We welcomed the stars and their professionals without the big opening dance we've seen the past few weeks. Again, they were followed by the judges in a low budget manner. Tom and Erin explained that after the first round of dances, the couple with the highest score will be given immunity. The remaining six will face off for three extra points in round two.
Round One
Lea & Artem
Dance: Jazz
Dynamic Duo: Bonnie and Clyde
Lea explained that she wasn't scared of dancing. She realized the two would have to be very bad-ass to match the outlaw theme. She had an acting coach come in to help get in character, but Artem struggled in the beginning to keep his confidence as an actor. The couple began in a car and Lea brought some nice character in her slinky movements. She had some good side-by-side movements with Artem. Sometimes Lea's arms wouldn't be as strong as her legs and some of her turns weren't as sharp near the end.
Len wanted Lea to be stronger. Julianne loved the presentation, but was underwhelmed by the dated choreography. Bruno thought the characters needed a reckless attitude. Carrie Ann thought Lea's confidence finally was back; she moved too much like a ballerina.
Score: 32 (8,8,8,8)
Michael & Emma
Dance: Foxtrot
Dynamic Duo: Tarzan and Jane
Emma wanted to make sure that Michael was enjoying himself. The wardrobe consultant wanted to get Tarzan in a different outfit, but Emma in more than just some loin cloth because the two were doing a classy Foxtrot. The two continued to travel and they had to continue studying the video. Emma tried to explain that things can go wrong and they keep fighting. The couple emerged from the ceiling and the couple circled around the dance floor mostly in hold. The routine felt less like a Foxtrot and more like a Viennese Waltz because of the tempo of the dance. Because Michael was mostly in hold, Emma tried her best to guide him through.
Julianne pointed out how much support Michael had, he did much better this week. Bruno saw that Michael was losing his footing as the song progressed. Carrie Ann didn't think he was on the same level as the other celebrities. Len thought that based off the times he saw Michael dance it was his best.
Score: 25 (6,7,6,6)
Janel & Val
Dance: Contemporary
Dynamic Duo: Romeo and Juliet
Janel was bummed by Len's critiques, but had to move on to the new theme. Val explained that the contemporary needs physicality and wanted to make Janel stronger for the routine. The couple began and for a second I was taken aback by Val's shaved face. I thought that the choices of lifts were beautiful, but some of Val's choreography between the lifts felt cliche. Luckily for him, most of the dance was lifts by the end of the song.
Bruno thought it was both ambitious and glorious at the same time. Carrie Ann appreciated the abstract movement had pure emotion in it. Len called her a great dancer. Julianne thought the routine was breathtaking.
Score: 40 (10,10,10,10)
Tommy & Peta
Dance: Paso Doble
Dynamic Duo: Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash
Peta knew that Tommy is old, has bad knees, and has pain. She still continued to push him no matter what. Tommy walked a bit in the beginning, but I appreciated that Peta tried to put slow and then fast parts. Tommy was still a little off with his steps but he kept with the song and Peta. His side-by-side choreography wasn't horribly executed, just easy to do. The two ended off with a little hug.
Carrie Ann thought he was off most of the dance, but the two had a magical connection together. Len was unsure of the content. Julianne knew that Tommy has charmed the group even if he was off. Bruno knew Peta tried to put content in, but he was behind.
Score: 26 (6,7,7,6)
Sadie & Mark
Dance: Contemporary
Dynamic Duo: Adam and Eve
There was frustration from last week's critiques which motivated both Mark and Sadie to work even harder to win over the judges. As the couple began to dance, the horrid singing really threw me off. Mark's choreography was a little odd for me. The whole apple theme with the Afro Jazz undertones didn't fit for me with the song. Sadie kept up with Mark in the beginning but she felt off when the couple got into the dramatic side-by-side ending.
Len appreciates Mark's creativity for the routine. Julianne loved the maturity that Sadie portrayed. Bruno agreed, Sadie has gone a long way. Carrie Ann thought the routine was fantastic.
Score: 38 (9,9,10,10)
Alfonso & Witney
Dance: Cha Cha Cha
Dynamic Duo: Batman and Robin
Witney explained the couple would be superheroes, Witney being Robin. We were given a montage of the two pretending to be superheroes. As the couple went to Sunday's camera blocking, Alfonso got stuck trying to glide and ladders had to take him down. Alfonso slid down correctly when they were live. The two danced without their capes and the two had a good party spirit as they danced. It may have been because Witney was in so much brighter colors than Alfonso, but she looked like she was doing much more of the choreography. The two in side-by-side choreography were precise but there really wasn't much cha-cha content there.
