensual the dances you share are.

Le Comte de Saint Germain:

Comte is the perfect gentleman and an elegant aristocrat at that, so, he’s a little awkward when you’re trying to teach him how to dance more sensually. There’s no denying that he more of a romantic Waltz kinda guy - Side note, I always picture le Comte and me dancing this piece together whenever I hear this song omg 🥺

When he loosens up a little, Comte can actually pull off a rather decent Salsa, surprisingly! He can’t quite get the roll of the hips right but, he’s got passion for it - Especially if you’re his dance partner. His gorgeous golden eyes are focused on your gorgeous body as the pair of you let loose and dance around like there’s no tomorrow. Just le Comte doing this dance with his focus glued on you because he’ll be damned if this isn’t the most intimate thing you do together outside of the bedroom.

William Shakespeare:

He gets too distracted with watching the utterly enchanting way that your hips sway and roll to focus on actually learning the dances you’re trying to teach him. Shakespeare is willing to try pretty much anything and he has to admit, he rather enjoys his dance lessons with you, even if it’s not necessarily the dancing he enjoys the most.

Will is not the strongest of dancers but, what he lacks in skill he more than makes up for in intensity: He will take any style of dance you throw at him and make it almost unbearably intimate. He is a big fan of the Samba and often lets you take control simply to watch the sexy sway of your hips. Here’s an excellent example!

He makes a habit of taking you on dates to the open-air theatre in the middle of the night so the two of you or just you on stage while he watches eagerly from the audience can dance under the moonlight.

Bonuses:

Okay but Arthur would be bloody excellent at fun dances like Jive and the Charleston. I tend to think of him dancing whenever I watch this!

Theo is a romantic man, lets be honest so, his favourite dance is the Foxtrot. Just imagine dancing this piece around the candlelit ballroom together while he gazes at you so intensely romantically 🥺

Okay this one is specifically for @dazaiswindow : Dazai isn’t the strongest of dancers but, I believe he’d easily pull off a cute lil’ American Smooth. Something sweet and a bit campy but also really romantic in places like this dance which I absolutely adore!

Vincent is a big fan of the Waltz and always makes dancing with you the most romantic of experiences. Picture him doing this variation just holding you so tenderly and carefully as you dance.

Okay, I don’t care that canonically Leonardo can’t dance simply because the image of him doing a Viennese Waltz will forever live in my head rent free. Have this stunning example!

[dwtspd]

DWTS Season 29 Week 1

OK so despite everything that happened with the show’s production, I’m watching this show, because dance still takes my mind off the various stresses in life. Obviously I hate how Tom and Erin were forced off the show, but I won’t begrudge Tyra of that. I think she’s a decent host. Next, I was pleasantly surprised to see Derek Hough back as a judge. I knew Len was stuck in England and couldn’t return to do the show, and there were rumours Derek would replace him but I didn’t think they were true. Scores are CAI-Derek-Bruno.

I honestly wasn’t expecting there to even be a DWTS season given the pandemic. I’m not entirely convinced it’s a good idea to have one. They have social distancing measures in place but ehhhhh idk. But again I’m glad to have something to distract me from other shit.

Opening was decent enough considering they were clearly avoiding group rehearsals and filming. Interesting that apparently Ray Leeper choreographed it because I only know him as a jazz choreographer.

AJ McLean and Cheryl Burke - Jive I didn’t recognise bald AJ at first. I thought he was a soccer player. Based on this one dance, he has a lot to work on technique-wise. But with Cheryl as a partner he could be a dark horse. Song was not good for jive though. 6-6-6 T18

Chrishell Stause and Gleb Shevchenko - Tango I find Selling Sunset cringe as a show but have nothing personal against Chrishell. She looked very wobbly on her feet. Like a baby deer taking its first steps. I think she has potential, but don’t know if Gleb is the pro do help her reach that. Height and looks wise I see why they were put together. I just don’t trust Gleb as a pro. Wow those scores were harsh. I wasn’t expecting that. 4-5-4 T13

Vernon Davis and Peta Murgatroyd - Foxtrot Man has footwork, I’ll give him that. I’m talking about his touchdown dance, that is. But his foxtrot was nothing to sniff at either. A lot of the issues I saw were pretty commonplace for athletic men getting foxtrot early on, like smoothing out his extensions and getting more glidey steps. Thought he deserved maybe 1 more point. 5-6-6 T17

Anne Heche and Keo Motsepe - Cha cha cha OMG I love her sass. Similar problem to Chrishell in that her steps didn’t always look secure, though cha cha is more forgiving a dance than tango. 6-6-6 T18

Jeannie Mai and Brandon Armstrong - Salsa She has potential if she can control her energy. I hope Brandon gets a good run with her because I think they could be another potent pair. 6-6-6 T18

Jesse Metcalfe and Sharna Burgess - Quickstep Props to him for tackling the quickstep right out the gate. If you wanna be sexy, that is not the pattern to wear. Also, quickstep isn’t a dance you smoulder in. He looked kinda intense and maybe not enjoying himself as much as he could have. He could be decent, though. And welcome back Sharna! 6-6-6 T18

Skai Jackson and Alan Bersten - Tango I’ve never seen any of her shows but she seems like such a nice girl. Carries herself really well. Looks like she and Alan get along well too. Tango could have used more travelling and she looked a bit tense at times. But she can become good. Weird music for the dance style. 7-7-7 T21

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev - Cha cha cha One of the strongest dances at this point of the night. She looked the least Bambi-like and had good turn out but it was not consistent. Like Derek said, she felt a bit “safe”. Welcome back, Artem! 6-7-7 T20

Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson - Foxtrot Haha he’s so adorkable. Also random, but I know Catfish as ‘the show that was on before Teen Wolf’. He has lots of potential and could also become a fan favourite with his affable personality. His dance felt oddly short compared to the others though? Oh and I dunno if it’s Jenna’s hair or how she did her makeup this week but she looks so pretty like this. 7-7-6 T20

Johnny Weir and Britt Stewart - Cha cha cha Bit like Skai, felt a bit tense at times in the dance. Some actions were a bit hard-hitting. Those eyes are crying out for some matching purple eyeshadow. Nice to see Britt being a pro. 6-6-6 T18

Justina Machado and Sasha Farber - Cha cha cha Best cha cha yet. She was nicely grounded but still energetic. Hit some good lines too. I can picture her being good at ballroom styles as well so she’s one to watch. 7-7-7 T21

Charles Oakley and Emma Slater - Salsa Emma said he has a natural rhythm in training so I wonder if he got into his head in the performance because I wasn’t seeing that. Other problems - flat footedness and lack of hip action we’ve seen before in tall athletes. 4-4-4 T12

Monica Aldama and Val Chmerkovskiy - Foxtrot She has a natural grace. I think she didn’t get into hold quite right initially so they looked a bit awkward for a while. Also I wonder when CAI will realise that no one cares about her lifting rules anymore. They all stopped caring over ten seasons ago. Thought her score would be a little higher. 6-7-6 T19

Nelly and Daniella Karagach - Salsa Nelly seems like such a fun, chill guy to hang out with. I feel like he was thinking quite hard about the dance and not fully immersing himself in it. He looked kinda reserved and trepid. He got all the steps though. Bruno was a little generous there though. Congrats to Daniella for her first dance as a pro partner! 5-5-6 T16

Carole Baskin and Pasha Pashkov - Paso Doble Throwing someone a paso on week 1? But the song works I guess. I feel like we’ve seen that cage like 5 times. Clearly this dance was just playing up to the whole tiger thing rather than actually trying to be a paso. 4-4-3 T11

Ok well. This show wasn’t bad. I miss Tom and Erin but I can get on board with Tyra. There aren’t any standout frontrunners yet, but a few low-hanging fruit. I think we’ll have a better picture once everyone has done one ballroom and one latin style.

[tally-kiza]

Dancetale AU Headcanons 2.0

So about a year ago I made a post about all the dancetale type universes and my headcanons for them. But I saw that post again the other day and decided that post was kinda inaccurate so I decided to revamp them and give the skels more depth and varied dances uwu.

Dancetale Sans

No surprise here, Sans dances hip hop! Not usually breakdancing or b-boying (though yes, he will do those occasionally) because... have you seen all those power moves those have? They take so much energy and wooork OTL. Sans ain’t really about working hard, even though he is significantly more open to moving than his classic counterpart. So he usually just sticks to (what he considers) easier (which... probably aren’t actually easier asdfghj) hip hop dances like this!

Dancetale Paps 

Also not a surprise, Papyrus does latin dances, more specifically the cha cha and the salsa! Specifically, salsas like this are his favorite. And it’s not unheard of for Papyrus to do that “walks on air thing” he did after his canon fight, while he’s dancing! It only makes it even more fun, and don’t worry; he’ll make sure you’re safe and secure in his arms while you two dance on thin air~

Danceswap Sans

In contrast to the above dance bros, Blue does neither latin nor hip hop. Instead, his soul calls out to a dance just as energetic as him, that being swing dancing! Both the classic old swing (like this) from the 30s and 40s, and the newer electroswing dances. 

