Dancing with the Stars – Recap & Review – Week 7

photo: abc

Dancing with the Stars
Week 7

Original Air Date: May 2, 2011

Annette: Associate Staff Writer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s week seven already and we’re down to six competitors. This week marks the first that the dancers will have to perform two dances in one night – and individual dance and the Team Cha Cha. Always an interesting night and a demanding one that will definitely weed out the weak ones.

It’s also Dancing Greats week. Donnie Burns joins the judges at the desk. He has 16 World professional Latin championships and 11 International Latin American championships. Basically, a ballroom legend. Ballroom greats Shirly Ballas and Luca Baricchi were also on hand to help coach the celebrities. Did it pay off? Read on to find out.

Team Chelsea
Chelsea & Mark, Ralph & Karina, Romeo & Chelsie
30 (8, 8, 7, 7)
Len: I thought you did a terrific job – well done to you all.
Bruno: You really went full throttle, but because of it you lost sync so many times.
Carrie Ann: I thought you were very much in sync.
Donnie: I think they did a great job. Ralph as good as you were, you fluffed a few of the footwork but it didn’t affect the team formation.
My 2Cents: It was seriously hot, but the team dancing parts weren’t in synch most of the time. All the individual dances were really good though.

Team Hines
Hines & Kym, Kendra & Louis, Maks & Kirstie
30 (7, 7, 8, 8 )
Len: Kendra you were like a James Bond martini, you were shaking, I was stirred. Kirstie you were absolutely right on it. Hines you did a great job keeping up with these pros.
Bruno: A little bit of extra butt doesn’t hurt, especially when you use it that well.
Carrie Ann: In the group part, Kirstie your arms were late, but in the solo you were on fire. Great job you guys.
Donnie: The spacing between couples is important … and some of the spacing wasn’t just quite right.
My 2Cents: There team dancing was much more in sync than the first team and all the individuals were really good.

Ralph Macchio & Karina Smirnoff – Quick Step – 66/60
36 (10, 9, 8, 9)
Len: I liked the energy, your footwork was very, very good. Your upper body is a little bit loose – you have to try to get a little more stable.
Bruno: That was so vivid, so vibrant. You’re a great performer. Once you’re in the zone you sell it like nobody else can.
Carrie Ann: Booyah – you’re back! It was full of exuberance, fun passion and joy.
Donnie: Your footwork was fabulous this week. I thought you two rocked.
My 2Cents: I thought it was one of his best dances so far. It was fun, quick, and light. His posture showed great improvement.

Hines Ward & Kym Johnson – Tango – 66/80
36 (9, 9, 8, 10)
Len: It was a mixture – some of it was full of drama…and then it goes into like a fairy mode and it was a bit too dainty. Overall I liked it very much.
Bruno: I like light and shade and I liked the way you played it. That was a killer tango.
Carrie Ann: What you do that is so unique is that you take command of every dance. Tonight though, you were a little off balance in moments.
Donnie: I think you’ve got a winning mentality and you’ve got this really good charisma on the floor.
My 2Cents: I thought he rocked it. It was smooth and stylish. The music was a little strange and I think it contributed to the “fairy” steps that Len was talking about.

Chelsea Kane & Mark Ballas – Paso Doble – 64/80
34 (8, 9, 8, 9)
Len: I get confused. I’m watching it and thinking I like that and then I say what’s that? Too much aggression, too much in my face. It lacked some refinement.
Bruno: You came out here and danced with almost violent intensity. The creativity of it was outstanding.
Carrie Ann: I usually love tradition, but today I say out with the old and in with the new. Pushed the boundaries – great job.
Donnie: You’re very together, but I was a little bit confused. I looking for the best matador…instead I got Hell’s Angels.
My 2Cents: The intensity was there, but the choreography was strange. They also had music that made for a difficult dance.

Kendra Wilkinson & Louis van Amstel – Tango – 61/80
31 (8, 8, 7, 8 )
Len: I though the steps were clean and clear. I would have liked it a bit more crisp throughout the dance. I thought you did an excellent job with a difficult dance.
Bruno: You’ve never looked more elegant and ladylike and still sexy. You were hanging on to him a little bit too much.
Carrie Ann: I am so proud of you. Nothing but sophistication, elegance and confidence.
Donnie: I thought it was much more challenging this week for you. The content of the choreography you tried was massively difficult … I thought you did a bloody good job.
My 2Cents: The very first pass was so fast it was almost out of control – it looked like Louis just whipped Kendra out of it. But she hung in there and she did a great job. She really improved this week.

Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Jive – 60/80
30 (9, 7, 6, 8 )
Len: It was fun, high energy and playful. You come out and act every dance beautifully. As a jive, it was most uneventful.
Bruno: You might have gone wrong, but as an entertainer it was superb. Your musicality and instinct is on the money all the time.
Carrie Ann: You bring nothing but incredible performance and complete entertainment. There wasn’t enough of a jive.
Donnie: I really like it – I buy it. Mechanically you might not be the best, but between the steps you fill the dance with your spirit.
My 2Cents: This was not a good dance for her. It took way too long to start and her footwork was terrible. She lost her way once and her kicks were slow and low. She just didn’t have the stamina for it. But she did sell the story.

Romeo & Chelsie Hightower – Samba – 60/80
30 (7, 8, 7, 8 )
Len: You talked the talk, but you didn’t dance the dance. You’ve got to up your game.
Bruno: You can definitely get down and shake it. You have to get the bounce correctly.
Carrie Ann: There was a lot of bounce going on, but it wasn’t sending the samba message. You have incredible potential, but you have to get the technique down.
Donnie: You might have a party in the pants, but you’ve got an earthquake in your shoes.
My 2Cents: He really got into his little solo moments where he could “shake it” but the rest of the dance felt kind of flat. Chelsie seemed to be dancing circles around him. Definitely not his best.

As an interlude between the team and individual dances, we got a performance by the current world Latin professional champions, and I can see why they are the winners. I didn’t think it was humanly possible for one person to spin that fast! They were so quick – wow.

The judging was all over the place tonight. Donnie was so inconsistent from dance to dance and Len was cranky and hard on everyone. The first night of two dances is always hard on everyone, but it seemed to definitely take its toll on Kirstie and Romeo. We still don’t have a clear leader – although Hines seems to be the most consistent. It’s tough to predict who might go home in the elimination. It’s anyone’s game right now. What did you think of the competition this week? Leave me your two cents!