Dancing with the Stars Season 20, Week SEVEN – Who’s Dancing What…and When?
The week of the dreaded double elimination. So twoone couple gets to dance their little hearts out only to be voted off the island. Oh, wait.
Anyway, here’s what we know so far.
ETA: Along with the couples having their regular dances, they will also have to prepare three immunity dances for next week according to E Online’s interview with Sharna. She and Noah also have a Jazz for next week. ~Vogue
ETA2: Below are the rest of the dances in red. To read more dance and entertainment for Week 7, see the ABC Press Release.
ETA3: Thanks to the internets, we THINK we know two of the songs. Nathan says Rumer’s was confirmed on twitter although I sure can’t find it. But then again, I’m sick so I’m not up to full power. As for Nastia, she retweeted Andy Grammer when he said he was performing and said “We can’t wait” or some such thing, which I took as a tentative confirmation.
Rumer and Val – 60’s Jive (Song: “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor)
1-855-234-5610
Willow and Mark – Futuristic Jazz
1-855-234-5612
Chris and Witney – 40’s Fox Trot
1-855-234-5602
Noah and Sharna – 70’s Jazz
1-855-234-5605
Robert and Kym – 80’s Argentine Tango
1-855-234-5609
Riker and Allison – 20’s Quickstep
1-855-234-5608
Nastia and Sasha (filling in for Derek) – Modern Charleston (Song: “Honey I’m Good” by Andy Grammer ??)
1-855-234-5604
See our new Media Post for more teasers and information for next week.
Next week is Era’s Week, right? If so, the Charleston makes sense.
I was afraid for a second that next week we were gonna have all the weird dances like “Bollywood” and “Burlesque”.
Sorry if this was addressed in the other post, but why is there a double elimination next week if they eliminated someone this week? I feel like they should have skipped sending anyone home this week in order to do double.
I love a good charleston so I’m glad it’s there next week. Hoping for a old Hollywood quickstep from riker (Allison visually screams old Hollywood in my opinion).
Obviously we don’t know now but I am hoping Robert and Kym do not under any circumstances have swing! Quickstep-Jive-Swing would be killer! I want an AT or a Paso from them
I’m really hoping that Riker & Allison would do jazz or contemporary.
Please. Contemporary for Riker. Pretty Please. Give Allison her genre please. I think Riker can cope up with Allison’s contemporary choreos.
My guess is that they are having a double elimination due to the return of the results show next week. So they would eliminate one couple on Monday night as usual and then a second couple on Tuesday. Does anyone know if this is really the case?
Cali, Tom confirmed that both eliminations will be on Tuesday so week 7 scores/votes will factor into it
With two weeks worth of scores, the percent difference will be minuscule. Audience vote will pretty much determine who goes home.
Yeah! Jazz for Sharna and Noah. I hope it’s a 40’s or 50’s era Hollywood musical type of Jazz. Sharna makes a fabulous Cyd Charisse.
I really wish they wouldn’t do immunity. I’ll honestly be ticked if Rumor or Chris get immunity. Of course, they could change things between now and Monday.
Dee #11, I wish that, too. I don’t want a repeat of season 19’s immunity result. That left a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of that season.
I hate immunity dances. gives too much of a chance for manipulation. imagine Rumer is one of the bottom two and she gets immunity? I’m confident that’s what saved Janel last season. I actually don’t care who gets immunity, just don’t like it. I was hoping they’d do the marathon dances with all seven couples. I miss that.
Nobleze #12 Yeah, the Janel incident. That would explain Rumer’s low scores and critiques if she gets immunity. (I hated the dance by the way.) They can always say we were so hard on her last week. We’re not showing favoritism.
I just don’t like immunity. I’m concerned that Willow could go home next week because I think she is in the middle even with the second highest score and not sure her young fans are voting. However, the same goes for her or any other dancer who didn’t get the votes. They should go home. We may not like it, but we know it’s possible.
I was thinking about what other eras could really work for certain dances and now I’m also hoping for a 90s dance to “Run Around” by Blues Traveler.
Too true, Dee. I really didn’t like that it was ever introduced. Now we have to put up with it. Sigh!
Ananya #13, re: Janel getting immunity–I thought that, too.
#Dee2 – I sure hope Willow doesn’t go home next week. I am really enjoying her and her dancing has been very entertaining (especially without all that sexy stuff). Not sure if Nastia is getting huge amounts of votes, but both Mark and Derek have huge fan bases hopefully that will pull them both through. I would rather lose Chris or Robert before Willow and Nastia.
#LeannC I can’t prove it, but I think Nastia has a pretty large fan base, and I’m not really concerned about her getting eliminated. IF IF IF (praying not)Derek can’t continue, I’m hoping Sasha would be able to be her partner. I don’t want that to happen, but I also want her to be able to continue.
I’d hate to see Willow or Nastia go though. I think we really got a glimpse of both of their personalities on the show last night. They were both so bubbly and cute together. I think they let their guard down, and it really looked like they were enjoying themselves during/after the group dance. Of course, we see this behind the scenes, but a lot of people only see them during the show.
The only thing Willow MIGHT having going for her is group texting among young people. I know my daughter had teens voting for Willow who didn’t even watch the show. Not sure it is enough though.
I do think its possible that one of Robert/Chris/Noah could uproot someone like Willow, especially with the margins so small next week. The truth is this elimination is far from obvious, and anyone who doesn’t have fans voting in force could go home
So Robert’s EW blog just came out and he has an 80’s Argentine Tango, that is they style I have been wanting to see from them so I am very happy about that
Oh god, if this immunity goes to Rumer. Sigh.
Not that I’m rooting against her, but lordy – it will just stink.
Waiting for Rumer and Val to get an AT, Paso, or perhaps Contemporary to a GREAT song so they’ll get slathered.
Let’s make things even more obvious, shall we TPTB? That’s what you’ll be doing by making sure Rumor gets immunity.
Personally, I would love the shocking elimination to happen next week and have it be Rumor. Her and Val are boring. The dances appear to be the same week to week, with the signature walking during the dances that Val and Maks always do. It’s enough.
My guess as to who will go? Chris should definitely be one, and then, unfortunately, I think it might be Robert. I know there’s a chance for Willow to go, but with the remaining celebs, Chris and Robert are the weakest, although I love watching Robert and Kym.
I just Chris would man-up and withdraw so that someone who really wants to be there doesn’t get sent home instead of him.
I actually really sympathized with Rumer yesterday. She handled the judges’ comments really well. I’ll take Rumer over Janel any day. Much more authentic. Val is ruining her chances. Seriously, it was jazz, he could’ve done so much more.
Agree Ananya #25 – I think Rumer is a GABILLION times more likable than Janel (although I have a perhaps unnatural distaste for that woman). But just like I really liked Chelsea and Mark, it definitely stunk to high heaven.
Fig, was the partnership of Mark and Chelsea a partnership that was pimped by the producers? Just wondered if that is what you meant. All the lower scores for Rumer have done is rally Val’s rabid fans into denouncing the judges, other pros etc. Val has posted an instagram apology to her which has his fans going nuts also. Patty has endorsed them for the win also. Never seen anything like this kind of pimping before, which is why I am asking.
Chelsea was ABC family, and those celebs almost always get shown some sort of favortism or kindness from the judges or producers or both. I think in Chelsea’s case, she was a really good dancer that the general audience just wasn’t connecting with – probably in part due to her personality, but also because it was a pretty stacked season, personality-wise: Ralph, Kirstie Alley, Hines Ward, Kendra Wilkinson, Romeo Miller, Chris Jericho – hell, even the “model” of the season, Petra Namcova, was an absolute dear with a heart-wrenching story. So in order to maintain the “integrity” of the dance quality and protect the ABC person that was struggling with votes, I think that’s why the winner-take-all chacha was put there.
I liked Chelsea, but I was rooting for Ralph and he was the sacrificial lamb that season (also his injuries at the end didn’t help).
So long answer, yes – but in a different way perhaps than Rumer & Val.
So then why is it Val’s season? Is it because he has the daughter of an A list celeb whose parent’s they want in the audience? The camera certainly pans to them repeatedly. Or is it just because he hasn’t won yet. I know people think he is the heir apparent for Derek but the guy just doesn’t have the class Derek has and has a very polarizing personality imo. Anyway, I am so irked at the shenanigans which probably have always been going on but I now notice.
It’s not so much (although it is partly) the pimping of certain male pros that bothers me as much as it is their willingness to treat the female pros as less than as a whole. The female pros work just as hard as the men do, yet aren’t afforded the opportunity to grab that same amount of spotlight/pimping/opportunity. Whatever you want to call it. They’re constantly treated as more expendable, I guess is what I’m trying to say.