He also sometimes does roller skating dancing, too! Much like in this video at 2:06, he’s very adept at dancing in skates, expertly performing his main dance in them as well. Better have good balance and fast feet when ya dance with him.

Danceswap Papyrus

This boi’s not really into “official” dances, as he calls it. Honey crafted his own dance style: Meme Dances! (Really, could you expect anything else from the dude who Flossed to pay respects whenever Undyne’s house burnt down) His bro is consistently exasperated in his choice of dance, but supports him nonetheless.  Default dancing, the orange justice, Hammertime, the Macarena, and these are just a few of the dances in his arsenal.

Dancefell Sans

Red is just an edgier Sans, so of course his dance style would be the edgier style of hip hop dancing as well! More specifically, he specializes in breakdancing/b-boying! (Although rarely cuz he is still very lazy.) Flip-floppin, high-flyin’ powermoves and all. Kinda like in this! It’s also often accompanied with popping, locking, and breaking, the perfect cherry on his dance sundae.

Dancefell Papyrus

Similar to Papyrus, Edge does latin dancing too! His favorite dance being a bullfighting dance just as dramatic as he is: the Paso Doble! It’s always an intimidating sight to see: the boi, half shirtless, angrily whipping his partner around in circles, frequently in midair much like Pap. Though, since he often dances with his enemies, he is... slightly less likely to keep as tight a hold on them as Pap is. Don’t worry, though, he’s sure you won’t drop... And if you do, but somehow stick the landing on your feet, then you’ve only gained even more of his respect.

Danceswapfell Papyrus

Rus is actually kinda internet popular for his dances! On his youtube channel (which goes by the name of (p)Elvis, for the record), he posts dance covers of his favorite songs, which has gained him quite the decently-sized following. As shown in this video around :47-1:02, his chosen dance style is 50s Elvis Era Rock & Roll! The bois practically a greaser, honestly, with that style. 

He also does kpop-inspired dance covers to various vocaloid/utaite/anime songs on his channel as well, similar to this video. Sometimes he even does both styles in one video! It’s truly astounding how he manages to seamlessly fuse both dance styles into one dance and one video, and that’s exactly the sort of talent that gained him his following in the first place.

Danceswapfell Sans 

Black struggled for a long time to figure out just what dance he preferred, but eventually he realized his true passion lied in Figure Skating!  It’s perfect for him: elegant, disciplined, balanced, incredibly flashy. Growing up in Snowdin, he’d frequently sneak away to the many ice rinks in the forest to practice. 

And in his spare time, he’s also picked up pole dancing! The non-stripper kind though, with most of his clothes on and very high heels. His dances are very much like this video, with equal levels of dramatics and epic music. And in both dance styles, he’s equally as intimidating as he is majestic~

[sailorzakuro]

Launch Show 2019

I may need to go rewatch it on iPlayer cos parents and Domino’s nachos and alcohol got in the way of me giving my full attention but launch show 2019 thoughts!! (dw this will be long so I’ll put a keep reading if you’re not interested lol).

Ngl loved the Kylie opening XD. I have an odd love for All The Lovers so I was very happy to see that come on XD. Nancy absolutely SLAYED in that whole opening dance spectacle as well, I really hope we get to see her more prominent in group dances.

Catherine and Johannes seems like a nice pair, maybe I’m having difficulty picturing it cos Johannes has never had a partner before but I wanna see what they’ll be like. His reaction was also adorable I fkn love Johannes XD.

Saffron and AJ even if I hadn’t spoiled it for myself SAW THAT COMING, maybe my least favourite pair for this year? Mollie remains my favourite partner AJ’s had (QUEEN) but idk Saffron didn’t seem that excited, I mean Anton put in more effort when he got put with Susannah Constantine XD. Thinking I’m not going to like them but we’ll see.

( @missemperor ) Michelle and Giovanni fit SO well together. I love Michelle’s energy and it matches Giovanni’s so well, I think they’ll be a great pair!

Alex and Neil, again can’t see them together since Neil’s never had a partner but I can already tell that they’re going to go SO far in the competition. Favourite to win paired with the pro everyone’s been wanting to get a partner? Not really feeling Alex’s vibe well (she wouldn’t stop talking during the suspense but I was like ffs shut up) so if this is gonna be another Stacey and Kevin incident hhhhhhhh.

Motsi is a QUEEEEEEEEN I love her dancing style and her energy as a judge is going to be soooooo great XD. I’ve had good words from people that she was amazing on Let’s Dance so I’m hoping I’ll love her!

James and Luba hhhh again can’t see it cos Luba hasn’t had a partner (both her and Neil excluding Christmas specials but like that barely counted eek) but I think they fit nicely together!

Karim and Amy it’s so odd seeing them together cos Amy’s only been partnered with older men so far XD. Also Amy seems slightly taller than him oops XD. But I’m excited to see them!! It seems like they’ll do really well and they seem so happy to be partnered XD.

Chris and Karen CHRIS RAMSEY THE KING WITH KAREN HAUER THE QUEEN MY FAVOURITES ALREADY was low key hoping for Oti even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen (this was before I spoiled it oops) but omg they look so amazing together they were like best friends that got put together for PE class XD. I am SOOOOO excited to see them!!

David and Nadiya not getting a strong energy from them but the heights work? XD. Idk with Nadiya it concerns me that her height is the only factor for who she gets partnered with but I’ll wait and see what they can do in the live shows XD.

Never usually care for the musical performances but omg seeing Gorka and Graziano made me so saaaaaaad T_T I do LOVE Neil and Johannes but omg I’m gonna miss those 2 so much especially Graziano he’s adorable T_T.

Emma and Anton I know Chris and Karen are my favourites but I’m rooting for these 2 SO MUCH Anton FINALLY has a decent partner!! And not just decent, seems like she’ll be actually GOOD. That’s a first! Anton’s reaction was iconic, amazing, hilarious, we stan a king, that’s it.

*Viscountess* Emma and Aljaz again I’m concerned Aljaz is only paired with people cos of his height but they seem to work well together XD. Not feeling V.Emma’s energy as well but I’m sure I’ll get to know her better as the weeks go on XD.

Anneka and Kevin oops Anneka’s taller than Kevin XD. But their reaction was so cute!! They also seemed like best friends getting left as the last 2 in PE class so the teacher has no choice but to put them together XD. I’m excited to see them!!

Speaking of Kevin the Paso Dooley returns... Stacey seemed to have the right Paso energy for once XD. Idk I think the choreography is a bit cheesy and gimmicky (idk maybe that’s how REAL Paso Dobles are but I ain’t ever seen a sassy hand) but they did it well XD.

Mike and Katya are they gonna be the funny pair for this year?? XD. Mike is adorable tho if he falls over during the live shows rip XD. But he seemed to have more grace on the heel click than Katya did oops XD. I do find it odd though that they partnered Katya with a short older larger little man while Neil gets a partner for the first time with a younger attractive footballer... coincidence?

Will and Janette are SO ADORABLE Janette always has a good energy with her partners (even though I think she’s annoying oops don’t come for me) and Will is the most precious person omg I love him XD. I can’t wait to see them!!

Dev and Dianne she’s gone from Rev to Dev XD. Sorry @myutoni I had to make a pun XD. Not feeling the energy atm (maybe cos I’m so used to seeing her with Joe after last year ended??) but Dev’s reaction was so cute XD.

Jamie and Oti seeing them get paired was so sad knowing he won’t be in the series T_T. He seemed so happy!! And so did Oti T_T. She seemed so supportive and caring in that end bit showing how he got injured, this is why we stan Oti Mabuse T_T. I’ll mention her and Kelvin though, personally I’m not happy they’re replacing him seems rude but like hopefully he’ll do well?? I can’t say how he and Oti would look together cos you know all we’ve got is a picture XD.

As I said need to rewatch it but LOVED that group dance!! I’ll go back over and take in all the details lol but it was great!

Aaaand that’s it! Well done if you made it through all that XD.

[dwtsreviewarchive]

DWTS S24 Week 6 (Boy Bands vs Girl Groups) Recap / Review

DWTS S24 Week 6 Boybands vs. Girl Groups

Recaps [Here]

Nick Carter filling in for Julianne Hough. HIs score is 2nd, between Carrie Ann (1) & Len (3), Bruno last (4).

Maks is back with Heather

Team Dances (albeit quite early)

SHOCKING ELIMINATION *Spoilers*

1. Simone Biles & Sasha Farber - Samba [Destiny’s Child: Survivor] (9+8+9+9=35) This was a fun dance to open the show but I have to be honest & say it wasn’t nearly their best. The timing was off at times & it was quite rushed. The turns came & went so fast, there was no time hit the bounce. I also wonder if the combat boots affected the bounce as well. I’m nervous that Simone is losing her grip on what should be a Top 2 or 3 finish. It’s definitely not for lack of talent. Hopefully she can really hit a stride soon. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this but Nick actually had the right score for this dance (8).

2. Bonner Bolton & Sharna Burgess - Rumba [Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way] (8+8+7+7=30) No fire, no desire. This guy is wet cardboard. I have nothing really to say. All that chemistry the judges foamed at the mouth in the first 2 weeks, I’m still not seeing any.

3. Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigventsev - Paso Doble [En Vogue: Free Your Mind] (9+8+8+8=33) Yessss, Nancy, yesss. She was giving stank face, power, aggression. I’m so glad she’s seemingly come out of her shell. I was nervous in the beginning if she could do this song justice but by the end she sold me. I agree with Len the cage part was a touch too long & caused her not to start her first steps strong but the longer the dance went the better & better she got.

4. Nick Viall & Peta Murgatroyd - Jive [The Beach Boys: Fun, Fun, Fun] (7+7+7+7=28) Underscored, underappreciated, over criticized. This jive was not nearly as bad as the judges made it seem. I thought his footwork, kicks & flicks for pretty good. He does need more polish, he can get sloppy sometimes, but I love that he really uses his whole body in the dance. Compared to Week 1 he’s really improved, his performances, more energy, more rehearsed. 

I don’t get why the judges are seemingly so much harder on Nick than Bonner. Nick has consistently proven that he shows more energy & promise & is actually improving, it’s like they nitpick him to death vs. them over-blowing how good Bonner is each week.

5. Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy - Salsa [The Pussycat Dolls: When I Grow Up] (10+10+8+10=38) Finally a true showstopper routine. This girl just needs to drop Fifth Harmony & Val and go solo right now. Val is really playing it smart with his choreography, playing up to Normani’s strength’s & core fan base. Even more than Zendaya, I think Normani is really poised to become a big star post this season. I agree with Len about the lack of “obvious” salsa content but what she did do was spot on. The hip hop solo section was very indulgent of her pop start talents but genius strategy. Yeah it’ll piss of Len but it makes her look wildly better than the other celebs. Dream team.

Len’s 8 was crazy, a 9 sure but 8, nah son. 

6. David Ross & Lindsay Arnold - Argentine Tango [*NSYNC: I Want You Back] (7+8+7+7=29) David finally hit his brick wall that very celeb at some point hits. It kind of shows in these last 2 weeks. I agree with Carrie Ann, that something feels different about him. His energy isn’t the same. The AT was ok, it wasn’t the best he’s done & it’s not particularity memorable. I’m worried he might be danger soon. He looked really unsure of himself & unstable more than I’ve seen him in while. He’s gonna need a big breakthrough soon.

7. Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater - Tango [The  Four Tops: Reach Out I’ll Be There] (9+10+9+9=37) I love NFL guys like Rashad, who aren’t afraid to embrace this show & all it’s glitter & characters. Very poised focused, tango. Rashad never looks lost or confused, he’s incredibly confident & sure of himself & his chemistry with Emma. At times it was a little hectic (Hi Len!) and his frame was lost but nothing major. 

8. Heather Morris & Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Rumba [TLC: Waterfalls] (10+10+10+10=40) Killer, killer routine. Heather nailed the character & the technique. Her chemistry with Maks was scorching.  She had the hip action, the fludity & the lines. I stand by the fact that having Alan was great for Heather’s dancing to gain confidence & stage presence without Maks. Now she's holding her own with him & I’m looking at her not him, which wasn’t the case Week 1. Hands down best dance of the night & probably of the season.

Team Boyband: Rashad & Emma, Bonner & Sharna, David & Lindsay, Nick & Peta] - SAFE (8+9+8+8=33)

I’ve always said these are hard to judge, it’s so much going on. Naturally it’s going to be messy but it was fun. I was surprised there was as much sync as there was. It was the best Bonner has looked in terms of energy, I have to say. But It really shows that all the weak links are the one guys teams, save for Rashad.

Team Girl Group: Normani & Val, Simone & Sasha, Nancy & Artem, Heather & Maks - IN JEOPARDY (8+9+8+9=34) All this dance proved is that these girls could be Top 4 right now. It didn’t have the flash of the boys, but they didn’t need it because the dancing was so tight.

ELIMINATION 

It’s really a shame any of these girls are in jeopardy, they are all Top 4 material, save for Rashad taking a spot.

Simone & Sasha - SAFE

Normani & Val - SAFE

Heather & Maks -  ELIMINATED, I don't get it. Did Heather not connect w/ viewers, did not she have a big enough fan base, did Maks' fans not vote while he was out? I’m guessing all of the above? Welp, Sabrina Bryan & (Elizabeth Berkley, quite frankly) you have officially been dethroned of the Most Wrongful Early Elimination on DWTS. 

Nancy & Artem - SAFE

Recaps [Here]

NEXT WEEK : A Night At The Movies

What did you think of that SHOCKING ELIMINATION?

[dwtscommissioner]

DWTS: Season 24 Week 8

I’ve seen lots of twitter and tumblr comments about tonight’s show and it sounds like the judges were just a bad, bad mood.

Rashad and Emma- Jive – First off I love this partnership and how much Emma and Rashad actually like each other. This jive was high energy and a lot of fun. He had great kicks and flicks. During the judges’ comments, Emma’s facial expressions you could tell she either didn’t like the comments or didn’t agree with them. His footwork wasn’t as bad as they all let on. He has improved and they need to stop acting like it was that awful! 9, 9, 9, 9 = 36

Normani and Val- Contempoaray – This was the first dance that I felt Normani was completely into. Over the season I have been bored by Normani and the praise the judges have heaped on her without really saying anything constructive to her. I knew she’d get a perfect score as soon as I watched her package. I do think this was her best dance but I think most of her other dances have been over scored throughout the season. If I’m completely honest I’d be perfectly fine with her going home at any moment.  10, 10, 10, 10 = 40

Bonner and Sharna- Argentine Tango – This was a decent dance. I felt like Bonner got the character best in this dance than before. Bruno had great tips for Bonner. Len’s comments were meaner than they needed to be, but honest and true. It needed a more sensitive delivery. Bonner seems like a really nice guy but he totally should have been eliminated last week. 8, 7, 8, 7  =30

Simone and Sasha- Foxtrot – This should have been a perfect score.  CAI and Julianne are being ridiculous… I don’t even understand if they are watching the same things the rest of us are.  Simone does seem guarded but I also feel I know who she is. Why can’t the judges just see that when I can see it. Whatever, they’ve clearly set it where Normani is their fave and Rashad and Simone are the 2 they refuse to give the credit they are due. I thought it was a great foxtrot. AT least Len wasn’t mean with Simone. (Her crush on TJ is adorable.)  9, 9, 9, 9  = 36

David and Lindsay- Waltz -  I love how moved David was in his package by Lindsay’s song choice and her learning about him. This was David’s best dance of the season!!  Julianne was correct that David is the heart of the competition and he and Lindsay do have a fantastic partnership. Such a sweet dance! 9, 9, 9, 9 = 36

Trio Round 

Why did they have the judges pick the trio member this time? I don’t really understand the thought process on this one but now it makes sense why Witney wasn’t with Lindsay and David and Maks wasn’t with Val and Normani.

Rashad and Emma with Witney- Argentine Tango – ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! This might be the best trio dance ever. Those lifts were fantastic. This should have been a perfect score. This was definitely the best dance of the season. These judges have to get it together and give this man a perfect score he deserves. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. He is the best and I want him to win.   10, 9, 10, 10 = 39

Normani and Val with Alan- Jive – Alan brought a great fun energy to this couple.Tonight’s dances from Normani were the best ones of the competition but she has been constantly over scored. I agreed with Len that dancing on the judges table was just let me catch my breath. Normani’s obsession with Bonner was hilarious. CAI missed a chance to take off a point for a lift like she likes to do so much and it’s the exact reason she took a point off earlier in the season. I just want consistency CAI!!!   10, 9, 10, 10 = 39

Bonner and Sharna with Britt- Jazz – This was an awful dance. Bonner is stiff and awkward. I understand he has issues with his neck and can’t move as well as say, Rashad but this was seriously painful to watch. I personally am surprised that he got 4 sevens. I don’t know that I would have given him a 7!  7, 7, 7, 7 = 28

Simone and Sasha with Brittany- Paso Doble – Why is Simone the only one with another pro that is the same sex. That makes it harder on her. I think she did really enjoy having a girl in rehearsals to show her exactly what the move should look like. You could tell there were times she was trying not to smile. I think she did a great job with this trio. I don’t understand why the judges almost refuse to give her a 10. I don’t understand why in the world they are so hard on her. Last season, Laurie was my fave but they were ridiculously easy on her in comparison to what they are saying to Simone. You can tell she’s upset after the scoring. I don’t blame her at all. 9, 9, 9, 9 = 36

David and Lindsay with Hayley- Paso Doble – This dance was decent. Nothing too bad or too good. He did lack shaping like Julianne said but Len was a bit harsh but the judges are weird tonight. This could have been a 30 and no one would have been upset by it. David’s attitude through all of this has been fantastic. 7, 7, 8, 7 = 29

Everyone is called safe except Rashad/Emma and Sharna/Bonner. If I had been watching this live I would have been so annoyed and quit watching if Rashad went home. (Like I did when Wanya from BoyzIIMen was sent home way too early).  Bonner and Sharna are eliminated and the semi-finals are next week. I didn’t realize that this year only 3 were heading to the finals. If I’m honest, I’d rather Normani go home next week so I can just see pure fun and happiness from David’s freestyle.  Tonight the judges were harsher than they needed to be. I hope they are all in better moods next week.

