Season 29, Week 8: Jeannie Mai drops out for medical reasons, two dances for everyone else

 

I’m not even talking about Tyra’s costume changes or spectacles of fashion, because this is a DANCE show, not a fashion show. 

Artem and Kaitlyn, jive

Kaitlyn and Artem jive to “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and it’s fun and a great way to kick off the show. 

Derek: “I’m gonna repeat myself, but you always have so much content in your dances! You jam-packed so much in that routine. Well done for choreography, Artem, amazing. I think you’re fantastic, and I think you can go all the way. Great jive. Well done.” Bruno: “Honestly, you have what it takes. You can do everything. Now, we are approaching the finals. So there is one thing you have to do: I want more passion, more attack, clearer finish.” Carrie Ann: “Kaitlyn, I know last week was a tough week, but I think you’ve come back with grace and energy. This performance was one of your better performances, as far as you giving it your full heart. You were much looser.”

JUDGES: 25 (out of 30)

Jenna and Nev, Viennese waltz

And we have one of my pet peeves: the celebrity who bitches about how busy they are. Yawn. If you’re so busy, don’t do Dancing with the Stars. I have no sympathy. 

That said, I did enjoy this Viennese waltz (to an Ariana Grande/Justin Bieber song).

Bruno: “You were oozing charm and charisma. And that confidence really came through in the way you led. You were in control, light on your feet, veery musical. You sold the performance.” Carrie Ann: “That was beautiful. There’s so much elegance in you. A beautiful performance, and elegant and flowing.” Derek: “You move with such intention. There’s such clarity in everything that you do. It’s such a joy to watch you dance. A beautiful smooth Viennese waltz.” 

JUDGES: 27 (out of 30)

Sasha and Justina, samba

Justina waxes eloquent about her current costar Rita Moreno, and how she inspired her. She dedicates this samba to her.

Justina was born to samba, and Sasha is such a great partner. I loved this dance so much. So perfect, so amazing. So much great choreography, and Justina just brought it.

Carrie Ann: “So good. So fierce. What I love about you is the way you make us all feel when you dance, because you’re having such a great time, you’re so loose.” Derek: “Justina, you look beautiful tonight. Dancing to that song is like sacred in the Latin community. It’s a great dance, love the song. You’re so fun to watch. You’re just awesome.” Bruno: “You have such an exhurberant, joyful presence, you make every hour feel like happy hour. All the material we require for the samba was there.”

JUDGES: 27 (Out of 30)

Daniella and Nelly, rumba

Nelly dedicates it to his sister, Jackie, because this was her favorite song.

Costumes and sets are gorgeous.

Daniella really knows how to rock a rumba. 

Derek: “Thank you for sharing that story.” Bruno: “It’s very difficult for a man to do a rumba.” Carrie Ann: “I appreciate how far you’ve come. You give us everything. I still wanna see even more from you. But you danced from your heart, and we could all see that tonight,.”

JUDGES: 21 (Out of 30)

Gleb and Chrishell, Viennese waltz

PET PEEVE ALERT: Chrishell is so busy… Yawn.

Oh, Len would hate this one. They start with a bed prop, cause it’s Gleb, so of course they do.

Then there’s some Viennese waltz content, but there’s also this move:

NOT Viennese waltz, as far as I know…

*eyeroll*

Carrie Ann: “Chrishell, look at you. It was very graceful and elegant. Sexy also, I must say.” Derek: “I can see you improving each week.” Bruno: “I was thinking so many things while watching that. None had anything to do with the Viennese waltz.”

JUDGES: 24 (Out of 30)

Alan and Skai, salsa

They dance to Missy Elliott’s “Work It.” 

I hate this music for a salsa. Ugh.

Carrie Ann: “Nice job. What I liked the most was how much you were really aggressive with the dance. More than I’ve ever seen. You kept it strong.” Derek: “You feel more grounded. I love a lift. But I feel like there was maybe one or two too many. Great dance.” Bruno: “You started to use the ground, which is a good thing.”

JUDGES: 25 (Out of 30)

Britt and Johnny, foxtrot

Great, great dance. Just loved every moment of this. Britt has such grace and elegance. And Johnny steps up to her choreography.

Derek: “Always such beautiful arms. Your frame was fantastic. The foxtrot needs to be a little bit more gradual, rise and fall.” Bruno: “You have this wonderful sweeping movement that fills the stage.” Carrie Ann: “You danced that with such emotion, such artistry. I felt the storyline going on there. Thought it was an interesting artistic choice.”

JUDGES: 27 (Out of 30)

Package showing how Jeanne Mai had to drop out for medical reasons. We will miss her.

Cheryl and AJ, rumba 

AJ and Cheryl both talk very frankly about addiction and recovery. 

Beautiful rumba.

Bruno: “I was so captivated by it. The intensity, the intent, the drama, the purpose, the storytelling. You were just killing it. I lost a lot of the rumba action,. I really did like the performance. There wasn’t so much rumba in it… so,..” Carrie Ann: “I agree with you. What a passionate, powerful performance. I could feel you were dancing from your deeper, darker places. And it moved us all. Truthfully, there wasn’t enough content, and I didn’t particularly see a lot of hip action. I also wanna say for fixture, I still wanna see you bust through. There’s something that I want more. I don’t know how to explain it. Bust open! Let it all out. Dance is a great way to express your feelings. Use it, please.” Derek: “AJ, to me a hero is someone who heals their own wounds and then shows others how to do the same. I appreciate you sharing your journey, and I know you’re gonna do great things and help other people. That one was for you.”

JUDGES: 24 (Out of 30)

Then, they do a stupid relay dance round thing. I hate this.

First up is a cha cha relay, which Carrie Ann is judging. The couples are Jenna and Nev, then Gleb and Chrishell, then Daniella and Nelly.

Second was supposed to be a Viennese waltz relay with Derek judging. The couples were supposed to be Justina and Sasha, Johnny and Britt and Jeanne and Brandon. 

Third, we have Bruno judging the samba. AJ and Cheryl, Kaitlin and Artem and Skai and Alan.

They get extra points. Blah.

Who is in the Bottom Two?

Skai and Alan and Chrishell and Gleb.

Judges get to pick, and they choose:

MICHE’s Favorites of Week 8

1. Sasha and Justina, samba

2. Cheryl and AJ, rumba 

3.Britt and Johnny, foxtrot

4.Artem and Kaitlyn, jive

5. Jenna and Nev, Viennese waltz

 6. Daniella and Nelly, rumba

So very tired of

1. Skai

2. Chrishell

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