Julianne loved the electric energy of the routine; she suggested straightening her legs. Bruno got a rush watching the routine. Carrie Ann loved how the two were in sync. Len knew they would be back next week.
Score: 38 (10,9,9,10)
Bethany & Derek
Dance: Salsa
Dynamic Duo: Lucy and Ricky Ricardo
Bethany was exhausted from weeks of dancing; Derek knew fatigue was kicking in. Bethany pointed out how much her mother loved I Love Lucy and the two tried to get into the characters. Bethany practiced her voice and face. We were treated to a faux-sitcom scene with Bethany. The couple started in the kitchen with a cute opening. I appreciated Bethany's facial expressions throughout the dance. There may have been too much filler between the beginning and lyrics but the two had strong arm passes once the lyrics began. Bethany seemed confident about the movements.
Bruno loved the transition from last week's drama to this week's camp. Carrie Ann thought the routine was phenomenal, but there was one mistake. Len thought Bethany was sizzling. Julianne loved Bethany's journey throughout the season.
Score: 37 (9,9,9,10)
[new page='Dancing with the Stars' Season 19 Recap: Week Eight Performances (Dynamic Duos), Page 2]
Round Two: Dance Offs
Janel & Val were immune from the Dance Offs and into next week. There was a strategy because the winner of the dance-off got three points. There was a jive, cha-cha, or rumba. Couples would either pick the competitor or the dance style. Based off of the scores though, Sadie and Alfonso both had 38, Alfonso had a higher cumulative score. Alfonso picked Lea & Artem. Sadie picked Bethany, leaving Tommy and Michael to face off.
Dance One: Alfonso vs. Lea
Dance: Jive
Alfonso and Witney began the dance and the two got the crowd going. I liked the choice of the choreography because it played up to Alfonso's spirit when they danced. He was just a bit behind on some of the moves.
Lea & Artem went second and the couple started off with some spins. I actually thought Lea's legs looked great as she danced. She had a few minor stumbles as well, but I thought her dance had much more content.
Len admired the couples' guts and they both did a good job. Julianne thought Lea was smart for picking the jive. Bruno thought the two were very close. Carrie Ann thought both killed the dance, but she knew her winner.
Winner: Alfonso (4-0)
Dance Two: Sadie vs. Bethany
Dance - Cha-Cha
Sadie had a little bit of a warm-up until the two got into the dance. There was at least one confused arm pass. I thought the two danced a routine with good content and charm.
Bethany began and she immediately got into character. I thought Bethany had heavier foot placement but the two moved like a team. The two felt much slower than Sadie but more precise with their motions.
Julianne thought both were ahead of the beat; Sadie wasn't tight enough. Bruno thought the two were shaky. Carrie Ann saw two different styles from the friends. Len wanted to see the couples go again.
Winner: Tie (Carrie Ann and Bruno for Sadie; Len, Julianne for Bethany). According to the rules, the head judge determines the winner which meant Len's choice of Bethany determined the winner.
Dance Three: Tommy vs. Michael
Dance - Rumba
Tommy hurt his calf again after his dance, but the two got dancing fast. All things considered, Tommy moved well and had decent shapes with his hands. There was a nice intimacy to the whole routine.
Emma definitely took control of the dance. Michael looked like a wiggling fish as he moved. He had to hobble into places to match Emma. It was decent, but lacked oomph.
Bruno thought both gave a good effort. Carrie Ann saw that one routine had the essence and the other more content. Len thought it was close. Julianne thought Michael's was uncomfortable to watch.
Winner: Tommy (4-0)
After the second round finished, the couples were told their fate. The bottom two dancers under the lights were Michael & Emma and Tommy & Peta. Michael & Emma were eliminated. Michael didn't realize how much emotion and heart he put into the whole show.
Week Eight Scores
Alfonso - 41 (38+3)
Janel - 40 (Immune)
Bethany - 40 (37+3)
Sadie - 38
Lea - 32
Tommy - 29 (26+3)
Michael - 25 (Eliminated)
image for thumbnail courtesy of ABC, Craig Sjodin