I always say I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts but no one ever sends me any, but I’d still like to know what you all thought.

[thebittahwizard]

Random TV Recommendation

Leverage: The Best Running Gags & Gag-Nots

With literally nothing but my own taste to back myself up, I’m here to talk to you about one of the best television series ever. I usually judge media in two very broad concepts: Quality and Compatibility. Quality refers to the general question of is it good? (i.e. the writing, the acting, special effects, etc.) Compatibility is something a bit more personal: is it something I would come back to? There are very few TV shows that have ever aced both of these ideas, and I’m here to talk about one such series: Leverage (2008). 

Now, I could bog this post down with stats and reviews from Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, but I’m not going to because that’s just fucking boring. Google that shit. Also, all of that wouldn’t get to the heart of why Leverage is a show that I can always rewatch, either as background noise while I’m working, or with as John Mulaney puts it—Bobby Fischer-like intensity. Leverage is a 5-season series filled with what I’m calling “running gags and gag-nots.” A running gag is an ongoing joke, and the “gag-nots” refers to everything else (themes, characterizations, etc.), I know, I know, not very specific, but this isn’t a science so the amount of fucks I give is set at a staggering 0. 

So, here we are. A list of my favorite things about Leverage.

The Cons Maketh The Man

To get the ball rolling, let’s start off with one of the more predictable running gags on the show: The Cons. While some of the cons they pull are made up, just for laughs or as a means to set a comedic scene, some of them are the realest of real. The delightfully manic mixture of “this is impossible to pull off” and “this is actually something that exists” is basically the entire concept of the show, so it definitely gets to be on this list. For your perusal:

The Double Blind Scam / The Burn Scam / The Fiddle Game (yes, Parker, Eliot is the fiddle) / The Cuban Sandwich / Glengarry Glen Death (Nate got real morbid with this one) / Edward Albee / The Lost Heir (the gang pulled this one twice, once with horses and once with Parker who just “looooves meth”) / The Nigerian Scam / The Mona Lisa Con / The Apple Pie (it’s like the Cherry Pie, but with lifeguards) / Rip Deal / Three Card Monty / The Wire (in record-breaking time, I might add) / Zanzibar Marketplace / The Turnabout / The Skagway Shuffle / The London Spank / The Vegas Wake-Up Call / Long Con / Smash and Grab / The Genevan Paso Doble / Ponzi Scheme / Plan M (Hardison dies in Plan M)

The Muzak

Do I even need to write anything here? Mark this gag-not as one of the best things about the entire show. A combination of stealthy spy tunes and saucily upbeat jingles, the score for Leverage is one of the greatest, most on-brand mood music that has ever graced the air waves.

Hold on for a quick search...the composer for the show's original music was Joseph LoDuca, who...wait hold on—also composed for The Evil Dead (1981), Army of Darkness (1992), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), Legend of the Seeker (2008), and Spartacus (2010).

Well goddamn Joe is trying to put us all to shame. Let me just hold out my beaten tin cup and beg for spare talent.

*channels Patrick Starr* Who Are These People?!

Okay, this subheading might be a joke, but Leverage’s cast is decidedly not. This group of actors was relatively...unknown? We’ll sort-of exempt Timothy Hutton and his Oscar, but overall, each of the Thieving Fab-Five didn’t have a break-out role until this show started. And even then, Leverage didn’t exactly pull the numbers to make it “popular.” But they all worked well together, fed off of each others’ energy in a way that I’ve only seen in a handful of casts. It’s hard enough to get good actors, but to get cohesive actors? That’s the fucking unicorn, and Leverage fucking did that. 

Sophie’s “Acting” 

A master grifter that wants to be a movie starlet but can’t fucking act unless she’s swiping some rich wanker’s family valuables? Iconic. The team’s faces every time they try to tell Sopie that she’s terrible? Bloody hilarious. My favorite part is that Nate just supports her even when her performances make audience members root for the Nazis. 

10 Pounds of Crazy in a 5-Pound Bag

Parker. That about sums it up, right? 

It’s a Very Distinctive Catchphrase

Eliot Spencer is the guy everyone wants to be, right up until you watch scene after scene where he gets punched in the spleen or has to take out 30 guys with a coffee mug. Yeah. He takes fighting to a new level; Eliot even gets his own awesome music for when he beats off the bad guys (thanks again, Joe). He speaks like 6 languages, hates guns, and has really great hair. 

Eliot has a few running gags, revolving mostly around his fighting, his fucking, or him being a foodie. My favorite part, as is obvious, is the ridiculous nature of just how good he is at his job. 

You ID’d a guy from his knife fighting style? 

It’s a very distinctive style. 

I love it because it’s equal parts absurd and wonderful, just like this show. (Runner up for Eliot’s best catchphrase is Damn it, Hardison!)

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

Let’s talk about something that’s very much not a joke: addiction. Leverage does it in a very in-your-face way by making the leader of the team—the protagonist of the whole goddamn show—an alcoholic. 

Nate Ford is a man suffering from the overwhelming guilt and grief over the death of his only son. He’s divorced, without a job, and has a steady bottle of whisky to fall back on. He drinks and he drinks, sometimes justifying it to himself and the others and sometimes not. We see him wallow in a bottle, go cold turkey, and everything in between. No matter where he’s at on the scale each season, the audience knows that he’s an alcoholic, and it’s never really pictured as an “a-okay” thing. It’s never glossed over, which would be easy given that Leverage is a largely happy and upbeat show. Nate walks the line of what it’s like to live with that particular devil on his shoulder, and I think it’s one of the most poignant and honest parts of the show.

The Sassmaster of Every Quip Ever

Hardison was the sassy, young sidekick before it was cool. The man has one-liners out the wazzoo and has the fucking skills to back up his mouth. He’s the guy that comes through in the clutch, and is probably the most relatable of all the Leverage characters. Quotes that shall live on in the eternal void of the internet include:

“Age of the geek, baby!” /  “I...I know how to...I was throwing a little style in it, just a little bit. A little style. I know how to spell 'dead,' damn it! I can steal a bank, I can spell dead!” /  “Please, set me on fire, do something! Cause I'm all shivering and I think one of my nipples fell off.” / “Next time y’all call be it better be for something easy, like faking a moon landing.” / “I’ve hacked history, people!” / “I ate the damn sandwich for sure. The boy can cook. He can throw down.” / “No-stabbing Wednesdays, new tradition.” / “Y’all nasty!” 

Black King? White Knight?

Grifter. Hitter. Hacker. Thief. Mastermind. They pick up where the law leaves off. But what does that mean? Are they the bad guys? The good guys? Leverage doesn’t know, and it’s constantly in your face asking you these questions. They say that sometimes bad guys make the best good guys, but is that true? What, then, differentiates the good from bad? Context? Nature? Can I ask anymore fucking questions?

Anyway, there’s no definite answer, and that’s the point. Leverage just asks the questions. The answers are up to you. 

Special Mention: The “I” in F.B.I. Stands for Idiots

The team, constantly helping people, also inadvertently helps the F.B.I. in catching the big bads they take down in the process. Specifically, they help these two chuckleheads and it’s always amazing. 

Go watch it. It’s worth it.

[thegirlygeek-blog1]

My Thoughts on SCD (Strictly Come Dancing) So Far...

DISCLAIMER!- I am in no way a professional dancer, these are just my personal opinions. I am an enormous fan of SCD and have watched it and It Takes Two since the beginning. I do however know about music and a bit about performing so these are just my ideas from my own experiences!

I missed the first two weeks as I was on holiday and I was just too busy last weekend to do my review straight after the show (wasn't Movie week fun?!) so these are my thoughts so far. I’m now hoping to do a review of each show and my thoughts on the dances each Monday after I’ve seen the weekend’s shows.

Danny John-Jules and Amy Dowden:

You can absolutely tell that this man is Mr. Showbiz. He dresses up so much for It Takes Two and just has such a flourish when he dances. His scores are going up just a small amount each week but I think that his Ballroom is better than his Latin so far. I feel that he's almost too stiff for the Latin and he needs to let go a bit to look a bit less trained. For his age (well for any age!), he is soooo fit and flexible but I think with certain dances this could almost be a hinderance. He’s only done one ballroom so far, so I’m looking forward to his Viennese Waltz.

Kate Silverton and Aljaž Skorjanec:

Their Cha-cha week one was a bit underwhelming but my god has Kate improved since! Her scores are so much better and her Tango and Foxtrot were just amazing! She seems to really suit a vampy, sassy character and I’m hoping that she can up her acting for the slower, sweeter dances. Considering she is not a performer, I’m really impressed with her skills. This weekend it’s a Samba which is notoriously difficult - it’s the rhythm. I’m really hoping she can bring it because I definitely want to see more of her.

