Rumer & Val - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10: 24-Hour Fusion

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

24-Hour Fusion

REVIEW:  Rumer & Val

Rumer & Val:

Performing the last competitive dance for DWTS, Season 20 <Waah!>, Rumer Willis and her Professional partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, took to the Ballroom dance floor for one final time, dancing a Foxtrot/Paso Doble Fusion to "Big Jet Plane" by Angus & Julia Stone.

Rumer & Val's Foxtrot/Paso Doble
 24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Rumer & Val's Foxtrot/Paso Doble
24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Super clean, emoting, and so beautifully choreographed, I cannot imagine a better competitive ending for Dancing With Stars' incredible 10th Anniversary Season!

Rumer & Val's Foxtrot/Paso Doble
24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Rumer's dancing was, once again, so very flawless and Pro-like that it prompted Judge Carrie Ann Inaba to stand and say, "You are just the real deal!  The emotional connection you guys have to each other, to the dance; in my opinion, they saved the best for last!".

" Listen to me, Rumer," began Head Judge, Len Goodman, "I am honest, and people think I've got favorites and things.  Listen, it is what it is.  You are as good as anyone that's ever been on Dancing With The Stars.  If you don't win, it's a travesty, ... Val, you've got a Winner there <pointing to Rumer>, ... Brilliant!".

Rumer & Val's Foxtrot/Paso Doble

24-hr Fusion Dance

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Rumer & Val's Foxtrot/Paso Doble

24-hr Fusion Dance

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

This incredible performance went on, of course, to earn all 10’s from the judges, amid thunderous applause from a most-approving live audience.

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Rumer & Val's Season 20, Week 10, 24-hour Fusion dance!

Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10: 24-Hour Fusion

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

24-Hour Fusion

REVIEW:  Noah & Sharna

Noah & Sharna:

Opening up the final Round of competition for DWTS Season 20, Noah Galloway and his Professional partner, Sharna Burgess, danced an Argentine Tango and Cha-Cha Fusion to "Surrender" by Cash Cash, featuring Julia Michaels.

Noah& Sharna's Argentine Tango/Cha-cha

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

"Absolutely Beautiful" is what best describes this final performance from Noah & Sharna; and, those Lifts were incredible! ... What a lovely way to end an absolutely fantastic Season for this most- endearing couple!!

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango/Cha-cha

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Sharna was (as ever) Fabulous and Noah was Amazing!

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango/Cha-cha

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Sharna was (as ever) Fabulous and Noah was Amazing!

"I'm so sad that that's the last time we're gonna see you dance!", an emotional Carrie Ann Inaba exclaimed, "Every time you come out into the Ballroom, you've done more than dance.  You've changed people's' lives ... For that, I thank you both!  Incredible!"  A somber Head Judge, Len Goodman, noted "... Well, you know, you're not always 'the judges' favorite'; but, constantly and consistently, you've been 'the viewers' favorite'; and, the thing that I wanna say is, you gave so much to America ... Why shouldn't America give you the Mirror Ball?!"

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango/Cha-cha

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Sharna was (as ever) Fabulous and Noah was Amazing!

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango/Cha-cha

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Sharna was (as ever) Fabulous and Noah was Amazing!

Noah & Sharna were subsequently rewarded with all 9's for their moving Fusion, thus ending their time on the dance floor on a well-deserved high-note!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 10, 24-hr Fusion Dance!

Riker & Allison - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10: 24-Hour Fusion

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

24-Hour Fusion

REVIEW:  Riker & Allison

Riker & Allison:

Making their final competitive turn around the Ballroom <sniff!>, Riker Lynch and his Professional dancing partner, Allison Holker, danced a Salsa/Quickstep Fusion to "Classic" (love that song!) by MKTO.

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

Wow-wee!!  (Talk about getting your "Hough" on) Riker positively killed it! ... And with only 24 hours to learn it, too! ... INCREDIBLE!!!

What an absolutely fantastic way to go out!

And, of course, I'd be completely remiss not to mention that Allison's choreography was 100% perfect for this final routine!

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

"Okay, okay, I just wanna say, I cannot believe you guys had 24 hours!", shouted an exuberant Julianne Hough when the dance was over,  "I mean, it was sharp.  It was clean.  It was everything you wanna see in a dance that you would have had a week to do! ...".

