Next week we’ll find out who is going to win Dancing With the Stars Athletes, but tonight there are six couples, three of whom will be eliminated tonight. What kills me is voting is open and nobody’s danced yet!
Anyway, leading off the Dancing With the Stars competition is Marai and Alan who are doing the quickstep for MVP week. Marai talks about her mother as her MVP. I love this because Marai has the facial expressions nailed and is doing well on the quickstep. Great job. Len “You came out all guns blazing and you mean business.” Carrie Ann: “She did really well,” she said in Japanese. Scores: 9, 9, 8, 9: 35
There’s a ballroom battle later where the contestants compete against each other.
Jennie and Keo are dancing next and Jennie chose Casey, her husband. They are dancing the Viennese Waltz. She’s done a nice job and seems less nervous than before. Len: “It had an ease an elegance about it.” Carrie Ann: “You do embody the spirit of what the show is about. You expressed true joy.” Scores: 7, 8, 7, 7: 29.
.@JennieFinch and @keodancer dedicate a gorgeous Viennese Waltz to Jennie’s husband Casey! #DWTS: Athletes 💛 pic.twitter.com/RDRlgTwwXz
— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) May 15, 2018
Chris Mazdzer and Witney are up next and he’s my front-runner for winning the show, even though he’s in jeopardy. Chris is dancing the foxtrot for his mom, his MVP. He talks about her support for everything he does. I love this old school Broadway look to Chris. Not a lot of room to dance on the top of the piano, but they are making it work. Chris seems like such a fun guy. Did they do a lot of fox-trotting in this? I’m not sure of the requirements, but oh how cute that he added his mom into the act. Carrie Ann: “Well done mom! In the beginning, you weren’t quite as comfortable, but once you opened that curtain you let loose. ” Carrie Ann points out that the ‘fall’ was more of a lift. Dave says it was a ‘catch.’ Scores: 8, 9, 7, 9: 33.
Tonya and Sasha are up next. Tonya’s most valuable person is her father, who she lost nine years ago. I’m not crying, are you? The rumba opens up with her looking at photos of her dad and gliding right into the dance. Wow, that’s emotional. Tonya really dances well and emotional. Carrie Ann: “You dance with your heart open and I think we’re all in your corner.” Len: “It wasn’t one level — there was speed and then soft. The whole package full of emotion and lovely dancing.” Scores: 8, 9, 8, 8: 33
Next up is Adam and Jenna performing a contemporary routine. Adam’s MVP talks about his mom being an MVP — as a single mom of six kids who sacrificed a lot so he could go to the rink. The dance starts in a birdcage. It definitely has a So You Think You Can Dance feel to it. Adam can dance and the lift into his arms is amazing. Fantastic. I’m guessing this is a 10. Len: “I like the emotion of the dance and it had great control mixed with flair. If I was going to grumpy, it was a little stop-start and spikey.” Carrie Ann: “This is why artists create. To have moments like this that are pure perfection.” Scores: 10, 10, 9, 10: 39.
.@J_No24 and @SharnaBurgess get Contemporary for Josh’s MVP brothers! “If the sky we look upon should tumble and fall…” 💫#DWTS : Athletes pic.twitter.com/iLDOewLwO2
— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) May 15, 2018
Josh and Sharna are doing a contemporary to honor Josh’s MVP, his four brothers, while he dances to Stand By Me. I think Josh has flair and dances really well. I think this is Josh’s best dance of the season. Len: “I was concerned after Adam’s contemporary, but I thought there was a beautiful fluidity about it. I liked it s6o much.” Carrie Ann: “There was a sure-footedness about you that made me feel peace too. Every lift was impeccable. You were on fire.” Scores: 9, 9, 9, 9: 36
Up next the ballroom battles for bonus judges points:
First is Jennie and Keo versus Tonya and Sasha. They are battling and the passion meter is only slightly on Jennie’s side. It’s not a sweet according to the passion meter. Len: “This is difficult to judge because you are both out there giving it your all. Good job both of you.” Carrie Ann: “You were both filled with energy and it was well-matched.” Scores: Tonya/Sasha, Jennie/Keo, Tonya/Sasha, Tonya and Sasha — They win the additional two points, but Jennie and Keo won America’s vote.
It’s now Adam versus Mirai: The battle of the besties with the jive. I don’t know what it is about Adam and Jenna, but my eyes always seem to go to them. Adam seemed a little lost in his arms at times, but I liked their energy better. Carrie Ann: “That was a showdown. It was so much fun and I would’ve paid top-dollar to watch that again and again.” Len: “I really love both of you. One was full of razzamatazz and the other one I found clarity in the footwork, beautiful point, etc. This is a tough decision.”
Ballroom Battle: Jive! @Adaripp and @Dance10Jenna compete against @mirai_nagasu and @Dance10Alan mentored by @Meryl_Davis!
This one was no skate in the park! #DWTS: Athletes pic.twitter.com/kzuAWBOhGS
— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) May 15, 2018
Scores: Adam/Jenna; Mirai/Alan, Mirai/Alan, Adam/Jenna. The tie is broken by America, who chose Adam and Jenna.
Finally, the last dance is Chris against Josh doing the salsa. Interestingly, the costumes are the same too, which makes it fun. Chris takes off his shirt, and Josh does too. WHO CARES WHO WINS! LOL Okay back to the competition. I like Chris and Witney a little better than Josh and Sharna. Carrie: “Two different approaches, but this is so hard.” Len: “This has been difficult and I’m not in love with the shirts off, but you two were terrific.”
.@J_No24 and @SharnaBurgess get Contemporary for Josh’s MVP brothers! “If the sky we look upon should tumble and fall…” 💫#DWTS : Athletes pic.twitter.com/iLDOewLwO2
— Dancing with the Stars (@DancingABC) May 15, 2018
Scores: Chris/Witney, Chris/Witney, Josh/Sharna, Josh/Sharna. Tie. America’s vote? Unfortunately, Greg had a goof and wrote down a different name, but held up Chris/Witney, so Josh/Sharna won and got the two points.
The results are in!
The first couple who is dancing in the finale is: Adam/Jenna!
Tonya and Sasha are dancing in the finale.
The third couple dancing in the finale is Josh and Sharna.
Unfortunately, Chris/Witney, Mirai/Alan, Jennie and Keo are eliminated. So much for my front-runner. Based on these final three, I’m going to take Adam. Josh is a close second. I don’t think Tonya is going to win it, but it’s going to be close.
