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!!

Willow & Mark - Review of DWTS Season 20, Week 06

DWTS Season 20, Week 06

REVIEW:  Willow & Mark

Willow & Mark:

Willow Shields and her partner, Mark Ballas, danced the Salsa on Spring Break Night to "Tequila" by Xavier Cugat.

Willow & Mark Dancing The Salsa

Willow mentioned in her pre-dance rehearsal package that she and Mark were basing the concept of their routine off of the 2014 film, Whiplash.

Funny, because that is exactly what the DWTS judges are giving me!

One moment, they are way underscoring Nastia & Derek, and the next, they are just gushing all over Willow's mediocre-at-best performance!  What up!?!!!

I mean, seriously, did anyone else see Willow's awful Salsa? ... Her "shoulder shakes" were terrible, her lines were timid and sloppy.  I'm not even sure what she was trying to do with her skirt at times, and the twisted face that she wore for 3/4 of the dance suggested that she might of been in some kind of physical turmoil!

Okay, so, She's either trying to remember the steps ... or ...
there's a huge spider on Mark's face and she just noticed
... I'm not sure which. 

That so-called Salsa was barely worth the 8's it was given by Len Goodman and Julianne Hough, much less the 9's!

It was like a Week 01 dance and it tied with Nastia's Tango ... PLEASE!!

That said, I did like Mark's choreography and the overall performance was entertaining (and it has to be said, the DWTS Troupe absolutely killed it playing the part of the band)!

Willow & Mark & the DWTS Troupe
Troupe (in background) L-R:
Henry Byalikov, Lindsay Arnold, Brittany Cherry,
Jenna Johnson (behind Mark), & Sasha Farber
You guys killed it!!

Plus, Willow did do well on the lifts, so kudos for that!

Willow Shields & Mark Ballas

I like Willow & Mark, I really do, so I'm hoping they can do better next week!

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

See below for ABC's DWTS YouTube video of Willow & Mark's Season 20, Week 06, Salsa!