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba also added, "Riker, ... you're just a superstar!  Every time you get out there, I cheer.  Your dances are innovative,  They're incredible.  You're just ...  <looking for right words > you're something so special; and, I loved every minute of watching you dance! ... I'm happy, <turning to Len Goodman> he's a happy dancer!".

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

Riker & Allison's Salsa/Quickstep 

24-hr Fusion Dance
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

Riker absolutely killed it

This fabulous Fusion went on to receive a perfect scoring of all 10's from the judges, and served as quite the terrific exit for Riker from the Ballroom dance floor!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Riker & Allison's Season 20, Week 10, 24-hr Fusion Dance!

Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10: Freestyle

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

Freestyle REVIEW: Noah & Sharna

Noah & Sharna:

Kicking off the fan favorite Freestyle Round, Noah Galloway and partner, Sharna Burgess, danced a Freestyle to "Titanium" by David Guetta, featuring Sia, and to "Fix You" by Coldplay.

To be completely (albeit, a little brutally!) honest, when I first learned that Sharna had elected to perform a "Contemporary-esque" Freestyle, I was a little more than concerned that the judges might only see it as a "play it safe" strategy, which, being a bit more brutally honest, is exactly what it was ... After all, anyone who has watched this last Season of DWTS has quickly and easily been able to deduce that a Contemporary style of dance is Noah's strongest, Ballroom suit; on the other hand, there is something to said for "playing to your strengths" ...

So, just how do you play to your strengths in order to exhibit the best dancing possible for the Freestyle Round, while not appearing as though you merely "Phoned it in" to the Judging Panel??  Simple!  You take a page from Noah & Sharna, and kick some Contemporary @$$ !!

Noah & Sharna's Freestyle
Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

What - A - Comeback!!

I mean, seriously?!  This dance was AMAZING!!

Noah & Sharna's Freestyle

Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

Noah's dancing was nothing less than touching, emotional, and superb, as Sharna's excellent choreography once again told Noah's heroic tale in a beautiful and graceful marriage of flowing movement and some seriously Show-stopping Lifts!

Noah & Sharna's Freestyle

Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

Absolutely Amazing!!

"You know, they talk on DWTS about 'the journey'," a standing Len Goodman observed, "[and] your 'journey' has been the hardest and the longest ... and, as we nearly reach journey's end, I gotta say, that was amazing!"

" ...To me," began Judge Julianne Hough, "that was what a Freestyle is:  It's supposed to be 'Free', and you were so free in that ...  The choreography, the intricacy, the connection between you and Sharna, the other Dancers, I've never seen something so whole; and, it was so beautiful!  I loved it!!".

Noah and Sharna's incredible performance went on to receive four 10’s, marking the Couple's 2nd perfect score of the Season!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 10, Freestyle!

Rumer & Val - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10: Freestyle

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

Freestyle REVIEW: Rumer & Val

Rumer & Val:

Concluding DWTS' Season 20's Freestyle Round was Rumer Willis and her Professional partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, dancing to "Toxic" by Britney Spears, as sung by Rumer herself (and DWTS' very own Valentin accompanied the song on the Violin) ... nice touch, guys!

At first, to be honest, I was a little underwhelmed by the choreography ...  I thought to myself, "Argentine Tango??  Instead of the rip 'em, roar 'em Freestyle? Really, Val?!  (And BTW, nice try, but you can't fool us, Val ... "That's not me!" proclaimed Val in the pre-dance rehearsal package regarding what would be a typical, larger-than-life Freestyle ... Uh, you wanna check that list?  Your all-10's-earning Westside Story Jazz number with Janel Parrish in Season 19, your Broadway-style routine with Lea Thompson during Season 19's Week 05 Switch up Week, your Disney-inspired Samba with Rumer ... these are just a few of the larger-than-life productions you somehow managed to put on over the years ...)!

However, concerning the nights Freestyle, it gives me no small amount of pleasure to admit:  I could not have been more wrong!

Rumer & Val's Freestyle 
S20, Wk10 - The Finals

This dance was incredible; and,  it perfectly-showcased Rumer's beautiful, Pro-like dancing ability!

Quiet, gripping, and passionate, this Argentinian-flavored Freestyle was the type of dance to demand your attention (and applause!); and, furthermore, proved to be just the ticket to Rumer & Val dancing their way to yet another full set of perfect 10's!

