Next Week is Eras Night on DWTS! - S23

Eras Night

RETURNS

to the Ballroom

For Week 07 of Season 23!!

Making it’s way back to the Glitter Dome for Season 23 of yours and my favorite Dance Show, it's the always-incredible Eras Night, in which, the Ballroom’s 8, remaining Couples will take a Dance down Memory Lane and relive, through dance, a famous bygone Era from the past or even take an artistic “peek” at the future!

Also hitting the Ballroom for DWTS' already exhilarating Week 07 will be the Show's ever Popular Team Dances Challenge, during which these same 8 Couples will be divided onto 2 Teams consisting of 4 Couples each that will then face-off against one another in an all-out and sure to be epic Team-dance, freestyle Ballroom Battle!!

Finally, following these two elating rounds of competition, Week 07 will wrap things up with yet another – and always dreaded! – Monday Night Elimination, after which one more unfortunate Couple will receive the Ballroom’s Boot!

(<Ahhhhhh!!> So excited!!)

Here is a Complete List of the Round One Dances Assigned to Each Couple, As Well As the Names of the 2 Teams They Were Divided Into For Round Two, and Its Dances:

Round One:

Marilu & Derek – The Charleston

Ryan & Cheryl – The Rumba

Laurie & Val – The Quickstep

James & Sharna – The Jitterbug

Terra & Sasha – The Foxtrot

Calvin & Lindsay – The Jive

Maureen & Artem – The Tango

Jana & Gleb – The Samba

Round Two:  Team Dances

“Team Past” 

Team members -

James & Sharna

Calvin & Lindsay

Maureen & Artem

Ryan & Cheryl

Dance Style -

Freestyle

 --------------------------------------

“Team Future” 

Team members -

Marilu & Derek

Terra & Sasha

Laurie & Val

Jana & Gleb

Dance Style -

Freestyle

Willow & Mark - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 07

DWTS Season 20, Week 07

REVIEW:  Willow & Mark

Willow & Mark:

Closing down Week 7's Eras Night was Willow Shields and her Professional partner, Mark Ballas, with a futuristic "Ninjazz", as it was affectionately named by Mark, to Electric Feel by MGMT.

The rehearsal package for this dance was hilarious! ... ...

Willow Shields - DWTS Season 20 Tribute

Willow Shields & Mark Ballas in their way-too-cool
Rehearsal Package spoofing martial arts movies - a Must See!!
(See Video below!) 

"Nice Leg Kick, Joe!"
---
Mark Ballas, Ninja, in his way-too-cool Rehearsal Package
spoofing martial arts movies - a Must See!!
(See Video below!)

To be honest, I really didn't see this dance coming together for Willow and Mark, especially considering  the less-than-par performance that was given by Willow for her Week 06 Salsa, but I'm very happy to have been wrong!

The synchronization displayed during this routine was insanely good,

Mark Ballas & Willow Shields in NinJazz

and, whether she was waxing on or off, Willow-San's dancing was nothing less than excellent!  

Willow Shields in NinJazz

"Mark Miyagi"'s creative genius was definitely in full gear as well; and I must say that I particularly enjoyed the "cloud walking"!

Willow & Mark "Fly" in their NinJazz.
- DWTS S20 Wk07 -

Curiously, Judge Carrie Ann Inaba actually voiced some displeasure with the performance when she said, " ... I thought we lost a little bit of the energy in some of the moves, because Martial Arts is about pushing the moves out past your hands, and I felt that sometimes it just didn't quite go out there ... "

Wow!  Um, let's see, where to start?!  How about with the fact that your "knowledge" of Martial Arts is questionable, considering your comment, and, excuse me, but are we scoring a karate class or a dance competition?!  What does your misguided thoughts about Martial Arts have to do with the price of tea in China (if you'll pardon the pun) when it comes to critiquing the Jazz number you just saw?

