Absolutely the right outcome.
Donald has grown so much in just the last few weeks.
Peaked at the right time indeed, and it showed and then some in that last cha
cha performance.
It was slick, controlled, had all the rhythm and body action you could want
and great showmanship.
Plus add to it all that he has been such a big fan of the show for so long,
definitely a dream made real.
Couldn't be happier.
Peta is probably feeling not too shabby either about it all. Great job.
It was a great finale.
Some great returns from past dancers, some with new routines like Sherri and
Roshon and some with nice twists on standout numbers like Melissa (very cute ending).
That song by Gladys was outstanding. That song, though quite lovely, has
become a bit of a cheesy nostalgia anthem over the years. She really breathed some new life and class
into it and pretty much had the entire ballroom suffering from drippy eyes and trembling lips. And she
still has some serious pipes!!
Her dancing was lovely as well. If she had been able to get into dancing
back in her youth she would have been incredible, boo for the Pips keeping her out of it.
It really has been a fun season to watch this time around.
Very low on the scandal and tabloid drama.
Not too many injuries, and none of them TOO serious.
No ringers.
Just some great dancing and a great crew of contestants.
Will definitely be a tough season to top.
An allstar round has the potential to be a lot of fun.
It could also mean a return of all the crappy stuff that really detracted
from what the show is supposed to be about so I hope that the contestants they get to return are the 'right'
type.
Cross the fingers, toes, and anything else you can manage without cramping up
or looking too silly.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Finas - Night 1
My goodness.
That was quite the night.
It truly is anyone's game at this point.
Not only has this been their most evenly matched season but it has also been the highest overall level of dance as well.
Tonight really showcased that in a big way.
The regular dances were such a matter of course. They were great routines but the couples looked so calm and at home with them that there didn't seem to be any stress at all in the mix (although we know there certainly was).
The audience was certainly filled with familiar faces. I know the alum tend to come out for the finals but I would imagine a little of that has to do with prompting and inspiring for the allstar voting for the fall season as well. Great to see John O' Hurley again. He is one of the ones I would love to see in the mix for the fall, along with Mel B and Emmitt Smith.
One small thing before we get into the dances, I have said it already this season but I feel I have to say it again. I am thrilled with their use of floor projection this season. That kind of imagery was a huge part of the winter openning ceremonies and was used brilliantly for that event. The show has taken it and run and used it very smartly to up the production value of the routines without distracting away from the numbers and without goofy cost to the set and props department. Technology well used.
William
Cha Cha
That dance has come a long way from his first week. The footwork and leg action were much better and what was even more impressive was how clear the timing and rhythm of his dancing was, you could clearly see/feel the beats he was dancing. He is always at his most charismatic in the Latin dances and he did a great job with it.
Free Style
I have to say I agreed with Len on this one. It was a great routine, the lifts were well done the content was well danced but it felt like a salsa with lifts as opposed to a full on freestyle. Plus it felt a little on the 'pandering' side. We knew the shirt was either going to come open or off, and it did. We knew it would be a Latin dance, and it was (and pelvic grinding? Really?). It is certainly an odd thing to describe as a cross to bear but William is a very sexy man, he has a very powerful charisma in that way not just in his looks but in his energy. The trouble with this routine is that they simply kind of wallowed in that. His appeal may be enough to win him the trophy but that routine on its own merits? Not really.
Katherine
Paso
Well choreographed and extremely well danced. I am a fan of looking and thinking outside the box when it comes to music and themes for dancing but Paso is a hard one to do that with given that it is such a signature dance. We associate the dance with that music/song and it has such a distinct feel and mood that to try and add any other theme or mood on top of that can end up creating a bit of a clash, as was the case with her Rock Week number. This time around, the right music and the right feel and definitely the right dancing. Well done.
Free Style
In some ways it was a safe choice for her, going the roaring twenties feel. It suits her very well and it the best kind of theme for her performance wise. The tempo and content of that routine was over the top and they did a great job of it. Mark almost got a little carried away the beginning, almost knocked them off timing but then calmed himself down and got to work. Great lifts, good grief a whole lot of footwork, it was a high energy and extremely entertaining routine. Only flaw that grabbed at me was the back flip when her feet came apart before she landed, threw her balance off. Beyond that . . . stellar!!
