PureDWTS Season 18, Week 7 – The Team Dances REVEALED!!!

It’s been a long ass day and I need sleep, so I’m just gonna get right to it…your teams for next week’s team dances are:

Team Meryl: Meryl & Maks, Danica & Val, Amy & Derek, and Candace & Mark

Team Charlie: Charlie & Sharna, James & Peta, NeNe & Tony

Yes, I know – please take a moment to lift your jaw off the floor as I did when I first heard the teams. I assure you, there’s a perfectly rational explanation…and her name is Saint Meryl the Peacemaker. ๐Ÿ™‚ Apparently Meryl won the coin toss and got to pick first – and the funny thing is, the pros did not have any say in who got picked for each team. Deep Throat insinuated that the pros may not have even been in the same room when the picking of the teams was happening…which I actually think is kind of cool. Kept some of the politics out of the team-picking. Anywho! Danica & Val were Meryl’s first pick, as that was who she “thought Maks would really want”. Then Charlie picked James & Peta (bromance!), and Meryl picked Amy & Derek. Charlie picked NeNe & Tony, and Meryl was left with Candace & Mark.

Don’t know what the dances are yet or who has what – but one of the songs is apparently “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (last seen as Kendra & Louis’ samba in season 12) so I’m guessing one of the teams has samba. Will update with more info as I hear it ๐Ÿ™‚

UPDATE: “Livin’ La Vida Loca” has been confirmed as Team Meryl’s song, so they’re doing samba.ย  No word yet on the other team’s song/dance, but I’m wondering if they, too, have a samba to a Ricky Martin song – perhaps “Shake Your Bon Bon”? Just a theory, since I think TPTB are going to capitalize on Ricky Martin being the guest judge.ย  Also received word that Meryl & Charlie are out-of-town until late Sunday evening – so they will miss both camera blocking and the 2nd rehearsals with their teams.ย  At best, they might be able to do a couple run-throughs with their team during dress rehearsals on Monday, but that’s IT. Wonder if they’re going to be Skyping with their teammates at all in order to get the synchronized choreography on lock.ย  I’m told Meryl also has a “really fast” Latin dance as her regular dance, but it’s “not jive”.ย  Will update this post again as I hear more…

UPDATE #2: So this is interesting: apparently the team dances are not any set style – both are “freestyle” and it sounds like the teams are talking about using different steps from samba, paso, salsa, cha-cha, etc. in a sort of fusion dance.ย  Team Charlie has “The Cup of Life” by Ricky Martin (thank 8 lb, 10 oz baby Jesus is is NOT “Shake Your Bon Bon”!) and while they are using some salsa steps, they’re also including some samba & paso in their routine.ย  Apparently our readers are right on track with some of their suspicions…because James is already joking about “getting naked” in their routine. ๐Ÿ˜› Over on Team Meryl, Maks & Derek have teamed up to do most of the choreography, while Val & Mark are taking on a more observational role and occasionally making suggestions.ย  And the best part? EVERYBODY on BOTH teams are getting along – not a single argument so far ๐Ÿ˜€ Also interesting? Apparently TPTB decided to move up the 2nd team dance rehearsal to tomorrow so Meryl & Charlie can rehearse with their teams before heading out to do SOI for the weekend.ย 

UPDATE #3: The teams now have names – and pictures, courtesy of Instagram ๐Ÿ™‚ Looks like the team ARE set in stone after all, huh Henry? ๐Ÿ˜‰

teamvida

teamloca

So my thoughts? I was completely and totally wrong in my “team dance picks” post – although if the pros had been involved in the picking, I think the teams would look a lot different. That being said – I’m actually kind of optimistic about Team Meryl; maybe working all together is just what the Brothers Chmerkovskiy and the Ballas/Hough faction needed to mend some fences. I think it would behoove all parties involved to really try to find a good synergy and work together – I’m guessing Derek & Val might jointly take the lead on the choreography for Team Meryl, with an assist from Mark, as I don’t know that Maks is going to be able to contribute a whole lot with he & Meryl’s travel schedule. The teams really only have 2 rehearsals together – one is happening as we speak and the other is on Saturday or Sunday (which Meryl & Charlie might not be able to attend). While I do think Team Charlie might struggle a bit more in terms of choreography, I think Sharna & Peta might have picked up a few tricks from Derek in previous seasons and it may be a more evenly-matched bout than we initally thought. ๐Ÿ™‚

So what are your thoughts on the teams for the team dances? Are they what you expected, or totally different? Who do you think has the edge? Discuss…while I get some shut-eye. ๐Ÿ˜Ž