Photo: Eric McCandless/Disney
If you do not follow the Dancing with the stars world on social media, first of all, great choice, don’t change it, social media has really zapped a lot of the fun out of the series. Second, you may have been a little confused listening to “Dedication Night” only to find vague references to Val Chmerkovskiy being “away” this week and an “unusual situation” that led to Jenna Dewan being paired with Alan Bersten. DWTS didn’t want to dip even a toe into the speech that tormented him last week — he didn’t even use the word “suspended” — after Val posted a social post referencing Will Smith’s Oscar slap regarding Carrie Ann Inaba’s criticism of his wife, Jenna Johnson, and Harry Shum Jr.’s samba during “Super Bowl Night.” There must be a thousand better ways to support your wife, man. And say what you want about Carrie Ann’s judgment (personally, I think this panel desperately needs her), but I can only imagine the online vitriol that was thrown at her this week, and she came out and was an absolute pro.
DWTS should count his blessings that all of this happened before “Dedication Night,” the theme that perhaps best encapsulates the show’s greatest strengths – it’s a night full of joy, emotion, and vulnerability. More than any other week, it focuses on each celebrity’s story and, although it pains me to use the word, journey. You can’t get distracted by scandal when you’re sobbing to dance, can you?
Contemporary // “Bloodline”, by Mon Rovia
Our Paralympian dedicates his dance to his mother, Bahar (she joins Ezra and Daniella on the dance floor), who gave up her acting career to care for him and made sure from the start that he never felt less than because of his disability. I immediately started crying. Ezra talks about how his mother always preached by walking into every room with her head held high and her chest out to “let them know you’ve arrived” and damn if Daniella doesn’t exactly put that move into this gorgeous contemporary. Daniella choreographing contemporary choreography is always a treat, but this one is truly breathtaking. Daniella jumps on Ezra’s prosthetic, Ezra does some really cool jumps, and it all ends with him carrying his mother to the I love you forever. It’s so emotional as our guest judge and former pro Kym Johnson comes into the ballroom and quickly hands out the top 10s of the season.
Carrie Ann: 9 // Derek: 9 // Kym: 10 // Bruno: 9
Total score: 37/40
Viennese Waltz // “(You Don’t Know) How Happy I Am,” by Nancy Wilson
The moment when Jan dances off-screen and Tatiana extends her hand only to our esteemed host and Tatiana’s ex. Fresh Prince TV brother Alfonso Ribeiro to catch it, I let out an audible sob. They seemed so happy to dance together and have the opportunity to honor their late TV father, James Avery. This is the kind of shit we get to Dancing with the stars to see, okay? Aside from also singing for this performance, Tatyana is getting better and better every week. She is by far the best emotional of the group and Jan knows exactly how to take this into account in her choreography. Bruno said it was like she was “floating” on the dance floor. Derek calls it “a vision.” Kym notes a few too many rises and falls for the Viennese Waltz, but finds it beautiful nonetheless. Tatiana and Jan get their best score of the season. Should it have been higher? Yeah, probably, but we’ll take what we can get.
Carrie Ann: 8 // Derek: 8 // Kym: 8 // Bruno: 8
Total score: 32/40
Paso Doble // “I’m Shipping to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys
The Irish flag as a skirt? A dancer from Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance named Lucky, are you kidding me? It is Dancing with the starsthe first Irish Paso Doble and it is amusing. I mean, you knew Mark Ballas was going to eat a paso at the Dropkick Murphys. The man lives for the theater (compliment). It’s a little chaotic at times, especially when Maura and Mark dance around Lucky, and while the judges praise Maura’s attack, I actually think her moves could have been sharper here for maximum impact. She seems more unsure of herself than we’ve seen in a while, but Maura still does her homeland proud.
