Recap: Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers” Season 21, Episode 9

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

This week, the six remaining Dancing with the Stars couples perform two show-stopping dances. For their first routine of the night, the couples will perform to a dance style not yet performed this season.Later in the show, the couples will be formed into teams to perform a size-by-side dance. The team routines were drawn from famous live productions around the country (and $$$$ponsorship tie-ins): The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, Broadway’s Chicago and Royal Caribbean’s We Will Rock You.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

From the get-go we knew that this wasn’t a normal night, as Tom Bergeron announced that prior to the show, Tamar Braxton had been rushed to the hospital due to illness. It’s unknown whether she’ll return in time to perform live and stay in the competition.

At the end of the night, one couple will be eliminated but first … let’s dance!

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold 1-855-234-5601
Dancing Salsa to “Back It Up” by Prince Royce f. Jennifer Lopez + Pitbull
Alek is feeling the pressure to bring the sexy. He’s calling himself not “camera ready” and had to suffer the indignation of having his chest waxed by several DWTS back-up dancers. Kinda gross. There wasn’t a ton of salsa moves, but we were treated to Lindsay’s amazing legs and plenty of lifts highlighting Alek’s incredible strength.
Julianne: That wax paid off … That was a great way to start the show.
Bruno: You’ve been pimped! And it works.
Carrie Ann: I am proud of you… you looked us in the eyes and that takes balls.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 24 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Alexa PenaVega & Mark Ballas 1-855-234-5602
Dancing a Contemporary to “Make it Rain” by Ed Sheeran
Last week, Alexa was frustrated by a slip during her powerful tribute to David and Goliath, but this week she’s putting it past her with a highly personal dance. She remembers doing a film where the producers told her she was fat and because of it, she struggled with bulimia for six years. This week, she’s sharing her struggle and her ultimate triumph.
Bruno: That was a dark psychodrama with images out of American Horror Story. It was scarily brilliant.
Carrie Ann: That was more than dance; that was healing.
Julianne: Where vulnerability comes in, strength is born.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total: 30 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Carlos PenaVega & Witney Carson 1-855-234-5605
Dancing an Argentine Tango to “What Do You Mean” by Justin Bieber
The stress is on- last week, Carlos and Witney were in jeopardy, and this week Witney is facing mental block. But Carlos is ready to work. And that dance was great You can tell thy put in the work. It was a really clean routing
Carrie Ann: I’m struggling with it. It was good, it was clean, it was nice… but it didn’t touch me. It lacked impact.
Julianne: Argentine tango is quick and fast, but it lost the passion.
Bruno: You have to be careful of your feet, they are floppy.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total: 27 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough 1-855-234-5604
Dancing a Viennese Waltz to “Roses and Violets” by Alexander Jean
This week, Derek is feeling mental exhaustion too. It’s a lot of choreography for these pros! I love Bindi’s dress this week; the material is really interesting. It was a genius move to have her wear a blindfold, it was really brave, but should we
Julianne: You’re making me shake too!
Bruno: It was a thing of pure beauty, my darling.
Carrie Ann: When I watch you dance, I feel like I’m watching a sunrise.
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 19, total: 30 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Tamar Braxton & Val Chmerkovskiy 1-855-234-5612
Dancing Contemporary to “Wicked Game” by James Vincent McMorrow
This week, Tamar is sick and has been hospitalized, but they still show their prepared package and the judges will score the dance based on their dress rehearsal performance. Tamar’s training package showed how involved her schedule is, it’s no surprise that she got ill (Val says it’s pneumonia). It was a primal dance but since it wasn’t a real performance, it was lacking some of the polish that I’m sure Tamar would have given.
Julianne: The concept was great, and if it were live, she would have brought it.
Bruno: The concept was great, but there were a few mistakes.
Carrie Ann: It’s a wicked shame
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 7, Bruno: 7, total: 22 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Nick Carter & Sharna Burgess 1-855-234-5610
Dancing a Quickstep to “A Cool Cat In Town” by Tape Five
Last week, Nick was a perfect proud papa and dedicated his beautiful performance to his wife and their unborn (and announced that night!) son. This week, Nick is a Gangster-chic, if a 1920’s boyband was depicted on Broadway and Sharna is a sexy Jessica Rabbit. And it was great to see a lot of BSB
Bruno: that was a love poem, perfectly visualized by dance.
Carrie Ann: When you were out of hold, it was straight off of Broadway.
Julianne: I saw Mason Detroit from “Guys and Dolls” dancing with Jessica Rabbit!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 10, total: 28 out of 30.