Rumer's "stripped down" Freestyle, with it's Argentinian flavour,

was sharp, exquisite, and flawless!

Season 20, Week10 DWTS Finals, Day 1

"Take a chance, and just dance!", a terribly-excited Len Goodman observed, " ... Straight into the performance:  It was pure, it was brave! ... Well done!".

Rumer & Val dance their Season 20 Freestyle
Rumer's' dancing was, as always, perfect!
Season 20, Week10 DWTS Finals, Day 1

Judge Julianne Hough obviously agreed when she exclaimed, " ... It had dynamics, it was raw, it was real, ... Hands down, loved it!".

Well, that definitely makes two of us, Julianne, as I absolutely loved it too!!

Rumer & Val's Season 20 Freestyle was

smooth, quiet, and full of passion!

Season 20, Week 10: DWTS Finals, Day 1

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Rumer & Val's Season 20, Week 10, Freestyle!

Riker & Allison - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10 Freestyle

DWTS Season 20, Week 10 -

Freestyle REVIEW: Riker & Allison

Riker & Allison:

Next up in DWTS' Season 20 exciting Freestyles Round was Riker Lynch and his partner, Allison Holker, dancing a simply smashing routine to "I Won't Dance (Step Up 3D Remix)" by Fred Astaire (Who doesn't adore a little - or a lot! - of Astaire, now and then?!!).

You know what Riker?  Your dancing's lovely!  You know what?  It's LOVELY!!  And oh, what this choreography does to me!  (Get it?)

Riker & Allison Puttin' On The Ritz
for their glamorous Freestyle!
DWTS Season 20 Week 10 - The Finals, Day 1

Puttin' on some serious Ritz for this fun-filled and glamorous routine, Riker and Allison's Freestyle was chock full of Punch and Pizazz!

Riker & Allison Puttin' On The Ritz

for their glamorous Freestyle!

DWTS Season 20 Week 10 - The Finals, Day 1

Classy, with a perfect amount of Savoir Faire, this exhilarating dance "spared no expense" when it came to its "Wow!-Did-you-see-that?!" moments!  Take, for instance, the moment when Dancing With The Stars Pro, Emma Slater, and Troupe Member, Jenna Johnson, (who were both joined by other Troupe dancers for the polishing off of this incredible performance), could not get their cart (on which Riker was dancing) to move acrss the Ballroom alongside Allison's, as was obviously planned; so, ever the consummate live entertainer, Riker simply improvised and leapt off his stubborn cart and ran ahead to take his part in the big finale that wrapped up the whole exciting affair!  And the best part?!  Riker, musically-minded such as he is, never missed a beat!  Talk about "grace under pressure"!

Just call me an "Ocean Wave" and consider me bumped on that shore; because, that dance was A-Ma-Zing!!

Riker & Allison, Puttin' On The Ritz
for their glamorous Freestyle!
DWTS Season 20 Week 10 - The Finals, Day 1

"It was like watching Fred Astaire:  Reinvented - repackaged and represented for a new generation!  Awesome!", exclaimed Bruno Tonioli; and, Head Judge, Len Goodman, further added, " ... You have brought the past into the present, well done!".

This routine very naturally received all 10's, allowing the team of Riker & Allison to finish out their night with a perfect scoring of 80 out of a possible 80!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Riker & Allison's Season 20, Week 10, Freestyle!

Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10

DWTS Season 20, Week 10

REVIEW:  Noah & Sharna

Noah & Sharna:

And Then there were three (Finalist Couples, that is) ... 

Opening up DWTS' highly <delighted squeal! > anticipated Finals, Noah Galloway and his Professional dancing partner, Sharna Burgess, performed a Week 03, Latin Night, Argentine Tango redux to "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit, featuring Jess Glynne, in hopes of bettering the dance's previous scoring of 7,7,8,8.

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals, Day 1

Well, as far as I'm concerned, Noah & Sharna can perform that Amazing Argentine Tango as often as they like; because, let me tell you, when that routine is being danced, "There's no place I'd rather be"!

For his 2nd time of dancing this intoxicating routine (so beautifully choreographed by Sharna!), I found Noah's dancing to be much more flowing and musical, and not quite as "stiff", if you will, as the first time he performed this dance!

