Recap: Dancing With The Stars “America’s Choice” Season 20, Episode 8

Tonight on Dancing With the Stars, it’s America’s Choice as each couple’s song and dance style has been selected for them by the show’s viewers. At the end of tomorrow night’s results show, two couples will be eliminated.

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America has creative control of the couples’ first dance, asking fans throughout the week via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for their input on wardrobe, set design and visual effects. Each couple will perform two routines including an individual original dance and a trio dance. For the trio dance, couples had the opportunity to pick an eliminated pro or troupe member to enhance their performance and highlight the strengths of each star. The trio dance styles include the Jive, Paso Doble, Samba and Salsa.

Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5605
Dancing the tango To “Geronimo” by Sheppard
Last week, Noah earned his first ten from Carrie Ann, who screamed “What? What?!? What!!! That was insane!” and a 36 out of 40, so he’s riding high. America selected for he and sexy Sharna to wear white. I love the use of the giant drums, that we first saw last year during Derek and Bethany’s Paso Doble.
Len: I would have like a little more intensity.
Julianne: America’s Choice was right on….What I did love, is there were dynamics.
Bruno: The white valiant knight, he takes on any challenge and goes for it.
Carrie Ann: What’s so impressive, is it was elegant and you continue to push boundaries.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 31 out of 40.

Chris Soules & Witney Carson 1-855-234-5602
Dancing a contemporary routine to “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith
I think that Chris is still shocked to be in this competition and frankly, so am I. Chris and Witney sweetly surprised a fan who tweeted that they should do a dark routine with a lot of candles by showing up at her office. Contemporary is a great choice for dancers and non-dancers alike because a lot of the movements are jerky and the feet are often flexed. The dance was pretty and as long as Chris is bare-chested and throws his partner around like she’s a feather, I can’t complain.
Julianne: You win the award for most improved this season.
Bruno: When you reach, reach with your whole body, and return with your whole body.
Carrie Ann: By Far your best dance. Your lifts were astounding
Len: I’ve bin a bit of a meanie with you, but I knew it was in you. Your best dance by far.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Len: 8, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 8, total 34 out of 40.

Riker Lynch & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5608
Dancing a Viennese Waltz to “What Now” by Rihanna
Last week, Riker and Allison earned the first 10 of the season for Len. And after this week’s moving and powerful performance, I hope they get another one. Allison, as usual, was gorgeous. And their dance evoked a lot of emption, sadness, and power. It was really moving.
Bruno: You were like a raging torrent of emotions! Wow!!
Carrie Ann: The Question is: Are you semi-final worthy. I say, “Hell Yeah!”
Len: It was big, it was bold, there was clarity of movement.
Julianne: Being vulnerable shows your true self, and when you show your true self — that’s strength.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 19, Len: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 39 out of 40.

Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson 1-855-234-5609
Dancing a contemporary dance to “Champagne Kisses” by Jessie Ware
Robert and Kym went out on the street and the word on the street is that people want Robert and Kym to kiss. And Robert finally (kinda) admitted that he and Kym like each other. And their dance was nice (and included a kiss) but I don’t know, I personally though it was like a template for a contemporary dance: put the guy in an open flowy shirt, put the woman in a nightgown. Tousle hair. Dance. I didn’t feel the raw sexuality that I’d hoped and it just left me a little cold. We’ll see what the judges saw.
Carrie Ann: Tonight, I thought that kiss upped your game tonight.
Len: You didn’t need a wind machine up there; you’ve got a big fan in me.
Julianne: I think that you upped your game tonight. It was magic.
Bruno: Free to me. Light soft, gentle. It was like watching a deodorant commercial.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 8, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 8, total 33 out of 40

Nastia Liukin & Derek Hough (& Sasha Farber) 1-855-234-5604
Dancing a Paso Doble to “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy
A fan suggested they do a Gladiator-style dance and when they FaceTimed her, she asks them to be dirty. Their dance was fantastic and not only am I obsessed with the knee-high boots that she wore, but I think she and Sasha did one of the few lifts where the woman lifted the man (and she flipped him over her back!) Nastia excels in giving good face. When she gives that blue steel glare,  you can tell that her competitive fires burn in her belly.
Len: I would have like a little more Paso Doble.
Julianne: Roman Goddess, I thought you were a little off time, but you were sassy.
Bruno: You three together put out more dirty looks of defiance.
Carrie Ann: There was a little bit of bumping into each other.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Len: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total 36 out of 40.

Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5610
Dancing a Rhumba to “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Doris Day
Last week, Val felt that he’d let Rumer down and taken the fun out of her dance experience. Rumer and Val asked America and they picked for them to do a classic Rhumba. Rumer looks absolutely perfect in red and the side-swept hair is really becoming.
Julianne: I’m so passionate about the way you dance and you dance together.
Bruno: Pitch perfect and refined, high class Rhumba.
Carrie Ann: Isn’t love grand?!? When you lead with love look what happens.
Len: This was a simple … There’s no “Perhaps…” it’s great.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 40 out of 40.