I loved Janel on DWTS but I hated that they were given all the slow lovey dovey songs to really sell the “Relationship”. And how funny is it that they paired Rumer with Val and she was cheering Val and Janel the whole season because they are friends and work together. Sooo stupid! I don’t know but its too much hype with Rumer and Val the judges arent fair. When they danced the Waltz Rumer missed up and Val almost fell while slipping on her dress and it wasnt even mentioned.
I would also say that Chelsea (to my recollection, anyway) at first was not overly praised by the judges at all – in fact I think some of their routines got unfairly low marks or negative comments (their Jive and V. Waltz were really cool and I think both blasted by Len & perhaps the rest of them). Then the judges changed their tune, but the damage had already been done and perhaps the producers were trying to right the ship to save a good dancer/ABC person.
What’s different nowadays is that it’s not just about the celeb and why they’d want to keep them – like Janel (ABC) or Rumer (A-listish family) but also the pro involved as well. The producers seem really invested in making Val “work” to a degree that I’ve never seen except for the Maks/Meryl thing. None of the other pros – ESPECIALLY the female pros – have gotten so much overt or subtle favortism, and I’d even argue that Karina and Sharna have both gotten shit on. It’s sorta different when it happens to Derek, because he’s built up such a large and loyal fanbase that it doesn’t hurt as much – but the female pros will never have such an avid following year after year.
I remember Derek’s Charleston with Sadie last year, that was so fun! I guess Nastia will get another opportunity to show her fun side, and I can already predict it’s going to be awesome. Unless of course, Len and CAI think that Nastia’s dress had too much fringe or her hairstyle was too crimped or some other lame critique. -_-
At this point, I’m practically begging for a fun dance from Rumer, unless they plan for her to be the shocking elimination next week (not much chance though). Charleston would have been good for her, but I very much doubt if Val would have had the creativity to choreograph it and make it fun (again, not much chance).
@Princess Heidi Did you include Patti and Artem in next week’s dances by mistake?
I guess a good example of female pro hosing would be Sharna with Charlie in season 18. Why don’t the producers see her as a pro worth pimping. Good comment about the female pros, CM. Emma and Sharna would make much better star power pros once Derek leaves, if that is the producers concern. Val is too pretentious for the job. Just cannot see him as doing a good job if that is the producer agenda on this.
Sharna and Charlie were definitely shit on, and I think it all started back in the Chelsea season with what became known as “Ralphing” when Karina and Ralph Macchio got hosed at every opportunity. Then there was the Apolo and Karina season, and to a slightly lesser degree, Peta and Donald were also treated somewhat harshly but it didn’t seem to bother him much (he was a huge fan of the show so knew how it worked) and his fanbase was HUGE, so in the end it didn’t hurt him.
I think because of the show’s demographics, male pros will always be more popular than female – Cheryl and Julianne were probably the two exceptions that their fanbases were substantial enough to give them an edge.
I think Emma might be my favorite female pro but I also love Sharna (she had Andy Dick for goodness sake!) and Whitney.
Just to add about Chelsea, I second that she wasn’t all that overpraised – not in the first half of the competition at least. She only got 18 or 19 for her Jive, which I think is ridiculous. She was overpraised at the end, yes, and that winner take all thing still irked me, but I can’t help but really liking her on that season. She even had my top two favourite dances of the season as well (the Waltz and V. Waltz).
Now about week seven… Yay for finally an Argentine Tango from Kym! Robert did get the lowest score last week so I’m hoping he could, somehow, dodge the double elimination because I prefer him than Noah. I so want him to make the top five, though his chances is definitely limited now.
About the scores..are they cumulative? I haven’t seen a total board this year as I did last year. Seems it should be total of all dances, and not stand alone.
Fig pretty much nails it regarding fanbases and female pros. I’d say out the current female pros only Witney is on the way to building a loyal fanbase as strong as Julianne or Cheryl in the future. I find that quite ironic to be honest as I consider her arguably the weakest female pro.
Well, Derek didn’t need any help to make him work – his own hard work, charm, perseverance did it. Apparently Val needs the help.
Yes, Anushka – I wrote that post before we knew who was eliminated.
I agree that demographics totally play a part, but I kind of agree with what an early commenter said. It certainly does seem that Derek, Val and Mark tend to get the more able female celebrities, in addition to them being good choreographers, which keeps them around longer and allows them to build a loyal fan-base. To me it seems like they are a bit more even-handed with the female pros in that they’ll give a female pro a good person one season and a bad person the next. I dont think they are ever going to do that with the popular male pros because they now have these loyal followings and it’s probably good from a producers standpoint to have those pros stick around. In a way though, it seems like it prevents any of the women from ever reaching that level of value to the producers. And as a bigger fan of the female pros, it bums me out a bit.
Robert & Kym doing an 80’s style AT sounds interesting to me. I will literally die (in a good way) if he wears a mullet 🙂
80s and Argentine Tango are two of my favourite things, and I love the idea of Eurythmics for Robert and Kym. This is a very interesting season, because each of the top 4 is delivering something different, and you never know which way the judges will (arbitrarily) lean from one week to the next. Willow tends to be fourth, but who’s to say? I believe she has so much more to give, and I hope I’m right that she’s just about to explode (no pun intended.) Riker and Nastia are easily the 2 most talented dancers, but I’m inclined to believe the Jeopardy Riker’s been in twice now is an actual real indicator that he isn’t getting the votes he’s gonna need now that they’re down to 7, rather than a shock tactic or something else. I just don’t connect with him at all, and for that reason Nastia remains my pick for a winner, if the projudgers don’t have something to say. I’m a little disappointed that there are more dances to score before the double elim, because this week could have been a fun and very telling game called “Let’s test Rumer’s fanbase.” She’s only one point ahead of Chris, who really HAS TO GO, but clearly has some voting power. If the elimination next week wasn’t completely different, anyone could really go. With scores stacked at 76-73-73-71-70-68-67, only Riker really has any kind of half-comfortable cushion. I believe that when the scores fall and the dust settles, one of Riker, Rumer, Willow and Nastia will get immunity, and I could not tell you which it’ll be, but I think they’re in some terrible danger the week after because last year’s immunity was a save for someone the judges needed (Janel was going home, guaranteed) and I really think it’ll be the same this season. Chris and (sorry) Robert should go out in 7th and 6th and leave the other 5 to the semi-final, which I think and kinda hope Noah might just survive as well. It’s interesting that I honestly believe no-one is safe next week. Maybe Nastia. I just crunched the numbers, and thanks to equally huge-scoring team dances, there is 1.6% separating Riker from Robert. That is first place from LAST. The judges gave over 500 points last night, and, assuming a rough average of what each person might be “expected” to score plus 3 3-point immunity dance wins, potentially 250 plus next week. It’s gonna be a very tight elimination, which means prepare for a shock.
I remember Kym’s 80’s themed dance with Donny Osmond. Kym looks fabulous with big 80’s hair.
Chris doesn’t “clearly have voting power”, Mr A. There is little to no evidence of that. ROBERT, on the other hand has some voting power going on, because he over came a big deficit to be safe. Chris, on the other hand, only needed ONE vote more than Miss Patti to be safe last night. ONE. And, as previously stated numerous times, in previous weeks he didn’t really have to do much either, especially since he’s only been on the bottom of the leaderboard twice.
I’m a little confused at the elimination schedule right now. If next week is just gonna be one elimination, that means we’d be down to 6 in the Quarter Finals. And then the double elimination would be then, bringing us down to 4 competing in the Semi-Finals. So I guess we’re going back to 3 couples in the finale with this season? Because I doubt that they would do a 9 week season.
Guess I’ve just gotten so used to 4 being in the finals that they weren’t gonna go back to having 3 couples in the finals.
@PrincessHeidi You’re probably right, in fact I really hope you are and Chris gets dumped next week. I’m just surprised he got the vote he needed to get past Patti. What I actually mean is that I’m shocked he’s made it as far as top 7, and I’m pretty sure nobody’s been voting on his dance ability. It must be either on looks (which I’d give Noah a major edge on,) personality (unlikely in my eyes,) Witney (I suppose, but she’s only in her 3rd series, I don’t think her fanbase will be too too huge) or because of The Bachelor, which seems most likely to me. Let’s see him go. That, to me as I kind of implied, would be the one obvious result despite him currently having 4 points on Robert. Who else goes, and who goes the week after, I think is majorly up in the air.
The scores are very tight but if you noticed last week Robert had a 24,the next score up was a 27 and tom said half a percent was between the bottom too meaning Robert can recover 3.5 points easily so he is a threat to couples even with 34’s…..Probably not Riker but anyone can go home…..Based on what I saw this week with Robert pulling that off it most likely will happen again…That 3.5 gap was millions of votes difference between him Patti and Chris.
Not necessarily, Allyson. It meant he could beat Chris and/or Patti, but it doesn’t automatically follow that he can beat anyone else. It doesn’t work like that. And no, the gap wasn’t millions of votes.