Donald
Argentine Tango
My only issue with his last attempt at this dance was that his exhuberance kind of overflowed the dance a bit and made parts of it overly intense and spastic. No such problem this time around. It was smoldering and controlled and pitch perfect to the mood of the dance. I would have liked to have seen the ten paddle come out from Len on it simply for the control that he finally found (though I wouldn't have wanted to steal the very cool moment they ended up having with the final score, very last game of the olympics).
Free Style
That was a free style and everything it should be. They thought outside the box, did all sorts of great tricks and did something unexpected. With risk comes reward. The lift work was excellent, and they attempted some pretty challenging lifts. The only part that had me a little on edge was that set of rotating lifts where he was spinning on his heels (that made me nervous, bad place to be in your feet with someone up over your head) but it had great energy and really brought the house down. I would have put him as an obvious choice for third place but now . . .
So they get one more dance the song for which they are only going to get after the show tonight. I assume they already have the dance and have done choreography for the routine just without the song. A slightly less 'eee ghads!' inducing version of the instant dance. No sleep for them.
Who will take it?
I will say it again . . it truly is anyone's game.
Given what I saw tonight I would want it to go to Donald.
Biggest growth and best freestyle the show has seen in a good long while.
See you tomorrow night for the big finale.
That was quite the night.
It truly is anyone's game at this point.
Not only has this been their most evenly matched season but it has also been the highest overall level of dance as well.
Tonight really showcased that in a big way.
The regular dances were such a matter of course. They were great routines but the couples looked so calm and at home with them that there didn't seem to be any stress at all in the mix (although we know there certainly was).
The audience was certainly filled with familiar faces. I know the alum tend to come out for the finals but I would imagine a little of that has to do with prompting and inspiring for the allstar voting for the fall season as well. Great to see John O' Hurley again. He is one of the ones I would love to see in the mix for the fall, along with Mel B and Emmitt Smith.
One small thing before we get into the dances, I have said it already this season but I feel I have to say it again. I am thrilled with their use of floor projection this season. That kind of imagery was a huge part of the winter openning ceremonies and was used brilliantly for that event. The show has taken it and run and used it very smartly to up the production value of the routines without distracting away from the numbers and without goofy cost to the set and props department. Technology well used.
William
Cha Cha
That dance has come a long way from his first week. The footwork and leg action were much better and what was even more impressive was how clear the timing and rhythm of his dancing was, you could clearly see/feel the beats he was dancing. He is always at his most charismatic in the Latin dances and he did a great job with it.
Free Style
I have to say I agreed with Len on this one. It was a great routine, the lifts were well done the content was well danced but it felt like a salsa with lifts as opposed to a full on freestyle. Plus it felt a little on the 'pandering' side. We knew the shirt was either going to come open or off, and it did. We knew it would be a Latin dance, and it was (and pelvic grinding? Really?). It is certainly an odd thing to describe as a cross to bear but William is a very sexy man, he has a very powerful charisma in that way not just in his looks but in his energy. The trouble with this routine is that they simply kind of wallowed in that. His appeal may be enough to win him the trophy but that routine on its own merits? Not really.
Katherine
Paso
Well choreographed and extremely well danced. I am a fan of looking and thinking outside the box when it comes to music and themes for dancing but Paso is a hard one to do that with given that it is such a signature dance. We associate the dance with that music/song and it has such a distinct feel and mood that to try and add any other theme or mood on top of that can end up creating a bit of a clash, as was the case with her Rock Week number. This time around, the right music and the right feel and definitely the right dancing. Well done.
Free Style
In some ways it was a safe choice for her, going the roaring twenties feel. It suits her very well and it the best kind of theme for her performance wise. The tempo and content of that routine was over the top and they did a great job of it. Mark almost got a little carried away the beginning, almost knocked them off timing but then calmed himself down and got to work. Great lifts, good grief a whole lot of footwork, it was a high energy and extremely entertaining routine. Only flaw that grabbed at me was the back flip when her feet came apart before she landed, threw her balance off. Beyond that . . . stellar!!
Donald
Argentine Tango
My only issue with his last attempt at this dance was that his exhuberance kind of overflowed the dance a bit and made parts of it overly intense and spastic. No such problem this time around. It was smoldering and controlled and pitch perfect to the mood of the dance. I would have liked to have seen the ten paddle come out from Len on it simply for the control that he finally found (though I wouldn't have wanted to steal the very cool moment they ended up having with the final score, very last game of the olympics).