After a break and a wardrobe change, it’s time for round 2. The Couples are pairing up to dance
The teams will dance to songs from the following shows:

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Alek & Lindsay and Carlos & Witney dancing a Paso Doble to “We Will Rock You” by Queen, from the Royal Caribbean show of the same name.
In addition to seeing the show, the foursome got to experience a lot of the onboard activities. My favorite part of the dance was the end, where Alex and
Bruno: Boys, Paso Doble is all about balls; you cannot back off when you’re facing each other.
Carrie Ann: That’s a big song and I don’t think you filled the shoes of that song.
Julianne: Wow, that lift was amazing!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 8, Julianne: 8, Bruno: 8, total: 24 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Alexa & Mark and Bindi & Derek dancing a Charleston to “All That Jazz/Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago
The two teams got to head to New York City to see the Broadway production of Chicago, and with the addition of travel, Derek is still feeling the time crunch. And Mark and Derek (who are BFF in real life) butted heads. The dance was a terrific amount of fun. Bindi and Alexa looked fantastic in their respective roles and it was as good as the movie and Broadway play.
Bruno: The Fosse posse rules! Another Oscar Nomination. Style! Feel! Right on the money.
Carrie Ann: You guys are a perfect team. Team, team teamwork! Team, team teamwork! Yaaaaaay!!!
Julianne: A perfect Velma! A perfect Roxy! I wish I was in that number with you!
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 10, Julianne: 10, Bruno: 10, total: 30 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

Nick & Sharna and Tamar & Val dancing a Rumba to “Hey Jude” from the Las Vegas production of the Cirque du Soleil show, The Beatles LOVE
Before Tom ran the preproduction package, cameras captured Tamar arriving at the studio. So apparently she has minutes to prepare for her performance and she needs to get dressed, STAT! The dance is very production-heavy and involves real members of the Cirque cast and props (shudder). I think that Nick and Tamar’s required partnering was a little tame, but mad props to Tamar for showing up and performing. The dance was.
Bruno: It was like a psychedelic dream. It was a celebration of what that magic show is about… love.
Carrie Ann: I have nothing but respect for you.
Julianne: What we all just witnessed is that the Beatles were trying for; it’s all about love
Judges Scores: Carrie Ann: 9, Julianne: 9, Bruno: 9, total: 27 out of 30.

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

After all of this week’s drama, we still have to say goodbye to someone.
Bindi & Derek are immediately revealed to be safe as are Nick & Sharna. Alek and Lindsay are surprised to be safe and Tamar nearly faints when she & Val are declared “safe.”

Dancing With the Stars “Showstoppers”
Image Credit: ABC/ Adam Taylor

That means that one of our adorable married cuties, Alexa or Carlos and (their respective partners), has been eliminated. During the break, a tearful Alexa weeps, “This is awful.” Carlos tells her, ‘It’s what they want, let them have it.” Whose heart is not breaking right now? When Alexa is eliminated, Carlos cries, “I wished it had been me!” to which Alexa says, “I want this for you, you’re going to be great.” It stinks that Alexa is going home, but she’s proud to be going out on a night when she achieved perfection. What a class act and a lovely couple.

How to Vote
This week (week nine), viewers may cast their votes for their favorite couples via phone on Monday during and up to 60 minutes after the end of the Dancing with the Stars broadcast in each time zone. Online voting at www.ABC.com and on Facebook at https://apps.facebook.com/votedwts/ is open for 24 hours, beginning from the start of each episode on the East Coast at 8:00pm, ET/5:00pm, PT and closing at 8:00pm, ET/5:00pm, PT on Tuesday evenings.

Find Season 21 voting phone numbers here!

Dancing With The Stars > ABC > Mondays at 8pm ET/PT