Carrie Ann: 8 // Derek: 9 // Kym: 9 // Bruno: 9
Total score: 35/40
Quickstep // “LOVE”, by Nat King Cole
The Banana dedicates her fast step to her mother Laura, who is a special education teacher and who starts crying as soon as she arrives at rehearsals. I feel so seen. The magic of “Dedication Night” is seeing in real time how having a loved one join the ride forces people to be at the top of their game: they don’t want to disappoint anyone and the pressure is really on to perform. This is by far Jackson’s best dance. He looks so comfortable and relaxed for the first time. The judges want him to really work on his body and Kym proves once again why she is the best guest judge on this show – she provides such helpful advice and criticism in such a disarming way. Give him a permanent place, fools!
Carrie Ann: 8 // Derek: 8 // Kym: 8 // Bruno: 8
Total score: 32/40
Contemporary // “Breathe Me”, by Sia
I knew that Amber doing a contemporary choreography by Pasha telling the story of her mental health journey – and paying tribute to her younger sister Brooke, who saved her life – was going to take me there alone, but I didn’t expect it! Power! Vulnerability! Storytelling! The judges continue to use the word “raw” to describe this performance that details the darkness that took over Amber’s life as a teenager, and how her sister helped her overcome it, and really, how else can you describe it? Everyone sobs after that…well, sobs until Julianne has to make an awkward (or so she admits) transition to the announcement that Pacha won. People “Sexiest professional man” competition. Daniella is particularly excited about these results. As usual, this show is a whirlwind of emotion.
Carrie Ann: 10 // Derek: 9 // Kym: 10 // Bruno: 9
Total score: 38/40
Viennese Waltz // “Unchained Melody”, by the Righteous Brothers
Apparently Alan only replaced Val on Friday night, which makes what they achieved all the more astonishing. Sure, Jenna is a pro and Alan is a great partner, but chemistry takes time to build and these two still dance as a unit Monday night. Jenna’s tribute to her mother Nancy is another winning performance, and it’s easy to see how Bruno is right when he praises Jenna’s quality in her more lyrical dances. That rotation they do when Jenna holds his ankle and drags his foot across the floor? I watched it five times.
Carrie Ann: 10 // Derek: 9 // Kym: 9 // Bruno: 9
Total score: 37/40
Foxtrot // “Stop This Train”, by John Mayer
On the heels of what must have been a trying week for both of them, but especially for Jenna, Harry performs his best dance. Despite the hubbub of last week, it’s clear that Jenna took to heart the criticism that she didn’t have enough dance style in each routine, as it’s just a stunning straight foxtrot. Harry dedicates it to his wife Shelby (also a dancer and actress), who should definitely be there. DWTS next season, but Jenna also incorporates Harry’s parents and his daughter into the routine. This is the story of his life on the dance floor and he has never been more graceful. In what is clearly mending fences, Carrie Ann specifically praises Jenna’s choreography, and you know what, that’s the kind of healing we need right now. Go on and call me a regular old Derek Hough, I guess, sitting here crying with joy and love. Dancing with the stars brings, I deserve it.
Carrie Ann: 9 // Derek: 9 // Kym: 9 // Bruno: 9
Total score: 36/40
Viennese Waltz // “Piano Man”, by Billy Joel
It’s Papa Pete from Papa! Connor dedicates his dance to his father, who has been battling lymphoma for a long time, and says things like “It’s amazing to have a father, but to have a remarkable one?” and everyone cries again. Once again, the magic of “Dedication Night” happens and Connor performs at his highest level to date. You would think that dancing directly in front of your father would make you more nervous, but Connor has never looked so calm and in control on the dance floor. Kym wants him to work on creating more space in the frame to help keep it consistent and Carrie Ann likes to make it clear that Connor and Rylee take the notes given to them seriously. It’s all very sweet and these two finally get the elusive eight they’ve been looking for.
Carrie Ann: 8 // Derek: 8 // Kym: 8 // Bruno: 8
Total score: 32/40
Contemporary // “Supermarket Flowers”, by Ed Sheeran
Fry us emotionally, why not? Tyler dedicates this dance to his mother, who died suddenly of a brain…
Gn entert