Free Style
That was a free style and everything it should be. They thought outside the box, did all sorts of great tricks and did something unexpected. With risk comes reward. The lift work was excellent, and they attempted some pretty challenging lifts. The only part that had me a little on edge was that set of rotating lifts where he was spinning on his heels (that made me nervous, bad place to be in your feet with someone up over your head) but it had great energy and really brought the house down. I would have put him as an obvious choice for third place but now . . .
So they get one more dance the song for which they are only going to get after the show tonight. I assume they already have the dance and have done choreography for the routine just without the song. A slightly less 'eee ghads!' inducing version of the instant dance. No sleep for them.
Who will take it?
I will say it again . . it truly is anyone's game.
Given what I saw tonight I would want it to go to Donald.
Biggest growth and best freestyle the show has seen in a good long while.
See you tomorrow night for the big finale.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Semi-Finals - Results
Glad to hear that nothing serious happened to Katherine's back, both for her
physical health and her emotional health.
Nothing worse than being prevented from something you've worked so hard for by something so random diss-empowering.
My preference would have been to see Maria in the finals with the other two but all four of them are deserving and it simply came down to who the fans have clicked with the most.
The design a dance as well done, always delighted to see Chelsie dancing full out. That girl has a quality to her leg action that just comes from someplace else other than planet earth.
Carrie Underwood was great and it was nice to see Alannis in there as well.
Very fun to see Julianne back in the ballroom. She is certainly a gifted dancer but she also tossed off a couple of pretty serious belting notes at the end of that number.
An allstar season for the fall, huh?
Could be interesting.
I can think of a few that I would definitely love to see back.
As well as a few that I definitely would not want to see returning to the show.
Fingers crossed on both counts I guess (maybe the toes as well just for good measure).
Finals next week.
Season 14 is almost done with.
Hopefully the free styles will live up the hype. They are always the routine that pretty much decides the winner but there have been a couple of seasons where they just didn't seem to work out the way we would want them to.
Here's to no more injuries and some fun routines next week.
See you all then.
Nothing worse than being prevented from something you've worked so hard for by something so random diss-empowering.
My preference would have been to see Maria in the finals with the other two but all four of them are deserving and it simply came down to who the fans have clicked with the most.
The design a dance as well done, always delighted to see Chelsie dancing full out. That girl has a quality to her leg action that just comes from someplace else other than planet earth.
Carrie Underwood was great and it was nice to see Alannis in there as well.
Very fun to see Julianne back in the ballroom. She is certainly a gifted dancer but she also tossed off a couple of pretty serious belting notes at the end of that number.
An allstar season for the fall, huh?
Could be interesting.
I can think of a few that I would definitely love to see back.
As well as a few that I definitely would not want to see returning to the show.
Fingers crossed on both counts I guess (maybe the toes as well just for good measure).
Finals next week.
Season 14 is almost done with.
Hopefully the free styles will live up the hype. They are always the routine that pretty much decides the winner but there have been a couple of seasons where they just didn't seem to work out the way we would want them to.
Here's to no more injuries and some fun routines next week.
See you all then.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Week 9 - Semi-Finals
Well, they certainly aren't going to make it easy are they?
It's been said repeatedly (tonight several times) that this is the closest
packed final group they've ever had.
They're not kidding. This crew is completely neck and neck and all of them
are at a very high level.
I was actually feeling a little underwhelmed and critical of the routines
when I started watching the show and was having a hard time with how much love and praise the judges were throwing around until I watched the first
couple of routines back and realized I was feeling grumpy about them
because I was looking at them through the lenses for judging professional couples.
My eyes had actually forgotten I was watching pro-am couples.
Yup, they are all dancing at that kind of level.
The packets about their histories were as powerful as we would expect. One
of the things that tends to hold true when looking at the lives of people
who excel and reach certain levels of success is that they have had some form
of adversity they have had to overcome. It may sound a little cliche or trite
but there are things you can only learn by being pushed to the point where you
want to quit, when it would be easier to just give up or surrender. Many
people are faced with those kinds of moments and times in their lives and not
everyone is able to push their way throught to the other side. Often that is
because of the other thing that tends to be a constant in those kinds of stories,
they had some form of support from people who cared about them and believed in
them. Could be family, friends, a teacher, all it takes is someone to believe in
you enough to help you find strength you might not have known was there.
