DTWS S025, Week 4: Most Memorable Year Brings Many Tears and Surprises

Let’s start out Most Memorable Year Week by saying that this time has the most “2017”s of any of these ever. Four 2017s, two 2016s, one 2015. Ugh. (Keeping in the same year, that is.)

But what will we have from that? More rehashing of “this is the year I got that show”? Or, will they make us cry? It’s always a toss up with these.

But, the goal is to get the celebrities connected to their emotions through dance, so that the rest of the season is emotion-filled. By all means, let's go!

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2017      WHY: Memory Loss (?)

Oh, “cause I learned to live in the present.”

Frankie and Witney kick things off with a nice quickstep. It opens with some visual pyrotechnics from the VFX crew, and jaunts into a beautiful dance. I‘ll give him this. Frankie really has more flair and style than I ever gave him credit before previously.

Len liked the “quickstep content” and likened it to his “mom's Yorkshire pudding.” (??) Bruno likes that nothing is going to stop Frankie. Carrie Ann likes the “contagious joy.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2012      WHY: Loss of his Grandmother Who Raised Him

Terrell and Cheryl dance a dreamy Viennese waltz (a favorite dance of Most Memorable Week) for his grandmother. He gets very emotional at the end.

Bruno calls it his “most accomplished performance to date.” Carrie Ann: “Tonight I saw poise, I saw a newfound eloquence. There was a reverence to the dance that I’ve never seen, and it elevated everything you did in front of us.” Len congratulates Cheryl for “a very well-crafted routine. There was an ease and an elegance about it, and the emotion of the dance came out.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2016      WHY: Her life-threatening injury and how she overcame it

It was a beautiful contemporary number, which began with the fabric/silks thing.

The production team created a whole wrestling ring for us. Beautiful stuff.

Carrie Ann marvels about tonight‘s continuing breakthroughs “when you connect the heart and the body.” She also mentions how tough it is to work with silks. Carrie Ann says it‘s “the first time we‘ve really seen you.” Len liked it, it was very creative. “It was strong, it was powerful, it was dynamic, and for me, it was great. Well done.” Bruno thought it was “very sexy, as always.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

Tom thanks the crew for setting up the wrestling ring. It is pretty amazing, I agree. He also calls it “the night of 8 paddles” (since every judge has given an eight for every team so far).

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2011      WHY: The year he got married

They show amazing clips of Nick’s engagement and wedding, and how totally smitten with Vanessa he was/is. The contemporary dance is to the always amazing “Falling Slowly” from “Once.”

Peta’s choreogrphy was so great. I don’t really like contemporary usually, but this was stunning. Really beautiful stuff. Nick is very moved by the end.


Len thought “it was touching, the whole thing.” Bruno “loved it.”  Carrie Ann thought “it was beautifully choreographed. That was by far, for me, your best dance ever.”

Vanessa comes out of the wings for the scores.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 22 (out of 30)

This was shown just before the commercial break...

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2017      WHY: Her dad died

As these Memorable Year moments come rolling along, usually I stay pretty stoic and don’t cry. With this one, though... ugh...

The premise is that Lindsey is dancing, one last time with her dad, who passed this year. Mark is even wearing a scarf and hat that her dad favored.

But you can see through the evolution of the dance (and Mark Ballas’ brilliant choreography), the evolution of Lindsey’s relationship with her dad. It starts out with her standing on his feet (to learn how to dance), and then, the point when she learns he has cancer. And then, he’s gone. All told through dance. So incredible.

Bruno calls it, “gorgeous and magical... one of those dreams you never want to wake up from.” Carrie Anne: “There is such a unique emotional quality to what you do. The artistry, the chemistry.” Len: “It reminded me of a Banksy painting. It was thought-provoking, it had great imagination.”

Lindsey mentions how she felt like she was dancing with her dad.

JUDGES’ SCORES: 26 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2007     WHY: His daughter had eye surgery

Derek and Sharna “Move On Up” through this fun 70s jazz number.

Carrie Anne: “I love that it was a celebration.” Len: “It was danced with energy. There was great rhythm. It was upbeat. It was uplifting, and for me, your best dance.” Bruno: “It was an uplifting treat.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 23 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2005     WHY: He was officially adopted

Jordan and Lindsay do a contemporary dance to celebrate the year he officially got adopted.

His parents are in the audience. So beautiful. So moving.



Len: “That was fantastic.” Bruno: “That was exquisitely flawless. You dance with such open-hearted sincerity. It was a work of art.” Carrie Anne: “It was absolutely exquisite. That kind of feeling, that you just had, that‘s what we all dance for.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 29 (out of 30) (The first 10s of the season)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2016     WHY: Her last season of “Pretty Little Liars” and getting engaged

Ugh. Terrible music. Stupid choreography, with doors. Ugh. Just hated this foxtrot.

Bruno: "A proper foxtrot.” Carrie Anne: “Well-done.” Len: “I liked the quantity of foxtrot, and I liked the quality of the dancing.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2017     WHY:  “The year that our family was complete”  

They had difficulties with a premature baby, and “this song  (sung by her husband Nick), helped get her through it.” Maks and Vanessa dance a rumba to it. She is very teary.

Carrie Anne: “it was a beautiful expression  of  motherhood.” Len: “I loved the routine, and I loved the way you danced and performed it.” Bruno: “It was classy.”


JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2007     WHY: When he and his brother became “The Property Brothers”

So they start out this jive... But wait, it's about The Property Brothers... something’s missing...

Yup. There's Jonathan! And here's this.

Len: “That was twice as much fun, twice the energy, and that was undoubtedly your best dance.” Bruno: “It’s a bit early in the season for a threesome, don’t you think? It was a full-on jive, with a feel good factor.” Carrie Anne: “You got your secret weapon tonight, eh? Well, it worked.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 24 (out of 30)

MEMORABLE YEAR: 2017     WHY: Coming back from her paralyzing injury

Victoria and Val dance such a beauitiful, moving foxtrot. Such inspiring choreography. Wonderful.

Bruno: “What you have achieved, is really beyond belief. You emerged out of it like a star, and you danced like a star tonight.” Carrie Anne: “I feel honored, to first, see you dance in the wheelchair. To see you get up, and be who you are now, clean, precise. The chemistry between you two is so tender and beautiful. Well-done.” Len: “You have overcome the pain, the struggles, the disappointments. You are so inspirational. You should inspire the whole of America. Well-done.”

JUDGES’ SCORES: 27 (out of 30)

So, who’s going home?

Miche’s Most Memorable Dances of Most Memorable Year Week

1. Mark and Lindsey (Viennese waltz)
2. Emma and Drew (and Jonathan) (jive)
3. Val and Victoria (foxtrot)
4. Peta and Nick (contemporary)
5. Lindsay and Jordan (contemporary)
6. Maks and Vanessa (rumba)

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