Recap: Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5 “Hometown Glory, Part 2”

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Getting to know the pros: Mark, Emma, Louis, Karina, Valentin, Lindsay, Derek, Witney, troupe dancer Sasha, Allison, Tony, Sharna Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor
Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Tonight, it’s the pro’s turn. Last night on Dancing With The Stars, we got to learn about the hometowns of our celebrities, and tonight, we get to know more about this season’s professional dancers. (Such a great idea!!)

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Getting to know the pros: Mark, Emma, Louis, Karina, Valentin, Lindsay, Derek, Witney, troupe dancer Sasha, Allison, Tony, Sharna
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

DWTS wastes no time and we get into meeting the lads and ladies who have molded our celebs into dancers in only a few short weeks.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Hayes Grier & Emma Slater 1-855-234-5608
Emma’s Hometown: Tamworth, England
Dancing Quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
Tonight, I learned, Emma has a twin, who Emma says is her other half. I hope we get to meet her and I wonder if she’s a dancer too! In the pre-dance package, Emma taught Hayes a few key British phrases, which was LOL. Their Quickstep was so fun, I love the song, could definitely imagine Emma and her sister dancing around to it, and Hayes is jut to joyful to watch.
Julianne: It was fresh, it was youthful … but I still want to get that booty and smack it under.
Bruno: It was hip, It was cool, it had that joyful energy of youth.
Carrie Ann: It was fresh, but it was classic.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 8, total: 23 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Carlos PenaVega & Witney Carson 1-855-234-5605
Witney’s Hometown: American Fork, Utah
Dancing Cha Cha to “Hound Dog” By Elvis Presley
Witney’s dance is an homage to her lifelong BFFs (and fellow DWTS dancers) Jenna and Linsday. Hound Dog was the first trio that the girls danced together. And Carlos is feeling the strain of learning two dances in the second week. “What the crap, guys. This is nuts!” lamented an exhausted Witney. The judges called Carlos’ dancing “squatty” but I didn’t really see it.
Bruno: Relentless and persistent like a bounty hunter.
Carrie Ann: I wasn’t impressed tonight … You shortened all of your swagger.
Julianne: You have style, you have groove, you have the swagger, you are such a great performer. The squattiness was because your legs were bent.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 7, total: 21 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Gary Busey & Anna Trebunskaya 1-855-234-5607
Anna’s Hometown: Chelyabinsk, Russia
Dancing a Paso Doble to “1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky
How many times are we going to hear Gary say, “From Russia, with love”? Fortunately, we had to hear it only once. Gary was dancing to one of the most powerful orchestral pieces in history, but he lumbered around like a stomping monster. He either forgot a portion of the dance, or decided to stand there for a while and gaze maniacally at the camera.
Carrie Ann: You were a bit out of your element, but everyone was rooting for you.
Julianne: You are having so much fun, It’s infectious.
Bruno: Gary went monumental with imperial splendor.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 5, Julianne: 5, Bruno: 5, total: 15 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Andy Grammer & Allison Holker 1-855-234-5603
Allison’s Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Dancing Contemporary to “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” by Belinda Carslile
Allison is from Utah, but she, her daughter and husband call L.A. home. I am so glad to see Allison do contemporary; it’s her absolute strength. Contemporary isn’t Andy’s strength, but her was a great base for Allison to show her amazing skill.
Julianne: Dancing is hard … it was really beautiful.
Bruno: That was such a difficult routine.
Carrie Ann: I see stress in your eyes, but I felt it tonight. You were in it, well done.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 7, total: 23 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Alexa PenaVega & Mark Ballas 1-855-234-5602
Hometown: England
Dancing Rumba to “Somewhere in Time” by J.J. Barry
Tonight, Mark is dancing one of the last dances that his parents, world-famous dancers, Corky and Shirley Ballas did before they divorced. Mark is really challenging his partner by having Alexa do his mom’s signature move, which looks insanely hard. Somehow, Alexa nailed the move at the end of their really lovely routine.
Bruno: Proper, Romantic, classic, sensual, rumba
Carrie Ann: I love hearing the dancers stories. Finally, we get to learn about our pros! You nailed Shirley’s move, but you were a little stiff.
Julianne: Last night was all about production and sass, and tonight was all about poise and class.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 8, total: 22 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Paula Deen & Louis van Amstel 1-855-234-5611
Louis’ Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dancing Tango to “Get Ready” By The Temptations
Louis is from a tiny and picturesque town, that looks like heaven on Earth. Louis moved to NYC with Broadway dreams and some of his first ballroom students were Karina Smirnoff, Val and Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani. Paula’s dance is sooooo slow, which suits her well.
Carrie Ann: You are so sexy; I’m blown away with your sex appeal.
Julianne: You were giving it and I love it.
Bruno: A red-hot dress for a red-hot Nanna!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 6, total: 18 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough 1-855-234-5604
Derek’s Hometown: Utah and England
Dancing Waltz to “Only a Man” by Johnny Lang
Derek calls two cities home, and feels like when he left Utah for England, he became a man, free of bullying and torment. Bindi wants to please her partner, because he’s so amazing. And their waltz feels so contemporary and ethereal. It was a beautiful touch to have everyone in the audience hold candles and cast an ethereal glow around the ballroom.
Julianne: I just saw two dancers, dancing as one.
Bruno: It was simply beautiful.
Carrie Ann: I’m frustrated because it was stunning, there was something magical until you lifted your feet off the ground and did a lift.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 23 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Kim Zolciak Biermann & Tony Dovolani 1-855-234-5609
Tony’s Hometown: Pristina, Kosovo
Dancing Foxtrot to “Come Home” by One Republic
Tony and his family fled war-torn Kosovo when he was 15 and he used dance as his own personal escape. Kim hopes to do well for her partner in this very special dance. And once again, when Kim is slow, she can be graceful and she is much better.
Bruno: We all like the new Kim. It’s like when you reupholster an old sofa.
Carrie Ann: I think you are a better dancer than you think you are.
Julianne: We love it and we want you to improve each week.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 6, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 6, total: 18 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold 1-855-234-5601
Lindsay’s Hometown: Provo, Utah
Dancing Quickstep to “American Girl” by Elle King
Alek and Linday are such an All-American couple, They’re so wholesome! I just want to put them in a Lifetime movie together about small-town love.
Carrie Ann: Ugh, that was okay … You had a few mess-ups … You’re a power couple.
Julianne: You’re 22, and I forget that because you’re so mature.
Bruno: I’m going to rename you, “Alek the Great.”
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 8, total: 22 out of 30.