Inspirational stories to be sure and a demonstration that everything worth
having and acheiving in life will come with a price.
Even a somewhat tacky mirror ball trophy.
William
His tango was quite strong, if a little bit light on the content side (lots
of walks and stalks and walks and stalks). The only thing he seems to need to
overcome in his ballroom dances is himself, or rather his own perception that those
dances don't suit or fit him. If he would stop telling himself that they are so
'different' from him his ballroom dances would be just as spectacular as his latin
dances tend to be. The samba was outstanding, if a bit salsa flavoured. They
certainly put his booty to good use and the vibe of the whole things was completely
genuine and believable. He knows he's a sexy cuban man but doesn't view that as
a big deal. It keeps him from seeming arrogant and I think that is what
makes the fans go even crazier for him. Well done.
Katherine
The quickstep was very good. I don't know about it being the best dance
ever on the show (Carrie Anne's cup was overflowing a little tonight) but it
definitely was very high level. There were a couple of spots where it looked like it
almost got a little out of control. I don't know if that was Mark (good of him
to confess for causing that little trip up near the beginning, adrenaline gets to the pros as
well) or her being up in her toes a lot like last week. It had great movement
and outstanding performance quality, just a little 'by the finger nails' here and there.
The salsa was going brilliantly. A very strange song for a salsa to be sure and
then her back spasmed during that last trick. Aarrghh!! I truly hope there was no
serious damage done. It would stink to an epic degree if membership in the
finals ended up being decided by injury. Fingers crossed. She absolutely deserves a chance to
be in the finals.
Donald
The waltz was lovely, he did a great job with that opening lay back spin
(those are hard to do without looking skittery). I confess I love that song and
they were clearly feeling it. That has always been one of Donald's strongest weapons, he's
an emotional guy who is completely comfortable with letting that show (that he
would turn away from a lifestyle that isn't exactly easy to walk away from for love speaks
volumes to that). I will admit I was a little worried when I heard he was
dancing samba. His tendency to go full attack and overly energized could have really undone
him on the samba but he was fully in control, had the right bounce feel, and the
routine had lots of samba content (and challenging content as well). Really well
done. He makes it to the final and doesn't manage to get a 10 from Len it will
truly be a tragedy.
Maria
There are certain dances that particular pros are exceptional with and an
Argentine Tango from Derek is never a dissappointment. Excellent balance of
sharp and supple, fast and sultry, bursts of movement and excellent portrait shapes. They
knocked that one out of the park. Adrenaline was obviously doing its job
because other than a slight stiffness in Maria's neck and shoulder line there was no sign either
of them was in anythig other than top form. Amazing routine. The jive was fun
as well. I was worried they might get slammed for not having enough standard jive content
(not much in the kick and flick department) but they did make brilliant use of
the musical accents in the song and the performance level as top notch. Two very
strong routines. And it was great to see footage of them truly functioning as a
team and supporting each other. Everybody's human and has their moments and the sign of a good
partnership as that they step up for one another at those times.
As I said they aren't going to make it easy. With only three points
seperating top from bottom it really is down to the fans and who they want to
see in the final.
Assuming Katherine hasn't sustained any kind of injury that would take her
out of the running we are looking at a contest between Donal and Maria to see
which one of them joins Willam and Katherine in the final. The judges tipped
that in Maria's favour but the fans will truly have the last word on this one.
Makes it hard to 'call' but is much more what this kind of contest should feel like.
Competitors all closely matched and equally deserving of a spot in the last
round.
It's going to suck no matter who gets cut tomorrow night.
Again hoping a back injury doesn't do it all for us.
Again hoping a back injury doesn't do it all for us.
Looking forward to seeing Julianne back in the ballroom.
See you all tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Week 8 - Results
It was sad to see either of them go (seeing anyone go at this point is going
to be a little hard on the heart) but I think they were the right call.
Roshon was very gracious and I'm glad they gave Melissa a chance to focus on how much she has learned and achieved over the course of all this rather than spending all their time talking about Maks and his antics.
I have to say that a real favourite for me in this story has been Melissa's son. A teenager always there at ring side and as proud of her as you could ever imagine. He's been looking at her like a rock star from the start and it has only gotten stronger as the weeks go by. Some of the chapters of it may not have been what I would have wished for her but she has been on an amazing journey and she should be very proud of herself, her son clearly is (and rightly so).