I think Robert will get enough votes to pass Chris this week (I’m hoping) and he gets an AT which could be a good dance for him, I’m willing to bet he did cover the spread against Chris last week too and with the margins even smaller there is less of a spread to cover.
Yeah, to me there’s no way Robert’s the first person to go next Tuesday. Whether he’s the second or not, I would certainly not be willing to put any money on. If Rumer doesn’t have immunity and/or an insanely overpadded score next week it could easily be her, so I suspect she gets the immunity, but that would really annoy me. Nastia currently only has 2 points on her, so if I say she’s safe it’s more or less just me hoping that the person who probably most deserves a place in the final gets it. Chris I think will almost definitely go, Rumer and Nastia are probably safe but by no means definitely, and the rest come down to a combo of Monday’s scores and who’s actually getting votes.
Right on, PH. As you said in your last numbers post, the spread Robert had to cover to catch either Patti or Chris was 10,601. With the crap-ton of points that flowed on Monday (566 in total, IIRC), the percentage margins are going to be a lot tighter. Last week, the spread between Robert and Chris was 1.06%. This week, it’s only 0.53%.
Also, ENOUGH with the theme weeks. This will make 6 in a row plus Classical Week to come (which I am, admittedly, majorly excited about.) Add to that that the only theme I haven’t seen before is the majorly lame Spring Break, the fact that Mark is getting chewed out for big productions when he’s been given Hunger Games and Alice in Wonderland as themes and some majorly screwed up scoring and eliminations, and this whole season feels overthought. If they’re as out of ideas as they seem to be, maybe they should go back to basics. Each week, 2 dances to choose from, fair scores and no stupid themes. Could we do something about the judges while we’re at it, because Carrie-Ann, Len and maybe Bruno are really damaging the show?
Mr A, It is now a single elimination this week, Robert only has to beat Chris to be safe another week, and I think he could do that
@CC This is good news. I don’t want Robert to go yet, but he should probably be 6th. This season is way too fucked up, so I reiterate, less might be more for season 21.
Ohhhh Classical week is back?!!!!@!@! YAY! My other favorite besides Disney.
On the Stern show, Rumer seemed to have indicated that she is doing jive this week. If so, maybe we’ll finally see something lighter? Just hoping…
@Beth I hope it’s a 50’s themed Jive where she can let her fun side out.
For the love of God, Val… give us something cute and fun! Do not mess this up!
If anyone can do a dark jive, it’s Val. 🙂
Maybe not quite dark, but I have done sultry-sexy jives before. Seriously though, Rumer clearly isn’t one note, why is Val so keen to make her seem that way?
I can just see Rumer getting Lindy Hop and Val turning it into some kind of dark, brooding, existential-crisis routine.
Tears of a Charleston. How was a Salsa to Turn the freakin’ Beat Around made so…. intense? And not really in a good way. I totally get it Val, because I also have that dark existential moody side, and you’ve got a partner who can really make it sing, but there’s a time, a place and a style. Tango, Argentine, Paso, Contemporary and I’d reluctantly allow Rumba. The rest of the time, just do the dance you’ve been assigned. She will do fine, maybe even better. To me what really sucks is that they had the potentially thrilling combo of Tango and Ursula, and switched to Samba, to avoid being too dark, and then made it darker than most Tangos I’ve seen. I loved that they had a Disney villain theme. Loved it loved it jumping on the sofa like Tom Cruise on a sugar high loved it so much! We just need less Maleficent every other week.
LOL, Fig!
Mr A, Val (the brooding Ukranian artist) has only one string on his violin–the intense one. So his range is seriously impaired. The irony is I think *he* believes he’s playing lots of different notes and showcasing Rumer very well.
I was so excited for Nastia & Derek’s charleston (I Loved the one he did w Sadie), wishing him a speedy recovery. I’m glad is Sasha dancing w Nastia, he is such a positive energy and that is what this team needs right now. I’m sure she’ll be fine.
I’m actually looking forward to see Rumer jive I hope Val gives her a fun and light theme for this dance, but I bet he is going with intense “competitive routine jive”
I hope they get appropriate music for each decade or era (and style).
Witney and Chris Foxtrot looks interesting
Really wish we knew what Riker had. I do hope they get jazz/contemporary before the end of the competition (or before they’re eliminated). I want to see what Allison creates with such a capable partner.
I don’t remember Val being so dark for ever dance in previous seasons. Maybe it’s what Rumer wants? If that’s the cases, and they are getting rewarded for it, why should he change? They get fawned over, have never been in jeopardy, and the crowd goes wild! Would anyone change anything if they were in their shoes? Hell no!
Not loving Riker and Allison either. Their live feed is on today and I can’t even watch those. She is so hyper it gives me whiplash! Now you talk about one note, it’s her! For me dancing is a balance of masculine and feminine and I’m sorry, but she’s not very feminine or delicate when dhe dances. It’s go, go, pow, jerk, slam, and go, go some more. I agree with CIA that her partner looks less masculine next to her. Grace and flow are missing from her dances. I love Riker, but I think some real technique is slipping through. Last week his Samba made him look like a spider on a hot plate. His legs are long and skinny and there was too much space between them or something….
My favs are Robert and Noah, but I don’t think either will make the finals. Sorry for the rant.
Er, it’s not what Rumer wants, from what we’ve heard. Rumer wanted a goofy fun song for Disney (think it was Disney week, Court?) and Val vetoed it. Val is the responsible party in any case.
Funny thing about this show…for a while you’re rewarded because they need you to stick around. Then, suddenly, you’re not rewarded any more (Much like last week). SMART pros, who have been on the show for a while, know this. Some pros, like Derek, get called out all the time for the shit Val is doing, so they really know better. If Val were smart, he’d take a look at the past and realize he won’t get rewarded forever. Unless of course they’ve promised him the win.
@Jill L.: THANK YOU! I was starting to think that I was the only one who thought Allison was one note. Girl doesn’t know how to slow down! Maybe the reason why Riker looks so feminine compared to her is because of the way she dances. So jerky and choppy. I feel like since their dances are so intense and fast, people get distracted by the whole energy of the dance and completely bypass the fact that his dances aren’t always the best technique-wise.
A good example was his Paso. People were completely swooning over how great the theme was and how great the song was, but they neglected to see that without all of that production, their technique wasn’t that great. Allison’s was FOR SURE sub par. I was comparing how she looked against the two female troupe members they included in their Paso, and you can clearly see a difference posture-wise.
I even watched the dance WITHOUT the music and that’s when I really noticed all the flaws in the dance.
Anyway, what can we do? I get Allison is trying but I still don’t think she should’ve come back as a pro! Maybe a troupe member so she can gain more experience. The judges sure as hell don’t mention anything about Riker and Allison’s flaws. And we all know they have some.
On another note, looking forward to the dances this week and hoping Derek is okay! Nastia hasn’t posted anything about it…Wonder why…Makes me really question their relationship as a pair.
And Classical Week is coming back?! Can’t wait!
CONFIRMED: Rumer and Val are doing Jive this week!But I really want to know what Willow and Mark are planning to do ?!
Need a source, Moksh.
Any info on whether or not the immunity dance still holds for this upcoming week, or is that a product of the double elimination?
#Courtney This is the source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_with_the_Stars_%28U.S._season_20%29
Check out the ‘Dance Chart’ column!
C, if you look through @DWTSGossip’s twitter, you will see a link that was posted yesterday (I think) of Rumer and Val on with Howard Stern. It’s only 6 minutes. He asks, and she confirms what she’s dancing on Monday.
I was going to let you know, but figured you had seen it, because you usually do catch things. Then I got busy, and didn’t figure out that you’d not heard it, sorry.
Moksh, Wikipedia is not a valid source – it’s often incorrect.
@Courtney – I believe Rumer and Val said they are dancing Jive in their Howard Stern interview yesterday. I haven’t listened to it but that’s the source I’ve seen people citing.
I find it really liberating to see outside the gender norms of dance. (And life!)
Personally, I will take power and passion over delicateness any day….from any gender identification.
Becki #78 I agree – I think it’s kind of cool that they have this unique dynamic. While a lot of people may understandably prefer the traditional roles in place, to me it’s exciting that they are making this work.
I’m not a fan of gender labels either, but it’s dancing. Some of you trained dancers can tell me, but doesn’t ballroom have to have feminine energy as well as a masculine energy in order for it to work? I don’t feel that Allison’s energy works for ballroom.
I believe feminity is powerful. (I’m not going to go in lecture mode as I am in my last semester pursuing a degree in women and gender studies). There is a certain strength in being delicate and graceful when you dance and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. It’s a beautiful thing. There are instances, like a Paso where the passion and power are necessary, but that a Foxtrot was terrible and she got called on it.
Meryl and Nastia both are graceful and feminine, but I wouldn’t call them weak by any means.
