Dance-off Challenge – Review of DWTS Season 23, Week 08

DWTS Season 23, Week 08 REVIEW:  Dance-off Challenge

Going Head-to-Head (and of course, Feet-to-Feet!) on Dancing with the Stars’ Ballroom Dance Floor on Monday Night, 6 Couples took center stage in three, separate, all-out and daring Dance-off Battles!

Laurie & Val vs. Calvin & Lindsay:

Alright, now, this is hardly fair, you guys!  I mean, How on earth do you choose?!  Both of these Couples were so BRILLIANT!!

So, you’ve got Calvin, whose hep-to-the-Jivin' skills are always sure to THRILL, and whose lightness of feet (despite his height) is quite literally mind-blowing to behold!!

Calvin & Lindsay

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

And then, of course, you have Laurie, who is … Well, LAURIE!!  (Seriously, in her case, I’m pretty sure at this point that that name is a synonym for Amazing Excellence and Precise Perfection!)

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

In the end, how do you choose?

Laurie & Val

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

Well, America at large and the Ballroom’s Judges chose Laurie & Val; but, I gotta be honest, I’m STILL on the fence about it!

<Ahhhhhh!!>So great!!

See video below to watch Calvin & Lindsay's and Laurie & Val's Jive Dance-off on Week 08 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Jana & Gleb vs. Terra & Sasha:

Another close one!

Terra’s Dancing, although fun overall and crazy energetic, lacked some Content and Technical Execution.

Terra & Sasha

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

Still, it was a great ride while it lasted!

Meanwhile, on the half of the Ballroom’s Dance Floor, Jana’s Latin exhibition was notably cleaner and Technically more precise …

Jana & Gleb

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

Although for some reason, it lacked that initial excitement that Terra & Sasha’s brought right away.

Also, Jana & Gleb’s Salsa was much more passionate than Terra's; but, Team XL brought the party!

All in all, I loved BOTH, though I was content in the end to see that DWTS Judge, Carrie Ann Inaba, chose Terra & Sasha, while Judges, Julianne Hough and Bruno Tonioli, as well as a slightly greater percentage of America chose Jana & Gleb!

See video below to watch Terra & Sasha's and Jana & Gleb's Salsa Dance-off on Week 08 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Marilu & Derek vs. Ryan & Cheryl:

No contest!

Ryan & Cheryl won this one … hands down!

Sloppy, erratic, and yet still somehow stiff, Marilu’s Cha-Cha left about a gazillion things to be desired!!

Marilu & Derek

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

… And how!

Having a far better time of it, although still falling short of anything excellent, Ryan’s Cha-Cha was much more erotic and generally fluid … Not to mention, it included that all important characteristic of NOT making its audiences a great deal uncomfortable while viewing it!

Ryan & Cheryl

DWTS Season 23, Week 08

Dance-off Round

(An amazing TWO rounds of Dancing tonight, Lochte, your persistence has FINALLY paid off!!)

I must say I was a little surprised to see that Bruno Tonioli had chosen Marilu & Derek to win this one (but equally glad for poor Derek’s sake!).

I much more agreed with Judges Julianne Hough and Carrie Ann Inaba’s decisions to go with Ryan, as well as that of America’s!

See video below to watch Marilu & Derek's and Ryan & Cheryl's Cha-cha Dance-off on Week 08 of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!