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!

Next Week is halloween Night on DWTS - S23

Week 08 is halloween Night

on Season 23

Week 08 of Season 23 will be halloween Week on Dancing with the Stars.

Also occurring next Week will be the Ballroom's always exhilarating Dance-offs, during which, the Couple with the Highest overall Score in Judges Points will receive automatic Immunity from Week 08’s dreaded Elimination AND automatic Immunity from having to participate within the impending Dance-off Event.

In addition, that same, lucky, High-scoring Couple will ALSO receive 3 Extra Bonus Points to be added to their Night’s Scores.

Next, the evening’s remaining 6 Couples will then be divided into 3 separate Groups, each consisting of 2 Couples per Group.

The ensuing Groups will be divided by selections that are made by the remaining, 6 Couples themselves.

(Confused yet?  Hang in there and I’ll explain!  …)

The Couple with the SECOND Highest overall Score in Judges' Points is next allowed to choose an opposing Couple to Face-off against in an all out and often epic, one-on-one (Or, in this particular case, Two-on-two!) Daring Dance-off!!

In order to even things up a bit within the incurring, Dance-off competition, the Couple Chosen to be an opponent by the former is then allowed to choose between 1 of 3 Choices of Ballroom or Latin Dance Styles offered by the Show itself.

Following this event, the Couple with the next Highest overall Score in Judges Points on Week 08’s Leader Board will select their opponent … and so the cycle continues on until all 6 participating Couples are divvied up.

The Winner of each Dance-off will then receive an additional 2 Extra Bonus Points to be added their Night’s Scores, thereby bettering their chances at escaping Elimination that same evening.

Week 08 will then, of course, conclude with an Elimination, sending one more unfortunate Couple home from the DWTS Ballroom and the remaining 5 that much closer to the Show's glittering Mirror Ball Trophy!

Finally, and capping off the Week's frightening Theme, DWTS' Head Panel Judge, Len Goodman, will once again be absent from Monday Night's Dancing escapades, and will furthermore remain so until the Season's Finals on Week 11.

I cant believe I’m forced to say this TWICE within the same Season, but … Don’t GO, Lenny!!

(You’re killing me here, Goodman!)

The Dance-offs kick off LIVE on Monday evening, and – believe you me! – you DON’T wanna miss it!!

Semifinals Dance-Offs - Review of DWTS Season 21, Week 10

DWTS Season 21, Week 10

REVIEW:  Semifinals Dance-Offs

Due to the unexpected and, oh, let’s just say it, RUDE mid-week Withdrawal and exit by Tamar Braxton, DWTS Producers elected to fill Week 10’s now-vacant time slots with the exhibition of another Season 21 Dance-Off.

Unlike its Week 08 predecessor, given the peculiar circumstances which accompanied the event, the show’s participating, 4 Semifinalist Couples were not afforded the opportunity to choose a Dance Style or Opposing Couple, but were instead assigned a Dance AND a Couple previous to Monday night’s live show.

The Dance-Offs were then voted on by the show’s Judging Panel which was once more given special paddles displaying the name of each competing Couple to further aid the judges in plainly exhibiting their Dance-Off Winners of choice.

The Winner of each Dance-Off was then awarded with an additional bonus of 3 points, which were immediately added to that Couple’s Night's score.

Dance Off #01 - Carlos & Witney vs. Alek & Lindsay:

Carlos & Witney

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Alek & Lindsay

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Dancing a Cha-Cha to “Fun” by Pitbull, Carlos PenaVega, Witney Carson, Alek Skarlatos, and Lindsay Arnold kicked off the Night’s Dance-Off redux.

Alek & Lindsay

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Carlos & Witney

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Well, not at all surprisingly, the Winners of this Dance-Off were made clear right off, with Carlos & Witney’s great Choreography, terrific Rhythm, and some perfectly, almost naturally-executed Steps!

Carlos & Witney

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Carlos’ Technical execution was, as usual, first-rate with a fantastically-held and seemingly-effortless Frame being combined with smooth ease of Movement and Footing!

Carlos & Witney

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Alek’s efforts, while remaining fun and respectfully adequate, fell short on the other hand; and, Lindsay’s Choreography - disastrously inferior to Witney’s.

Alek & Lindsay

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Oddly enough, the Judges' opinion of the two performances was shown to be split with Judges Julianne Hough and Bruno Tonioli voting for Carlos & Witney and Carrie Ann “Full of It” Inaba voting for Alek & Lindsay.

<Record Scratch> Okay, seriously, Carrie Ann, WHAT is going on with you when it comes to ill-judging the seemingly-singled-out Team of Carlos & Witney ‘cause (as much as I like Alek) that decision’s insane, and you know it! …

Dance Off #02 - Bindi & Derek vs. Nick & Sharna:

For their second performances of the evening, Bindi Irwin, Derek Hough, Nick Carter, and Sharna Burgess each danced a Samba to “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake, featuring MØ.