A Jive, finally! I only hope TPTB give them a fun song like the Hey Girl! Hey Boy! song they gave him and Janel for the Quickstep last season, and I’m pretty sure it should be a fun performance.
As for the other update, I’m pretty sure the dance will be great since Derek choreographed it. And I’m very happy Sasha gets to do an actual full length performance, he’s my favourite pro from the troupe!
Jill L # 80 – I totally agree that femininity can be powerful, like Nastia and Meryl, or Shawn or any of the more classically-trained pros. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it and love to watch all of them dance. But I also think the disruption to the “standard” of feminine beauty is just as cool – not to necessarily redefine, but to expand upon the definition of feminine.
However, I do think Allison can refine her technique while still being “her” and I do believe that may come in time.
Sasha actually did pretty OK when he had Snookole in season 17, I don’t know why he only got the one season. I think he’s gonna be a very good choice for Nastia’s partner, especially for Charleston.
Fig I like it! You said it perfectly!
“Redefining feminity.” Thanks.
BTW. Kym and Robert’s AT looks awesome. If they hang around they’ll do contemporary for Viewers Choice to the song Champagne Kisses. Source is All Acess rehersal.
For the same week Noah will be performing to the song Geronimo, And I think it’s a tango. I tuned in at the end where she was saying there are no lifts and they are to be in hold the entire time. Same source as Robert’s.
Alison probably will be able to refine and improve her technique over time, but are we here to watch her learn to dance or the celebrities? I don’t think Allison is the main problem we have with the pro lineup though. She’s fine with me for now.
Anyone watching Riker’s live stream. I have it on mutewhile I’m watching a ball game. It a quickstep and I’m using the word quick loosely. Holy crap!
@Mr. A – I honestly think the only reason that Sasha hasn’t gotten a celeb partner since Snooki is based solely on height – he’s the shortest male pro they’ve ever had at 5’5″. Snooki was 4’10”, so it worked; but I think nothing short of a Rhea Perlman, Kristin Chenoweth, or Olsen twin is gonna bring Sasha back on as a full-time pro.
I think the judges are going to murder Riker/Allison on technique with the QS. I think he’s better at Latin dances to begin with and I just don’t think Allison will be able to teach him the technique he needs for this dance.
Robert and Kym’s AT looks incredible, they could really really nail it. Just watching that rehearsal really makes me hope that they manage to stick around again.
I would definitely hate to see Allison with another guy that has no experience or rhythm – at least at this point in her tenure. But hell, if Val can get that many celebs with dance experience what’s stopping TPTB from delivering it to a woman.
Actually I was thinking about that the other day – the way the quality or experience of male celebs for the female pros seems to vary year over year, and I kinda think it really boils down to far fewer men having dance experience, so the wealth seems to be spread a little more.
I also wanted to add if Allison also brings more variety to the type of dance style of the pros – especially if it begins to trickle into the pro numbers, then I’m all for anyone that can think beyond the bump and grind that we’ve become subjected to in recent seasons – although I realize that’s not the fault of the pros, but rather TPTB and possibly Mandi Moore.
It’s a little amusing to me that I’m rooting for Allison’s style since my favorite female pro is Karina, who is the epitome of beautiful, traditional feminine technique.
I am not liking Riker/Allison’s quickstep at all so far, they have a ton of work to do if they are going to clean it up by Monday
Aaaaaand maybe I spoke too soon, haha! Eek!
I think even though they’re currently top, Riker and Allison will need quite a lot of points to survive the next elimination, or at least outlast anyone but Chris. If his Quickstep does turn out to be a bust, he might be screwed
I was thinking about who could be a good partner for Sasha the other day and I somehow ended up thinking of Sabrina Carpenter. She’s a Disney girl from the show “Girl Meets World”. She’s only 15 (soon 16) but if DWTS is looking for another Disney personality.. bring her on and give her to Sasha. Best part? She’s only 5 feet tall! Hahaha. Those two shorties would look great together! If Val could handle a 16 year old like Zendaya, I’m sure Sasha could as well. I just really wanna see Sasha get out of the crab suit and onto the dance floor with a celebrity.
Riker & Allison’s Quickstep? Yikes. It was looking ROUGH. Me thinks they’re gonna need to work very hard on it if they wanna get a good score Monday night and get immunity.
It is now my mission to get La Chenoweth on DWTS! But aren’t there other short gymnasts like Shawn Johnson Sasha could have? Gabby Douglas is 4″ 11, have they tried her?
Fig #92 did you mean that in good way or a bag way.?
Watching that QS was like watching the Tazmanisn Devil! Those spidey legs need to be fixed! Time is at a minimum with the elimination dances!
I personally don’t think they need anyone *that* short to dance with Sasha – he partners the other pros all the time, and they are 5’4″-5’5″. Val, Mark, and others have danced with women that were taller than them. Nastia’s 5’3″-5’4″, and while it’s not totally ideal to have someone of Sasha’s height, I don’t think it’s impossible to find a suitable partner, if they place priority on Sasha being a pro. I’m not an expert, so that’s just my opinion.
@Fig I’d have thought so too, but even if they do want Lilliputian woman to partner him they could get them. Maybe he prefers the troupe?
Dammit, I hit submit too soon. I was just going to say that I’m not an expert and that’s just my opinion, but in my minimal ballroom experience, my teacher was 5’3″ and I’m 5’4 1/2 without heels. In flats or low heels it was fine, but when I was in two or three inch heels I would have liked if he had been an inch or two taller. So maybe at the top end for Sasha would be Nastia’s height – I just don’t know that it’s necessary that he has someone as short as Snooki.
I may change my mind after Monday, though – depending on how they look (or if Court tells me I’m dumb and wrong, which is entirely possible). 🙂
#91 CC & #93 Mr. A- I only caught the beginning of Riker & Allison’s rehearsal earlier (like literally they were still sitting in chairs when I turned it off) but I thought they stated they were dancing a Viennese Waltz to “What Now” by Rihanna. Did it change to a quickstep? Or maybe I’m confused.
Mr. A – I think he’s happy with whatever role they give him, he’s just that kind of guy that exudes enthusiasm whether he’s a crab or a bellman or whatever. But I think he really appreciated his time with Snooki – he’s got tons of pics on Twitter of his time with her. I’ve seen him retweet people that have expressed their appreciation of him and desire for him to have another shot as pro. But maybe that’s just him being nice – I can’t speak for his mindset.
Jackie, that’s for America’s choice during week 8! they have the quickstep this week, and so far it isn’t looking that great, Sharna and Noah, and Robert and Kym looked to be in a better spot with their dances
Rachel – Thank you SO much for clarifying! As I said, I didn’t get to stay for their dancing portion so I was unsure if I was losing my mind. Makes a lot more sense now. I’ll definitely have to go back and see the dancing part of the rehearsal. Definitely looks like the consensus is that it is one big mess at the present time though.
No problem Jackie, I think immunity really puts an interesting twist on things when you look at the styles. Riker has quickstep and it doesn’t look good so far (but he was high up the leaderboard) and couples like Willow and Mark and Rumer and Val have dances they could score really well with this week, and they are lower down on the leaderboard and could theoretically be caught in the voting. The potential spoiler in my eyes in terms of one of the top four getting immunity is Robert and Kym’s ATango, if they dance it well. Robert does better with the more classic dances.
I really like the whole futuristic jazz for mark wilow. IF they do get sent home this week at least they will be going out with a bang. I’m sure mark has got something crazy plan and i seriously can’t wait.
Well now I want Riker to stay. That’s an awesome song-choice. I don’t think it’s just the middle and bottom of the leaderboard that’s in danger, I really don’t. Riker could top it and still go easily. I expect there to be around 700 points on it by the end of Monday night’s show, and that’s when shocks tend to happen.
A Futuristic Jazz? Can any of you dance experts explain what that could possibly mean? Or if Willow and Mark have a livestream someone could tell me what it was like.
Please let Chris do an okay-ish Foxtrot with a score of maybe 28 – 30 and then let him go!
If Riker’s QS is really that bad, things look bleak for him, specially with the double elimination.
its mean the era they are doing is in the future. So it will be a jazz with a futuristic theme. I think.
Futuristic Jazz is anyone else getting flashbacks of Bill and Tyne 😀
Is it official that Derek won’t dance Monday or people are insinuate that he won’t
It’s probably a conversation for a future pro watch thread but I can’t see Sasha getting another chance as a pro anytime soon. Take away the problem with his height, who would he replace? The only male pro that may be in danger imho is Keo but he also seems to be well liked. It’s a real shame for him!
I’m a little confused about the “modern Charleston.” Does that mean a Charleston set in the 2000s or 2010s? How would that even look? Would Sadie & Derek’s dance from last season be a good example of “modern Charleston?”
Also, any chance the mods here @ Pure have info on the songs the couples have? Thanks!
