by Gina Scarpa

 

On last night's Dancing With The Stars, the final four couples danced their way through the semi-final round. There was a whole lot of Argentine tango, the first of a few perfect scores this season, and a cha-cha-challenge!

 

Couple: Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff
Style: Argentine tango
Scores: 8 + 9 + 8 = 25
Karina came up with some clever choreography for this piece, and also used chairs and a streetlight. Ralph looked much healthier this week after battling through an injury last week. Visually, it was really nice but lacked a bit of emotion/heat that the tango needs in order to be totally successful. Bruno and Carrie Ann are hoping to see more of the "Latin lover" in Ralph before the end of the season.

 

Couple: Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Style: Viennese waltz
Scores: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27
Am I the only one who thinks that Kirstie and Maks could have their own reality show? They are absolutely hilarious together in the rehearsal studio - and have lots of drama, too! After all that fighting, they hit the dance floor to perform a really impressive waltz. Kirstie was light on her feet and she and Maks have a really great (and sometimes, odd) connection. Len thought she'd cling to Maks for dear life but she was light on her feet and did very well.

 

Couple: Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas
Style: Argentine tango
Scores: 9 + 9 + 10 = 28
How Chelsea and Mark didn't end up with a perfect 30 is beyond me. The routine was difficult, executed well, and full of connection. Week after week, Chelsea looks more like a mature ballroom dancer and not a kid from The Disney Channel. Carrie Ann and Len were unnecessarily picky, saying that her leg movements weren't sharp. I'd like to see one of the other couples pull off this exact same routine. I call BS on these scores!

 

Couple: Hines Ward and Kym Johnson
Style: Argentine tango
Scores: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30
Now that Hines and Kym have made it to the semi-finals, they're looking to step up their game with more complicated routines and tricks/lifts. During rehearsal though, Kym takes a terrible fall and injures her neck. She clearly and luckily recovers in time to practice the tango because their routine was pretty spectacular! Bruno (who is crazy but I love him) said that every emotion was out there for the taking, while Carrie Ann gets emotional over how impressed she is with the pair. Give them that perfect score!

 

Couple: Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff
Style: Salsa
Scores: 8 + 7 + 8 = 23
Once I got beyond in the insanely silly costumes they were wearing, I was able to focus on the dance. Ralph has always been disciplined and committed from the beginning - in terms of learning the steps and the feel of the routine. He has struggled with Latin ballroom, though, and this performance is no different. He had a tough time finding the rhythm and Len and Bruno weren't kind in their feedback. At least they had Carrie Ann, who enjoyed it and said it was the most fun she's seen Ralph have.

 

Couple: Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Style: Paso doble
Scores: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27
The paso doble is really perfect for Kirstie and Maks because they both bring a ton of intensity to the stage! She's really been full of surprises this season and has defied the odds. There are times that I think the routines are a little too simple for Kirstie but not this week! Len pointed out that she's had two of the most difficult dances this week and she came out and danced both of them very well.

 

Couple: Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas
Style: Rumba
Scores: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30
Chelsea and Mark have been favorites of mine from the beginning. They have taken some heat for pushing the envelope but there's no denying their dance ability or fabulous connection. This rumba was truly a reflection of the hard work the two of them have put in all season. Len told Chelsea that she fulfilled her potential and Bruno took it a step further, calling it perfectly pitched. It was sexy, it was clean, and it was definitely perfect!

 

Couple: Hines Ward and Kym Johnson
Style: Salsa
Scores: 10 + 10 + 10 = 30
Being an athlete, Hines has that winning mentality that has carried him through this competition. Oh and it doesn't hurt that the man can DANCE. This routine was by far the most fun of the season. Hines wasn't just perfectly technically, but he nailed the performance, putting a smile one everyone's faces. Bruno sums him up in one word: beautiful.

 

This is the semi-finals and for the first time ever, one team is going to earn 15 bonus points by winning the Winner Takes All Cha-Cha.  First up, Hines and Kym face off against Ralph and Karina.  It's clear that Hines and Kym are going to take it.  At this point, Hines dances every style well but to Ralph's credit, he has improved with each dance this week.  Next up, Mark and Chelsea go up against Kirstie and Maks.  This round was a little harder to predict.  Chelsea is technically great but Kirstie brings a performance aspect that can't be denied.  Chelsea and Mark end up taking the round.

 

In the final round, both couples do a great job but Chelsea and Mark are able to impress the judges just a little bit more and add 15 points onto their total score!

 

 

Don't miss the live elimination episode of Dancing With The Stars, tonight at 9/8c on ABC.

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa