Dancing With The Stars Review by Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing Fellow and Examiner and Championship Adjudicator Phillip Stephens
Dancing With The Stars – Season 10, week 5
Each couple had to dance to music from a film and bring the theme from the movie into their routine. Some were better at this than others. Some relied on props too much, but all of them put a lot of effort into their performance.
I was not at all taken with Erin’s outfit this week – why make such a lovely woman look like a street-walker?
Niecy Nash & Louis van Amstell – Jive
Quite energetic. Her feet still need lots of attention to tone, pointing and other refinements, and her free arm didn’t know what it was doing part of the time. She got lost a time or two, but was pretty good with the musical breaks, and it was good overall. 21 points?
Len – Got your personality into the dance. Should have had more bounce in the feet
Bruno – So much going on on the upper decks, but it lacked sharpness needed for this stage of the competition.
Carrie Ann – Feet and legs were weak
6+6+6 = 18, which was a bit low for this routine
Chad Ochocinco & Cheryl Burke – Quickstep
What was all that waste of time with Cheryl’s “mood”? Who cares if she’s under a lot of pressure this week? I’m under a lot of pressure, too! OK, it’s the Jungle Book, but the bear was fully clothed! Cheryl & Chad were out of sync several times. I didn’t like most of that performance because it was above his skill level and it was really rough as he struggled to master the material. 18 max from me for that poor performance.
Bruno – too wild. Frame and hold were bad
Carrie Ann – Uneven and lacking body contact (what is it with him and these sexual innuendos? It’s just disgusting, and I’m glad Carrie Ann put a lid on that)
Len – Bright & lively and posture better than in Foxtrot
6+6+6 = 18, which is right on for that mediocre Quickstep
Erin Andrews & Maks Chmerkovskiy – Jive
This argument crap! And all the language that has to be bleeped out. Grrrr.
What a slow Jive beginning. She didn’t look good in that outfit and her legs should not be shown in those type of pants. Were they painted on? Well, it was energetic and she did some nice tricks - and WAY too many poorly executed flicks & kicks - but it wasn’t up to what the level of performance that I feel she has the potential to produce. Probably a 21
Michael Schedler and I both thought she had more potential in the beginning of the season, but she seems to have hit her peak
Carrie Ann – liked it? Her ankles?
Len – Enjoyed it? Tough routine, but she did a really good job? Bah!
Bruno – Best timing ever – didn’t go wrong once. The way to go for her.
7+7+8 = 22
Jake Pavelka & Chelsie Hightower – Cha-cha
OK – it was bad enough when they had Kym Johnson perform the "underwear dance" last week – having Jake out there in a shirt and undies at the start of this routine really puts the show in the gutter. And where is his Cha-cha? He just gyrated and posed and ran around the floor looking stiff, awkward and out of time. A pathetic job – 15
Len – give it 100%. It was fun, and it was his best dance until he messed up???
Bruno – could see some good lines??? The rest was exciting and cheeky???
Carrie Ann – loved the whole package.
What have these judges been smokin’ & drinkin’?
8+7+8 = 23 – WAY too high for that enthusiastic and energetic yet mediocre performance.
Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood – Quickstep
The entrance took a bit too long. Her feet were a bit untidy, but she got going and did a nice job. The walk up over the chairs and table was clever and nicely done. She got out of time now and then, which surprised me. Overall, this deserves 21 or so points.
Bruno – Good in many areas – needs more movement.
Carrie Ann – Hold not so good, but the rest was good.
Len – Didn’t like the entrance & thought the balance was wrong.
Pamela is capable of more than she produced tonight and Michael Schedler and I think that this is Damian’s fault. His choreography has been consistently cautious and we wonder if he – though a good dancer – lacks the experience needed for this type of show.
7+6+8 = 21.
Kate Gosselin & Tony Dovaloni – Foxtrot
Kate's timing was dreadful, which is why Tony relied on using so many quick counts. Even so, there was still not much action in her movements. Her arms looked so stiff! Where was the bend and straightening of the knees? Lucky to get 15 from me for that load of doo-doo
Carrie Ann – Sees itty bitty bits of grace developing (Must have MARVELOUS contact lenses!) Kate's dancing is like Charlie Brown mumbling.
Len – Neat and precise, but no dancing. Just strolled around the floor.
Bruno – There could have been more life with a frock and a coat hanger.
She always has some sort of whiney-butt excuse for being tired or not able to perform. This week, it was her 8 kids.
5+5+5 = 15 (dang, I’m good)
Nicole Sherzinger & Derek Hough – Tango
A quick little entrance that set the pace for the rest of the dance. Good character. A few too many kicks used as filler, but a nice frame with a bit of improvement wanted for the head position. Quite a nice job – should get at least 25-27 points.
Len – Nicole’s best dance & best of the season so far.
Bruno just went off the deep end with overly effusive praise
Carrie Ann was also overly effusive with her praise.
10+9+10 = 29. I guess I’m OK with that, but think it was just a bit too generous
Evan Lysocek & Ana Treybunskaya – Rumba
His actions looked a bit balletic at times, but he was strong and powerful with what he did. I wish it could have been softer because it looked a little frantic. I think he is a talented performer, but this was not as good as I think he's capable of. 27?
Bruno – Top line and arms fabulous, but bottom half not on par with top.
Carrie Ann – Loved it.
Len – Artistry – very good.
9+9+9 = 27 (Boy! I can really figure these things out now and then)
DWTS Results – 4/20/2010
Brooke Burke’s outfit was rather ho-hum tonight – made her hips look huge
Well, I’m undone that they wanted to see Jake’s Cha-cha again. First of all, it wasn’t a Cha-cha – it was more of a spin & pose & gyrate your hips number. Second of all, that underwear bit just was too much. Third, as Michael Schedler noted, it was worse tonight than last night.
I wasn’t all that taken with the frantic Theater Arts routine to Maxwell’s singing. The couple was good and they did some fantastic moves, but it was too frenetic for my taste.
Movie tributes – they are really into underwear this season, ya know? Also, why did they even bother announcing that Debbie Allen was in the show? She sat on a stool and talked for 5 seconds – how cool is that???
Debbie Nova??? Nice outfit. Nice quasi-Samba by Derek, Damian, Tony & Dmitri
I’m glad Erin got rid of that wig, but that outfit! She just doesn’t look good on TV in that sort of outfit. And I hope her dancing improves next week. She’s really been a disappointment: after a strong start, she’s not improved much at all. I wonder whose fault that is?
OK! Kate is gone. Yes, indeed - Whiney-butt Kate is GONE!
And that’s a wrap for my week 5 DWTS review.