Dancing With The Stars, Season 21, Episode 2.5
Image credit: ABC/Adam Taylor

Victor Espinoza & Karina Smirnoff 1-855-234-5613
Karina’s Hometown: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Dancing Rumba to “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys
Karina moves to The U.S. when the Ukrainian government changed. Her family is so proud that she came from nothing and has accomplished so much. She and Victor have their rise to success from humble beginnings in common.
Julianne: Victor, you looked like you were 10 feet tall!
Bruno: 
Viva Victor! You have the commanding presence of a giant.
Carrie Ann: Whoever says “size matters,” never met you.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 7, Julianne: 6, Bruno: 7, total: 20 out of 30.

Nick Carter & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5610
Sharna’s Hometown: Wagga Wagga Australia
Dancing Foxtrot to “I’m Coming Home” by J. Cole
Sharna’s and her Nanny have never been to the US to see her dance because both are on dialysis for kidney failure. Nick Promises Sharna that this won’t be their last dance together. I have a feeling that Nick is a man of his word, because their dance was
Bruno: No questions, Nick is back on track.
Carrie Ann: There was power, there was passion and I felt there was poetry.
Julianne: You got out of your own head and were there for Sharna.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 24 out of 30.

Tamar Braxton & Valentin Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5612
Val’s Hometown: New York City, New York
Dancing the Charleston to “Living in New York City” by Robin Thicke
Val’s parents dropped everything and moved Val and his brother Maks from the Ukraine to NYC to give them a better opportunity. So tonight, he dances in honor of his adopted town. And any dance where Val is shirtless is a great dance. And Hot damn, Tamar’s legs!!!
Carrie Ann: That was the funkiest Charleston I’ve ever seen You nailed it.
Julianne: The connection was so on point!
Bruno: That was so uplifting and so energizing.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 9, total: 25 out of 30.

After their second dance in two days, Tamar and Val are atop of the leaderboard, and Gary and Anna are at the bottom. Gary and Anna are the first couple up for elimination and Victor and Karina quickly join them as the couples in jeopardy. Honestly, I’m okay with either couple going home, although Gary is genuinely entertaining to watch. Thankfully, I’ll have one more week of Gary saying, “from Russia, with Love,” but that means Victor’s race ends here. Victor is a grateful contestant who the cast is genuinely sad to see go. He seems like a terrific guy and I’m glad to have gotten to know him a little better.

Dancing With The Stars Season 21
DWTS Voting Phone Numbers for Season 21
Recap: DWTS Season 21, Episode 2, “Hometown Glory”
Recap: DWTS Season 21, Episode 1 “Season Premiere”
Recap: DWTS Season 21 Special “First Dances”
DWTS Announces Pros for Season 21
DWTS Announces Celebrity Contestants for Season 21

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How to Vote on Dancing with the Stars
For week two, viewers may cast their votes for their favorite couples via phone on Monday and Tuesday night during and up to 60 minutes after the end of “Dancing with the Stars” broadcast in each time zone. Online voting at www.ABC.com and on Facebook is open for 15 hours, beginning from the start of the episode on the East Coast at 8pm ET/5pm PT and closing at 11am ET/8am PT the next day.

1 Comment

  1. Honestly, I’m not sad to see Victor go. He was super cute, but a terrible, terrible, terrible dancer, and Karina had an odd rapport with him – I felt like she was treating him like a little kid. Super enthusiastic, no doubt. But I’d much rather see the others. I’d like to see Paula, Gary, and Kim all go now, in no particular order.

    #TeamTakeDown all the way!

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