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!

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!

Rumer & Val AND Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 09: Judges' Choice Round

DWTS Season 20, Week 09

REVIEW - Judges' Choice Round: 

Rumer & Val AND Noah & Sharna

Apparently, they're the judges for a reason! ...

Rumer & Val:

Kick-starting the all new Judges' Choice Round, Rumer Willis and her Professional dancing partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, were chosen by Judge Bruno Tonioli to dance the Contemporary (or, "Contemporary Fusion", as Bruno called it) to "Theme From Swan Lake, Op. 20" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ... Difficult? ... Yikes!

Rumer & Val's "Swan Lake" Contemporary
S20 Wk09 - Judges' Choice Round.
Absolutely stunning!

Oh, snap!  This $#!* just got real!!  The other Semifinalists had better keep on their toes ... because Rumer certainly did ... and her form was FLAWLESS!

Rumer & Val's Contemporary
DWTS S20, Wk09 - Semifinals

I mean to say, WOW!   There are hardly any words that would do this performance justice and convey just how spectacular Rumer's dancing was, except, maybe, to say that Rumer danced like a Professional!  Oh! and btw, did anyone else see that amazing Lift at the climax of the routine!?  Seriously!?!  That was insane!!

Rumer & Val's Contemporary
Wow!  Look at that lift!
You guys were amazing!
DWTS S20, Wk09 - Semifinals

Val's choreography was, in a word, Breathtaking, and a well-deserved shout out simply must and does go out to DWTS Troupe Members, Jenna Johnson and Lindsay Arnold, who joined Rumer & Val on stage at the beginning and end of the routine with some exceptionally mad Ballerina skillz!

Rumer & Val's Contemporary
Front, Left: Lindsay Arnold
Front, Right: Jenna Johnson
Mad "Ballerina skillz" guys ... great job!

This awe-inspiring performance naturally received rave reviews from the judges and earned Rumer and Val a perfect score of all 10's!

"If I had my own, private Leader Board," began Len Goodman, "you are my highest-marked Couple! ... Bruno, great concept!  Val, wonderful choreography!  Rumer, brilliant dancing!".

Julianne Hough stately elected to fill Bruno's dramatically expressive judging-shoes when she gushed, "YOU GUYS WERE LIKE AN UGLY DUCKLING GROWING INTO A BEAUTIFUL SWAN!! ... "   Judge Carrie Ann Inaba concluded, "That was genius!"  ... That was what was so great about it, Rumer:  You were able to pull that off.  That was a very difficult routine! ... That is the most difficult Lift of all! ... You did it all with grace and beauty ... Brilliant!"

Rumer & Val's Contemporary
Brilliant!
DWTS Season 20, Week 09 - Semifinals

Noah & Sharna:

For their Week 09, follow up routine, Noah Galloway and his partner, Sharna Burgess, were chosen by DWTS Judge Carrie Ann Inaba to dance the Paso Doble to "Unstoppable" by E.S. Posthumus.

Noah & Sharna dance a fierce Paso Doble! 

(With, L-R: Alan, Artem, Henry, and Keo) 

S20, Wk09 - Semifinals - Judges' Pick Round

(BTW, Great Job Carrie-Ann! This Dance was perfect for them!)

I (friggin'!) loved this dance!!

Powerful, emoting, and gripping with just the right touch of dark.  This incredible, 1½ minute-long performance violently told the tale of Noah's past hardships and his eventual conquering of them.

Noah & Sharna dance a fierce Paso Doble!
Season 20 Week 09 - Judges Pick Round
(BTW, Great Job Carrie-Ann! This Dance was perfect for them!)

Well, first off, hats off to Carrie Ann, for creating this concept (considering the fact that this routine just blew me away, "hats" and all!); and secondly, Terrific choreography by Sharna (!); and finally, Noah's dancing was nothing less than PERFECT (!) and quite literally rendered me speechless for a moment or two following his performance!

" ... Honestly, unbelievable concept, Carrie Ann!" exclaimed Judge Julianne Hough, when opening the judges' critiquing of the dance, " ... That was one of the best dances I've ever seen you do.  The combination of choreography, Sharna, incredible ... the story, the passion <laying head down on and clawing desk in mocked overwhelmedness>  I ... I ... !".

" ... The execution, the shaping, was absolutely masterful!" added Bruno Tonioli.  Head Judge, Len Goodman, put the proverbial cherry on top when he closed with, "Tonight is the fight for the Finals; and I tell you what, you came out and gave us a battle!  It had all the excitement of the Bull Fight.  You picked out every nuance in the music ... Conceived by Carrie Ann, Believed by Sharna, and Achieved by Noah!".

