Recap: Dancing With The Stars: The Semi-Finals

Dancing With The Stars: The Semi-Finals

When I posted about Monday’s episode earlier in the day, I knew that Dancing with the Stars: The Semi-Finals was going to be emotional. It. Was. Sooooooooooo Emotional. I may have shed more than a few tears, a fact that I freely admit. Other than Disney Week, the Semi-Finals are my favorite week on DWTS.  The stress is high, the talent levels are high, the drama is high, the scores are high. Everything about the night is exponentially greater than it’s been all season.

Despite all of the stress that will be going on this week, it was sweet to see a cheerful bowling-themed routine featuring the Troupe and Pro dancers and the ball-rolling prowess of Mary Ballas. At the end, the four remaining couples were introduced in black and white outfits. This week, the four remaining couples, Riker & Allison, Rumer & Val, Nastia & Derek, and Noah & Sharna have the difficult task of dancing two complete routines. In the opening weeks, there were so many couples that dances were a minute and a half at most.  Now they’re longer and have to me more complicated to earn high scores from the judges.

Let’s get dancing, shall we?!?

Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5610
Dancing a Viennese Waltz to “Earned It” by The Weekend from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack.
Rumer shares her life story and how being the child of two of the world’s most beautiful and powerful actors wasn’t always easy. Her friends and family members were interviewed and her sisters shared that they’ve seen Rumer’s confidence grow more in her time on the how than in the past 4 years. That’s so sweet. I am also extremely close with my sisters, so I love watching siblings who love, accept and support each other.
Rumer’s first dance is a Viennese Waltz. As per usual, her dancing is emotional and passion-filled. She and Val have great chemistry and their dance of seductions was HOT!
Len: You are on a roll… Another great dance.
Julianne: You were a perfect Anastasia. Your mother is right, America is falling in love with you, Rumer.”
Bruno: I never knew the Viennese Waltz could be so steamy!
Carrie Ann: You’re incredibly early and sensual, but you’re ethereal and angelic.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 10, Total 38 out of 40.

Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5605
Dancing a Viennese Waltz to “The Time Of My Life” by David Cook
We get a chance to meet Noah’s adorable who talked lovingly about their wild-child son who was physically gifted, but a bit directionless. When he was 20 years-old, the attacks of September 11th gave his live a purpose and direction and he loved serving in the military. He was sent to Iraq in 2003 and when he was severely injured, his mother said seeing him laying in a hospital bed she said he looked, “Beautiful … because he was alive.” But his injuries broke more than Noah’s body — it crushed his spirit — and her revealed that there were time when he wished he’d died. But through fitness he’s been able to rebuild his life. And even William Shatner and Darius Rucker are fans!!
Dancing With The Stars: The Semi-FinalsEvery time I see Noah dance I’m amazed that he’s still in the competition, but not because I don’t love him but that he astounds me that he’s able to dance and dance well! It’s easy to see what a strong man he was before the accident and who he is not and forget the difficult time in-between. He is an inspiration in everything he does. And after his heart-touching dance, he proposed to his girlfriend Jamie and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!! Forget about the mirror ball, Noah is definitely #winning at life. Even Tom Bergeron needed to dab his eyes!
Julianne: It has been the most enjoyable thing to watch you two dance together.
Bruno: In spite of it all, there is such a naturalness — an honesty— to what you do.
Carrie Ann: This is the most fun I’ve seen you have. No more stiffness!
Len: There was a charm about it.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Len: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total 36 out of 40.

Riker Lynch & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5608
Dancing With The Stars: The Semi-FinalsDancing a contemporary dance to “Work Song” by Hosier
We get to learn about Riker and his siblings. He and his tow-headed siblings were drawn to performing. When he was 16, his family moved from Colorado to LA to follow his performance dreams. He talked about what it meant to him to land the role of “Jeff the Warbler” on Glee.
Allison is a contemporary dance expert, so I’m so thrilled to see her in her element. She’s such an avant-garde choreographer and this season you can really see how inventively she looks at movement. I think tonight’s dance was a performance that could easily be performed by a professional company. Riker didn’t want to dance a contemporary routine because he was afraid of it, but he’s glad that he accepted the challenge.
Bruno: Right on Target. That had such a gutsy physicality.
Carrie Ann: You were vulnerable, you were raw, you were killing it. You were Ahhhh!!!
Len: I love great performances, and that was a great performance!
Julianne: I could not tell who was the pro in that dance!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 40 out of 40.

Nastia Liukin & Sasha Farber (for the injured Derek Hough) 1-855-234-5604
Dancing a quickstep to “Feelin’ Good” by Christina Grimmie
Nastia grew up the child of two Olympians. Her father was an Olympic gymnastic champion “In that little body, a tiger lives.” After a fall at the 2012 Olympic trials that effectively ended her competitive gymnastic career, she realized that there was more to life than gymnastics and she needed to enjoy the journey of life.
Her quickstep was with Sasha and for the first time, Nastia started the dance with a solo! She’s
Julianne: Your connection was so great; You are a dancer, not just a gymnast
Bruno: You were a glowing, glamorous, blonde bombshell
Carrie Ann: That was incredible! That was a show-stopper!!
Len: The secret to quickstep: move fast, but don’t hurry. Well done both of you.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 40 out of 40.