Did Riker really have a ballroom training cos he just called Viennese Waltz a Vietnamese Waltz. I’m still laughing 😀 Yeah I agree that his quickstep is still looking rough but he’s just learning the 2nd part today so they’ve still got time to perfect it.
Willow and Mark have the best selection, but again it SCREAMS for an overwrought production, and then what? 70s isn’t my favourite era, Sharna will have to be smart about it (which, to be fair, she usually is.) Modern Charleston is just plain odd. Great Gatsby just did it, and other than that Charleston isn’t easy to modernise. Thank God for Derek. 60s is a good period for Jive, if Val goes classic fun 60s. 40s foxtrot, meh. Bit of a cliché, and we had one in the last season of Strictly.
Aren’t Sasha and Mark like a similar height? I’m only guessing. Mark is like 5’6 right? Sasha is taller than Nastia, and she’s like 5’3. And emma is supposedly 5’5, and in pics when they were dating sasha is taller than her. Lol.
@Anushka Well, you should see Joanna and Derek’s Paso Doble to get an idea of what a Futuristic dance could look like. Knowing Mark, he’s probably beyond excited to do this. Hopefully they have a live stream tomorrow and we can see what they’re planning on doing.
@Jane I think you hit it right on the nail with that. I would consider Sadie’s Charleston a modern one. Also, Amber and Derek’s Charleston could be considered modern as well, in my opinion. I’m thinking that by “modern” they just mean that they’ll use a modern(ish) song for it.
Oh wait, I just noticed something… According to the press release, Andy Grammer will be singing his song “Honey I’m Good” on Monday. That song is perfect for a Charleston and considering it came out recently, it would count as “modern”. I’m guessing he’s gonna perform it while Nastia and Sasha dance to it! That’ll be cool!
Ooh, thanks for the rest of the dance styles.
While not one to whine a whole lot (at least I don’t think I do), I’m slightly disappointed that Nastia and Sasha have a “Modern” Charleston. I was hoping for a full-on classic charleston. However, with Derek at the helm, I’m sure I’ll love it.
Mark and “Futuristic” Jazz sounds like a recipe for madness. I know I’ll be surprised; just hope it’s in a good way. Jazz should be a strong dance for Willow, and I hope she knocks this one out of the park.
I’m delighted to hear a positive report on Robert and Kym’s ATango. I have fingers crossed Robert will escape elimination. However, if he gets the boot, I want him to go out on a high note.
70s Jazz for Noah and Sharna…hmmmm, but I think Sharna said she loved their song and Jazz is a dance style which gives Sharna the flexibility she needs to be creatively adaptive.
TPTB seem to want to keep the Miserable Bachelor around–a 40’s Fox Trot is an easey-peasey assignment (although my guess is we’ll get 95% Witney/5% Mopey Chris. Please let him be gone!
I hope Riker and Allison can get it together and lay down a creditable 20s Quickstep. Surely Riker’s previous ballroom training included Quickstep.
My guess is Val won’t be tapping into the peace, love and flower-power side of the 60s for their Jive.
There is nothing I want more then Robert to stay this week and Chris to go home! Could having immunity this week be a disadvantage going into the double elimination? Whomever gets immunity misses out on the chance to add 3 points to the judges scores… As this elimination is based off of last weeks
@CC Last year Janel’s immunity came with a guaranteed 3 points. The 3 dance-off winners and Janel and Val got the plus 3. To be honest, when immunity is not for the same week that seems fair.
@ CC NY #116, I forgot about Amber & Derek’s Charleston. Thanks for reminding me! I think that dance helps me understand what a “modern Charleston” would look like – Charleston moves mixed w/ some hip-hop-ish moves.
I was thinking Riker was the only one who was pretty safe from elimination on Monday due to his score. I’m more concerned about Willow than any of my other favorites. I think Robert can beat Chris, but Chris or Whitney seem to be getting large votes from somewhere so I’m afraid he’ll stay. Sorry, my hope is that Rumer is the surprise elimination, but I don’t think they would have scored her so low if she wasn’t pulling in the votes.
I may be wrong, but I don’t think anyone but Len has called Riker out on his legs before. The problem has been there all along. I think they may ignore it again. He seems like a favorite.
Rumer will probably get over praised over scored this week.
Robert should do really well this week with it not being a fast paced dance.
Really looking forward to Nastia’s Charleston. I wish it were Derek, but Sasha is so quick and such a powerhouse it should be a great dance. Still praying for Derek.
No clue what to expect from Willow/Mark except it shouldn’t be boring
Are the three dances for extra points this week? If so, do you think Robert, Chris, and Noah if they stay are at a disadvantage? Then again Willow could be too with only 5 hours a day to practice especially when they have to do two dances.
My they must really want Chris Gina, a 40s foxtrot?!
I’ve been so horrendously busy the past couple days that I’m just now looking at the dances. I had heard on Monday night that Derek and Nastia were doing Charleston, but I see Court or vogue has added the word “modern” in front of it. WTF??? The Charleston is a 20’s dance, not a “modern” dance – what the hell are they playing at?? They wanted Nastia to have Charleston but someone else already had the 20’s? Am I missing something here or are they making shit up as they go along again?
IDK CC last year they not only gave Janel the immunity, but also added 3 points to her score. 1st time they had done that. I get the feeling they make up the rules as they go along. Whatever helps their agenda.
Mark is 5’8″, jennylynn and Sasha is a good 2 or so inches shorter than him.
Another futuristic-ish jazz is Kellie and Derek’s. Love it.
When Derek couldn’t dance during All Stars Mark stepped in and did a brilliant Paso/Tango fusion. That dance got Team Shawnough’s first perfect score.
Yes, Mr A, which was the only time an immunity was done that way. Gee, I wonder why?? :::snort::: One only has to cateloge the past couple seasons to see that Val’s partners have been getting serious preferential treatment. I can’t even tell you the immunity that Derek has won sans three extra points.
They just want to give Derek something weird, so they’re switching up the era on him. It wouldn’t make sense just to give him the 20s
I wish instead of Modern Charleston, they would give Nastia & Derek/Sasha the 20’s Quickstep, Futuristic Jazz to Riker & Allison, & 90’s Hip-Hop to Willow & Mark. That way, we would see only 1 Charleston-y dance instead of 2. Plus, Willow & Mark have already done a “futuristic” dance (their Hunger Games Contemporary) & I think it would be really cute to see Willow dancing old-school hip-hop. 🙂
Great choices for all couples. This definitely should be more interesting & watchable than “Spring Break Special” turned out to be. Only one I am not completely sold on is Riker with Quickstep. He’s done fantastically with all Latin styles, but faltered with the Tango in frame and hold.
Hey everyone! I’m a newbie on here, but here is my personal opinion for this week:
1) Rumer & Val getting a jive can be a blessing or a curse. I am going to go with a blessing. Val can definitely show the more fun side of Rumer. Rumer has amazing technical ability, but she just needs to show that she can enjoy herself like she did in Team Trouble’s dance.
2) Willow & Mark getting a futuristic jazz makes me a little frightened for them this week. They are an AMAZING and innovative couple, but the production they add is becoming a bit much. I am going to take a guess and say they are using the troupe again this week. I also am guessing their music and dance will be extremely modern
3) Chris & Witney getting the 40s Foxtrot is kind of a gimme to the couple IMO. I do think that Chris was better this past Monday, but I foresee a struggle with footwork and flow for this number. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I am doubtful that it will be enough to give him scores higher than 8s. The only way these two will still be in is if he gets 9s or (somehow) 10s.
4) Noah & Sharna getting a 70s jazz also seems like a gimme in some ways. I do think Noah is an inspirational man for all, but I struggle to see him as a finalist because we all know that he cannot do certain things. Instead, he does things that others cannot do as well. I will give him a lot of credit for getting this far through showing such great physical and moral strength, and I know that he has A LOT of fans at this point as a result. I just don’t see him going further than possibly the next two weeks, especially since his “People’s Choice” dance is a tango that has harsh techique-based judging. I also give props to Sharna for creating routines so craftily.
5) Robert and Kym have been given an easier dance this week (at least pace-wise). I understand that many people enjoy the joy that Robert brings each week, but I struggle to see these two as final contenders as well. Robert IS a hard worker, but the voters SAVED HIS HIDE this week. We all know that Patti actually did better this week. She may not have been the greatest dancer, but she was someone all were sad to see eliminated. I also find it rather annoying that Robert’s “showmance” with Kym has been blown up and is being used to their advantage throughout every episode. I know its television and all, but it honestly sickens me that the show is having votes go in for the “cutest couple” rather than the “best dancing couple”. I hope he enlightens me this week, and focuses on a perfect dance rather than just perfect chemistry.