Bindi & Derek 
DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Nick & Sharna

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Wow!! Talk about your close calls, the Sambas exhibited by Bindi & Derek and Nick & Sharna respectively were so very excellent, it was very nearly impossible to choose between them!

Bindi’s dancing, which took on a more mature flavor than her night’s previous Salsa routine, was characteristically fast, exquisite, and full of fun with some seriously impressive tricks being thrown in just for some good, kick-@$ measure!

Bindi & Derek

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Bindi & Derek

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Nick’s Samba-ing was equally enjoyable with his trade-mark Musicality and terrific Showmanship aiding him in displaying a truly remarkable performance; and, as for Derek’s and Sharna’s Choreography of the routines, it practically goes without saying that each dance was brilliantly put together, resulting in a spectacular, ½ minute mini-show that was thrilling to watch!!

Nick & Sharna

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

Nick & Sharna

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

In the end, the judges voting was unanimous, each selecting Bindi & Derek as their Dance-Off Winners of choice!

Bindi & Derek

DWTS S21, Wk 10 - Semi-Finals

- Dance-offs 

DWTS S-21 Week 08: By The Numbers

DWTS – Season 21, Week 08 SCORES:

The DWTS Judges give their scores.

Bindi & Derek

Foxtrot

“Grace Kelly” by Mika

28 (10,9,9)

Tamar & Val

Paso Doble

“Born This Way” by Lady Gaga

28(9,9,10)

Alexa & Mark

Argentine Tango

“Viva la Vida” by Coldplay

25 (9,8,8)

Andy & Allison

Viennese Waltz

“Isn't She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder

22 (8,7,7)

Alek & Lindsay

Contemporary

“Holding Out For A Hero” 
by Ella Mae Bowen

25 (9,8,8)

Nick & Sharna

Contemporary

“Can't Help Falling In Love”

by Haley Reinhart

30 (10,10,10)

Carlos & Witney

Salsa

“Valio la Pena” by Marc Anthony

27 (9,9,9)

--------------------------------------


Dance-offs:

Carols & Witney VS. Bindi & Derek

Jive

“Travelin' Band” 
by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Winners: 
Carlos & Witney

Judges Score:
Carlos, Carlos, Carlos

Public Vote
Bindi (64%)

Tamar & Val  VS. Alexa & Mark

Cha-cha

“Fun” 
by Pitbull feat. Chris Brown

Winners: 
Alexa & Mark

Judges Score:
Alexa, Tamar, Tamar

Public Vote
Alexa (76%)

Andy & Allison VS. Alek & Lindsay

Samba

“Lean On” 
by Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ

Winners: 
Andy & Allison

Judges Score:
Andy, Andy, Andy

Public Vote
Andy (54%)

America’s Choice Dance Offs – Season 21, Week 08

DWTS’ Always Exciting

Dance Offs Gets a

Red, White and Blue Makeover!

S21, Wk08

DWTS’ staple, Dancing Duels returned to the Glitter Dome Monday night, with a never-before seen, patriotic twist! …

Ladies and Gentlemen, sitting in as Head Judge for this enthralling Round was … YOU, the Viewer!

That’s right, folks, in a brilliant, judging change-up, America was allowed to temporarily “sit in” with the show’s Panel Judges as “Head Judge” via votes which were displayed live in the Ballroom whilst each Dance Off was performed!

Furthermore, as “Head Judge”, should a Tie have resulted following any Dance Off, America’s vote would automatically carry more weight, and therefore its chosen Couple would be named the event’s Winners!!

It was an all-new, thrilling game changer; and, it all happened live, for the night’s second Round of competition! ...
 

Bindi & Derek, Carlos & Witney:
 
“Who wants to Jive?” an excited Derek asked when selecting his and partner Bindi’s dancing opposition.

As the Night’s second highest scoring Couple, Bindi & Derek had earned the strategic right to choose any Couple from the remaining six, to Dance Off against.

Immediately raising their hand in the affirmative, Carlos &Witney deftly accepted Hough’s challenge right before an anxious Host, Tom Bergeron, stepped in vocally and reminded the Ballroom at large that, while it was certainly Bindi & Derek’s right to choose their opposition, the right to choose a Dance style (of the pre-selected, offered three:  Jive, Cha-Cha, and Samba) remained with Carlos & Witney.

“Trying to use Jedi mind tricks, Derek?” an amused Tom playfully reprimanded.

Bindi & Derek

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

After officially settling on Carlos & Witney as their dancing opponents, a laughing Bindi & Derek quieted in anticipation of that Couple’s response.

Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Following a brief conference,

Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

a grinning Witney turned round again from facing her partner and boldly announced “The Jive!”

Opening up the exciting, “dueling” Round of competition with a Jive to “Travelin’ Band” by Creedance Clearwater Revival, high-scoring pairs Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough and Carlos PenaVega & Witney Carson, took to the dance floor! …
 

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Wow!!  Talk about your shucking and jiving, that Dance Off was an absolute amazing Flurry of Fast and Furious, quick-Flicking Fun; and, that Bindi/Carlos Lift at end was just all too cute!

