Round One: Pros pick the songs
Drew Scott & Emma
Tango
The extra dancers were unnecessary, as they usually are. It was a quirky dance, but the music was strange for a Tango. The performance felt messy, clumsy, out of sync, even though I didn't see any major mistakes. It just didn't look or feel clean and precise. The end was fun though (the kilt raising) :)
Len: "so full on you lost your posture and technique"
Bruno: "Tango like no other - too skippy - lost the style of the dance"
Carrie Ann: "lack of artistry, didn't remind me of a Tango"
My score: 8
Scores: 8, 8, 8
Victoria Arlen & Val
Contemporary
So it was a beautiful dance that told the powerful story of her recovery with the help of her loving, supportive parents. Which is wonderful and inspirational. But I feel the same about this routine that I felt about their trio dance with Laurie Hernandez. This performance did NOT showcase Victoria's skills as a dancer, which should be the point of a semi-final dance. It made her look incapable, in need of assistance, etc. In just about every moment of the routine she was either standing still or being lifted, carried, or helped in some way by Val and/or Jenna. Once again, this dance was a disservice to Victoria. It's not a bad idea to tell her life story, but Val needed to showcase her abilities, not make her look like she can barely move on her own. I'm sorry, but on a competitive level, this dance was totally wrong for Victoria in my opinion.
Bruno: "so touching, poignant, positive message
Carrie Ann: "felt the emotion"
Len: "your life story through dance, so poignant and beautiful"
My score: 8
Scores: 9, 9, 9
Jordan Fisher & Lindsay
Argentine Tango
Their routines are so professional-looking. Unfortunately the lights were blinding at times. The one criticism I have of Jordan in this routine is that while his partnering skills were good, I didn't feel like he was in control of the dance. I felt he was a little soft, a little hesitant, he let Lindsay lead him, when he should have led her. But otherwise his technique was excellent. There was a lot of Argentine Tango content and good speed in the dance.
Carrie Ann: "standard extremely high, but I felt a disconnect"
Len: "too big, too concerned with the story, work on the dance"
Bruno: "most mature performance to date, absolutely fabulous"
My score: 9
Scores: 9, 9, 10
Lindsey Stirling & Mark
Contemporary
Between the darkness and the trash hurtling at them, it was hard to see the routine at times. I thought they had a rough start - their rhythm felt off, Lindsey seemed to have trouble with her timing and foot placement - but then they got back on track, and the dance became a powerful, fiery, exciting, fierce, dramatic, passionate performance. There were lots of lifts and they were throwing each other around - it was a dynamic, forceful, professional-looking contemporary routine. I loved the music too, which was performed by Mark and his wife.
Len: "you blew me away"
Bruno: "dynamic, athletic, surprising"
Carrie Ann: "you have evolved - primal, beautiful, powerful energy"
My score: 9 (the rough beginning kept the dance from being a 10)
Scores: 10, 9, 10
Frankie Muniz & Witney
Salsa
They built up the "no shirt" tease so much that I felt like I was waiting for it the whole routine. In the end, it was a "shirt opening" not a "shirt ripped off," which felt a bit like false advertising. But we got to see his chest and abs. Don't worry, Frankie, your body is good, you looked great! As for the routine - the extra dancers weren't necessary. The song choice was interesting, but for the most part the hip hop song worked for short, white, thirty-something Frankie. He can move! He has swag! I even saw some booty popping. And his bounce was very good, most, but not all, of the time. He seemed to lose a little steam after the unnecessary basketball dunk. But overall it was a high-energy, fun routine, and a real crowd-pleaser.
Bruno: "street cred, loved the originality and spirit"
Carrie Ann: "song didn't necessarily match you, need to stay on the beat"
Len: "so much enthusiasm, but not too much hip hop, not enough hip action"
My score: 9
Scores: 8, 8, 9
End of Round One
End of Part One
librarianintx
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