This captivating dance went on to earn Noah  & Sharna a perfect score (!), which marked the couple's first 10's of the Season!

Sargent Noah Galloway totally killed
(hacked in pieces, burned the pieces,
stomped on the ashes) this Paso Doble!!

Watch ABC's DWTS YouTube videos (2 Videos below) of Rumer & Val's and Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 09, Dances!

Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 09

DWTS Season 20, Week 09

REVIEW:  Noah & Sharna

Noah & Sharna:

For their first, Semifinal routine, Noah Galloway and his Professional partner, Sharna Burgess, danced the Viennese Waltz to "The Time of My Life" by David Cook.

Noah & Sharna's Viennese Waltz 

S-20 Wk09 - Semifinals

Easily, and without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite dances from Season 20 thus far!

It was just so romantic, sweet, and graceful!!

Sharna's genius choreography was, of course, 100% captivating and perfect; and I particularly enjoyed the segment at the close of the dance, when Sharna transformed Noah's  assent up the stairs from very understandably awkward, to a moment of breathtaking beauty and brilliance!

Noah & Sharna's Waltz
This dance was Amazing! Sharna, what brilliant choreography!

As for Noah, his smooth and seemingly effortless turns and his impressively strong Frames in Hold were a complete delight to watch and gracefully showcased just how far he has come since first beginning this competition!

"There is such an ease about that performance!" expressed Judge Julianne Hough, "... and every time, you guys have such attention to detail that I'm so amazed by it because there was so much Content in this; and it was so smooth, which, you know, for you I feel like that's been something that's very difficult, with the rotations; and it was so smooth ... It has been the most enjoyable thing to watch you dance!".

Noah & Sharna - The Viennese Waltz
DWTS S20,Wk09 - Semifinals

" ... You attempt something that you find completely unexpected!" added Bruno Tonioli, "Is he going to go for a Rotation?  Yes, he does!  Does he maintain the Timing?  Yes, he does!  Is he connecting with the partner beautifully?  What more can I say ... Beautiful!".

Head Judge, Len Goodman, phrased it best though, I thought, when he exclaimed, "... There was a charm about it.  It was emotional.  It had a romantic [feeling].  Well, to sum it up, for me, that's your best dance; and what a good time to do it!".

"What a good time", indeed!  Noah & Sharna received an incredible four 9's for their heartwarming performance; and Noah topped off the whole touching affair by proposing afterwards to his ever-sweet-and-devoted Girlfriend, Jamie Boyd, who very naturally accepted, and with no small amount of endearing enthusiasm!

" ...This song, 'The Time of my life', you give that to me ... "
were the words of Noah Galloway as he began his
proposal to girlfriend, Jamie Boyd.
< sniff > ... Okay, now I really am gonna cry!

This exciting event would mark the very first Marriage Proposal for Dancing With The Stars; and would subsequently leave not a dry eye in the house ... And yes, I was bawling right along with the rest of the saps! ... <Reaching for yet another tissue and blowing nose loudly>  Well, it was just so very sweet and romantic!!

Not a dry eye in the Ballroom as
Noah and Jamie shared true love's kiss! 

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 09, Viennese Waltz!

DWTS GALLERY - Noah & Sharna - S20 Wk05

DWTS - 10th ANNIVERSARY

SEASON 20, Week 5

GALLERY:  Noah & Sharna

Noah Galloway making a grand entrance atop the Magic Carpet!
I love Disney Night!

Noah & Sharna

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

Noah & Sharna's Foxtrot
Noah as Aladdin and Sharna as Princess Jasmine!
DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night 

Noah & Sharna's Foxtrot

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

Noah & Sharna Dance The Foxtrot

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

Noah & Sharna's Disney-inspired Foxtrot

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

An Absolutely Adorable moment in Noah & Sharna's Foxtrot
(...I can open your eyes...)
I loved, loved, loved this dance!

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess -The Foxtrot
(...Take you wonder by wonder...)

DWTS S20, Wk05 - Disney Night

Sharna stole the show as a Perfect Princess Jasmine!

A playful moment from Noah & Sharna's dance.

Noah & Sharna Foxtrot as Aladdin & Princess Jasmine!

A Happy Ending for Aladdin & Jasmine's 
(Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess')
Aladdin-themed performance!

Noah & Sharna - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 08

DWTS Season 20, Week 08

REVIEW:  Noah & Sharna

Noah & Sharna:

To begin the highly-anticipated America's Choice Night, Noah Galloway and his Professional partner, Sharna Burgess, danced the Tango to "Geronimo" by Sheppard.

