PureDWTS Season 18, Week 7 – POLL: Who’s Got the Edge in the Team Dances?
My first team dance post was getting a bit lengthy…so I decided to carry on the discussion here 🙂 I thought I’d take a look at several factors that may affect the outcome of the team dances – things that may affect scores and overall success on each of the teams. Join me, won’t you? 🙂 And be sure to vote in the poll at the bottom!
Just as a reminder, the teams are:
Team Loca: Meryl & Maks, Danica & Val, Amy & Derek, Candace & Mark
Team Vida: Charlie & Sharna, James & Peta, NeNe & Tony
Pro Team Dance Experience:
Derek: 10 wins, 0 ties, 0 losses; average team dance score: 27.65
Mark: 2 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie; average team dance score: 24.6
Peta: 2 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties; average team dance score: 27
Maks: 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 tie; average team dance score: 25.5
Sharna: 1 win, 0 losses, 0 ties; average team dance score: 25
Tony: 1 win, 3 losses, 0 ties; average team dance score: 25.38
Val: 0 wins, 3 losses, 0 ties; average team dance score: 25.33
The writing is kinda on the wall with this one – Derek wins team dances, so he’s a real asset if he’s on your team. Peta may not have as many wins, but the teams she’s been on have pulled in high enough scores that her average team dance score is pretty high. Mark’s average team dance score may be a bit artificially low – it was hard to account for the 4th judges’ score in season 12, so I just removed it – that ended up throwing things off a bit.
Who’s got the edge: Team Loca
Number of couples:
Team Loca: 4 couples
Team Vida: 3 couples
We only have two precedents for this one – season 9 and season 14, and there are pros and cons for both. In season 9, Team Paso had 4 couples and Team Tango had 3; Team Tango beat Team Paso by 4 points, with Louis citing that having fewer couples was easier because there were “fewer egos” and it’s easier to get a smaller number of couples in synch. In season 14, Team Tango had 4 couples while Team Paso had 3 – Team Tango beat Team Paso by 1 point, and Derek said that having more couples allowed them to “create more cool patterns on the floor”. From what I’ve heard from Deep Throat so far, both teams are looking great – but it seems like Team Vida might be having an easier time with the synchronized group sections.
Who’s got the edge: Team Vida
Dance Style:
This gets a bit tricky, as the team dances are freestyles once more and obviously, none of the current celebs have any experience with the freestyle yet. So which pros have experience with the freestyle?
Derek: 7 individual freestyles; 2 team freestyles
Mark: 5 individual freestyles; 0 team freestyles
Maks: 4 individual freestyles; 1 team freestyle
Tony: 3 individual freestyles; 2 team freestyles
Val: 2 individual freestyles; 2 team freestyles
Peta: 1 individual freestyle; 2 team freestyles
Sharna: 0 individual freestyles; 0 team freestyles
Even if they haven’t necessarily WON with every single freestyle they’ve done, I think it’s good for every pro to at least have some experience with the freestyle – and Team Loca has Team Vida beat in that respect.
Who’s got the edge: Team Loca
Music:
Team Loca: “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
Team Vida: “The Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)” by Ricky Martin
This one is rather subjective, as it’s just a matter of opinion who got the “better” song. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” has been used once before, as Kendra & Louis’ samba in season 12; “The Cup of Life” has been used twice before – once as Melissa & Tony’s salsa in season 8, once as Maria & Derek’s salsa in season 14. Both songs are conducive to both a samba and a salsa beat; there are also certain sections of each that might work with paso doble & cha-cha. Personally, I think all of Ricky Martin’s stuff kinda starts to sound the same after awhile – so I don’t really think either one is better than the other.
Who’s got the edge: TIE
Average individual score:
Team Loca: 25.63
Team Vida: 25.11
This is kinda reaching, but since everyone on the same team gets the same score, it might be worthwhile to look at what their average individual score is as a team. Not a vast difference between them – I would not be surprised if whoever won this team dance won it by only 1 point.
Who’s got the edge: Slight edge to Team Loca…but not by much
COURT’S OVERALL THOUGHTS: On paper, everything seems to be stacked in Team Loca’s favor: they’ve got great choreographers, great dancers, and are getting along well. Apparently Val is even refreshed at how good it feels to work as a team 🙂 But I just can’t shake the feeling that Team Loca is being set up to lose – seems like a lot of emphasis is being placed on the fact that Derek has NEVER lost, and according to our sources, Team Vida is looking really good. We’re also at the point in the season where any potential dark horses (namely James, and to a lesser degree, Charlie) could have a bit of a growth arc and surge into the lead. Gotta love storyboarding. If they aren’t deliberately setting Team Loca up to lose, I would imagine the teams are going to be very, very close in score.
So what are your thoughts? Who do you think has the edge…and who do you think will actually end up winning?
Hahahaha, Derek 10 wins, 0 loses, 0 ties 🙂 no words needed 🙂
I won’t underestimate Team Vida, but I think that Team Loca will win 🙂
Do they really have ties?
