Guest Correspondent Lenni G. gives us the the high and low lights:It's Classical Night, as in classical music with classical singers and, hopefully, classical dancing. We also have a team competition at the end, pitting Team Tango against Team Paso.
BEST WAY TO START THE NIGHT: Classical singer, Katherine, and partner Mark, with a rumba. Len called it a "classic rumba" and thought it was elegant throughout. Yes and yes. Bruno told Katherine she was "the entertainable object of desire," but wanted more raunch. Really? Carrie Ann told Katherine her "technicality is unmatched" in the competition but felt that her passion was not genuine as in, there should have been more heat. I say Katherine is a Grace Kelly clone and, at least for this dance, smoldering, which she did, was more called for than raunch and heat. Judges' scores - 9's from all three for a total of 27 (plus 27 in the team dance) for a grand total of 54.
Melissa and Maks had a tough time in their Argentine tango. Unfortunately, Maks has a cyst in his ankle that almost caused him to pass his dancing shoes to his brother, Val. I think that really messed with Melissa's mind. Bruno said she tried real hard to keep up but it got messy. Carrie Ann compared the routine to a Cirque de Soliel performance gone bad. Len said she pulled off the movement with the music but felt she sacrificed quantity for quality. Judges' scores - 7's from all three for a total of 21 (plus 26 in the team dance) for a grand total of 47. Yikes.
Jackie Evancho, who I believe is really a 40-year-old woman in a 12-year-old body, sang "Ave Maria" for William and Cheryl's Viennese waltz. Carrie Ann said the dance was what she had been looking for in terms of content. Len didn't feel it took him to Vienna but did sense he was in Austria. Very clever, Len. Bruno told him he "captured the purity and ethereal quality" of the waltz and thanked him for putting his heart and soul into the routine. I say I was right last week when I thought Cheryl was backing off a bit due to William's ankle injury. Clearly this week, with the exception of a slight change at the end, William did almost as much as Cheryl. Judges' scores - 9's from all three for a total of 27 (plus 26 in the team dance) for a grand total of 53.
Roshon, after a few "man lessons" from Val, did an Argentine tango with Chelsie that was probably his best dance of the season. Len liked the transitions into the lifts but felt he had "awkward legs." Bruno liked the lifts too and told the "vertically challenged" Roshon that size is not everything. Carrie Ann called him over for a big hug, complimenting him on a great job. Judges' scores - 9 from Carrie Ann, 8's from Len and Bruno for a total of 25 (plus 27 in the team dance) for a grand total of 52.
Donald and Peta's Viennese waltz definitely took place in Vienna. Bruno loved it. Carrie Ann loved Donald's intensity and regal quality. Len loved Donald's terrific footwork. I loved the fact that Peta took the judges' suggestion last week and gave Donald, what she called, "Pro grade choreography." I also loved the fact that Donald executed the "Pro grade choreography" beautifully. After all that love, judges' scores - 9's from all three for a total of 27 (plus 26 in the team dance) for a grand total of 53. No 10's for all this love? Shameful!
BLOODY PERFECTION MOMENT: Maria, complete with fangs, and Derek's "vampire" paso doble which was a dance to "die for." Carrie Ann said it certainly didn't "suck." Nope, it certainly didn't. BEST COMMENT OF THE NIGHT : Len saying it was "sharp as a razor, crisp as a Pringle, and had more tension that his grandmother's knicker elastic." Bruno called her the "queen of the damned" and invited her to bite him. Huge props to Derek who is still, far and away, the most innovative choreographer on this show. Judges' scores - 10's from all three for a total of 30 (plus 27 in the team dance) for a grand total of 57. Fantastic!
Jaleel and Kym had to follow the vampire masterpiece with a Viennese waltz that was just average. Bruno said it was just OK, pointing out Jaleel's bad footwork. Carrie Ann thought that the content was good but the execution was lacking. Len liked the story telling and Jaleel's "excellent hands," whatever that means. Judges' scores - 8's from all three for a total of 24 (plus 27 in the team dance) for a total of 51.
Top scorer last night - Maria, with Katherine, Donald and William following closely behind. Bottom three - Roshon, Jaleel and Melissa. I'm guessing it's Jaleel and Melissa for the last Dance Duel of the season, with Melissa hitting the Bye Bye Train.
Assistant Features Editor Adrienne Johnson Martin would like to have her life turned into an animated cartoon.