Now, there was, of course, that unfortunate slip up where his (still impressive!) leg kick was a little late in showing up for the Finals' party, and was not quite as high as it should have been ... and then, of course, said kick threw him off his game a little as he proceeded to struggle with the subsequent Lifts in the routine ... otherwise, it was a terrific performance! ... It also more than bears mentioning, that these EXTREMELY-difficult Lifts were made with the use of only one arm and one leg!

In the end, while this particular dancing redux may not have been 100% perfectly-executed, it was every bit as incredible and captivating as at the first; and, Noah and Sharna were able to successfully raise their scores to 8,8,8,8! ... Job well done!

Noah & Sharna's Argentine Tango
DWTS Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals, Day 1

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 10, Argentine Tango!

Riker & Allison - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10

DWTS Season 20, Week 10

REVIEW:  Riker & Allison

Riker & Allison:

For their Week 10, Celebrity Pick performance, Riker Lynch, and his whirling Wench of a Professional Partner, Allison Holker, chose one of me absolute favorite dances from Season 20:  Their Disney Night, "Treasure Trove" (to quote Bruno Tonioli) of a Paso Doble to "He's a Pirate" by Klaus Badelt from Disney's The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.

Ahoy, me Mateys!  Some Ballroom timbers were certainly a- shivering with this next dancing redux! ... CAPTAIN JACK IS BACK; and, he is (unbelievably!) better than ever!!

Captain Jack is back!
Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

Raging, violent, and as powerfully-passionate as ever, this delicious second serving of a Pirate's Paso was every bit as amazing as the first time, "Savvy?"; and, Riker's dancing Lines, which needed very little (if any!) embellishing, were all the more clean and extended, prompting Head Judge, Len Goodman, to actually interrupt the other judges' raving in order to bestow upon the dance his highest and most sought-after form of appreciation: A standing ovation ("I don't think I've ever seen you do that out of [turn]!", laughed DWTS Host, Tom Bergeron)!

"It was absolutely a swashbuckling performance," Len continued animatedly, "It was flamboyant, Riker, <standing again > that - was - EPIC!  I loved it!!"

Could not have expressed it better meself, love!  This charismatic and personal favorite re-danced routine went on to receive a perfect score of all 10's from the judges! ... Well, of course it did Mate ... He's Captain Jack Sparrow!

Captain Jack is back!
Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Riker & Allison's Season 20, Week 10, (Pirate's) Paso Doble!

Rumer & Val - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 10

DWTS Season 20, Week 10

REVIEW:  Rumer & Val

Rumer & Val:

Closing out Week 10's first Round of competition, Rumer Willis, and her Professional dancing partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, chose for their Celebrity Pick their Week 01 Foxtrot to "Take Me To Church" by Hozier.

Rumer & Val re-dance their favorite dance of the Season -

Their Week 01 Foxtrot 

Season 20, Week 10 - The Finals

It's almost unfair, really, that Rumer & Val should've chosen this performance as their Celebrity Pick when everyone knows that the only reason that this captivating number did not receive a scoring of all 10's the first time it was presented in the Glitterdome was because the judges are never going to score a dance with a 10 on Week 01 (Duh, it just wouldn't be practical!).  ... Barring one or both of them just tripping and falling flat on their faces, this incredible dance was practically a ready-made shoo-in for a perfect score! ... But, then again, can't you say that about pretty much every Rumer and Val performance from this last Season?!

At any rate, I'm certainly not going to complain about the chance to watch Rumer's fine dancing lines and feminine grace, or Val's beautiful choreography again; and, neither apparently were the judges! ...

" ... Pure, exquisite poetry in motion! ... ", as was described by Judge Carrie Ann Inaba; and Head Judge, Len Goodman, took the chance to remind the flattered Couple, "Week 01, I said, 'This could be your Season!'  Nothing's changed.  Only your dancing's so much better! ... I love that dancing!  Great!!".

" ... I thought it was an amazing dance the first Week," agreed Judge Julianne Hough, "the difference is:  Tonight was flawless!".

These rave reviews were, of course, capped off with a scoring of all 10's from the judges, tying Rumer and Val for 1st place on the Leader Board along with Riker & Allison at the conclusion of the night's Round One of competition!

Rumer & Val's Finals' Foxtrot was Fantastic!

Even better the second time around 

and so deserving of it's perfect score!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Rumer & Val's Season 20, Week 10, Foxtrot!