Season 29, Week 9: Icons Night and a Dance Off

 

We have this lame commercial sort of thing to explain (badly) what an Icon is. Yawn.

Boy, do I miss opening numbers. Sigh.

Sasha and Justina, rumba

ICON: Madonna

Boy, does Justina love Madonna. So do we, so great.

Beautiful rumba. Just loved it.

Derek (dressed as David Bowie): “Beautiful rumba. Beautiful turns. Great quality in the movement.” Bruno (dressed as George Michael): “We saw the gentle side of Madonna tonight. Nothing shocking, nothing controversial. Everything as it should be. You did everything exactly. The content was there. You’ve got to push it a bit further.” Carrie Ann (dressed as a general rock star): “You look amazing tonight. Very sexy, very in your strength and power. I can tell you’re feeling good. You’re such a dynamic performer. Never let that go.”

JUDGES: 24 (Out of 30)

Daniella and Nelly, jazz

ICON: Tupac

Boy oh boy. I can’t even describe how much I hated everything about this. Except that Daniella worked really hard to make it a DWTS number. But still. Ugh.Nelly redid the song “California Love” for them to dance to. But ugh.

Bruno: “Jazz Nelly style makes me smile. You were cool, confident, in your element.” Carrie Ann: “Great job. That’s part of what made this so fun. It looked like you were entertaining us. We’re not trying to make you professional dancers. We want you to come to your own personal journey. I like watching your journey, more and more each week. You open up an d make us smile and laugh. Really good fun.” Derek: “I really loved all the elements of that. You had some  salsa in there, you had some Charleston footwork in there. There were so many things going on. So much fun. I’d like to echo what she said: the joy. It was like celebratory. That’s what tonight is: we’re celebrating our icons, and to see you celebrating yours was a joy to watch.”

JUDGES: 24 (Out of 30)

Cheryl and AJ, Viennese waltz

ICON: Freddie Mercury

Viennese waltz to “Somebody to Love”? How great is that? Pretty great. Lots of Viennese waltz content. Just beautiful. I loved this so much.

Carrie Ann: “That was a tough one. You’re broadening your space. Good comeback.” Derek: “When you were in frame, it was beautiful.” Bruno: “So Freddie. Make sure to soften it.”

JUDGES: 23 (Out of 30)

Artem and Kaitlyn, Argentine tango

ICON: Britney Spears

People who do sets and lights and costumes on this show are just phenomenal.

Pretty amazing Argentine tango. Nicely done.

Derek: “Sparkles. (He then gets up and claps for her.) Whoa! Let’s go. The way I judge is like technique, content, creativity, execution and impact. And for me, it always felt like you’ve lacked a bit of the impact. Until tonight. That was so beautiful. Exquisite lines, beautiful transitions. The choreography well done Artem. Yeah, You did that.” Bruno: “Now we are in business. I mean, come on. The luscious shapes. Those lines, stretched to infinity. Some of the images were like precious paintings. Your focus and your intensity was better than we’ve ever seen it. Star performance.” Carrie Ann: “I know it’s been a rough couple weeks, but I just have to say (and she also gets up and claps). Incredible. Look, we push you because we want you to reach your ultimate. And tonight, every line was amazing. Every lift, Artem, when she landed, her foot was perfect. Everything about it was amazing. Your lines, elegant, passionate, everything that we’ve been wanting from you was in this routine. Beautiful job.”

 JUDGES: 30 (Out of 30)

Britt and Johnny, quickstep

ICON: Amy Winehouse

Nice quickstep. Good coverage of the dances floor. Good content.

Bruno: “Forget about perceptions. You did it the way you want it, and you did it very well. The actual quickstep was excellent. You didn’t skimp on anything. Light of touch, precise, Beautiful. Well done.” Carrie Ann: “First of all, we’ve never seen a quickstep like that. In 29 seasons, it’s hard to do something that we’ve never seen before. You pulled it off beautifully. You’re such a great performer. What I love is that you believe in what you’re doing. Every single creative choice you deliver with such a passion and a power and precision. It was just amazing.Light on your feet. Used the whole floor like it was an ice skating rink. Beautifully flowing. Amazing.” Derek: “Johnny, you’re a perfect representation of being enough. Being an athlete, being a competitor, we often rely on winning. We think that winning equals love. When the truth is, just you being you and who you are equals love. No matter what. You’ll always be enough. With the technique, the footwork. I loved the basic over in the corner. So clean.”

JUDGES: 30 (Out of 30)

Alan and Skai, paso doble

ICON: Janet Jackson

The lyrics of the song don’t match the dance. I’m just so over Skai. Ugh.

Carrie Ann: “First of all yes, thank you for sharing your story. But I’m more proud of you for giving us this fierce paso doble. You channeled a new fierceness. Amazing.”  Derek: “For someone so young, you are strong, powerful and confident. And starting on your own like that, that was bold and brave.” Bruno: “Respect my darling. It is one of the most grown up dances we have. You lived up to it. Intense. Purpose. Strength. Beauty., Power. You did a fantastic job.”

JIUDGES: 27 (Out of 30)

Jenna and Nev, jive

ICON: Elton John

That jive to “Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighing)” was amazing. So much fun. So much content. Loved it so very much.

Derek: “Nev, listen. The thing I love about this show so much is exactly what you were talking about in the package. Introducing you, and reclaiming a part of your passion. I’ve seen you grow throughout this experience. It’s been such a pleasure. It’s been amazing to see you dance and performing and.smikle in my face every single time. That had so much content in it. So much charisma.” Bruno: “I loved the structure, the theatricality of it, and the characterizations were delicious. You are entertaining. You bring characters to life.” Carrie Ann: “You’re just a pleasure to watch. It’s fun to watch somebody who’s having fun. And your eyes are sparkling. I like that you’re at the level now where you can sort of stylize your routine a little bit.”

JUDGES: 27 (Out of 30)

Nev and Jenna have won immunity from tonight’s dance off.

I really hate these stupid dance off things. 

Getting two extra points:

Sasha and Justina

Alan and Skai

Cheryl and AJ

They really overdosed on confetti this season. My goodness.

Who are the Bottom Two?

Britt and Johnny

Cheryl and AJ

Who goes home?

MICHE’s favorite dances of Week 9

1.Jenna and Nev, jive

2. Cheryl and AJ, Viennese waltz

3. Britt and Johnny, quickstep

4. Sasha and Justina, rumba

5.Artem and Kaitlyn, Argentina tango 

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