DWTS: Defying Gravity With Wicked Night

By Katherine Schreiner

Proving once again that pink goes well with green, it’s Wicked Night at the dance floor! Tonight, Director Jon M. Chu will be joining the judging panel, so we will just have to see how much he swankifies this week!

Intro Dance: 

Love a good mashup! Everyone was highlighted very well, including Derek, and it is also clear they had such fun with this choreography. Also, love when Alfonso and Julianne get involved with the opening!

Scott & Rylee: The Wizard and I (Contemporary)

Scott’s downfall truly is being in frame. Not saying his frame is the worst, but any dances they’ve done out of frame are much better. Scott and Rylee have a lot of chemistry and this dance in particular was a good showcase off of that. The judges had a good point, the transitions are a bit off in this dance.

Score: Derek: 7, Bruno: 7, Carrie Ann: 7, Jon: 7

Total: 28

Do We Agree: Yes, Scott needs to become more fluid and he will see those 8s.

Alix & Val: What is This Feeling (Jazz)

The best song choice of the night. Watching every say that Val hates Alix and then giving them this song as really a treat for all chronically online people. Alix really is Glinda, wow. This routine just proves how Alix is making it to the finale. This is such a fun routine while being done so well. This was surprisingly the best dance of the night.

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 9, Carrie Ann: 9, Jon: 8

Total: 35

Do We Agree: This should have been the first 10!

Robert & Witney: Dancing Through Life (Jazz)

Every Robert fan ever screamed when they saw this song choice. He really is Fiyero! Another top contender, Robert is a strong performer. This may be another historic DWTS dance. He plays into characters while also staying completely himself.

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 9, Carrie Ann: 9, Jon: 9

Total: 36

Do We Agree: Once again, where are the 10s?

Whitney & Mark: Popular (Quickstep)

Was it a good dance? Absolutely. But it lacked character. If you get a song like Popular, you reaally need character work. Any other week there would be no issue, but on a character week, it is necessary. Great technique, but work on character. Also, Connor is SO green.

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 10, Carrie Ann: 10, Jon: 10

Total: 39

Do We Agree: At least Derek has sense.

Dylan & Daniella: I’m Not That Girl (Rumba)

Daniella, the choreographer you are. Large improvement in Latin style dancing for Dylan. There were some technique problems for sure, but they were small, and the story was really told between these two in such a wonderful way. There were many strong parts of this performance.

Score: Derek: 8, Bruno: 8, Carrie Ann: 8, Jon: 8

Total: 32

Do We Agree: Valid votes! Proud of them for being fair! 

Andy & Emma: One Short Day (Jazz)

Assumably, Emma and Andy did not expect to make it to this week. Being halfway through the competition fully due to your personality is really something special. But what a fun dance. Every week they look shocked that they completed the dance and that adds to the character. Andy was on time and moving around this week, which is so amazing to see his growth and be more confident.

Score: Derek: 6, Bruno: 7, Carrie Ann: 7, Jon: 7

Total: 27

Do We Agree: Sure, his reaction is so adorable.

Elaine & Alan: Defying Gravity (Contemporary)

Why this brought tears to so many people (myself especially) is so insane. That was the best dance. Elaine may not be the strongest technique wise or the highest scoring or the youngest or the most able-bodied. But wow. That was show stopping, that was such an amazing dance. Another that will go down in the history of this song. They had every right to call out the awful scores she got last week when that wasn’t what she deserved. And this week needs to make up for those awful scoring fails.

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 9, Carrie Ann: 9, Jon: 9

Total: 36

Do We Agree: There are the scores they deserved, but would have completely accepted a 10 for how wonderful that was.

Jen & Jan: As Long As Your Mine (Foxtrot)

Proud of Jen for putting herself out there and asking for harder choreography. And that request seems to have paid off. This was the strongest Jen looked. She put in the work and it looks better. The audience has been mean to her this season and hopefully this week puts some of them in check with their comments.

Score: Derek: 8, Bruno: 8, Carrie Ann: 8, Jon: 8

Total: 32

Do We Agree: Completely agree!

Danielle & Pasha: No Good Deed (Argentine Tango)

Loved seeing a new side to Danielle. She keeps doing upbeat music and this change was nice to see. Pasha and Danielle put so much energy and attention into their dances and they proved that this week. Hoped that she did play into the character more, but the technique and tango style was done so well. 

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 9, Carrie Ann: 9, Jon: 9

Total: 36

Do We Agree: Completely, she deserved her flowers.

Jordan & Ezra: For Good (Rumba)

Really holding space for this dance. Visually and techniqually this was a stunning performance. Jordan and Ezra are making it to the finale. This dance was a huge breakthrough and they worked together on a deeper level. Well done.

Score: Derek: 9, Bruno: 10, Carrie Ann: 10, Jon: 10

Total: 39

Do We Agree: With how strong of a performance that was, that was a perfect score.

Elimination:

Everyone who votes for Andy needs to stop. This was not Scott’s time to go and everyone knows that completely. Were they making it to the finale? No. But they absolutely deserved to stay over Andy and Emma. Stop voting just for someone’s character, Hilaria is out. Actually vote for the best dancers.