In response to Carrie Ann's comments, Julianne Hough remarked, "It was so intricate, ... and clean, and I actually disagree, I think that those small movements actually take so much control, and balance, and strength, and core, so I thought it was fantastic!"

I thought that Len Goodman actually gave the best perspective on the dance, when he gave Mark his proper choreographing dues, saying, "Well, it was a little bit posed on occasion for me, but I must say, you've got a really fertile and creative mind, and to come up with a number like that, to that music, was excellent, well done!".

Willow & Mark dance amid Cherry Blossom Petals falling

 during the beautiful, climactic conclusion of their NinJazz. 

- DWTS S20 Wk07 -

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Willow & Mark's Season 20, Week 07, "NinJazz" dance!!

Nastia (Derek) & Sasha - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 07

DWTS Season 20, Week 07

REVIEW:  Nastia (Derek) & Sasha

Nastia (Derek) & Sasha:

Nastia Liukin, and her "fill-in", Professional partner, Sasha Farber, danced an exciting, modern-style Charleston to "Honey, I'm Good" (love, love, LOVE that song!) by Andy Grammer.

Nastia & Sasha Dance a "Modern" Charleston wk07

I gotta say, when the show announced that Derek Hough was down and out for the count and would not be able to dance with Nastia, I was a little more than panicked, but now in hindsight, it's clear that I had absolutely nothing to worry about!

I simply adored this routine, and Sasha did so wonderfully with stepping in as partner in place of Derek!

Derek:  What are Y'all talkin' about?  I'm totaly fine!

Nastia:  You are?! Really?!
Sasha:  Ooo ... that's not a good idea.
Derek:  I'm fine!  Now c'mon, let's dance!               

Derek:  Whoa!  That kinda hurts!  On second thought ...

Sasha:  Yeah, you better sit down, buddy. 

Derek: Hey!  I know!  You dance with Sasha!
Nastia: You're kidding.
Sasha: I could do that.
Nastia: You are kidding, right?!                   

Derek: < joining Nastia's and Sasha's hands > C'mon, it'll be great! 

Sasha: Swell!

Nastia: Fine!

Derek: Get out there and knock 'em dead!

The fun, zany, and driving choreography was brilliantly placed in a Subway setting, where Derek was free to "dance" along with Nastia and Sasha from a convenient sitting position, and the live, singing performance from Andy Grammer during the dance was the ultimate cherry on top (and I loved watching Derek join in the singing near the end of the number)!

Andy Grammer in the ballroom!
DWTS Season 20, Week 07 - Eras Night

Nastia & Sasha Dance a "Modern" Charleston
DWTS Season 20, Week 07 - Eras Night

Really I enjoyed this routine so much I could just go on and on about how great it was; but, on to the matter of Nastia's dancing of it:  For the first time since her joining the show, I found the judges' scoring of this dance to be - now brace yourselves! - a tad too generous.

It's shocking, I know, but true ... While overall Nastia's dancing was very good and gymnastically athletic, her Charleston was, in fact, (surprisingly) heavy-footed, and the discomfort and uneasiness she felt about dancing with Sasha instead of Derek was there for all to see.

" ... and the discomfort and uneasiness she felt about dancing
 with Sasha instead of Derek was there for all to see."

It greatly pains me to say it, but I think this dance deserved all "9"s, and not any "10"s.

That being said, the routine as a whole (thanks, mostly, to the ever ingenious Derek) was very enjoyable.

<Whew!> We did It!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Patti & Artem's Season 20, Week 06, Quickstep!

DWTS Elimination: Willow & Mark - Season 20, Week 07

Willow Shields and Mark Ballas

ELIMINATED

on Dancing With The Stars

Season 20, Week 07 (04-27-15)

Willow Shields - DWTS Season 20 Tribute

Willow & Mark were eliminated ... BEFORE Robert & Kym or even Chris & Witney!?!

You're kidding, right?  America, what is wrong with you!?!

