A Focus On The Finalists (Part 02) – Noah & Sharna

A Focus on the DWTS Finalists of Season 20

NOTE:  This is a "Part 02"

Click HERE to see the "Part 01" post.

Ah, me!  Another DWTS Season has come and gone … and what a season!

It was an incredibly exciting and close Finals race for Dancing with the Stars’ 10^th Anniversary Season; and, unlike some Finals from the past, that Mirror Ball Trophy really was anybody’s game!

That is why, despite the fact that Rumer Willis and Valentin Chmerkovskiy have already been crowned the Mirror Ball Champions of Season 20 (Yaaay!!  I love me some “Valenrue”!), I thought it only fair to submit this follow-up feature:  Focus on the Finalists!

DWTS Season 20 Finalists
L-R: Rumer & Val, Riker & Alison, and Noah & Sharna 

Following an amazing Wk 01 Cha-cha-ing debut, it was immediately obvious to us all that this was merely the beginning of a “beautiful friendship” and a most memorable partnership for Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess.

Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess
" ... the beginning of a beautiful friendship. "

A heroic and moving story, combined with a good-hearted “No Excuses” attitude and an incredible ability for (often extremely-difficult) lifts, helped Noah to initially stand out from his celebrity counterparts; but, Noah quickly added to all these an undeniable talent for the art of Ballroom Dancing!

Noah & Sharna's Week 04 Contemporary -
Noah was Amazing!

Absolutely stunning!!

In Wk 02, Noah’s cowboy-themed Samba had us all cheering “Yee-haw!”;  and, the sweet surprise visit of a long-time-absent girlfriend had us all grinning like total saps;

A happy and a beautiful moment  in the Ballroom 
as Jamie Boyd returns earlier than expected 
and surprises boyfriend, Noah Galloway!

Aaawwww!  <sniff>  Beautiful!
You go, Jamie!

but, it was his Wk 03 Argentine Tango that left us thinking, “Wow, this Season 20 couple really has what it takes …”!

Noah & Sharna - Latin Night

Noah & Sharna wowed us all with their
exceptional Week 03 Argentine Tango!

A slew of impressive dances soon followed suit, including an emotional and patriotic Wk 04 Contemporary, a flowing and romantic Wk 06 Rumba 

Noah & Sharna's Rumba
 was soft, flowing, and beautiful!
DWTS S20,Wk06 - Spring Break Night

(Granted, not quite as romantic as his soon-to-follow proposal to that same devoted girlfriend, Jamie Boyd, during Wk 09’s Semifinals, 

" ...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!

Not a dry eye in the Ballroom as
Noah and Jamie shared True Love's Kiss! 

but still, a solid second!), a beautiful Wk 09 Viennese Waltz, and a powerful Wk 09 Paso Doble!

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

But, I cannot (and will not) mention Noah’s wonderful Ballroom prowess without next making mention of the one who made it all possible for him, Sharna Burgess:

Noah & Sharna - The Cha Cha
DWTS Season 20, Week 01

Since joining the professional cast of Dancing with the Stars in Season 16, Sharna’s dancing and choreography have always been a treasured part of the show; but, this season, she revealed to us yet another layer of choreographing brilliance when she took her creative genius to all-new, innovative heights and presented to us some truly amazing and unforgettable performances, thereby cementing herself as one of the show’s all-time best!!

Noah & Sharna - The Argentine Tango

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

Leaving in their wake a marked impression on the “Glitter Dome” and often not a dry eye in the house, Noah & Sharna wound up dancing their way right to the Finals; and, were subsequently rewarded with 3^rd Place!

Noah & Sharna's Freestyle

Season 20, Week 10 - DWTS Finals, Day 1

Absolutely Amazing!!

Quite literally a DWTS Pair like no other, Noah & Sharna are sure to go down in Dancing with the Stars History as one of the show’s most memorable and endearing couples!

Noah & Sharna
Season 20, Week 07 - Eras Night

A Focus On The Finalists (Part 01) – Riker & Allison

A Focus on the DWTS Finalists of Season 20

NOTE:  This is a "Part 01"

Click HERE to see the "Part 02" post.

Ah, me!  Another DWTS Season has come and gone … and what a season!