Fantastic post, Courtney! 🙂
Since it sounds like egos were put aside for the team dance, if Team Loco can perfect the synchronicity to the point that it is at least as good as Team Vida’s, I think Team Loco will win. Also, not only is Derek a good choreographer, but he is already intimately familiar with the strengths and abilities of both Amy and Meryl. That’s a small plus – usually the better the choreographer can fit the choreography to the dancers, the better the dance will probably turn out.
I wonder how Team Vida is going to deal with Nene. Derek did a fantastic job with Nene and gave her appropriate material for her switch-up jazz. I have no doubt Sharna can come up with some good choreography, but unless Sharna and Peta lower down the difficulty of the female group choreography, Nene might stick out (in a bad way..) because she’s going to be compared to Sharna and Peta.
What happens if they tie? I just can’t see TPTB doing anything That would stop Meryl/Maks from winning so I somehow feel Charlie’s team is doomed Then again if it is really close 2 of the top teams are on Meryl’s team and maybe even 3 so who knows???? Should be interesting
Yes, I think there has been at least one tie.
Season 12 had a tie between Team Hines Cha Cha Challenge and Team Chelsea Cha Cha Challenge Score was 30 for each team.
Hey, wasn’t Livin’ La Vida Loca also used by Stacy & Tony for a Samba in the season 2 finals?
Stacy Keibler & Tony Dovolani – Samba – Finale
Dancing With The Stars Season 2 Week 8 February 23, 2006
Song: “Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
Score: 30
It is interesting that a couple that is already eliminated will count in the next elimination’s score. With Derek’s ten for ten taken out of the equation and stats of win loses become mute. Since the season he missed ended up a tie I voted tie. If there is a substantial difference in scores and the losing team has the eliminated star, I can not wait for the discussion
There’s no competition I wished it would have been more balance, and then you’d have had a competition. This is like a championship team playing against the worst team in the league no competition. Not even excited about it. I hope the underdogs win though that would be a sweet victory.
I just had a horrible thought What if they eliminate a couple right off the bat and it is Candance! That would make everything even Is that possible??
@Shannon, I don’t think they would actually let them rehearse as a group of 4 couples and then tell them: “Hey, Candace, you are out. Now you have only 3 couples in your team dance.” So no.
I guess the way things have been going on this show this season I don’t trust anyone and think anything is possible I hope not but they did it to Diane and Henry but that’s just me
@Shannon: Diane & Henry were eliminated, but they were at least allowed to dance.
Pet peeve – the way you used it, the word is “moot”, not mute. 🙂
Shannon, that would throw all the choreo out the window. Talk about unfair to the remaining couples!
Not sure why some of you are obsessed with the uneven numbers.
last season I thought Amber’s Team would trample Elizabeth’s, but surprisingly I really enjoyed both. I think it’ll be very close. Charlie and Sharna are amazing, James works really hard. My disappointment is not seeing Derek and Charlie dance together, but it is what it is. I love Amy and Derek and want Derek’s streak to continue. But can’t root against Charlie either. Best of Luck to both!
You know what would get me REALLY angry, if they eliminate one couple after the individual dances, and then expect that eliminated couple to dance in the group dance.
I don’t think it will be a run away victory for either team. I’m guessing that Meryl’s team will have the best one, but I think it will be close. I don’t underestimate Charlie’s team, those pros will figure out a way to help Nene be an asset.
This post, along with a multitude of others including the regulars of power rankings and numbers and all the media coverage is exactly why this site gets so many hits. Obviously lots of us love this place, and lots of people who say they don’t all around the dwts internet universe like to come here to see all the content.
Pulling for Team Loca.
But this would be the perfect time for Charlie (and his team) to finally get 10s across the board.
I don’t think anyone has to worry about someone being eliminated until after all the dances are done – the synchronized portions of the team dances depend on having a set number of couples on the floor at one time; take one away and you have to do some seriously re-working to make those same sections work. TPTB may be d*cks – but they aren’t THAT big a d*cks.
@jess – Awwww you just gave me warm fuzzies 🙂 Thanks for your kind words.
Loves loves this post! Good job Court. You keep getting me so pumped for the next show!! As for the Poll, I think it will be close with a Team Loca win!!
I voted a tie. Just because I’m being a wienie today and don’t want to commit.
But in all honesty I really think it’ll come down to a tie or the winning team will only win by 1 or two points. I’m okay with that as I have couples I really like on both teams.
I’d love it, if for once in their miserable lives, TPTB would have the decency to hold off calling anyone safe or in jeopardy until the *end* of the show — after the team dances.
The team dances should be fun for both the audience and the dancers. If you’ve got 3 couples with the sword of doom hanging over their heads, it’s bound to be in the back of their minds when they do the team dance. If that causes them to dance poorly, it impacts not only them, but their team mates.
For that very reason, I know TPTB won’t be able to resist. They’re all about cheap drama.
Amazing post. I don’t want to swell your heads, moderators, but your work this season has been absolutely unparalleled! Btw, how do you know Val is enjoying the group dance, Courtney? Is this info from your source or an interview? I think Team Vida will win or it will be a tie. Unless tptb use the scoring to get rid of either NeNe or Candace. I agree with your summation in that this could be manipulated for Charlie to finally get a surge of growth.
Jumping on the love-train here……I second Jess and Judy’s sentiments! I’ve learned SO MUCH about ballroom dancing and about DWTS since finding this site..not sure how I stumbled across it exactly..I think it may have been while I was recuperating from my nephrectomy two years ago & I was bored…lol It provided me a way to keep my mind off the fact that I had cancer and now, thankfully I’m cancer free!!
Courtney, Heidi, Vogue, Lori, John, et al put a LOT of blood, sweat and tears into this site and I appreciate it! I especially appreciate Courtney and Heidi’s sense of humor as it closely matches my own, given what I do for a living (an RN) because if I didn’t have that sense of humor..I’d have burned out in this profession a LONG time ago 😉 I’m sure the mods get a lot of hate mail (here and on Twitter) that we don’t see from the C-bros fans (and probably others). I don’t agree that it’s hate. Just calling them out on their poor behavior. Poor behavior has also been called out when other Pros have done it…Mark, for one. OBVIOUSLY the ‘haters’ come here for the deets that their behind-the-scene sources provide and that just speaks for itself!!!
So thank you Courtney, Heidi and Vogue for all your hard work! It’s much appreciated!! This is probably my most read website after Facebook.
Anyway, I think that Team Loca will run away with this. NeNe is the Achilles heel in Team Vida. With this likely Derek’s last season, I don’t think TPTB will tinker too much plus they want Meryl and Maks to do well…if anything it’ll be a tie. Even Team Loca’s weakest dancer is better than Team Vida’s weakest. So I call a win for Team Loca!!
Great post! I really love your analysis! I’m hoping that both teams get 9’s in their dances at least – this won’t happen, but I hope both teams get all 10’s! This way, there is no winner or loser!
Also, no matter what happens, a streak is broken. Derek has never won a team dance, and Val has never lost (I am not counting Sharna’s one win as a streak.) If Team Loca wins, Val’s streak is broken. If they lose, Derek’s streak is broken.
Yer having a backwards moment, Aviva. Derek has never lost, Val has never won. 🙂
I too will jump on the love train. Never want to miss an opportunity to express appreciation for all u guys do. I use to just watch DWTS, now I feel like I’m part of the show. Thanks guys.
You’re right. I got mixed up. Sorry about that
Could someone please be kind enough to enlighten me? How does the scoring of the team dances affect the individual scores? Are they both added?
Always love the info on the site and laugh at how people criticize it but then take their info. Unless of course the insider info contradicts what they think or is against their faves, lol.
I can see the show for storyboarding purposes have Charlie’s team. The underdogs and they give Derek his first loss. Then Tony will gloat is the best pro and Kristyn on afterbuzz go on about ?Sharna is the best choreographer.
Team dance scores are scored as if the individual had a second dance. Example: Meryl scored 30 in Salsa and 30 in Team Loco, her total score would be 60
Thank you Larry for the explanation!
Adding my appreciation to the sentiments already expressed above. PureDWTS = PureBliss for those of us who enjoy intelligent discussion, brutal honesty, some good laughs, and a healty dose of sarcasm.
PH, Court, Vogue, Lori, John, and any stealth mods who choose to remain behind the scenes…where’s my zebra-striped 10-paddle??? Damn Redfoo, he took it home with him. 😛 Thank you all!
When I first read here what the teams were, I thought right away that Team Loca had it in the bag. But after reading this post, yikes! I changed my mind and voted that they’ll tie. While it seems Team Loca have more advantages than Team Vida, we do have to take the storyboarding that Courtney mentioned into consideration. TPTB loves that, you know, for ratings.
I’d like to add my appreciation for this site. It has truly made me an informed viewer of the show. Thank you, mods! 🙂
@Courtney….Thank you for this post. I’m always a day late sometimes. At age 64 speed reading does work as good. LOL
I would like to say that I am enjoying this site so much better than the other one I was in for 3 seasons. You all provide the most up-to-date information and I like the format also. I am happier here and I love the fact that I get notices in my email on postings. I have Microsoft Outlook email program and it pops up a window showing new emails coming in and who they are from. I don’t know how you all keep up with reading all the posts. I am retired and still get behind. I also love the humor and friendly responses and the fact that you can post about a celebrate or pro without having to walk on egg shells fear you are attacked by a fan group with their claws out.
As far as the Team Dances….I think whoever wins, it will be a ONE point difference.
Fantastic post Courtney! Thank you!!!! I am looking forward to seeing both team dances equally. I’m giving the edge to Team Loca because of Derek and he always finds a way to make things work. However, Sharna and Peta are both creative and modern choreographers and with a freestyle, they might come up with something really cool. However, let’s not forget that they do have Nene who is the weakest dancer left. She’s not bad, but just the weakest left. I would love if Derek and Maks created a fusion latin dance. I loved the paso/tango fusion Derek created in the all-star season!
Anyone see the new little clip of Team Loca on DWTS Facebook page? It looks like it’s going to be a fun dance! I’m excited for tomorrow!
@ Mona #40 Thank you for mentioning a little clip on Team Loca on DWTS Facebook page. I’ll have to go check it out. Enjoy the show tomorrow night.