Dancing with the Stars – Recap & Review – Week 8

photo: abc

Dancing with the Stars
Week 8

Original Air Date: Nov 7, 2011

Annette – Associate Staff Writer
annette@thetwocentscorp.com

It’s week eight and only five couples remain. Those five couple better be ready, because the competition is about to get really hard. For the first time, everyone will do two individual dances. The second dance will be the fan favorite instant dance – this season it’s an instant jive.

Tonight also brings us not only our first perfect 30, but two perfect 30s! Read on to find out who received those perfect scores!

Round 1 – Individual Dances

Robert Kardashian & Cheryl Burke – Quick Step
27 (9, 9, 9)
Len told him his posture was good and his buttocks were tucked in. Best dance so far. Bruno said his frame was good and his lines were the best he’s done so far. Carrie Ann called him the ideal contestant, complimenting his growth from week to week – calling him light on his feet.
His improvement has been really wonderful to watch. The beginning of the dance was really bad (he had no rhythm), but once they got in hold, he matched Cheryl step for step and it was lively and fun. Color me impressed.

Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Quick Step
27 (9, 9, 9)
Bruno called it rebooted, re-engergized, light, breezy, radiant. Her best dance yet. Carrie Ann gave her hug and complimented Maks on doing a great job. Len said it was a blend of speed and control and told her she fulfilled her potential.
The intro took too long and they weren’t in sync. It was good, but there were still some of the movements where the dance looked too frantic and it looked like Maks was pulling her along instead of her dancing with him. Most of it was really good, but I was not as enamored as the judges. Am I biased because I’ve been so annoyed with her this season?

Ricki Lake & Derek Hough – Waltz
28 (9, 9, 10)
Carrie Ann said her movements were exquisite and the best part is that she loses herself in the dance. Len said it was beautifully executed the whole way through but said she needs to get the heel leads in order to get a 10. Bruno called it deliciously dreamy, floatingly soft – so much artistic detail in the dance – absolutely beautiful.
Broken record here to say that she was lovely and graceful and beautiful and perfect as usual. Carrie Ann said she saw her raise her shoulders, but I missed it. Len also criticized her footwork, but I wonder why he hadn’t mentioned it before.

Nancy Grace & Tristan McManus – Tango
24 (8, 8, 8 )
Len told her she’s gone up from the plateau she’s been on since week two. Bruno said she had the right attitude. Carrie Ann said it was very clean and very sharp but would like her toes to be a little more pointed.
She did an adequate job, but there was nothing dramatic or sexy or interesting about it. Another boring dance.

J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff – Waltz
30 (10, 10, 10)
Bruno called it a musical valentine card – totally involved, totally dedicated – divine. Carrie Ann told him it was magic. Len told him each week is a battle and tonight he came back with all guns blazing.
The choreography was beautiful and the dance was gorgeous. Lovely and graceful.

Round 2 – Instant Jive

Rob & Cheryl
24 (8, 8, 8 )
Len said there were no glaring mistakes, just a few things here and there. He also told him he needs to flick his feet more. Bruno told him it had great pace and great energy. Carrie Ann was impressed with the seamlessness of the transitions, but she also wants him to point his toes on the flicks and kicks.
The beginning was a little rough He seemed to get lost any time he wasn’t holding hands with Cheryl. They didn’t quite end with the music either, but for an instant dance, they did a good job.

Hope & Maks
25 (8, 9, 8 )
Bruno told her she was like a wild child and said the energy was good but she needs to stretch her knees. Carrie Ann called it a definite improvement since the last time she did the jive, but her hands were a little crazy. Len said it was fantastic – loved it also calling it “bloody brilliant.”
Well it was definitely better than her first jive. I agreed with Carrie Ann – there was something very weird about her hands – she had no idea what to do with them. I impressed with what she could do for an instant dance.

Ricki & Derek
24 (8, 8, 8 )
Carrie Ann thought there were moments where Ricki got lsot in the choreography and stopped while Derek kept dancing. Len agreed with Carrie Ann but said he thought she did very well. Bruno said there was great variety of steps and also said that the section didn’t flow together as well as they could have.
It was good and she was sharp and precise, but I didn’t like it. There wasn’t enough kicking – too much twisting around. It was weird – maybe it was the stutter stops and starts the judges were talking about.

Nancy & Tristan
20 (7, 6, 7)
Len told her she was Cinderella at the ball and it was midnight and time for her to go home. Bruno told her the jive needs to be sharp and tight and her jive was a little bit laid back and loose. Carrie Ann mentioned that she got lost in the choreography, but she admires the connection and trust she has with Tristan.
She’s never going to be able to properly do a jive if she can’t pick up her feet. She was barely moving at times. Oddly enough, she looked like she was enjoying herself. It just wasn’t very good.

J.R. & Karina
30 (10, 10, 10)
Bruno told him he was off like a rocket – side flicks were sensational, timing was impeccable. Carrie Ann told them they were in a class on all their own – no one was coming close tonight. Len said they have the X factor and the feel good factor mixed together and came out with the most fantastic jive.
J.R. wanted redemption for their first jive and they got it. It was lively and fun and his kicks were fantastic. I love that Karina at moments can do her own thing and leave J.R. to do his own thing and he can nail it without her constant guidance. Perfection!

Leader Board Totals
J.R. & Karina – 60/60!!!
Ricki & Derek – 52/60
Hope & Maks – 52/60
Rob & Cheryl – 51/60
Nancy & Tristan – 44/60

I can’t believe J.R. received two perfect scores! I’m so excited for him. I really like Ricki, but I really wanted J.R. to be the first to receive the perfect 30. He was phenomenal tonight. As for the other scores, do you really think that Ricki and Hope danced equally tonight? I question my own judgment, because I am biased against Hope, so I’m wondering what you all think. Leave me your two cents!

P.S. Anyone else freaked out by Carrie Ann’s feather bracelet? I kept getting distracted by it when she was judging.