One of the things that I love about it being later in the season is that we get to see more pro-dancing. The Troupe members and pros (once they’ve been eliminated) usually dance shot interstitials, but deeper in the season, we get to see full-length dances. Tonight, we were treated to the first dance that has been prepared for the upcoming summer tour. They danced to Walk the Moon’s “Shut up and Dance.” DWTStour.com.

For the second dance of the night, the judges have each mentored a couple and had full creative control of the routine. They’ve chosen the music, the routine and even the costume and while they’re not judging the team they’ve coached, the pressure is still on.

Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5610
Dancing With The Stars: The Semi-FinalsDancing a Contemporary Fusion to “Swan Lake” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Bruno chose Rumer and Val because he’s chosen a dance that requires passion and they’re the most passionate. And, since it’s ballet, maybe we’ll get to see Val in little more than ballet tights. Passion in performance is Rumer and Val’s strength.
Len: If I had my own private leaderboard, you’d be at the top.
Julianne: Your definitely took on Bruno’s drama. And in the spirit of Bruno, you were like an ugly duckling turning in to a beautiful swan.
Carrie Ann: That was genius … but a little mad.
CoachBruno: When you have talent, you have to push it. They pushed it and played the part beautifully. I feel so good now.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: XX, Total 30 out of 30, for a night’s total of 68 out of 70.

Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5605
Dancing a Paso Doble to an unknown instrumental song.
Carrie Ann spent the week with Noah and Sharna helping them with a Paso Doble that is both powerful and delicate. His dance is a metaphor for Noah and how he has overcome disability and depression to triumph. And of course, Carrie Ann cries whenever she talks about Noah and his internal strength. After watching that dance, I honestly have chills and tears in my eyes. That was incredible and totally powerful.
Julianne: I have chills from head to toe.
Bruno: No one can get you down. You’re the top bull, taking down the herd.
Len: Tonight is the fight for the finals and you cam out and gave us a battle!
Coach Carrie Ann: Every week, they just keep pushing and pushing the boundaries. You killed it; you gave your soul.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: XX, Len: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 30 out of 40, for a night’s total of 66 our of 70.

Riker Lynch & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5608
Dancing a contemporary tango to a remix of “Fur Elise” by Ludwig can Beethoven
It seems natural that Julianne would pick her cousin Riker to work with and Riker and Allison asked Julianne to dance in it. Julianne says she’s the old classic version and Allison is the new, fresh remix. I liked their laser tango
Bruno: You are a leading man. Those two girls were dancing like helllcats you were dancing with them like a lion tamer.
Carrie Ann: Not only can you handle a champion, you dance like a champion
Len: Riker, you’ve become a triple threat.
Coach Julianne: I couldn’t be more proud of these two. I wanted them to strip it down and show America what these two are capable of.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: 10, Julianne: XX, Bruno: 10, total 30 out of 30, total 70 out of 70.

Nastia Liukin & Derek Hough 1-855-234-5604
Dancing a quickstep to “Fall For You” by Leela James
Len is their coach and for the first time, Len is being judged for more than his judging. Len looks back at his life and still wishes that he was still able to dance. Derek will be channeling young Len. And hoping to bring youth back to the body that has betrayed him. And Len has asked to dance at the end of the routine.
At the end of the dance, Carrie Ann was crying, The crowd was on it’s feet and we were treated to Nastia looking delicate and vulnerable.
Carrie Ann: Wow. What an incredible semi-finals! That was a moment I will remember forever. Thank you.
Julianne: This night has been really special … I think that was the most special dance I’ve ever seen.
Bruno: Sublime refinement and skill.
Coach Len: it was lovely and I was so, so happy with the wonderful vocal. Derek, you are what dance is about.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Len: XX, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total 30 out of 30, total 70 out of 70.

I’m exhausted from crying. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be equally emotional when we say goodbye to one of our couples. All have been worthy competitors. To keep us from getting too weepy eyed, we’ll also be treated to a performance from Flo Rida who will perform his hit “GDFR,” the cast of the Disney Channel Original Movie, Teen Beach 2. Stars from the movie including Ross Lynch, John DeLuca, Jordan Fisher, Kent Boyd, Raymond Cham, Jr., Will Loftis, Jessica Lee Keller and Mollee Gray will perform the high energy jazz number “Gotta Be Me.” Almay will also sponsor a special tribute to women in the U.S. Military which will be choreographed by Mandy Moore and feature the Pro and Troupe dancers.

DWTS: episode 8a results “Double Elimination”
DWTS: episode 8 “America’s Choice”
DWTS: episode 7a “10th Anniversary Special”
DWTS: episode 7 “Era Week”
DWTS: episode 6 “Spring Break”
DWTS: episode 5 “Disney Week”
DWTS: episode 4 “Most Memorable Year”
DWTS: episode 3 “Latin Night”
DWTS: episode 2 “#MyJamMonday”
DWTS: episode 1 “Premiere”
Interview: Patti LaBelle
Interview: Derek Hough
7 Questions with Derek Hough
7 Questions with Allison Holker
7 Questions with Tony Dovolani
7 Questions with Erin Andrews