I loved, loved, loved (... loved, loved, loved, ...) this dance!

And I cannot believe that I just saw Noah go out there and dance a Tango ... A perfectly-executed and beautifully-choreographed (another fantastic job, Sharna!) Tango!

Noah & Sharna's Tango S20, Wk08 -
America's Choice Night

Seriously now, did anyone else's bottom jaw just smack the floor!?! ... Noah's dancing was absolutely incredible!

Noah & Sharna's Tango S20, Wk08 - 
America's Choice Night

His Frame was positively impeccable, his Musicality was outrageously good, his Footwork was stellar, and his turns were so smooth, graceful, and seemingly-effortless as to make you take for granted for a moment that he was dancing this Tango on one leg!

Speaking of, I just want to take a moment and shed light on the questionable taste of the general public with the designing of this routine ...

Upon the whole, it was most excellently thought out and put together:  The all-white suit and dress, the pleasing blue hue that coated the Ballroom, the offset of the large, stark, white clouds, blowing fiercely across it, the all-white, sharply-clad Drum core that lined the stage .... all very beautiful to be sure; but, I just gotta ask, was it really the best choice to have a Iraqi War Veteran dance to a song that periodically blares the chorus "Bombs Away"?  And to add insult to injury, you designed the stage with a row of plain white flags standing across it ... the international, military symbol of surrender!?!  I'm sure whomever designed all that and/or chose the song had no ill or mean-spirited intent, and merely wasn't thinking clearly that day; but nonetheless, our War Heroes deserve a little more respect and consideration than that, wouldn't you say?

Once again, despite how much I enjoyed this captivating performance (... 'cause, you know, I'm sane ...), the judges seemed to derive nothing but personal pleasure from raining on my parade!

" ... It's difficult to judge," began Len Goodman, " ... My normal way of judging the Tango, I look for flexed knees, I look for staccato; and I can't look at those things, so I have to base it on performance ... I would've liked a little bit more intensity during it, between the two of you but, first out, first dance, well done!"

pffffttt!< Buzzer sound! > Next!

" ... it was a bit blocky," offered Carrie Ann Inaba, "I know it's very hard to avoid that, but I have to call it:  There was a bit of a blockiness, that I didn't see last Week, but, um, you have one more dance tonight."

<Crickets>

You mean "last Week", as in, when Noah and Sharna danced the Jazz!?

Noah's Tango was "blocky", was it?  Good grief, Carrie Ann, do you just enjoy stating the obvious sometimes?  It was a one-legged, one-armed Tango, and it was excellent, thank you very much!!

Really now, judges, the night is still young, but this is not a promising start!



See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah & Sharna's Season 20, Week 08, Tango!

Noah, Sharna, & Emma- Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 08

DWTS Season 20, Week 08

REVIEW:  Noah, Sharna & Emma

Noah, Sharna, & Emma:

Kicking off the highly-anticipated Trio Round for Week 08, Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess teamed up with Emma Slater to dance the Salsa to "Mr. Put It Down" by Ricky Martin, featuring Pit bull.

Dancing in the Trio Round with a distinct disadvantage, Noah, Sharna, and Emma came out with an extremely innovative routine (I loved both of the silhouette segments!), that managed to wow the judges and audience alike!

Noah & Sharna's Trio Dance with Emma
Season 20, Week 08 - America's Choice Night

Noah & Sharna's Trio Dance with Emma
Season 20, Week 08 - America's Choice Night

"Well, you know," began a smiling Len Goodman, "Trios are all about fun, entertainment, incorporating all three of you, and yet still staying true to the style and character of the dance, and that's what you just did!"

Okay, so sure, there were those one or two mess-ups from Noah where he would lose his footing, but then again, he was supporting and lifting two women with one arm and one leg!

" Hot, hot, hot! ... If anybody can handle those two girls, like, it's you! ... " An impressed Julianne Hough informed Noah, and Bruno Tonioli added to Sharna and Emma, " ... The arm-ography, so clever girls, you really worked that out beautifully! ... ".

" ... Two girls, one arm, probably impossible for most people," observed Carrie Ann Inaba, "but not for you, Mr. Noah! ... ".

And indeed, with an impressive scoring of all 8's, "Mr. Noah" had successfully knocked another Ballroom challenge out the park!

Noah & Sharna's Trio Dance with Emma
Season 20, Week 08 - America's Choice Night
Wow! Amazing!!

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Noah, Sharna, & Emma's Season 20, Week 08, trio Salsa!