Not exactly thrilled to see Mark grousing about the scores they were given. At the risk of being technical about it, Carrie Anne was correct about that Viennese Waltz, Katherine wasn't fully settled into her feet. She was leading with her toes for most of the dance (forward steps are supposed to be taken on the heel) which put her a little too high up into her feet and thus not as stable and grounded as she usually is. Leads to shakiness in the balance but also keeps you from moving with the full momentum that you would want.
I don't want to stoop to comparisons but, while that seven probably did sting the week after a perfect thirty, Derek had known and warned Maria that they were quite possibley going to get slammed for the Bollywood routine by Len. Doesn't mean the score doesn't suck but petulance doesn't really look flattering on anyone.
There, not talking about that anymore.
The Macey's tribute to Dick Clark was very well done. That kind of dancing is a reall two-footed drop kick in the lungs. High energy and it just keeps going and going and going.
Dance Centre was quite cute (the bit with Len in his 'bathers' is likely to cause a few nightmares) but I often find myself expecting it to be funnier than it is. Not that it isn't quite clever, I guess I keep waiting for the fully bellied guffaws and they just never quite get there. The bit about Maria's line of laugh based products was pretty good, though.
Next week is the semi-finals already.
This season has kind of flown by.
It's going to be a tough one to figure out who that final three will end up being.
See you all next week.
Roshon was very gracious and I'm glad they gave Melissa a chance to focus on how much she has learned and achieved over the course of all this rather than spending all their time talking about Maks and his antics.
I have to say that a real favourite for me in this story has been Melissa's son. A teenager always there at ring side and as proud of her as you could ever imagine. He's been looking at her like a rock star from the start and it has only gotten stronger as the weeks go by. Some of the chapters of it may not have been what I would have wished for her but she has been on an amazing journey and she should be very proud of herself, her son clearly is (and rightly so).
Not exactly thrilled to see Mark grousing about the scores they were given. At the risk of being technical about it, Carrie Anne was correct about that Viennese Waltz, Katherine wasn't fully settled into her feet. She was leading with her toes for most of the dance (forward steps are supposed to be taken on the heel) which put her a little too high up into her feet and thus not as stable and grounded as she usually is. Leads to shakiness in the balance but also keeps you from moving with the full momentum that you would want.
I don't want to stoop to comparisons but, while that seven probably did sting the week after a perfect thirty, Derek had known and warned Maria that they were quite possibley going to get slammed for the Bollywood routine by Len. Doesn't mean the score doesn't suck but petulance doesn't really look flattering on anyone.
There, not talking about that anymore.
The Macey's tribute to Dick Clark was very well done. That kind of dancing is a reall two-footed drop kick in the lungs. High energy and it just keeps going and going and going.
Dance Centre was quite cute (the bit with Len in his 'bathers' is likely to cause a few nightmares) but I often find myself expecting it to be funnier than it is. Not that it isn't quite clever, I guess I keep waiting for the fully bellied guffaws and they just never quite get there. The bit about Maria's line of laugh based products was pretty good, though.
Next week is the semi-finals already.
This season has kind of flown by.
It's going to be a tough one to figure out who that final three will end up being.
See you all next week.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Week 8
That was a very impressive night of dancing.
Don't know that I was much impressed with the judges' table but I suppose we all have our off nights.
You could tell that there was a fair bit going on between them that really had nothing to do with what was happening on the dance floor. Even Len went so far as to comment on it. While the tension might make for 'good television' I find that kind of thing rather profoundly unprofessional. They are on that pannel to be judges of a dancing competition show, not to gripe and grumble at each other. Disagree, sure but 'disagree' is a bit too mature a word for what was going on there for a while.
Might be good for ratings but it tends to leave a pretty sour taste in my mouth.
Showing my 'Canadian-ness' I suppose.
The addition of the trio dance was interesting and fun. Several of the teams really rose to the challenge and put in some great routines, while others kind of missed the point and others got a little carried away (you know who you are, Mr. Hough). Since none of the teams chose to bring back a past celeb but all opted to bring in another pro I don't know that I would have announced the fact that other celebs were an option (rub in the fact that no one got picked? Meh.) It did pose an interesting challenge for the teams, which gender do you double up? Do you book-end the celeb with a matching pair like Donald or Maria or do you pair them with another pro like William or Roshon. Both have their advantages and dangers so it was interesting to see who went with which. Overall it was a lot of fun and I would say worth doing again.
