Marla & Tony – Review of DWTS Season 22, Week 02

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

REVIEW:  Marla & Tony

Dancing an Automated Argentine Tango to “Don’t” by Ed Sheeran, Trump-Ex, Marla Maples, and her Professional partner, Tony Dovolani, presented their Latin Night Routine.

Marla & Tony

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

A terrific showing, generally speaking, Marla’s Lines and Footwork in this Dance were undeniably excellent, and her Frame, better than most!

Marla & Tony

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

Her Execution, however, was another matter entirely, hitting each and every Pose and Foot Placement with an almost tragic lack of attack and sharpness!

Marla & Tony

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

Her general Attitude, as well, and Facial Expression could easily be called more “Autopilot” than “Aggressive”, with her whole demeanor seeming more or less absent-minded as she lazily went through the Motions of the Dance.

Now, don’t get me wrong ... upon the whole I really did love and enjoy the Routine, as well as Marla’s dancing of it overall; but, it can hardly be refuted that, in the end, that same dancing lacked ANY kind of Passion.

Marla & Tony

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

 “When you approach an Argentine Tango,” began Judge Bruno Tonioli, upon reviewing the Performance, “… you gotta kick @$$ … You’ve got it, flaunt it!”; while Judge Carrie Ann Inaba countered, that Marla’s Routine was merely a “Different take” on the age-old Latin Dance, and furthermore praised this same “take” for being “Sophisticated” and “Elegant” … three comments which I found to be bordering on the ridiculous! …

The Argentine Tango is, traditionally, a dark-flavored, passionate style of dancing, and should, furthermore, be Executed as such, within reason.

What the Argentine Tango is certainly NOT is an “Elegant” or “Sophisticated” style of dancing … Unless, when using the word “Sophisticated” you are implying the word “Escort”.

There’s no “Different take” on the Argentine Tango!  You may not Grin stupidly as though you were dancing the Jive, nor behave as though bereaved when dancing the Contemporary!  … THIS IS NOT FREESTYLE!!

This is a Ballroom Dance (and Competition) and, as such, certain Steps and Standards must be adhered to! … Otherwise, WHAT would be the point?!

And in that vein, you know as well as anyone, Carrie Ann, (and, in fact, pride yourself on knowing) that the Emotions, Facial Expressions, and Character Portrayal are JUST AS IMPORTANT, and more so, necessary, within a Dance (including the Argentine Tango) as Proper Execution and Technique!

… And if the above is, indeed, NOT so very important, Carrie Ann, nor necessary as you have so tediously led us to believe over the many, past, trying years of Dreadful Rants and Pointed Point-docking, why then was Nyle DiMarco’s Richly Vibrant and Romantic Rumba so GROSSLY under-scored?!

After all, couldn’t his Performance just have been labeled as being a “Different take” on the Rumba?

In conclusion, the next time you are going to bend the rules of Ballroom, Carrie Ann, based on the mere fact that a certain Routine appealed to you “just ‘cause”, that’s fine!  Let’s just chalk it up as being one of the perks of being Judge.  … But is it asking too much then that you extend that same courtesy to ALL of the Competitors?!!

Marla & Tony

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

See video (below) to watch Marla & Tony's Argentine Tango on Week 02 of DWTS, Courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!