Promoting Injury
If you were paying close attention during the opening introductions (when the teams descended the staircases flanking the stage), you would have noticed that there was a celebrity missing. Misty May-Treanor was injured during Friday’s rehearsals, so was not dancing this week. Instead of telling us what was wrong with Misty, the show kept tactlessly promoting it, promising to reveal what the injury was and what it meant for the competition, as if someone’s injury was a headlining event. Unlike the show, we’re not going to do that so we’ll tell you right off the bat that she tore her Achilles tendon and when she finally came out in the end, she was in a cast and on crutches. Obviously, she had to drop out of the competition. Misty revealed that she would be undergoing surgery this week, and that she doesn’t think it’ll impact her volleyball career. She said she was sad about leaving the competition, and both she and her partner, Maksim Chermkovskiy, said some sweet things about each other. Misty vowed that she was going to “get healthy and come back and do the jive.”
Thinking Through Her Dance
First to perform was Susan Lucci and her partner, Tony Dovalani. Tony revealed that when she dances, Susan needs to “listen to her heart, not her head.” He thinks she tends to over think things because she’s such a perfectionist. Rehearsing their Jive, Susan was having trouble with the kick flicks in the dance so Tony took her to practice with the Rockettes, who told her that kick flicks should be like “kicking off your shoes.” Susan said she hoped that when she performed, “sparks fly.” Sparks didn’t quite fly as she was still dancing like she was overanalyzing things, and her kick flicks were off, not having that bounce. Carrie Ann said that the dance as “a bit timid.” She noted that Susan was a “powerful and strong” woman and yet when she made eye contact with the judges, her eyes would drop, which “bummed [Carrie Ann] out.” Bruno said it was “really, really good” and that Susan was “going the right way” in terms of improving, but the dance “looked a little unsteady.” Len said she did a “good job” and has “kept a constant standard throughout” with her dancing. The judges all gave Susan 7’s for a total of 21.
Old and Traditional
Lance Bass and his partner, Lacey Schwimmer, noted that they’ve been dinged by Len in the past 3 dances because they haven’t stuck to the traditional routines, so for their Viennese Waltz, they were going to be completely traditional, “no tricks, no gimmicks.” To test out their new style, they sought out an audience similar to Len – seniors at a retirement center. The seniors loved their dance, although one did advise Lance to “tone down [his] hairdo.” Their dance was very traditional, and very nice, although the footwork was a little sloppy. Carrie Ann said it was “brilliant” and that they managed to “blend the traditional and contemporary” well. Bruno said it lacked the “freedom” that they normally dance with and that he “likes to see the sparkle” between them on the dance floor. Len said it was “flat-footed, the posture was poor, the hold was poor, [but the] musicality was great [and there was] good content.” Overall, it was “best dance he’s seen” from them. Bruno and Len gave Lance 7’s, while Carrie Ann gave them an 8 for a total of 22.
Fast Feet
Maurice Greene and his partner Cheryl Burke were a little stung by the criticisms to their dancing last week but Maurice said that while it hurt his confidence, he was going to “let it go” and focus on his Jive. While he was once the “fastest man alive,” Maurice was oddly having trouble moving his feet quickly for the jive, so Cheryl made him do some drills, like running through tires and skipping rope. Maurice seemed to get it because he said his “legs were movin’ and my feet are groovin’” Their dance was very energetic and fun, and his feet certainly were groovin’ at times but at others, they were a little off. Carrie Ann said Maurice was a “wild, untamed beast” but for this dance, it worked for him. She thought it was “fantastic.” Bruno said that while the dance was “a little rough around the edges” it had “energy [and] a sense of fun.” Len said it was “really well done” and “fast, bright.” Maurice got 8’s from all the judges for a total of 24.
Dancing Blind
Rocco DiSpirito and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, were working on his musicality this week and to do that, Karina “took away one of [Rocco’s] senses” by making him dance blindfolded. She hoped that this would help him to feel the music. Dancing the Viennese Waltz, Rocco joked that he hoped to give a “blinding performance.” He seemed to have improved, but there was still an awkwardness to his dancing. Carrie Ann noted that he’s the “most improved” and that he has a “likeable puppy quality.” Bruno said he “should have kept the blindfold on,” and that the dance was supposed to be like a “light mousse [but instead] it was mashed potatoes.” Len said he “didn’t mind it” and that overall it was a “pretty good job” although Rocco did “lose timing.” Carrie Ann and Len gave Rocco 7’s, while Bruno gave him a 6 for a total of 20.
A Big Man’s Soft Side
Warren Sapp and his partner, Kym Johnson, were still thrilled about their performance last week, but vowed to get a 9 from the judges. Dancing the Viennese Waltz, Warren said he needed to show that “big fella can be smooth” and that the audience was about to see “the softer side of Sapp.” The dance was very nice, with some good rise-and-fall action. Carrie Ann said she was “blown away” by his ability to “embody character of these dances.” Bruno said it was “big, smooth, beautiful” and that Warren has the “uncanny ability to get the character of dance.” Len said he was “giving skinny people a real run for their money.” Bruno and Len gave Warren 8’s, while Carrie Ann gave him that coveted 9, for a total of 25.