Lauren Steadman and AJ Pritchard:

I’m not such a fan of Lauren. Her scores are actually getting lower each week and I know that she has been training/competing at the same time but it is disappointing. I did like her Waltz in week one and I thought that her Charleston was pretty good but I honestly found last weeks Cha-cha kinda dull.  This weekend she has a Quickstep which I’m hoping will be better. It’s fast and fun which I’m hoping will suit her more. I do think she could benefit from some sort of acting or performance lessons as I think that could help her.

Seann Walsh and Katya Jones:

What can I say? I’m disappointed and sad about what’s happened and I honestly think that they might go this weekend. They shouldn't as they should be judged on their dancing but I don't know if they will. Could people please stop ruining my lovely, cosy, sparkly show that means so much to me! Back to the dancing - Seann’s not a great dancer and never will be. His Tango was very fun but not great and his Jive, although hilarious, was so out of time. His Paso Doble last week was better but I think a good performance masked some okay technique. I think he will really suit the Charleston this weekend but it may be overshadowed by recent events. I really think they could have smashed the Charleston (Katya has such clever choreography especially when it comes to tricks and lifts) but I don't know if their heads are even in it.

Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima:

The Jive was fine, the Waltz was better and the Salsa was better still. I know that technically the Salsa was good but she just doesn't excite me. Who’s idea was it for her to do a Salsa in flat shoes?? I don’t think I could get past that!  I’m waiting for a WOW moment from her, it’s just not there yet. This weekend is a Quickstep to a song she really loves that I hope will just make her bring it a little bit more.

Charles Venn and Karen Clifton:

Is anyone else super sad that Karen and Kevin split up? I AM!!!! Any-who... He is a good dancer but he has had 25 for three weeks running. Come on Charles give us a bit more! I am not surprised that he was in the bottom two last week as his American Smooth was a little dull for my liking. He’s got a Salsa this weekend and I am really hoping for a bit more FIRE!!!

Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev:

WHY IS SHE ON THIS SHOW? SHE IS A TRAINED DANCER. THAT WAS HER BLOODY JOB. WHY IS SHE HERE? I EVEN HATE THE WAY SHE SAYS PASHA. ‘I’M SO FAR OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE’ NO YOUR BLOODY NOT, YOUR’E  A DANCER. HER SCORES ARE AMAZING, OF COURSE THEY ARE. THIS WEEKEND A TANGO WHICH WILL ALSO BE AMAZING. WHY? BECAUSE SHE’S A TRAINED DANCER. Thank you, rant done with.

Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara:

Miss Ranjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie!!!! (if you have not seen Rupaul’s Drag Race, this will make no sense). I adore Ranj! I’m a sucker for a cute gay and if you've seen his IG, you will know that he is also fierce *three finger snaps in a z formation*. Okay he’s not a great dancer and his scores are actually getting progressively lower but he's just so cute. Also he’s not getting that much training in as he’s working at a hospital for the NHS. He’s got a real job that’s really important (no offence to the others) so no wonder he's not as a stronger dancer. I’m not convinced that this weekend’s Paso will be that good as I just can’t see him being the matador, he’s just too smiley :)

Katie Piper and Gorka Marquez: 

I think that Katie is an amazing woman who has been through so much. She has so much strength and courage, it’s such a shame that she’s not a very good dancer! You can tell that she isn’t musical, that she isn’t a performer and that she gets very nervous. Her first two dances, although not bad technically, were a bit lack-lustre. I am so pleased that she relaxed and enjoyed last week’s dance, it makes you enjoy it more as an audience. This weekend is a Jive and although she has built her confidence, you need a lot of character to pull off a good jive. I’m not convinced that it will be very good but I hope to be proved wrong as I really like her!

Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse:

Cricketers on this show are either amazing (Mark Ramprakash, Darren Gough) or terrible (Phil Tufnell, Michael Vaughn). I’m a bit undecided on Graeme. When he's good, he's really good, but he's technique is a little messy.  His Latin is definitely better than his Ballroom. He does have some musicality there I just think that he needs to calm down a bit for the more chilled dances. This weekend is a Jive (to QUEEN!) and although he has the energy, we will have to see if his long legs just get in the way.

Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton:

Still sad about Karen and Kevin. I think we all have a soft spot for Kevin and I was already a fan of Stacey’s documentaries before she started SCD. She’s been a bit hit and miss so far and her Cha-Cha really didn’t gel (but who isn’t having Cha-Cha issues this year?). Her movie week Jive (MINIONS!!!) was so much better and I hope that will keep improving. This weekend is a Foxtrot and I’m interested to see her do a more chilled, contained Ballroom dance. 

Joe Sugg and Diane Buswell:

He’s 27!?!?! He looks 15!!!! I had very low expectations for Joe which isn't fair as I didn't really know who he was. Who knew that he'd be so good? His Jive and Charleston were amazing but they really suited his personality. I was very unsure about him doing Ballroom but that was pretty good too. He’s back to Latin this weekend with a Cha-Cha; everyone seems to be struggling with this dance so fingers crossed. I am interested to see him do more Ballroom though as I don't know if he can keep up his potential.

Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice:

I was a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge Steps fan when I was little and went to see them live last year. You know what, they still have it! So I'm a little biased for being a Faye fan but she's doing very well. She started with a hell of a Cha-Cha, did a really interesting Viennese Waltz and last weeks Grease themed Quickstep was FAB-U-LOUS! I really hope she hasn't peeked too soon and will continue to be amazing. She is doing the first Rumba of the series this weekend and I am quite worried as hardly anyone does a good Rumba. Even if it isn't great, I hope that her fan base (ME!) will get her through as she is a real contender.

Those who have left us:

Lee Ryan and Nadiya Bychkova:

I’m so sad for Lee as I thought that he really had a lot of potential. His Waltz in week one was pretty good and I was looking forward to seeing him do more Ballroom. I think he was in the bottom two for his Jive as he was in the middle of the leader board. His Cha-Cha wasn't great but it’s a really hard dance and it’s just a shame that he had that dance last week. 

Susannah Constantine and Anton Du Beke:

Poor, poor Anton. When is he gonna get a good partner??? Susannah was terrible and would have always been terrible. She was very gracious in going out which surprised me but was very nice of her. There’s always next year Anton.....

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 3 Rewatch: Week 7

This is the first week that each couple does two individual dances. So let's just get started.

Ballroom Round

Jerry and Kym- Foxtrot (Judges' Score=24, My Score=7)- So I think this was Jerry's best dance of the season. It was a decent dance. I think he was a bit in his head, so that caused him to not perform it like he usually does. But I thought it was nice.

Monique and Louis- Quickstep (Judges' Score=27, My Score=9)- I know I sound like a broken record with these two, but I really loved this dance so much. She was super elegant. Her footwork was amazing. She handled the wardrobe malfunction extremely well. I'm so upset that she stumbled a bit. It could've been a perfect score.

Emmitt and Chery- Waltz (Judges' Score=28, My Score=9)- Emmitt was a completely different dancer this week. I could tell how much he paid attention to the little details. His footwork was really nice. I loved his posture and frame. Like Len, his arms bugged me from time to time. But yeah, he turned it up this week.

Mario and Karina- Foxtrot (Judges' Score=29, My Score=9)- I wanted to give this dance a 10, but I just couldn't justify it. And I don't know why the judges went so googoo gaga over it. I actually didn't find him that relaxed and the top half of his body did not match the bottom half. The top half was stiff and he looked unsure of himself in a way that I hadn't seen all competition. The bottom half was mostly fine. I will say that his arms were way better this week.

Joey and Edyta- Foxtrot (Judges' Score=29, My Score=10)- Welp. Joey finally impressed me. I really loved this routine. Everything seemed to finally come together for him in this dance. He performed it extremely well. I thought his whole body matched. His technique was better than Mario's. It was good.

Latin Round

Jerry and Kym- Mambo (Judges' Score=22, My Score=6)- Whew. Okay. Well I will say that I am glad that he was able to get both dances done. The dance was not good though. There was no rhythm. There was no hips. No technique. No nothing. But he's improved greatly and he's been so enjoyable to watch. I'm glad he went home on this note as opposed to potentially leaving after last week's disastrous paso.

Monique and Louis- Paso Doble (Judges' Score=27, My Score=10)- Another incredible dance from this couple. If I'm being honest, I had to watch it a second time to see the underarm turn issues and the moment where she got off balance a bit. I saw both but that was after they got pointed out. So I'm sticking with the 10 because most of that stuff was really miniscule and it was a top tier dance in my opinion.

Emmitt and Cheryl- Mambo (Judges' Score=29, My Score=9)- I love this dance so much. It is so much fun and Emmitt's energy is just so infectious. I personally cannot give it a 10 because his footwork was a little too stompy for my liking, but everything else was great.

Mario and Karina- Jive (Judges' Score=27, My Score=9)- This actually has been my favorite dance from the couple this season. Mario seemed to be at ease, his feet were great and the bounce action was really good. Now, two things that I found to be problematic. The first is his free arm. It's just funky. And the second was sometimes he would become the "no neck monster" (s/o to Tyra). That's it.