As we are nearing the final stretch you can see the toll this kind of intense competition takes on people both celebrety and pro alike. It is quite the pressure cooker they are crammed into and, in many cases, on top of their regular full time lives as well. It will lead to frustrations and break downs but it can also lead to some really emotional moments when things click together and the dancing takes on a much more personal level for the teams. It's a very cool feeling and I am always happy to see people who have never had a chance to experience that get a good taste of it. You have to sweat and cry a fair bit to get there but I, for one, certainly believe it's worth it.
Top Two Performances
Roshon - Foxtrot
That was without any shadow of a doubt his best dance by a staggering mile. The chang in the last two weeks has been remarkable. There were no strange or awkward moments, his feet were stable, the lines were clean and elegant, and Chelsie gave him a routine that let him play a bit of the 'Dick Van Dyke' kind of goofy romantic lead which suits him perfectly. The movement was smooth and easy, his posture and frame were spot on, and he made the whole thing look easy and fun. Those tens were well deserved and, as far as I'm concerned, should have had a third companion. Outstanding.
Donald - Trio Jive
This was my favorite of the trios for a few reasons, one of the major ones being that it was a full and total trio from start to finish. The choreo was excellent and he did a fantastic job keeping up with those two. Yes he needed to point his toes when doing his kicks but beyond that they hit it out of the park and should have gotten higher scores from where I was sitting. He didn't miss a step and the performance level was out of sight. Brilliant job and it should have won him more than just the one ten.
Bottom Two Performances
Donald - Tango
In a rather crazy parity he ends up here as well. The routine had lots of content and I will admit I was worried when the packet talked about needing all sorts of intensity and attack. Since he has been the one whose energy has gotten away from him in the past I was bracing myself a bit but he kept things well under control. A little too under control in fact. They went for the smoldering and simmering approach but he ended up looking pinched off or clenched for pretty much the entire dance. Nothing got out of hand but none of the movement was able to move through him either so it ended up looking pretty bitten off and clipped. Not terrible but certainly not outstanding either.
Melissa - Foxtrot
I have to say she is getting much more at home on the dance floor and did a very good job of getting back into it after getting completely tangled up and lost at the beginning there. I have her in the bottom not because the rest of the dance was in any way lamentable but at this stage that big a stumble up drops you down in the pack pretty fast. I appreciate Maks acknowledging that he has gotten to be too much (and Melissa's comment in the packet that she doesn't see him as a villain but neither is she the one that makes him look like one was very gracious but also nicely on point as well). The sentiment would have probably seemed more genuine if it hadn't looked like Derek shamed him into it a bit with his own earlier nod to seeing how much of a jerk he'd been and apologizing for it. Put two passionate people in a room for long periods of time and they will butt heads but as long as they have a common mission and their hearts are in the right place
they will get through that. Looks like Maks and Melissa are trying to find that balance and I hope it works for them.
First Honourable Mention
Melissa - Trio
Again with people ending up in two categories. I have to say not only was the choreo and the dancing of it very strong in her trio samba but I have to applaud the personal victory that dance was for her. She finally cut it all loose and just owned it and it was fabulous. You could just see all the hang ups dropping away from her and she was full on living the moment, it was great to see. I'm sure she was the envy of many women for getting to dance with those two at the same time and to finish the routine with a double handfull like that. My favourite moment of the whole thing? The completely incredulous look on her son's face at the end of it all. 'Did that actually just happen? Did my mom just kick that much butt and love every minute of it?' He was clearly amazed and proud of her and he should have been.
Should also give him some good material for some future therapy as well, but hey.
Second Honourable Mention
Katherine - Trio
The routine was good and she danced it well but she gets the nod for coping with the nightmare of all costuming calamities. For the tear away not to go as planned (that is always a risk anytime you put that into a routine) but to have it wrapped around her foot ready for her to just wipe out completely, then to find a moment to just kick it off . . . outstanding. The whole thing did kind of steal the thunder from the routine but she deserves the full tip of the hat for rolling with it like that.
