by Kylene Hamulak

 

One thing all of the remain contestants on Dancing With The Stars: All Stars have in common is a track record of memorable performances. Their fans undoubtedly have favorite routines, and this week, the stars are tasked with the challenge of bringing iconic dances back to the ballroom - and this time, the creative vision belongs not to the pros, but to our All Stars.

 

Team: Drew and Anna

Dance: Cha Cha Cha

Drew is channeling another boyband member - Joey and Cheryl's routine from Season 1. Drew wants to make the whole routine like a concert, which seems to make Anna a little nervous. The routine is definitely a different kind of production with a huge set and some neat extras thrown in - I particularly liked the unraveling of Anna's skirt and Drew's gymnastics moves. Judges said:

8.0 - Len likes the concept and the content and says overall it was terrific.

8.0 - Bruno describes it as "The Rock God goes Magic Mike...it worked for Channing Tatum, and it's going to work for you." For anyone unfamiliar with Magic Mike, that's a compliment.

8.0 - Carrie Ann thinks the creative direction was great and that it was a really good cha cha. "Your moves were tight and precise."

TOTAL: 24.0

 

Team: Gilles and Peta

Dance: Tango

Gilles had a little trouble choosing a dance to revisit - he's just too nice of a guy to try to make someone else's routine "better". Ultimately, they chose the Tango Erin and Maks performed in Season 10, and Gilles decides he wants to fly. FLY?! Yeah, that's new, Gilles! He begins the routine suspended over the dance floor before returning to the floor to meet his "dream". It's quite dramatic, and they execute the dance well. Judges said:

8.5 - Bruno describes it as "strong, powerful, dominant, 50 Shades of Gilles." (Sidenote: I'm wondering how many 50 Shades references we'll get this season. That's the second, and we're only in the 3rd week.) Despite a couple of spots of lost footing, the performance was great.

8.0 - Carrie Ann tells Gilles that the dramatic nuances in his performance are "exquisite". She agrees with Bruno that it was amazing, though she tells them that they should work on getting a little more in sync so that their energies aren't fighting against each other.

8.5 - Len thinks that they performed it so well that it occasionally went a little bit "cranky." Overall, though, he liked it.

TOTAL: 25.5

 

Team: Melissa and Tony

Dance: Samba

Melissa and Tony choose a Samba from JR and Karina in Season 13, and Melissa is excited about her role as creative director. Their rehearsals give us a glimpse into some of the tricks she wants to include, and I hear a lot more bumping and "ow" and "are you ok" than typical. There's a lot of shaking and energy in their routine, and I can't help it - I smiled. Big. A lot. Especially when all the confetti streamers dropped down, because I am a sucker for those confetti streamers. Judges said:

9.0 - Carrie Ann calls it fantastic and talks so insanely fast that I couldn't even follow her, except that I know she loved the drops and rolls. "Stellar!"

9.0 - Len describes it as "a can of cola. It was fizzy, it was refreshing, it was satisfying. Great technique."

9.0 - Bruno says Melissa is the "Samba Sensation." He notes that each position and step was harder and more complicated than another.

TOTAL: 27.0, highest score of the season so far

 

Team: Apolo and Karina

Dance: Fox Trot

The dance Apolo and Karina have chosen is Gilles and Cheryl's Season 8 Fox Trot to "Fever". He is hoping to capture the sexiness of Gilles without taking his shirt off - good luck with that, Apolo. Interestingly, he brings in living statues for the performance, one of which is Karina. The performance is strong, but we've come to expect that from this pair. Judges said:

8.0 - Len compliments the fluidity of movement and great musicality, though he would've liked a little bit cleaner placement of feet. He calls it a terrific dance.

8.5 - Bruno calls it sensual, classy, and classic. He thought it was exquisite.

9.0 - Carrie Ann thought it was "absolutely stunning" and that it was a performance that will be remembered for artistic design.

TOTAL: 25.5

 

Team: Kelly and Val

Dance: Paso Doble

The dance Kelly has chosen to take on is the Paso Doble that Laila and Maks performed in Season 4. Though Kelly requests a giant cape to reveal herself and her partner, she doesn't want "fluff" - this pair is going to impress with their dancing. And from what I can tell? They did just that. It was a very traditional Paso in many respects - the dancing is tight, quick, and you can feel the intensity between these two. Judges said:

9.0 - Bruno calls it a defining performance for Kelly. "I'm tingling with pleasure!"

9.0 - Carrie Ann declares Kelly and Val the couple to watch, noting the chemistry between them. "There is something magical happening between you guys." Oh, and as a sidenote, I'd love to know what Carrie Ann said at first that merited a quick cut to the DWTS logo so we couldn't read her lips.

9.0 - Len tells Kelly she had terrific expression through her face, beautiful musicality. "Kelly, where have you been?"

TOTAL: 27.0, tied for highest score of the season

 

Before we continue with the competition, Tom takes a moment to reveal one of the two surprise announcements he's been teasing since the show began. Paula Abdul will be a guest judge on next week's performance show! Yaaay...the seal clap and crazy talk is coming to the ballroom!

 

Team: Kirstie and Maks
Dance: Cha Cha Cha

It should surprise no one that the iconic dance Kirstie has chosen comes from one of the real characters in DWTS's past: Carson and Anna's Season 13 Cha Cha Cha. Kirstie chose it based on its entertainment value - she wants it to be fun. She's going full on British Invasion, complete with a mini cooper and Union Jacks...and Maks channeling Mick Jagger. No one is fooled into thinking Kirstie's dancing ability is on par with most of the other ladies in the ballroom, but she's got enough charm to make up for it. Plus, she's trying. And that's always fun too. Judges said:

8.0 - Carrie Ann starts off by thanking Kirstie for the most fun she's had all night. She thinks it was a great approach and the Kirstie's best dance of the season.