6) Riker & Allison were given something I REALLY wish had not come at this time. The quickstep is on the difficult side of the spectrum for Riker because he must remain in hold again with straughtened posture. I think Allison is being thrown to the wolves by a lot of viewers because of how she works choreography. I think Allison has done AMAZINGLY this season. Riker fits her style almost perfectly, which is why they have achieved fairly great scores so far. However, I do believe, from what I saw of their Rehearsal, that she needs to slow down somewhat this time (even for the quickstep). These two have been one of my favorite couples this season because they are both very similar in energy, have amazing chemistry, and are very precise with steps & counts. I admit that this couple has not done any dance “perfectly”, but each person has given each number plenty of energy and power. I also believe that no one is perfect in any way all the time. I want them to be finalists, but Riker must prove himself this week. I also am hopeful that Allison does not overdo the speed this week. We DO need a new side of them both because we have only seen mainly FAST routines. That’s why I am excited to see them dance to THIS in “America’s Choice”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W29qfuaqTvY. As long as they do a similar slowed version, they should OWN this Viennese Waltz. I wish them luck and hope lots of votes are with them and head their way!
7) Nastia & Sasha received a somewhat easier dance, but Nastia may be struggling somewhat this week in rehearsals. I feel for her a bit because not having the partner she is used to will definitely be challenging. However, she has been rehearsing with someone else for most of the time anyway. I see Nastia as a very high-ranking contender and I respect her a lot. She is very technically adept and is a powerhouse. However, I foresee her struggling EVEN MORE with connection and emotion within musical numbers from now on. If Derek does come back, he is still going to have a CRAZY schedule and will not be able to connect easily with her on the same level again. Sasha is an amazing dancer… I just am not sure if Nastia will be able to easily connect or “move on” from Derek for the time being.
Does anyone know how they determine the dance off? I can’t remember from last year. I’m trying to imagine who would dance against whom. If Riker is given immunity, would you have Nastia/Rumor, Willow/Robert, Noah/Chris. I’m trying to imagine different combinations.
Yes Rikers quickstep is looking a bit rough, but he has more than enough time to clean it up and perfect it. He definitely has to work on it so let’s hope they pull it through, because honestly I feel like this dance has potential to be fantastic. But even saying that, I’m still a little worried. They will either kill it or its going to be a big mess. A question to anyone who watched Rikers live rehearsal- Do you think Allison is choreographing it with too much speed? Also, I’m kinda bummed they passed on the chance to give Riker a 90’s hip hop.
Anyone knows a website where you can watch the live rehearsals?
ShalandraDawn – no, Nastia has NOT been rehearsing with someone else “for most of the time”. That’s internet and afterbuzz bullshit. She’s rehearsed the vast majority of the time with Derek in NYC. The Charleston is easier?? Spoken like someone who hasn’t done one. And again with the connection bullshit. Convenient way to put her down. And in the next sentence you claim that she may not be “able to easily connect or move on from Derek.” Which is it??
Riker is a trained ballroom dancer. Enough said.
You sure throw the word “easy” around a lot in order to apparently dismiss couples who aren’t your favorites. In case you missed it, voters are half the battle and you have to win them over to do well. In that case, Robert is doing wonderfully. As for their showmance – who did you vote for last season and the season before? If your answers are either Meryl or Janel, you should stop talking now. I don’t feel that Robert and Kym’s showmance has been “blown up” – I think it’s quite sweet. And since Kym doesn’t do it every single season and neither of them is nauseating (or fake) about it, what harm?
Yeah, all Rumer has to do is show the fun side. Now that we’re going into Week 7.
To everyone saying Riker’s quickstep is looking rough, it’s Thursday! You obviously have no idea how bad some people’s dances look early in the process, even into Saturday. I’m not worried about riker, he’s trained. Although it would be nice if Allison knew enough to fix his technique issues.
@Princess Heidi: She was training with someone else when they were separated because of Derek’s rehearsals. I’m not saying she does not have a chance. She DEF does. The Charleston is easier in the sense that it allows for modern choreography and does not require hold. Maybe not EVERYTHING is “easy” about it, but not having to be in hold does help the dancer to show more emotions and enjoyment. Mb I am partial to certain couples, but who isn’t? Are you not a fan of Nastia’s? Showmance is mainly on the show for the show’s ratings. Robert & Kim are enjoyable, but just aren’t my favorite as a couple. That’s just my opinion. That’s why I put at the beginning of my comment “…here is my personal opinion”. Everyone’s opinion is biased in one way or another. No. I did not vote for either of them in the last two seasons. I actually preferred Alfonso last season and had other favorites for 18. I’m glad we can at least agree on Rumer, but I’m hoping everyone can just agree to disagree including both of us. We all have our own opinions and our own biases. Thanks. =)
Sam, yes it seems fast! She only know one speed and that’s fast.
Dee2 #132, in the dance-off, the highest scoring couple of the night gets immunity (& possibly 3 extra points, depending on who wins, lol). At least that’s the way they have done it in S19 & S17; I believe they did highest cumulative score in S16. Since Nastia & Derek have the highest cumulative score (I think), I think TPTB are going to continue the same route w/ highest scores of the night so that Rumer & Val have the best chance to win.
In my opinion, I think either Nastia or Rumer have the best chance of winning immunity. I don’t think Riker has a chance to win since he has Quickstep. His (& Allison’s) technique, frame & overall “hectic/frantic” dancing during their Tango makes me think their Quickstep is going to have similar flaws. Nastia having Charleston might be a good thing for her b/c it’s not has technical as Jive or Quickstep (though I could be wrong here) so the judges can’t knock her down for poor technique (again, I could be wrong here). Plus, it’s a party dance, so I think she might be able to perform this well & connect w/ her partner (Derek or Sasha), although given they have “modern Charleston” who knows how the judges will react to it? And since Rumer & Val are the “chosen ones” this season, I’m sure they will get much (undeserved) praise & high (undeserved) scores for their dance, whatever.
So in my scenario, I think Rumer will win immunity (+ 3 points). Nastia will get the second highest score & then will pick Riker, the next best dancer & then Nastia will win against Riker. Willow will go up against Robert (Willow wins) & Noah will go up against Chris (Noah wins). Or if Nastia wins immunity, I think it will be Rumer vs. Riker & Rumer wins. Either way, Rumer wins those extra 3 points & has a greater chance of not getting eliminated.
I am a big fan of Derek and Val and i started the season thinking they would be my favorites just looking at their partners. But honestly they have been eclipsed in my eyes by Riker and Allison. Riker is the perfect combination of everything, and is the most entertaining celebrity this season and has become one of my favorite ever. At first i though he Was going to be really bad and I was not impressed by Allison, but then their dance from week 1 caught my attencion so much and by week 2 he was my favorite. The way that he dances is so fascinating, he makes you enjoy as a viewer.
For those who say that he is trained in ballroom if that was the case his dances in frame would be his forte, you can see that dance is not new to him, but i don’t think he has the ballroom training.
All my votes are for him and i’m dying to see his freestyle it’s going to be so awesome.
ShalandraDawn – The problem isn’t whether Val can show the fun side, but WILL HE? And also, the Charleston is NOT easy, and to give it a modern twist makes it more challenging.
Jane – Willow looks cute doing anything! 😀 Even I started having thoughts of pros dressed as robots and shiny silver outfits when I heard Futuristic, so let’s hope he doesn’t go too far. Although if he did, the dance would still be good but the judges would take off points for ‘the dance getting lost in the production’.
CCNY – I saw Derek’s Futuristic Paso and my first reaction was, wow, Derek looks so young, and a lot blonder than now for some reason. But that was really fun, Mark should be able to come up with something good like that. I also found Evan and Anna’s Futuristic Cha-Cha, and that was also great! So I have pretty high hopes for them. Am I right in thinking a Jazz can be made futuristic more easily than a Paso?
Jane #138. Thanks for responding. The only thing I can remember is that Janel won immunity and that Leah wanted to dance against Tommy.
The judges have been so weird with scoring anything could happen, but at least we’ll see who they want in the finals.
I hope Nastia gets immunity. Given she has had a stressful week with Derek’s accident and having to probably perform with a new partner on show night, I would love her to have that. Also, I am sure she will perform beautifully with Sasha but wonder if the judges will reward her with appropriate scores. The last thing Rumer needs is more immunity imo.
Shalandara, we KNOW that. We also know how much time she was rehearsing with “someone else” (aka Henry then Sasha) and how much time she was rehearsing with Derek. You said “most of the time” which isn’t even remotely close but what is the misinformation being spread by certain parties on the internet. And that is NOT opinion. That is fact.
Do not lecture people about opinions and biases. We know that. What YOU have to understand is to post here is to expect disagreement.
That Riker is trained in Ballroom is not actually up for debate, Maria. It’s been well proven, thanks to Courtney. His competition record is on the internet for all to see. He might be one of the biggest ringers of all time on the show because of that training. I think he’s probably on eclipsed by Kristi and Meryl and that’s mainly due to their extreme popularity in the shows demo at the time they were on.