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Both Couples jived so brilliantly, it really would be impossible for me to choose which performed their routine better!!

Bindi & Derek

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

“Nice strategy,” An impressed Judge Julianne Hough informed her big brother, before addressing Carlos & Witney with, “but also, interesting that you gave into that strategy!”

“…I’m just saying!” she continued, teasing both Couples, “I’m just saying did that pay off? Because, I gotta be honest, this is probably the closest I’ve ever seen! …”

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

“It was so unexpected!” Judge Bruno Tonioli chimed in. “You've really got to wait to see what happens [With the Scoring] … because it’s so unpredictable!”

“I was really impressed!” concluded Judge Carrie Ann Inaba “…And I loved the comradery at the end, with the Lift! …” she added with a smile.  

In the end, the show’s three Panel Judges voted in favor of Carlos & Witney’ Jive, while America chose Bindi & Derek’s!
 

Bindi & Derek vs. Carlos & Witney
"Good game."
"Good game."

 
Tamar & Val, Alexa & Mark:

Challenging “the beautiful Alexa”, Tamar & Val quickly settled on their opposition, while Alexa & Mark swiftly decided on their Dance style of choice:  The Cha-Cha.
 
Dancing the Cha-Cha to “Fun” by Pitbull, featuring Chris Brown, Tamar Braxton & Val Chmerkovskiy, and Alexa PenaVega & Mark Ballas all stepped down onto the Ballroom’s dance floor …

Tamar & Val vs. Alexa & Mark

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Well, for me, it was certainly no contest … Alexa & Mark just completely owned that dance floor!

Heavily-peppered with difficult Cha-Cha content, Alexa’s dance took on a distinct, authentic flavor,

Alexa & Mark

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

while Tamar’s efforts leaned far more towards the “Contemporary take” side of the Latin Classic.

In addition, Alexa’s performance as a whole sparkled with delighted enthusiasim, affording it that much-needed edge of some having “Umph!” to it, while Tamar’s stereotypically-relaxed approach once again lent itself unto a sloppy Frame and lazy, unfinished Lines.

Tamar & Val

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

“ … Those girls are hot! … You have to wait and see!” began Bruno Tonioli as he opened the Judges comments, following the routines.

“One of you had more ‘flavor’, one of you had more … ‘traditional’ …” teased Carrie Ann Inaba, “So, depends on what I like!”

“ … I definitely preferred one over the other, so you’re gonna have to wait and see!” added Julianne Hough, much to the anticipatory agony of the two ecstatic Couples.

The Couples didn’t have to wait for long, however, as Carrie Ann voted for Alexa & Mark, Julianne for Tamar & Val, Bruno for Tamar & Val, and America for Alexa & Mark.

As “Head Judge” America’s choice was counted as the “Deciding Factor”, and the Win was awarded to Alexa & Mark.
 

Andy & Allison, Alek & Lindsay:

With little choice in the matter, as there were no more Couples or Dance styles left to “choose” from, Andy Grammer & Allison Holker and Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold descended onto the show’s dance floor, more or less resigned to their respective fates as they prepared to perform a Samba - For each of the Couple’s first time of the competition - to “Lean On” by Major Lazer and DJ Snake, featuring MO.
 

Andy & Allison vs. Alek & Lindsay

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Well, to be completely, albeit brutally, honest neither one of these efforts were very good, with both failing to meet an even “Half-way Decent” standard.

Andy & Allison vs. Alek & Lindsay

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

It does seem worth mentioning; however, that Alek’s Samba was far more traditional,

Alek & Lindsay

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

while poor Andy’s leaned toward … well, “leapt into” is more like it! … much more of a Freestyle-type performance.

“Andy breaking out the rarely seen ‘Samba Worm’!” Joked Tom. 

Andy & Allison

DWTS Season 21, Week 08 -

Icons Night - 
Dance-offs

Carrie Ann began the Judges critiques with, “Okay, first of all, BOTH of you need to go work on your Sambas! … Okay, Andy, impressive: You said, ‘You know what?  I’m not doing this, so I’m going to Flip! … Well done!”

“… Andy, I actually think you did a really good job with the Samba!” countered Julianne, “…if you’re back next Week, you should maybe do the Samba! … That Hand-spring … We got tricks, guys! …”

“Andy, you put the Bounce in there,” finished Bruno, “… Alek, as always, you Present the girl so well! … Samba:  incredibly hard!  Just doing it like this, off the gate, is really, really [Broke into an appreciative applause]”.

Despite Alek’s admirable efforts, the voting against him was shown to be frightfully unanimous with every Panel Judge being joined by America in the choosing of Andy’s Samba, an outcome most unfair I thought, as I’m sure Alek (or most anyone, for that matter!) could have performed better if they had been made aware of the freedom to leave the selected style of dance altogether and simply “wing it”.