Joey and Edyta- Mambo (Judges' Score=28, My Score=8)- I'm gonna seem like a hater, but I didn't like it. It was all over the place and he did not look like he was in control most of the time. It was a mess to me if I'm being honest.

My Ranking and Scores Out of 60:

1 Monique and Louis- 55 (27 for quickstep, 28 for paso) = Emmitt and Cheryl- 55 (27 for waltz, 28 for mambo) 3 Mario and Karina- 54 (27 for foxtrot and jive) 4 Joey and Edyta- 53 (29 for foxtrot, 24 for mambo) 5 Jerry and Kym- 40 (22 for foxtrot, 18 for mambo)

In the end, Jerry was sent home. It was honestly time for him to do so. He wasn't on the level of anyone else and I don't think he was going to improve anymore. That being said, next week will be interesting for sure. Let me know your thoughts and I will talk to you all soon.

[helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog]

7 Things We Learned From Dancing With 'DWTS' Pros Gleb Savchenko, Artem Chigvintsev & Alan Bersten (Exclusive)

Dancing With the Stars' all-athlete season is just weeks away, and ET got a firsthand look at what the intensive training will be like for the next round of celebrities gearing up to vie for the mirrorball trophy.

Gleb Savchenko, Alan Bersten and Artem Chigvintsev exclusively invited us to take part in their first-ever Pro Dance Camp, a three-day dance soirée in Palm Springs, California, where we learned exactly what it's like to dance with the stars pros!

Held inside the stunning Riviera ballroom, 75 aspiring dancers of all different levels -- from beginners to intermediate and advanced -- traveled far and wide, coming in from states like Maine, Minnesota, Washington and North Carolina, to attend what Artem described as a ballroom "crash course," that kicked off just five days after he, Alan and Gleb wrapped their 64-city DWTS: Light Up the Night Live! tour.

"This is the first time anyone has ever done something like this," said Gleb, who started planning Pro Dance Camp with Alan, Artem and his wife, Elena, at the end of last year. "It's for the people who love dancing, for the people who are fans of the show, our fans. It's an opportunity to come and join dance class and get the chance to dance with their favorite pros from their favorite TV show. It's a lot of fun!"

Having such a blast covering @prodancecamp for @entertainmenttonight 💃 Just finished @theartemc’s class 🔥🙌 // #dwts #prodancecamp

A post shared by DESIREE MURPHY (@desireemurphy_) on Mar 24, 2018 at 12:04pm PDT

Artem says creating the event was a collaborative effort. "A lot of people came together and we said, 'Let's do something, because we kind of have a little time off,'" he said of their break between the tour and DWTS. "It was a collaboration of a bunch of people … to create something where kids and adults who want to dance, we can give them a chance. If they are watching us dance on TV, why not experience it for themselves?"

"Elena has this business mind. She always gets questions and emails from people asking, 'Where can we learn how to dance? Not necessarily from Gleb, but we just wanna learn,'" Gleb added of his wife's involvement. "So, she came up with the idea of creating this getaway weekend for everyone, no matter their dance experience. There's no levels, so anyone could come."

First day @prodancecamp went amazing! #family

A post shared by Gleb Savchenko (@glebsavchenkoofficial) on Mar 24, 2018 at 10:40pm PDT

And based on what we experienced from taking part in over six hours of dance classes, Gleb and Artem couldn't have stayed any more true to their word. As promised, the guys' workshops were fun, informative and laid-back. So, whether you've been a dancer your entire life or were just learning your first 8-count, every guest felt at ease as Gleb, Alan and Artem taught Latin, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Salsa, Jive and Paso Doble variations, with a warm-up led by DWTS troupe member Britt Stewart each morning. Additionally, fans were also given the opportunity to take private lessons from their pro dancer of choice, which the majority said was the highlight of their weekend when we chatted with them at the gala dinner.

Of course, DWTS fans on Twitter who were following the event were feeling the "FOMO," with many asking if the guys have any plans to expand the camp to more cities in the future. Alan and Artem both told ET that they'd be down, but ultimately, it's "up to Gleb" to decide.

"So far, it seems like this is a really fun place and weekend. We've met so many fans and there's a great energy about it," Gleb shared. "Personally, I would love to continue it and take it to different places. It's in the future, it's in the plan, and it would be great if we could do something like that."

For now, Gleb confirmed to ET that he's gearing up for the all-athlete season of Dancing With the Stars, which returns to ABC on Monday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET, as well as Pro Dance LA, a new studio he and Elena are opening up in West Hollywood, California. In anticipation of what's to come on the dance competition show, we're breaking down seven more things we learned from dancing and hanging out with Gleb, Alan and Artem:

1. Focus less on the steps, and more on having fun.

While chatting with ET, Gleb gave some great advice to ballroom beginners, including the 10 athletes who will be competing on DWTS later this month. "Bring yourself, bring the energy, wear something comfortable and be prepared for us to make you sweat, for sure," he said. "Bring lots of energy, have lots of fun … you don't have to be a professional dancer, or have any dance experience, to learn [ballroom]. We always create something that's accommodating and suitable for every individual person."

Added Artem, "I want people to want to come back because they had fun. Fun is always the biggest goal for me."

2. Latin is way harder than it looks on TV…

It’s getting 🔥 in here! @Gleb_Savchenko is such a great teacher, making dancers of all ages and experience feel comfortable with the moves 💃 @ProDanceCampPS#ProDanceCamppic.twitter.com/FmpH8eW5Cp

— Desiree Murphy (@desireemurphy_) March 24, 2018

We were most surprised by the difficulty of Gleb's Latin workshop, which taught us how to use our hips in a way that's much different from other dance styles. Honestly, we now have a newfound appreciation for all the celebrities who have attempted to master this style on the show in the past. It is NOT easy!

3. ...but the Jive is just as enjoyable as you'd expect!

Yaaasss! Jive is next with @Dance10Alan 🤗 // @ProDanceCampPSpic.twitter.com/ZUbkpWg7nK

— Desiree Murphy (@desireemurphy_) March 24, 2018

At the same time, we also understand why so many football players specifically excel so well in this dance genre. The fast footwork keeps you on your toes, and because of its quickness, you find yourself being challenged while still having a lot of fun with the choreography. You really have to pay attention to the counts, as well as your placement on the floor, which NFL stars can relate to when keeping track of their movement on the field.

4. There's a reason why Alan became a pro.

Wouldn’t be @ProDanceCampPS without some SHIMMYING! @Dance10Alanpic.twitter.com/cR5xTcr77n

— Desiree Murphy (@desireemurphy_) March 24, 2018

Alan finally received pro status on DWTS' 25th season (paired with Debbie Gibson), and after taking lessons from him, we totally get it. He makes you laugh, while being just serious enough to make sure you're understanding the content. And if you get the steps wrong, he'll call you out -- but not in a malicious way, whatsoever. He does it in a way that allows you to poke fun at your own missteps, as you prove to him (and yourself) that you can do it. His classes are all about working hard, having a blast and becoming an expert dancer without even realizing you're improving. Truly something magical!

5. Artem brings the heat!

Hands down, covering the first-ever @prodancecamp for @entertainmenttonight was one of my favorite assignments I’ve had this year! I am now a ballroom dancer. Please vote for Desiree & Artem!!! #DWTS Season 27 😂 Swipe 👉 for more

A post shared by DESIREE MURPHY (@desireemurphy_) on Mar 25, 2018 at 6:56pm PDT

DWTS fans and judges typically comment on Artem's chemistry with his partners, and if we learned anything during Pro Dance Camp, it's that he knows how to make everyone feel comfortable… while still looking good!

"I feel like every single person on this earth should experience and be educated in [dance], because the etiquette comes with it," he explained. "Men need to learn how to treat a woman, and I feel like through this dancing, it definitely gives you that exposure."

Out of all the dances we experienced over the weekend, Artem's Salsa class surely brought out the best energy, and plenty of dreamy smiles from the ladies in the workshops. Hey, we don't blame them!

SO IMPRESSED! Everyone is bringing that energy for @artemchigvintse 🙌🙌🙌 #prodancecamp@ProDanceCampPSpic.twitter.com/j9S7KQ61g5

— Desiree Murphy (@desireemurphy_) March 24, 2018

6. The guys can describe their personalities using one style of dance.

Alan joked that he's a mix of all the best qualities, and therefore would be the Argentine Tango. "I love the elegance of ballroom, like with the waltz, but the Argentine Tango is a mix of that and Latin passion," he shared. "It has everything, and everyone can see it differently. It can be really fierce, it could be subtle, it could be sometimes controlling, but also soft. It has all the different dynamics."

Artem said he's torn between Argentine Tango and the Paso. "They're both very manly, both very sensual, in a lot of ways, and I feel like I can express myself more in those dances than any others," he explained.

As for Gleb? "I would probably say contemporary and the thing is, I'm not a contemporary dancer. I'm ballroom trained, I've never really trained properly in contemporary, but I kinda picked it up when I started doing the show," he revealed. "I really love it because it's a style where you can actually do anything, and you can really tell a story through dance. You can express yourself more. I'm all about telling a story through dance -- the emotions and feelings and very strong characters of a man and a woman and their connection."