So who will be getting the double cut? As much as I hate to say it, especially given the two very strong performances he put in Roshon will likely be one of the two getting cut. The viewers just haven't plugged into him (maybe the sight of those to grandmothers might help him out a bit, they were all kinds of adorable) so he will likely be heading home. Melissa should be the one to go with him but her (and likely Maks') fans have kept her out of trouble for a few weeks now. If that happens then the risk with the Bollywood number could end up costing Maria. I loved the routine, as a performance number, but I agree there wasn't much samba and that just might have been so out of the box that it might have lost the viewers. I hope not but we shall see.
Don't know that I was much impressed with the judges' table but I suppose we all have our off nights.
You could tell that there was a fair bit going on between them that really had nothing to do with what was happening on the dance floor. Even Len went so far as to comment on it. While the tension might make for 'good television' I find that kind of thing rather profoundly unprofessional. They are on that pannel to be judges of a dancing competition show, not to gripe and grumble at each other. Disagree, sure but 'disagree' is a bit too mature a word for what was going on there for a while.
Might be good for ratings but it tends to leave a pretty sour taste in my mouth.
Showing my 'Canadian-ness' I suppose.
The addition of the trio dance was interesting and fun. Several of the teams really rose to the challenge and put in some great routines, while others kind of missed the point and others got a little carried away (you know who you are, Mr. Hough). Since none of the teams chose to bring back a past celeb but all opted to bring in another pro I don't know that I would have announced the fact that other celebs were an option (rub in the fact that no one got picked? Meh.) It did pose an interesting challenge for the teams, which gender do you double up? Do you book-end the celeb with a matching pair like Donald or Maria or do you pair them with another pro like William or Roshon. Both have their advantages and dangers so it was interesting to see who went with which. Overall it was a lot of fun and I would say worth doing again.
As we are nearing the final stretch you can see the toll this kind of intense competition takes on people both celebrety and pro alike. It is quite the pressure cooker they are crammed into and, in many cases, on top of their regular full time lives as well. It will lead to frustrations and break downs but it can also lead to some really emotional moments when things click together and the dancing takes on a much more personal level for the teams. It's a very cool feeling and I am always happy to see people who have never had a chance to experience that get a good taste of it. You have to sweat and cry a fair bit to get there but I, for one, certainly believe it's worth it.
Top Two Performances
Roshon - Foxtrot
That was without any shadow of a doubt his best dance by a staggering mile. The chang in the last two weeks has been remarkable. There were no strange or awkward moments, his feet were stable, the lines were clean and elegant, and Chelsie gave him a routine that let him play a bit of the 'Dick Van Dyke' kind of goofy romantic lead which suits him perfectly. The movement was smooth and easy, his posture and frame were spot on, and he made the whole thing look easy and fun. Those tens were well deserved and, as far as I'm concerned, should have had a third companion. Outstanding.
Donald - Trio Jive
This was my favorite of the trios for a few reasons, one of the major ones being that it was a full and total trio from start to finish. The choreo was excellent and he did a fantastic job keeping up with those two. Yes he needed to point his toes when doing his kicks but beyond that they hit it out of the park and should have gotten higher scores from where I was sitting. He didn't miss a step and the performance level was out of sight. Brilliant job and it should have won him more than just the one ten.
Bottom Two Performances
Donald - Tango
In a rather crazy parity he ends up here as well. The routine had lots of content and I will admit I was worried when the packet talked about needing all sorts of intensity and attack. Since he has been the one whose energy has gotten away from him in the past I was bracing myself a bit but he kept things well under control. A little too under control in fact. They went for the smoldering and simmering approach but he ended up looking pinched off or clenched for pretty much the entire dance. Nothing got out of hand but none of the movement was able to move through him either so it ended up looking pretty bitten off and clipped. Not terrible but certainly not outstanding either.
Melissa - Foxtrot
I have to say she is getting much more at home on the dance floor and did a very good job of getting back into it after getting completely tangled up and lost at the beginning there. I have her in the bottom not because the rest of the dance was in any way lamentable but at this stage that big a stumble up drops you down in the pack pretty fast. I appreciate Maks acknowledging that he has gotten to be too much (and Melissa's comment in the packet that she doesn't see him as a villain but neither is she the one that makes him look like one was very gracious but also nicely on point as well). The sentiment would have probably seemed more genuine if it hadn't looked like Derek shamed him into it a bit with his own earlier nod to seeing how much of a jerk he'd been and apologizing for it. Put two passionate people in a room for long periods of time and they will butt heads but as long as they have a common mission and their hearts are in the right place
they will get through that. Looks like Maks and Melissa are trying to find that balance and I hope it works for them.