I'm sorry, I like Robert & Kym and all that; but, anyone with half a brain could see that Robert & Kym should have gone home next!

Willow & Mark Dance The Salsa (wk06).

Now granted, I wasn't thinking that she was going to be DWTS' Season 20 Champion, or anything, but she sure as heck did not deserve to go home next!!

Willow & Mark's Salsa
Season 20 Week 06 -
Spring Break Night

Willow & Mark's Week 07 Jazz - "NinJazz" 

Honestly, people!

Following tonight's (Week 07's) cut, it became obvious to me that we have officially reached that dreaded point of the competition where you're really quite attached to all of the remaining couples; and, each and every cut, from now until the naming of Season 20's Mirror Ball Champion, will only hurt more and more!  <Waah!!>

Willow Shields & Mark Ballas in their way-too-cool
Rehearsal Package spoofing martial arts movies - Must See!!
(See Video below!) 

"Nice Leg Kick, Joe!"
---
Mark Ballas, Ninja, in his way-too-cool Rehearsal Package
spoofing martial arts movies - Must See!!
(See Video below!)

Speaking of unnecessary cause for emotional pain, there is supposed to be a Double-Elimination at the end of next week (Week 08) ... Wow, DWTS Producers, way to be total 10th-Anniversary-Season-Downers!!

Willow Shields in NinJazz

Mark Balls & Willow Shields in NinJazz

Willow & Mark dance NinJazz.
- DWTS S20 Wk07 -

Willow & Mark "Fly" in their NinJazz.
- DWTS S20 Wk07 -

Willow & Mark dance NinJazz.
- DWTS S20 Wk07-

Willow & Mark dance amid Cherry Blossom Petals falling
during the beautiful, climactic conclusion of their NinJazz. 
- DWTS S20 Wk07 -

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Willow & Mark's Season 20, Week 07, "NinJazz" dance!!

Nastia & SASHA(!) Are The High-Scorers!! - S20, Wk07

Nastia & Derek - Make that Sasha!

- Are Back On Top!

- Season 20, Week 07!

It was a blast from the past (and a "peek" at the future) as our seven remaining couples took part in Eras Night for Week 07 of DWTS' 10th Anniversary Season.

Nastia Liukin and her professional dancing partner, Derek ... wait ... is that Sasha?! 

...It is!  

Ladies and Gentlemen, breaking news! You heard it here first [almost ;) ]!  This week Sasha Farber is filling the rather large shoes of Derek Hough!  Hmmmm, <biting nails> ... gotta say, I'm a little nervous but, if anyone can do it, it's Sasha!

C,mon guys, you can do it!  

Is it? ... Is it? ... 

It is!!  

Nastia & Derek/Sasha have made their way back to the top of the Leader Board; and, have, thereby, officially set a record for DWTS' highly-competitive 20th Season as the only couple (Trio!) to have done so for a third time!!

Nastia & Sasha Dance a "Modern" Charleston wk07

I was sooo excited to learn that Nastia & Derek had received the Charleston (er... excuse me, "Modern Charleston" ... Is there any such thing?) for their Week 07 dance ... Derek always did know how to choreograph an exceptionally fun and terrific Charleston; and, I was sure that Nastia would have no problems with the dancing of it ... Well, I don't mind telling you, I was completely right!

Nastia danced this fast-paced and difficult routine with the greatest of ease; and, Sasha's performance was perfect!

Great job, Sasha!  

Nastia, you guys did amazingly!!

This dance was so fun to watch.
Look at 'em go!  

This dance was so GREAT!  It allowed Nastia to be (finally) once again recognized by the DWTS judges as the truly excellent and first-rate, professional-level dancer she is when she and Sasha/Derek were given the Night's highest score!

Nastia & Sasha Dancing The Charleston

Loved it, loved it, LOVED IT !!

<Whew!> We did It!

See below for Nastia & (Derek's) Sasha's amazing Week 07 Charleston, courtesy of ABC's DWTS great YouTube channel!