7. They read your tweets.

During breaks from dancing, we caught the guys on their phones, and Alan says a big reason why they created Pro Dance Camp in the first place was because of all the fan suggestions they've recently received. "A lot of the fans want to dance with us," he explained. "We get a lot of tweets that are like, 'I wish there was a Dancing With the Fans season.' So this is really as close as it gets!"

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[dwtsfun]

Top 5 Val Partners

Hey everyone. I am finally back. And my hope is to stay consistent through the rest of the summer so that it won't be so hard to get back into the swing of things when the new season of DWTS starts.

That being said, I'm tackling Val's partners this time around. And this was a challenge for me because I really didn't care for most of his partners. That probably isn't shocking for you all. I've realized that I just do not like Val's personality. He reminds me so much of the guys in grade school and even now, that I really just clashed with. He's one of those "bro" types and I never meshed well with them. Ever. So for these partnerships, I found 2 where I liked the partner enough that it overshadowed him and the other 3 where I enjoyed the entire partnership to some degree.

5. Laurie and Val, Season 23

I am just going to flat out say that I did not like this partnership at all. They are here purely because I enjoy Laurie. But I felt this was just weird. For some reason, the show and Val really did not know how to make age appropriate dances for Laurie. Let me explain. I never felt like they were trying to age Shawn Johnson in season 8 or Zendaya up or down in any of their dances. It always felt age appropriate. And they were treated like 16 year olds. For Laurie, it felt like they were giving her themes that felt either a little too old or a little too young. It also felt like they were treating her as if she were 10/11/12, instead of the 16 year old that she was. It was really bizarre to watch that. Throughout all of that, Laurie did perform well. And thankfully, Val was able to choreograph a few dances that actually seemed to work well with Laurie.

Favorite dances: Viennese Waltz, Quickstep

4. Normani and Val, Season 24

This is the other partnership that I just had to hold onto my like of the celeb to stomach Val. While I do think their energy was much more congruent than his partnership the previous season, I still had my issues with Val. Now, I will say that Normani was a dynamic performer and it made a lot of the dances he created for her a lot more enjoyable than they would've been if anyone else had done them. So for that, I appreciate her. They did have a couple of dances that I really liked where Val was able to utilize Normani's level of talent the way that I was wanting him to for the entire season.

Favorite dances: Cha-Cha, Jazz

3. Zendaya and Val, Season 16

I actually really enjoyed this partnership for the first 6 weeks of the competition. Val was doing a great job working with Zendaya. She responded well to him. She had a lot of talent and was a quick learner. My like started to wane in those last 4 weeks when the judges started to let Val get away with so much with little to no pushback and also his head getting increasingly larger. That being said, Zendaya was always fantastic. This was a partnership where I felt everything worked (minus Val's antics).

Favorite dances: 1st Samba, 1st Jive, Cha-Cha

2. Tamar and Val, Season 21

I think it's probably safe to say that we know these two weren't originally supposed to be a couple. After learning that Kaitlyn and Artem were slated to be on this season (not together), and knowing what type of partners Val always got at this point, Kaitlyn was gonna be with Val and Tamar was gonna be with Artem. However, we got this team. And while it felt a little off, it also kinda worked. Tamar didn't let Val get away with stuff that he is allowed to get away with during the seasons and it made him a lot more likable. I always think Val does a much better job with his choreo when he has someone who is on a Tamar level of dancing as opposed to the big ringers he gets or when he has to actually teach someone rhythm (like the past few seasons). Anyway, I was sad that they had to pull out due to Tamar's illness. But your health always has to come first.

Favorite dances: Charleston, 1st Rumba

1. Kelly and Val, Season 15

This was and still is my favorite Val partnership. They worked really well together. Kelly was one of the few celebs that actually improved from her original season. And it was one of the few partnerships that actually worked. Val had just come off of two not so great seasons and it seemed like he was ready to prove himself. I won't really talk about the showmance because I think it was actually slightly real for a second there. But I don't care about that. The point is that this worked from top to bottom and I enjoyed everything about their season. I didn't just enjoy them sometimes or only Kelly. I enjoyed them as a whole for the entire season.

Favorite dances: Paso Doble, Rumba, Cha-Cha

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 29 Week 9: Icons Night (I don’t have a good title this week)

Icons night was pretty much a blah night for the first half of the show. It picked up during (just before) the second hour, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time. I am so sick of that JLo Versace dress. Tyra looked good, but I am so sick of it. She looked cool as Nicki. I feel like she’s brought in her own glam team and that’s why she has looked so good the past few weeks. That makeup she had before looked like it was probably the DWTS people because Tyra has never looked that ridiculous in her life. Tyra also did well. I like her and Bruno’s relationship. They bounce off of one another really well. I just wanted to say that. Now, let’s get this recap/review/whatever these things are started.

Justina and Sasha- Rumba (Score=24)- Mm. Okay. Something about the rumbas have been very lacking this season. The hip action wasn’t great. She danced really small. She didn’t really extend through her lines. It was good. It wasn’t great. Also, I hate that they threw her in all leather. It really looked like it restricted her movements.

Nelly and Daniella- Jazz (Score=24)- Okay. I know people are going to try and trash this dance. So let me go ahead and say this now. Was it great? No. He messed up the first lift and I think he blanked and got nervous and stiff after that. He had a Skai moment. He fought to get back into it and got it back about two thirds into the dance. The last third was great. I do think this was slightly overscored. I think it should have been a 22.

AJ and Cheryl- Viennese Waltz (Score=23)- Here is another dance where the celeb messed up once and couldn’t get back into it for a while. Toward the end, he got it together, but it was definitely a fight. I do think his posture and frame were better this week.

Kaitlyn and Artem- Argentine Tango (Score=30)- I think this was perfect, technique wise. And I think it was the first time that I think that Kaitlyn mostly performed it. However, she got too pretty and soft toward the middle and never got it back. I guess I understood the praise for it. She finally started to do what the judges had asked for. I just wish she had sustained it for the entire dance.

Johnny and Britt- Quickstep (Score=30)- So before this dance, I was just waiting for someone to blow me away. The night had been so disappointing up to this point and I needed something to spice it up. And we finally got it. This was an amazing dance. Britt’s choreography was so interesting and innovative tonight. And Johnny was perfect. 

Skai and Alan- Paso Doble (Score=27)- Listen. Listen. Listen. This was my favorite dance of the night by far. Skai took it up a notch and gave a real grown performance. She really channeled her inner Janet. She was fierce. She was in control. She had conviction. She was incredible. That spin on the floor and then she stopped dead at 12 o’clock? Listen. I screamed. There were still a few issues with her turns. But otherwise, what an amazing dance.

Nev and Jenna- Jive (Score=27)- This was better than last week for Nev. He wasn’t nearly as awkward. And he looked a lot more competent. He also performed this dance a lot better. His feet were not as pointed as they needed to be. And his legs were not as strong and sharp. It seems like a small detail, but in a jive, it is such an eyesore when the energy in the legs and feet in those kicks and flicks don’t match the rest of the dance.

Dance-Off Round

Justina and Sasha vs. Kaitlyn and Artem- Cha-cha- I think this is a preference thing, but I would easily give this to Justina. Kaitlyn literally leaves me feeling absolutely nothing when and after she dances. Justina wasn’t as technically clean, but I enjoyed it more.

Nelly and Daniella vs. Skai and Alan- Salsa- This was a great dance-off. They both really went for it. I think they both improved immensely. I do think that Skai won, but it was closer than I thought it would be. I enjoyed this dance-off a lot.

AJ and Cheryl vs. Johnny and Britt- Jive- I think this was the closest dance-off of the night. Both couples were extremely strong. I actually found it really hard to make the call here. Bruno and Derek said AJ, while I agreed with CAI in thinking that Johnny had the slight edge. I do want to say that this was the best AJ has ever looked on the dancefloor. This jive was what I had wanted to see from him all season long.

So Johnny and AJ ended up in the bottom 2. The judges minus Derek, decided to save Johnny. Idk what’s wrong with Derek, y’all. He’s pissing me off with these bird brained decisions.

Let me know your thoughts on the night and I will talk to you all soon.

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 29: Pandemic Premiere

We are back! Things are looking real different. New host. New judge. New ballroom. Two new pros. It’s was an interesting night with so many couples. So let’s get into it.

AJ and Cheryl- Jive (Score=18)- This was such a great opener for the season. I didn’t even realize that there was no big audience there (there was some crowd up in the rafters). AJ and Cheryl’s energy was so explosive and what was needed to make up for the lack of an audience. AJ was on time. And he kept up super well with a difficult routine. A couple of things. First off, Derek was a perfect judge and was able to pick out one specific thing from each couple that they needed to work on. And I agreed with all of it. AJ’s feet need to be pointed and he needed more bounce for the jive. 

Chrishell and Gleb- Tango (Score=13)- While I don’t think this dance was necessarily terrible, it was definitely one of the weaker dances of the night. Chrishell’s posture was not strong at all. And in a dance like the tango, that is so important. She also seems to be a bit stiff. It wasn’t as much of a problem tonight, but it will be if Gleb doesn’t work on that with her. She is having a good though and I like that positive light that she radiates. Chrishell has tons of potential and I just hope Gleb actually tries this season and doesn’t check out like he typically does when he has to really work.