8.0 - Len calls it "the whole package" and calls for the celebrities to choreograph the numbers every week.

8.0 - Bruno says Kirstie is "fully loaded with fun."

TOTAL: 24.0

 

Team: Sabrina and Louis

Dance: Paso Doble

Sabrina has also chosen a Paso from Maks, this time his Season 5 routine with Mel B. They're torn between sticking to the traditional dance and throwing in the kind of gimmicks that could make or break a performance. It's a strong performance with a pretty cool set, though Sabrina's costume is a little awkward for me at points. Judges said:

8.5 - Len really likes that it was full of risks and great technique. "Well done."

8.5 - Bruno says it was "maximum fire power, strength, and a touch of Scary Spice." All good things, by the way. He thinks Sabrina is a great dancer.

8.5 - Carrie Ann thought the technique and content where all there, but she's disappointed by the creative concept. She gets booed by the crowd, but she really wants to see some element of surprise from Sabrina.

TOTAL: 25.5

 

Team: Emmitt and Cheryl

Dance: Paso Doble

The Paso Doble by Mario and Karina did in Season 3 is the routine chosen by Emmitt for his routine. He wants to bring a "desert feel" to the ballroom, so he wants smoke, warm lighting and an ass (he means donkey, but insert your own joke here, I'll give you a moment). The biggest risk of their routine? Emmitt wants to charge at Cheryl from across the floor, then slide through her legs. Cheryl is a little nervous about it in rehearsal, but he shoots like a bullet during their (very good) performance. Judges said:

8.5 - Bruno declares Emmitt "back into the game, big time!"

8.5 - Carrie Ann calls him the Human Torpedo and says it was good - the judges want to see more of this "upping the game."

8.0 - Len says that Emmitt has presence. "You come out, and you dominate the floor." He would've liked a "tad more finesse" but it was still great.

TOTAL: 25.0

 

Team: Helio and Chelsie

Dance: Quick Step

Helio picks the Quick Step that Apolo and Julianne performed in Season 4, and he's excited about being in creative control. Apolo visits them at rehearsal and warns them not to let him down. One of my personal favorite moves is when they dance straight up the staircase without missing a step...usually. This time there was a slight issue with Helio stepping on her dress, but overall, it was a good performance. Judges said:

8.5 - Carrie Ann says, "It was so good! You're the Quick Step King!" and notes that all of Helio's authentic joy comes out when he does the Quick Step.

8.5 - Len believes this dance deserves to bring Helio back next week. "It's top notch."

8.5 - Bruno notes that it "started with a blast, it was absolutely brilliant" but lost timing after Helio stepped on the dress.

TOTAL: 25.5

 

So what's the other big announcement this week? The All Stars will be choosing the styles of dance for each other! More information on that will be revealed on the results show this week.

 

Team: Bristol and Mark

Dance: Paso Doble.

After their performance last week, both Bristol and Mark were at "low energy," to put it gently. Bristol looks downright pissed seeing Mark at rehearsal, and she tells Mark she feels he's "bummed" to have her as a partner. I feel "bummed" to have to watch Bristol whine about how much everyone dislikes her every week, but she doesn't seem to care about THAT. Apparently Mark missed rehearsal, and Bristol feels like he's not there for her. And then she...left. Did she come back? Of course she did. Their Paso inspiration is Joanna and Derek's Season 9 routine, staged as a giant chess game. It's cool, but I'm just so over Bristol - if you don't have the dance skills, you've got to at least bring some personality (in a positive way). Judges said:

7.5 - Len tells them that he always used to have a flare up with his partner before the Paso and notes that they had plenty of attack and more content than previous dances she's done. He calls it easily Bristol's best dance.

7.5 - Bruno says, "You lines were better than ever, you looked better than ever, I liked the concept - your best dance up to date!"

7.5 - Carrie Ann agrees and thinks Bristol is proving herself to be a worthy competitor.

Side note: I think the judges are pacifying her. I don't need to be unbiased, do I?

TOTAL: 22.5

 

Team: Shawn and Derek

Dance: Quick Step

It's almost not even fair to go from Bristol and Mark to Shawn and Derek - they seem to be complete opposites, personality wise. She's chosen Helio and Julianna's Quick Step from Season 5, and Shawn is excited about bringing new things into the routine - including trampolines. Both Shawn and Derek are popping around the ballroom, in perfect sync, and it's a lot of fun to watch. It's so high energy and so well done, they definitely saved the best for last. Bruno and Carrie Ann are on their feet with the rest of the crowd. Judges said:

9.5 - Bruno announces, "Shawn and Derek - The Incredibles!" "This is a classic, one of the best dances - if not THE best dance I've seen in 15 seasons."

9.0 - Carrie Ann says they gave her "happy feet." "That was by far the best dance we have ever seen on Dancing With the Stars." She mentions the "breakage of the ruleage" (and I think that's just so Bristol can't complain about it backstage), but she doesn't really care about it.

8.0 - Len notes that the "ability to interpret music into movement is incredible." And again, Len calls them out for breaking the rules on the Quick Step, but at least he's honest enough to admit it's partially because Bristol got called out on it last week.

TOTAL: 26.5

A lot will happen on tomorrow night's results show, including a double elimination. Which All Stars will we say goodbye to and who will survive to pick their competition's next dance? I'll only be brave enough to make one prediction - I don't think the lowest scoring couple will be basked in the red light.

 

Don't miss the live results of Dancing With The Stars Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC!

 

(Image courtesy of ABC)