After a break, the couples return with a little help from either a troupe dancer or an eliminated pro to dance as a trio.

Up first, are Noah Galloway, Sharna Burgess and Emma Slater dancing a salsa.
They’re using the five arms that they have between them to do some sally salsa arm tricks.
Julianne: Hot, Hot, Hot!! If anyone can handle those two girls, it’s you!
Bruno: I loved those living arm sculptures, and I loved the armogrophy.
Carrie Ann: Two girls, one arm. You make it possible.
Len: Let spoke a lot without saying much, but he loved it.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Len: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 32 out of 40 for a grand total 63 our of 80 for the night.

Chris Soules, Witney Carson and Lindsay Arnold are dancing a paso doble.
Last season, Witney and Lindsay did a paso with Alfonso and it was amazing.  How will it be with a dancer who is a little less…amazing? The set of Chris’ trio makes me feel like I’m on the set of Shakira’s “Whenever, Wherever” video, but sadly, it’s Chris stomping and writhing around on the floor instead of Shakira. Chris admits that two dances in one week was a huge challenge, but that he could have done better.
Julianne: Your intensity was there, but your butt was going int he wrong direction.
Bruno: That was so post-apocalyptic.
Carrie Ann: After the contemporary I was “Yeah!” and after this I was like “Ugh.”
Len:You got so wrapped up in remembering the steps, that you forgot to bring out the flair!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total 30 out of 40 for a grand total 64 out of 80 for the night.

Riker Lynch, Allison Holker and Brittany Cherry are dancing a jazz routine. I love that we get a chance to see Riker dancing like Riker. His breakdancing background really soars whenever he gets to do fast numbers like Jazz.
Bruno: That’s a mover and shaker! Off the block, leading from the front, catch me if you can, girls.
Carrie Ann: 2 snaps, 3, 4, snaps… 18 snaps.  You hammered, hammered that number!
Len:It’s happy hour on DWTS, you’re happy, we’re happy, we’re all happy.
Julianne: Now that was a Jazz routine! You were leading from the front.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 9, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 19, total 39 out of 40 for a grand total 78 out of 80 for the night.

Next, Robert Herjavec, Kym Johnson and Jenna Johnson dance a samba. Robert is in heaven dancing with two beautiful women, but he’s get’s a little overwhelmed during the performance and loses his place a few times.  He’s still so enjoyable to watch, even if the dance wasn’t perfect.
Carrie Ann: You handled those two women beautifully.
Len:This was a little bit on the messy side.
Julianne: This was messy, but you looked sharp.
Bruno:Rrrroberto, you can’t beat Italian style.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Len: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 7, total 29 out of 40 for a grand total 62 out of 80 for the night.

Nastia Liukin, Derek Hough and Sasha Farber are dancing a jive trio. I hope that Derek’s still-healing toe and ankle are okay. He’s not the type of dancer to do something halfway.
After a frustrating week of practice, the dance was flawless and was one of the most imaginative routines I’ve ever seen.  It was like watching a fantastic music video, but it was live.
Len: That. Was. Fan-tastic!!!
Julianne: That was the most creative trio I’ve ever seen.
Bruno: Total Genius from the first to he last frame.
Carrie Ann: I’m baffled, it was beyond brilliant.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 40 out of 40 for a grand total 76 out of 80 for the night.

Our last trio for the night is Rumer Willis, Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Artem Chigvintsev dancing a Paso Doble. Rumer wants her partners to dance shirtless, but they joke that they’re not just pieces of meat. But let’s be hones, they’re pieces of sexy meat. And sadly, they’re not shirtless; the men wear bolero jackets. Rumer is ravishing in red again and she looks a lot like her mom.
Julianne: Gimmicks are outweighed by pure dancing and that’s what you did.
Bruno: You’re hotter than Seville in mid-August. It suits you, going down the classic route.
Carrie Ann: You’ve been great since day 1, but tonight you were superior.
Len: Everyone has danced fantastic and you were brilliant.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 40 out of 40 for a grand total 80 out of 80 for the night.

Tomorrow, tune in to a Tuesday night DWTS results show where Josh Groban will perform “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” Carly Rae Jepsen will perform her hit “I Really Like You” Also, catch a special contemporary dance performance by Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound featuring everyone’s favorite Dance Mom prodigy, Maddie Ziegler.

1 Comment

  1. Great Semi-final! Kym & Robert North America sees a special connection between you both! Plz keep it going past this show & update the public (take control!) Rumer or Riker deserve to win the trophy & we’ll want more. If Natasia wins—very boring & not as deserved in spite of Derek’s horrific injuries. Praying for a speedy healing Derek!

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