@PrincessHeidi It’s worth noting that in the past when Derek had immunity (with, say, Kellie or Amber) their scores became irrelevant because they were for an elimination they were immune from. Last season, Janel got immunity for that night’s elimination and her score was for the next week’s, the same format as this season. If she had done the best dance (which she clearly didn’t, and I hate that I’m pretty sure she got immunity because she was gone, but that’s not what I’m saying) then the immunity would have posed a huge disadvantage the next week, when people with 38s and 39s overtook her because they’d won their dance-offs. It was fair to me that the immunity came with the 3 points in that case, it just shouldn’t have gone to Janel. If they do it differently this season I may have a reason to call shenanigans.
Mr A, they rig it up every season in the way that benefits whoever they want it to benefit and half the time it is shenanigans. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
What I halfway expect, though, if for them to give it to Nastia because Derek is hurt. Kinda like a consolation prize, or a chance to adjust to a new partner, or something. All depends on how well Rumer is actually doing.
The next person that comes here and tries to spew the same “Henry was rehearsing with Nastia more than Derek” bullsh*t is getting deleted without a second thought. I’m actually kind of appalled at how many people will take what they heard on Afterbuzz at face value, and will continue to parrot it despite the fact that it could actually be considered slanderous to Derek. Seriously, guys – think about how damaging a lie like this could be to someone’s career. You can believe us or not believe us, but PureDWTS will no longer be a platform for this particular piece of misinformation to continue to be spread. I’m guessing quite a few of you know deep down that Henry is full of hoo-hah, but continue to repeat the same nonsense as a way to discredit Derek. Regardless, as far as I’m concerned – when you’re here, the Henry agenda is about equal in credibility to the Flat Earth society.
Courtney, I fully agree, it’s slanderous to Derek. Afterbuzz has been spreading nothing but lies this season. I only came to know of it through this site. I don’t see the point of even posting a link to their weekly shows anymore. Why give them that platform when they are pushing for a certain agenda?
The one way that I think that Nastia will benefit this week is that they (both she & Derek) are spending the week in LA. I think that all of the dancers (pros & celebs) benefit from the “summer camp/we’re in this together” dynamic. I think that was highlighted last week when Nastia was a team captain who had little time to train with her team. YOLO did an awesome job, but you could see that even though Nastia is used to training as an individual, she still wanted still wanted more interaction with her team. I don’t think it matters with whom she dances. Derek will be there with her as her partner/mentor/coach & has her back.
i’ve always gotten we’re in this together vibe from derek/nastia…its the overproduced packages that make it seem otherwise
on allaccess…they show clips of them laughing or being goofy…and derek said this week why dont they show that…that’s entertaining.
I’m referring to the group dynamic of walking into each others’ rehearsals, hanging out all week, etc. I think that the individual couples have no problem with being strong couples.
I saw a comment here about Val going the dark route again, and that he isn’t going with the hippie vibe. I totally agree, but DANG it, would I like to see a different vibe from them.
Rock n Roll is also from the 60’s isnt it? So I mean he could and will probably go with that darker rocky vibe.
Agreed about just how dickish the Derek/Henry comments are. It’s almost like they’re saying Derek’s not her real partner, which is complete bull. Derek is a great great dancer no doubt, but where he’s always excelled is his choreography, and Nastia will still benefit from that. It sucks that he’s out at least for now, they’ve both had a tough row to hoe anyway and now it’s even tougher, but with their collective talents and Sasha’s as well, I think she’s gonna be fine.
You know something, it is difficult to remain interested in this little reality show.
The judges: We all know the CAI need for an intervention
LEN is the ballroom master who can’t seem to find a dance he likes
okay–lightning strike posted my comment, sorry mods. To continue:
JULIANNE is a ballroom trained, competitive winner and MBT winner too. She tries her best to give some real critique, but even that gets lost within some of her other comments.
BRUNO Done. Done. and DONE. Sit down, shut up and be nice and not catty. It serves no purpose. Please balance the real critique with your need for “performing”.
THE AGENDA: Yep, DONE with that too.
OVERLY PRODUCED NUMBERS: YEP, DONE with that too.
Many seasons ago TOM called this the little summer show that “could”. Well, it’s the big EGO show that can’t. TPTB EGO, some of the PROS egos, the JUDGES egos. Ugh-o.
Since it is unknown at this time how the eliminations will be determined and how the immunity will be determined, one can expect the dance order to keep us in suspense as long as possible. If cumulative points is the tie breaker is used I think Riker and Nastia are tied. If either of them went earlier it is possible that other couples would have lost before they start.
#N — ’60’s rock and roll was anything but dark, so to be true to the era Val needs to keep it light. Of course he won’t be called out on it if he goes dark. There’s something just wrong if by this point they’re not craving something different from what they’ve done the past 6 weeks.
Here’s another wild guess:
Rumer and Val get that Meghan Trainor song “Dear Future Husband”. It’s a very 1960’s inspired song. Kinda hoping I’m right here because that is such a bubbly, light and happy song and it would be very hard for Val to make it all dark and intense. Fingers crossed.
Oh how I love to speculate 😛
I’m seeing a beatnik 60’s jive so they can wear all black.
CC NY Is correct Rumer and Val are dancing to Dear Future Husband. Confirmed it on Twitter. Sigh. 60s Jive hey. 60s Jive my backside
Huh. Nice call @CCNY. Terrible song, but Meghan Trainor is apparently still happening, so that. Any chance it might be fun?
Oh awesome! Thanks for the heads up! I am actually a big fan of the song.. I just think it’s catchy and peppy. Best part is that it would allow Val to create a happy and light dance FINALLY. At least I hope so because as I said before if he manages to turn this song and dance into something hard-hitting and edgy and .. dark, I will officially lose all hope in him and Rumer.
Truth be told I wish someone else would have gotten that song and dance at another time in the season. And by someone else I mean Nastia and Derek or even Willow and Mark 😛 I just think they are way more creative and could have come up with a cool concept/story.
Hoping Val doesn’t disappoint with this one but I won’t hold my breath…
I actually love that song and was really hoping that Derek would choreograph to it on the show alas no, it’s Val. Oh wells. Here’s hoping he doesn’t turn a light, peppy funny song into something dark and edgy out of Desperate House Wives.
So let me get this straight. Rumer and Val are dancing a “60’s Jive” to a current song by Meghan Trainor?? WTF?? How about giving the couples appropriate music for their era, producers?? Just because the set in Megan’s video looks a bit 60’s doesn’t mean the song is!!
So, who wants to take bets now on if Val and Rumer actually do the assigned dance and decade??
I oddly love Meghan trainer but that song makes me want to pull my hair out. I’m guessing they just touch on the 60s stuff and do what they want becuase well it’s Val. Should have just given that to another couple.
PH my thaughts entirely. I was hoping something MoTown like. With a Twiggy like dress you know high fashion. Or a Flower power hippy type Jive. No we get Meghan Flippin Trainor again. ALL her songs have now been used. Music buffs at DWTS have imaginations of a plain white wall. These “Americas Choice songs” are a load of old carp and all. Noah’s Tango is OMG all over it. I think it is called “Geronimo”? How the HELL can he do a TANGO without the ability to flex his knee(S) into the floor when he has one functioning knee and the other leg which has the flexibility of a stick. SIGH and GROAN.
Looking at the list initially, I was bummed that there weren’t any 90’s music/dance selections. Now with this song leak, I am disappointed. It truly makes no sense. I wonder if it came down to clearance issues?
I agree that the song is not really 60’s which again give V/R clearance to either not do the assigned theme or blame any fails once again on the music. Yes the beat of the song has a bit of a 60’s vibe but it’s certainly modern. I still love the song though, just not for this dance or this choreographer.
If that’s the song Nastia is dancing to, I can see the potential for a cute story line between her, Sasha, and Derek.
I hope Robert has “Enjoy the Silence” or “Sweet Dreams (are made of this)” but the Tanghetto versions of the songs
https://mobile.twitter.com/TheRue/status/592173442499092480
I found the tweet and I feel like a treasure hunter!
LOL….you were a treasure hunter!! Thanks for the verification.
Thank God for the song that Rumer got. No way in hell can Val make that dark and brooding. Or maybe he can… But I love the song that Rumer got so hopefully they go the direction the song dictates.
I’m going to predict a lot of “messin’ about” in Val’s jive for Rumer. I haven’t heard the song but I bet we get a bride/groom theme as well.
By the way there’s some absolutely amazing songs from the 60’s that would make great jives, but they use a current song. Oh vey.