First Honourable Mention
Melissa - Trio
Again with people ending up in two categories. I have to say not only was the choreo and the dancing of it very strong in her trio samba but I have to applaud the personal victory that dance was for her. She finally cut it all loose and just owned it and it was fabulous. You could just see all the hang ups dropping away from her and she was full on living the moment, it was great to see. I'm sure she was the envy of many women for getting to dance with those two at the same time and to finish the routine with a double handfull like that. My favourite moment of the whole thing? The completely incredulous look on her son's face at the end of it all. 'Did that actually just happen? Did my mom just kick that much butt and love every minute of it?' He was clearly amazed and proud of her and he should have been.
Should also give him some good material for some future therapy as well, but hey.
Second Honourable Mention
Katherine - Trio
The routine was good and she danced it well but she gets the nod for coping with the nightmare of all costuming calamities. For the tear away not to go as planned (that is always a risk anytime you put that into a routine) but to have it wrapped around her foot ready for her to just wipe out completely, then to find a moment to just kick it off . . . outstanding. The whole thing did kind of steal the thunder from the routine but she deserves the full tip of the hat for rolling with it like that.
So who will be getting the double cut? As much as I hate to say it, especially given the two very strong performances he put in Roshon will likely be one of the two getting cut. The viewers just haven't plugged into him (maybe the sight of those to grandmothers might help him out a bit, they were all kinds of adorable) so he will likely be heading home. Melissa should be the one to go with him but her (and likely Maks') fans have kept her out of trouble for a few weeks now. If that happens then the risk with the Bollywood number could end up costing Maria. I loved the routine, as a performance number, but I agree there wasn't much samba and that just might have been so out of the box that it might have lost the viewers. I hope not but we shall see.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Dancing with the Stars - Week 7 - Results
So that wasn't the most well oiled night the show has ever had.
I don't know what kind of traffic the Dance Battle might have generated on line but it certainly came close to derailing things tonight. That's about as desperate as I've ever heard Tom trying to keep things moving along.
Hmmm.
I was with the judges on their pick for the winners, they were very strong and had the right blend of actual jive and tricks.
I guess if it's back next season we'll know that it generated enough interest to warrant a second crack.
In that case it will clearly need a little more rehearsal for on the air.
The AT&T spotlight was something else.
That is one heck of a comeback journey. As dancers we all have this quiet fear that we don't really talk about that the unthinkable will happen, be it accident or whatever, that leads to us losing the ability to dance. For those of us lucky enough to be making a living through dancing it is a threat to more than just our passion for it.
He has clearly come a very long way in his recovery and to step out onto a stage like that takes more bravery than can be easily described.
Wow.
The dance duel was a pretty close one but I was glad they gave it to Roshon, he seemed the strongest and most at ease with the dance. No odd lines and their chemistry was great. You could sense Jaleel's nerves as the dance went on.
Good effort from both of them, that can't be easy at all.
So there will be a double cut next week as we turn the final bend towards the semi and finals.
That IS going to suck.
See you all next week.
I don't know what kind of traffic the Dance Battle might have generated on line but it certainly came close to derailing things tonight. That's about as desperate as I've ever heard Tom trying to keep things moving along.
Hmmm.
I was with the judges on their pick for the winners, they were very strong and had the right blend of actual jive and tricks.
I guess if it's back next season we'll know that it generated enough interest to warrant a second crack.
In that case it will clearly need a little more rehearsal for on the air.
The AT&T spotlight was something else.
That is one heck of a comeback journey. As dancers we all have this quiet fear that we don't really talk about that the unthinkable will happen, be it accident or whatever, that leads to us losing the ability to dance. For those of us lucky enough to be making a living through dancing it is a threat to more than just our passion for it.
He has clearly come a very long way in his recovery and to step out onto a stage like that takes more bravery than can be easily described.
Wow.
The dance duel was a pretty close one but I was glad they gave it to Roshon, he seemed the strongest and most at ease with the dance. No odd lines and their chemistry was great. You could sense Jaleel's nerves as the dance went on.
Good effort from both of them, that can't be easy at all.
So there will be a double cut next week as we turn the final bend towards the semi and finals.
That IS going to suck.
See you all next week.
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