It was an incredibly exciting and close Finals race for Dancing with the Stars’ 10^th Anniversary Season; and, unlike some Finals from the past, that Mirror Ball Trophy really was anybody’s game!

That is why, despite the fact that Rumer Willis  and Valentin Chmerkovskiy have already been crowned the Mirror Ball Champions of Season 20 (Yaaay!!  I love me some “Valenrue”!), I thought it only fair to submit this follow-up feature:  Focus on the Finalists!

DWTS Season 20 Finalists
L-R: Rumer & Val, Riker & Alison, and Noah & Sharna 

An explosive pair right from the start, Riker Lynch  and Allison Holker were (unquestionably) the “dynamite” couple of DWTS, Season 20!

Go, Riker! Go, Riker!
Season 20, Week 01

Every time that Riker & Allison stepped out onto the dance floor, you knew that you were in for a Ballroom treat like no other Season 20 couple could offer … Well, at least not in that characteristically Fast & Furious Fashion!

To be perfectly (albeit brutally) honest, I didn’t think that I much cared for Riker & Allison at the beginning; and, following their Wk01 Jive, I had immediately categorized them as “middle of the pack” contenders … Well!  I’m very happy, indeed, to say that I could not have been more wrong!!

Riker & Allison dancing their Surprisingly Stunning,
If-you-didn't-like-this-couple-before-they-totally-just-won-you-over,
 Fantastic Foxtrot! S20, Wk02

By only Wk02, Riker came out to gracefully explain to us, by means of a beautifully-danced, elegant Foxtrot, that this cousin of the Houghs possessed what is truly an amazing amount of dancing and musical depth … and it only got better from there!

Riker Lynch gets some serious Air Time
during his Week 03 Salsa!

Week by week, and dance by incredible dance, Riker continued to blow us all out of the water (sometimes seemingly literally, as was the case when he donned his now-famous Captain Jack Sparrow costume and performed his terribly-violent and splendidly-executed Wk 05 Paso Doble!) 

" ... and really bad eggs ... "

with his terrific showmanship, his insanely-great, technical know-how, AND his naturally-fun, super-nice, and downright loveable personality!

In fact, it wasn’t too far along into the competition before I found myself wondering if just maybe this adored R5 singer and bass player had not chosen the wrong career path!

Riker & Allison's Samba was
Fantastically-Fun, Exceptionally-Entertaining,
Furiously-Fast, & Positively-Perfect!  <whew!>

But I don’t really know that all of this dancing greatness might have been possible for Riker, were it not for the Particularly-Perfect Pairing with his Professional Partner, Allison Holker.

Riker & Allison playing the cutest nerds ever
in their S20,Wk06 Team Dance.

After what began as a bit of a rocky start during her professional Dancing with the Stars debut (Season 19),  Allison managed to turn it all completely around and carve out a niche for herself as being one of the best! … And well-deservedly so!! 

Riker & Allison Danced an amazing Quickstep!
Season 20, Week 07 - Eras Night

Allison was on absolute Fire all season long with her stupendous choreography, and what are - obviously - some seriously-mad teaching skills!

A dramatic pause in Riker & Allison's Viennese Waltz
Season 20 Week 08 - America's Choice Night

In the end, this dancing duo happened to fall just short of winning that Golden Mirror Ball Trophy; but, it matters not one jot for the team of Riker & Allison who will, no doubt, always be remembered as one of DWTS’ greatest couples!

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

Here are just a few more of  Riker & Allison's best moments on Dancing With The Stars, Season 20.

Riker & Allison in their Trio Dance with Brittany
Season 20, Week 08 - America's Choice Night
You guys totally killed it!

Riker & Allison perform a Contemporary Dance

 during DWTS, S20, Wk09. 

Contemporary is always 50-50 for me ...
Sometimes it's really good; but, sometimes 
it's just used as an excuse to be art-sy. 
Well, in Riker & Allison's case ...
it was used as an excuse to kick some serious @$$!

Riker & Allison dance The Argentine Tango,

with Julianne Hough - S20, Wk09 - Judges' Pick Round.

I loved everything about this dance!
The setting, the music, (of course) the dancing, all of it!
It really was one the best Argentine Tangos
I've ever seen on the show!

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!

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!

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!