Vernon and Peta- Foxtrot (Score=17)- First of all, Vernon has such a pretty smile. As for the dance, it was really good. Like Derek said, he needs to pay more attention to his arms. They kinda were just there. I also feel like he can let go some more and just really go for it. I’m not gonna harp too much on that because it was the first week and everybody is nervous. But it is something I noticed and it might be his biggest obstacle moving forward.

Anne and Keo- Cha-cha (Score=18)- This was the first shock of the season for me. I was intrigued by Anne mostly because she seemed like such a wild card in the preseason. People were underestimating her but as time went on, I started to feel like she might actually be a decent dancer. And tonight, she was way better than I expected. She was on time and her technique was really crisp and precise. And she was just so much fun! I do believe that she needs to loosen up a little more and get those hips moving. But otherwise, this is definitely a couple to watch out for. They have the ability to go all the way for sure.

Jeannie and Brandon- Salsa (Score=18)- Brandon looked really good in that lime green. That color really complements his skin tone. Okay so Jeannie was better than I expected too. Y’all know I love when people are real grounded in Latin dances (not the jive). There’s a different kind of power that you have when you drive through the floor versus dancing on top of the floor (I’ll get to that a little later). And Jeannie was really driving through the floor. There were some chaotic moments where things almost went awry. But it’s easier to rein in excess energy than it is to try and pull more energy out of someone. I think this dance could have gotten at least one 7, but an 18 is still good.

Jesse and Sharna- Quickstep (Score=18)- This dance was slightly overscored. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think it was in the same league as the other 18s. His shoulders were too high and his movements were a little stiff and jerky. However, I was impressed with his timing and his partnering skills. That will come in handy as the weeks go on.

Skai and Alan- Tango (Score=21)- Super Bass for a tango is awful. I was talking with @forevertrueblue and we talked about how this would be a great song for a freestyle. Not a tango. Now that that’s out the way, this was the second surprise for me. Now I know you may be asking why. Well, I’ll tell you. I typically don’t think of Disney kids to be as technically sound as Skai was. That was the technique that I expect from a gymnast. I saw shades of Simone Biles/Shawn Johnson/Nastia Liukin in that dance. That split and her lines, especially with her legs, were gorgeous. Now I agree with both Derek and CAI here. Skai’s legs weren’t as bent as they needed to be. However, considering the height difference (I knew it would be a problem), I understood that for this week, something had to give to make it work until they find a way to keep the technique and still have Skai reach Alan. 

Kaitlyn and Artem- Cha-cha (Score=20)- So remember how I was talking about the difference between dancing on top of the floor and dancing through the floor? Yeah, this was what I meant by dancing on top of it. What Kaitlyn did was good. But it left me wanting more. She dances very pretty just like Hannah and Melissa Rycroft (why is this a Bachelorette thing). But it’s just soft and not impactful.

Nev and Jenna- Foxtrot (Score=20)- Okay. So this dance was actually pretty good. Nev was awkward, but just the right amount of awkward that made it charming. He is definitely a competent dancer and might be the dark horse this season. As Derek said, he stuck his butt so far out that I’m surprised that he wasn’t lagging behind the music. That definitely needs to be tucked back under. With all of that said, I’m nervous for how his Latin dances are going to look. He strikes me as someone who is great at ballroom and very meh with Latin. He might surprise me again though, so who knows.

Johnny and Britt- Cha-cha (Score=18)- I am so glad that Britt is a pro this season and that she lucked out and got Johnny. I’m thinking this will be a great season for them. Now while I do think this dance was underscored by 2 points, I also saw some issues. Johnny did get in his head once the actual cha cha started. You could tell by the difference in how he attacked the moves at the beginning versus the middle and end. He was a little more hesitant. Also, there were a few times that Johnny’s legs got too far away from him. It didn’t really hinder him, but it was something I noticed. It might be a habit from figure skating.

Justina and Sasha- Cha-cha (Score=21)- You all were right to hype up Justina the way that you did. She was amazing. The energy was high, she had really great technique and she was just so much fun.

Charles and Emma- Salsa (Score=12)- Whew. Okay so first Charles had fun. At least we can say that and that he looks like he wants to be there. He also did a great job with the lifts. Now the dance was a struggle. He got behind the music and his technique was just not good. I hope he can come back next week with a much better dance. I hope he gets a ballroom dance like a foxtrot.

Monica and Val- Foxtrot (Score=19)- This was a very pretty dance. As the music swelled, she got better and more comfortable. Her turns need some more work and I would like for her hands to pay more attention to her hands and making sure the energy continues through them for the whole dance. With that said, I think Monica is in an interesting spot. I liked her dance and I think she’s a pretty good dancer. I think she’s going to start getting lost in the shuffle as the weeks go on if Val doesn’t take it up a notch. I think she’s safe for now. B weeks 3, 4 and 5 could spell trouble. I especially think this because we are for sure going to have at least 2 double eliminations and that’s what dancers like Monica tend to get swept up in.

Nelly and Daniella- Salsa (Score=16)- I really liked this dance. I actually thought Nelly was not going to embrace the experience as much as he should. And on top of that, I was thinking he was just going to be too scared to move and maybe look ridiculous. But he really embraced it. And I’m happy about that. The shoes definitely got in the way and made his footwork more clunky than they would have been. But I honestly feel like that was probably a creative choice and not Nelly pulling a Master P. He can dance and his technique was decent. My one critique, besides the shoes, is that he throws his arms away. But otherwise, it was a competent dance and I was shocked by that backflip. Also hate that they used this song for a salsa.

Carole and Pasha- Paso Doble (Score=11)- Ummm. Well this was hard to watch. Everything from the package, to the dance, to her non-interaction with Tyra was cringeworthy. But at least she had fun.

So that’s it. Derek was a great addition to the judges’ table. Tyra was nowhere near as bad as people were expecting her to be. This is a pretty good group of celebs. And with the year that 2020 has been, I think everyone just wants to have a good time. I don’t really see egos or anything this time around. As for next week’s elimination, I think Charles, Monica, Carole and Chrishell need to be worried. With that said, let me know your thoughts and I will talk to you all soon!

[dwtsfun]

Dancing with the Stars Season 28 Week 8: The Quarter-Finals

Again, let’s start.

Girl Group Round (This is so corny, but ok)

James and Emma- Jive (Score=36)- This dance started off slightly low energy. I saw a couple of the small timing issues in that part. But once the chorus came, they got into it and it was pretty much perfect from that point on.

Hannah and Alan- Salsa (Score=32)- I’m glad that Hannah is really feeling these dances more. She’s a completely different dancer from what she was a few weeks ago. Her hips were much better. Her turns were amazing. Now, she did get ahead of the beat from time to time. And some of those lifts were pretty sloppy. But I enjoyed it, nonetheless.

Ally and Sasha- Samba (Score=40)- Mm. This dance wasn’t flawless. The beginning was strange. She was a bit hesitant. And it just looked odd. I guess they’re trying to save her, or give her a parting gift or whatever, because James was better and this was on par with Hannah.

Lauren and Gleb- Quickstep (Score=34)- This dance felt weirdly short. Lauren was really concentrating on not messing up. There were a few mess ups, but I liked it alright. Gleb is still failing her with the choreography. This was not two points better than Hannah.

Kel and Witney- Paso Doble (Score=34)- I really really enjoyed this dance. This actually might have been my favorite dance of the season so far. Witney killed it with the choreography. And Kel was totally committed and powerful. I do agree that he moved small and some of his lines were clipped. But I really loved this dance.

Boy Band Round (I hate this, bruh)

James and Emma- Jazz (Score=36)- I loved it. It should be perfect. But it wasn’t. All because Len is being stupid. CAI and Bruno also gave it 9s but they gave valid reasons I guess.

Hannah and Alan- Tango (Score=39)- Hannah killed it. This dance was the most technically sound dance of the night. And she performed it so well. What a way to come back after a disappointing first round.

Lauren and Gleb- Rumba (Score=36)- This was Lauren’s best dance of the season. She still lacks hip action, but she was fluid and looked mostly confident. She even didn’t look like she was trying to not mess up. Gleb’s choreography was even marginally better here than it has been all season.

Kel and Witney- Viennese Waltz (Score=40)- This was beautiful. I love me a good Viennese waltz.

Ally and Sasha- Jazz (Score=40)- It was good. A run of the mill “jazz” routine on this show. Not sure if I feel like it was 40 worthy, considering everyone else tonight got some sort of constructive critique and Ally didn’t get not one. But I guess she needed all of the extra padding to get past that bottom 2. I wonder if they’re gonna come back to earth with her scores next week though?

So I won’t hold y’all. Gerbil is gone. Good. It was long overdue. And Lauren was in the bottom 2 with him. With that being said, I think our top 2 will be Hannah and James. I think Kel makes it to 3rd. Lauren and Ally are going to battle it out for 4th place. Let me know your thoughts and I will talk to you all soon.