DWTS: Random Balls of Dances / Deliberate Acts of Dancing

Semifinals week, four couples left, one week left. The couples select their dances picking out little mirror balls out from a giant half of a Mirror ball (mistakenly referred to as a hat by Jason: is that what he wears on his dome?). This contrasts with what should be the intentional selection of final-worthy choreographies: the show tonight should be especially tough.

Jason makes a charge to end zone clicking his heels in the Fox Trot: a good attempt. Good flow, it looked good, with the occasional odd arms, in this case it seemed like he was trying for real. But when it came to his Latin dance, The Paso Doble, he looked stiff all over. What was Edyta’s thinking, trying to make him show off extensions that just were not there? The choreographed moves just made him look stiff and awkward. Edyta, having herself thrown around like a rag doll? Perhaps the “aggressiveness” that Len wanted went a little overboard: a little on the Frankenstein dance look, not looking effortless, not pretty, a little scary even. Paraphrasing Jason in his own comments afterward: it seems as if he doesn’t want to dance, but does it as an obligation. Training camp for the Dolphins has started, and DWTS has not ended... is he showing his priorities? I think he fumbled.

Love seeing Stacy Keibler once again giving tips and, okay, so that was weird: Len shaking his hips hotly with Marissa (and Marissa sliding her hands down). Marissa does deserve to be in the finals, great moves in the quick-step, as always a bit on the safe side: occasionally a slow-step instead. That rumba demonstrated what this show is all about. Her development since the show started is amazing! She pulled it off, slowly seductive moves that worked well. Carrie Ann did not care for this number, though; she even thought that it was not up to semifinal standards. Bruno, comparing Marissa to a locomotive—as always a little on the non-PC side—does bring to mind the little engine that could, or maybe not? The competition was hard tonight; her personality may carry her through even when her dancing may not. However, it seemed as if the judges have their own hidden agenda, and want Jason in the finals instead.

Good Viennese for the one armed dancer! He does look scared all the time, his mouth agape even since before his injury. But maybe we were looking for something more risqué in this one: there did not seem to be that much “chemistry” going on. What happened? His Samba, though, was outstanding! No arm troubles here. His scared face once again does make him look a little intimidated…. by Cheryl’s hot moves? or by the possibility of re-injuring his arm? Regardless of his “Mask” expression and oversized dental veneers, shirtless Cristian should make it to the finals! We like it when he talks, but when he dances: can he please keep his mouth closed?

For Kristi it seems as if the Tango is hard emotionally: a dance that has to show seduction between two people that do not care about each other, except in a professional sex-trade way. She has to seduce, but does not care. He has to seduce but does not care. Success in making it come together in the end is hard. Kristi tried, but was not quite convincing enough in this department. However the technical aspect in this dance is so far removed from ice skating that this time you could see some real dance moves from her. Not perfect but close. What we loved about Kristi this week is that she wasn’t ice skating any more (except for that little slide in the jive). Truly this was her best night to show and demonstrate improvement. She is dancing; she is going to the finals.

The votes really count tonight, and we may be wrong for the second time this season, but if all is fair and we want to see some entertaining dances in the final of DWTS, these will include Kristi, Cristian and Marissa toe to toe. Sorry Jason: back to training camp. Jason, when Balanchine said: “I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance,” this is not what he meant.