So if we’re doing the third and hopefully final Meghan Trainor “hit” for a 60s theme, can I assume we’re also going to see more Pitbull this week? If they’re going to stray as far as 2015 for the 60s though, then I certainly would love for them to get Tanghetto’s Sweet Dreams, I said above that I wanted Eurythmics but I love Tanghetto. Pop star Sophie-Ellis Bextor danced her Argentine to that on Strictly 2013, and it’s one of the show’s most underrated routines to me. I recommend Googling it. 🙂
Haha Mr A I love that Argentine Tango deserved 9s rather than the 8s
@Mr A Loved that Argentine Tango so much. Sophie Ellis-Bextor was underrated the whole entire season to be honest. I love the ending of that AT when she went from the chair to the floor. HOTTT.
@CCNY @Nathan UK So glad someone else thinks so. Her Charleston is deservedly iconic but she delivered a few other choice dances, and was so much better than Susannah, who the judges preferred (possibly because she’s BBC, although if so major backfire.) For me she’d have had a lot more 9s and a couple of 10s, for her Paso Doble for a start. And her Argentine Tango was some of the best, toughest choreography I’ve seen on the show and she handled it beautifully. I don’t know how it only got 32.
Haha look at us talking about our very own Ralph Maccio/Charlie White
Yeah, sadly Strictly has become as overproduced and edited for “stories” as DWTS over the last 2 series in particular. It just wasn’t meant to be Sophie/Pixie/Mark’s year I suppose, so they made sure it went however they wanted.
It is produced. Like all reality tv but hell it is not so blatently obvious. Fun fact every series is a certain pros series as we have had 12 DIFFERENT pros in 12 series
That’s true. I’m predicting Matthew Cutler as the first pro to get 2 wins 😛 To me, BBC stars seem to be fairly consistently overscored, and it’s getting annoying.
To everyone saying Riker is a trained ballroom dancer – the document that is being reference is http://dancesportinfo.net/Couple/Ryker_Lynch_and_Rydel_Lynch_46955/Details
I do not think they ever did ballroom, just latin (which would explain why his frame in tango was a bit off maybe). Also their 1st competition in november 2006 and their last is december 2006. He definitely has background dancing experience, I just don’t agree that he is a “trained ballroom dancer”.
I don’t think tomorrow will be the shock elimination (which I feel will either be willow or riker “though I hope its not riker”) – If there is a shock elimination I think it will be next week for the double elimination.
You’re picking nits, Cecilia. He’s a trained dancer. Other contestants have been criticized for FAR LESS training. But the main thing is that he’s essentially lied about it.
It’s always the coverup that gets ya.
I agree he has had training. I also feel that perhaps the producers don’t let him say what form of training he’s had.
Most of his training came for the dance studio “rage”. where he did tap and ballroom.
I disagree that he lied about it. He never claimed to not know “samba, salsa, jive” which are latin dances I believe. Just foxtrot which is ballroom.
^It’s don’t know – it’s just my opinion. Previous training doesn’t really bother me, many stars have had it before. I know not everyone feels this way and that’s fine.
When you have to work that hard to excuse someone Cecilia, then you’re likely not correct.
Lots of us don’t care about previous training…it’s the dishonestly that’s at issue.
Just my two cents, he went from “not ballroom just Latin” to “tap and Latin” and either way not only is it dance training, it’s training in the exact type of dance they’re doing, which I’ve never seen in years of watching the British version and less years of the American.
Sorry, I meant “tap and ballroom”
I wasn’t trying to excuse him for something. I was only saying what training is know from documents and interviews. Personally I would like for him to acknowledged whatever training he’s had, so we could all stop guessing at what the extent of his training is.
Training or not – him, rumer, and nastia are awesome. I also hope willow and noah make final five also – and wouldn’t mind either of them in the finals as well. I’m really enjoying this season, everyone is so much fun
Mr A, Yes that’s my fault. Sorry 🙁 When I was talking about latin I was referring to the document that people are using to call him “trained in ballroom”. I don’t think his ballroom dancing is amazing (foxtrot and tango were his lesser dances)
^I was also shocked when I heard he would be on the show to be honest. But that was based on his rage dancing. I didn’t even know about the latin until that document was released.
Sorry Mr. A there’s a mistake in my post as well. I meant “tap and hip hop” not “tap and ballroom” – which is even more training ;0 I should really re read my posts. I don’t know if he’s ever done ballroom, and that was my only point, we don’t know if he’s done ballroom or not.
Woah.. Meghan Trainor’s song with the Jive for Rumer and Val.. that’s probably going to be about his last chance to prove thie one-note yes or no debate. It’s pretty clear which side is winning but this could literally be a blessing or the ultimate curse.
I’m just going to bet that it’s going to be turned into like a dark sexy breakup kind of Jive.
Cecilia, you have to remember he competed against Jenna, Witney, Lindsay, and Brittany. It is not just like he did a couple of lessons and then thought oh I’ll try my hand at a competition. No, that level of training takes dedication and years of practice to get to competition level for DanceSport.
If he had just taken a few lessons in the weeks before the show started that would be completely different and easy to look over. He has more training and is WAY more qualified than Allison.
Hollywood Records tweeted this on Friday, do you think that means Allison and Riker have his song, or is he signed to Hollywood Records along with R5?
https://twitter.com/hollywoodrecs/status/591715117907083265
Why has Cecilia dragged this dead bird back in here. We ALL know about it. All we can do is look at them with side eyes. We can certainly not change anything about it. It is one of many injustices. I am afraid. But hey ho. Let’s go back to talk about the cack that is Rumor’s song. Hey why not talk about the alleged song Nastia has. I have listened to it and I noticed something. It has the SAME beat, virtually count for count that Crazy Stupid Love song they used for Sadie’s charleston. So I don’t think TPTB know what a charleston sounds like either. Because am I the only one that did not think much of Sadie’s charleston last season. It was still good but not 4 9s anyway.
If we are gonna beet the dead horse again, then I think it’s also fair to say that Riker did not decide not to disclose his background on his own. A lot of people had to be told to be silent for this to be successful, and I imagine they were told by producers who originally wanted Ross.
A reminder Riker is a 23 year old, given a huge opportunity. Lord knows I have exaggerated in job interviews, or been afraid to stand up to a boss many times.
I’m surprised ABC hasn’t released this week’s song list since earlier in the season they couldn’t give it away fast enough.
You state that like it’s a known fact, Becki, when it’s anything but. You don’t know what Riker was told and what he wasn’t told and I suggest you don’t imply otherwise.
To be honest it’s an interesting point. There was something I really hated about Riker week 1, and I think it was the arrogance. I felt like he felt like he was bound to sail through it, and when that didn’t happen (that he was second to Rumer in week 1, and Nastia ended up being the name on everybody’s lips) he was humbled a fair bit and got a lot more likeable in my eyes. I suspect he would have wanted to hide his experience anyway, but I’m not sure he’d be dishonest of his own accord.
I get the point that Riker isn’t trained in traditional ballroom, per se – it does seem like his experience (to my knowledge) is mostly in latin and hip-hop dance. I do also think that TPTB really try to encourage them to not mention or deny dance experience. Riker just doesn’t seem like the inherently dishonest type, and again that whole “What’s a Foxtrot?” seemed like a total producer-fed line.
What sucks though is that whatever machinations the producers have put into play DO make people question Riker’s sincerity and honesty, when I think he’d be getting along fine by being truthful.
I think that the producers encourage them not to mention it ONLY when it suits their narrative or when they want to spring it on them themselves. There are plenty of examples of people with far less experience than Riker being asked point blank if their experiences gives them an advantage.
Kinda surprised that they were able to not leak the majority of the songs.
I was a little tripped out by the pic that the DWTS All Access twitter account posted of Noah and Sharna. I know Sharna is a natural blonde, but seeing her in a blonde (-ish light brown) wig is so…different.
That’s true PH – I do think when a person’s dance experience is well-known OR it suits the narrative, then they are sure to hound it. Otherwise they seem to downplay it quite a bit, especially in more recent years.
The the “What’s a Foxtrot?” Line was plaid idiocy It is a 100 year old dance afterall. Well after watching 32 seasons worth of Foxtrots now I suppose i find what a lot of things these celebs say dumb. Do your R and D celebs that’s what I say
You’d think, surely. There must have been well over 150 Foxtrots danced on the show, and he’s missed all of them? One or both of his cousins has been on maybe 18 seasons of the show and he doesn’t know a Foxtrot? Lies.
That’s why I find the line to be not only stupid, but disingenuous – and I really do think it’s something the producers told him to say. If you watch him say it, it’s very unnatural sounding, especially compared to everything else he says.
I appreciated the Cecilia conversation only because I don’t come here on a regular basis and was wondering what experience Riker had in the past. I found the rehash interesting because it was the first that I’ve heard about it.
I don’t care about the experience, I still like his dancing and partnership. His dances are so entertaining and fun!!
When they showed Robert and Kym’ score, I said every possible curse word out there…. >:( In my head of course! 😉