by Kylene Hamulak

For the first time in the show's history, it's a ladies' night finale on Dancing With the Stars: All Stars as Melissa, Shawn, and Kelly bring their favorite dances and freestyle routines to the ballroom. We're promised super-sized freestyles giving the couples a chance to do anything they want on the dance floor - including inviting other performers to join them. Let's get started!

Team: Kelly and Val
Dance: Paso Doble
Val credits their Paso Doble as the routine that really changed the competition for Kelly, and she wants to make it so passionate, the judges will have no choice but to give them 10s, a score they haven't managed to get this season. Kelly and Val do a great job starting out the show, as the Paso always gets the crowd going. I'm wondering though - if Kelly sees a score she hasn't seen before, will we get to see something from her WE rarely witness? Namely, a smile? Judges said:
10.0 - Len repeats his critique from Week 3, when he named the Paso Doble Kelly's best dance. "Week 10, I'm saying it again - THAT was your best dance to date. Well done!"
10.0 - Bruno calls Kelly an "awesome fire angel" burning the dance floor with passion. He compliments her lines and artistry.
9.5 - Carrie Ann says she's so proud of Kelly for working hard on what has been her best dance, though she does note a slight slip up that the production room is kind enough to replay for all of us at home. In slow motion, none the less.
TOTAL: 29.5

Team: Melissa and Tony
Dance: Samba
Every season has a pair plagued by injury, and Melissa and Tony are the All-Stars version. As the only remaining team without a mirror ball trophy, they're not holding back. This was their three Week 3 dance, and as good as it was then, it's even better tonight. And not just because we get to see Joey Fatone in the audience. Judges said:
10.0 - Bruno thinks it was a "wonderful blend of moves," and notes Melissa's great technique. He says she's blossomed and grown as a performer.
10.0 - Carrie Ann reminds us that the last time they performed this routine, the only thing Melissa struggled on was her solo. "Tonight? Fabulous! BRILLIANT!"
10.0 - Len says they "captured the party flavor of the Samba, great technique, great rhythm, fabulous."
TOTAL: 30.0

Team: Shawn and Derek
Dance: Quick Step
Shawn considers the Quick Step their "statement dance," so Derek is feeling pretty confident. Confident enough to break hold, even after they'd been called out on it the last time they performed it. They're a little nervous about breaking the rules, and I'm a little nervous about Derek's creepy mustache. I forgot how much fun this routine was though - the energy is high, the steps are fast, and the crowd is loving it. Which is (supposedly) all that mattered to this couple, though I think they wouldn't mind double-digit scores, either. Judges said:
9.0 - Carrie Ann knows it's a fan favorite, but she's sad that they decided not to follow the rules.
8.5 - Len agrees - despite being a great routine, there were breaks and lifts that leave him "no where to go."
9.5 - Bruno notes that they've pushed boundaries all season and says that what they've achieved is sensational, despite the rules the judges' scores are bound by.
TOTAL: 27.0

The second round of dances will be the freestyles, which gave the couples complete creative control.

Team: Kelly and Val
Apparently the freestyle dances will be full-on productions, and Val has some special things in mind. Kelly will begin the routine doing aerial work as Val plays the violin (who knew, right? He's like Edward Cullen!), and the troupe dancers will be joining them for "Time of My Life." There's a lot going on in the performance, and it doesn't feel like there's a lot of dancing, but come on...they do the lift. THE lift. With a gospel choir! You gotta love that. Judges said:
9.5 - Len loved the opening and loved the lift, calling the dance "spellbinding."
10.0 - Bruno loved the interpretation. "Your chemistry never shone brighter than tonight....Patrick, I'm telling you, is smiling on you."
10.0 - Carrie Ann talks about how we've all watched the couple grow, noting "I don't know if it's a real couple...," which prompted the "couple" to really play it up. People, you DO realize Kelly's actual boyfriend is sitting RIGHT THERE in the audience, right? Anyway, Carrie Ann thinks it was wonderful.
TOTAL: 29.5

Team: Melissa and Tony
After bombing their last finale freestyle, Melissa and Tony have chosen a Contemporary routine, a huge contrast to their energetic Samba. The routine is gorgeous and, honestly, unexpected - I've come to think of freestyles as full of tricks and fun, and this was more like...well...art. Judges said:
10.0 - Bruno says, "That was the perfect setting to showcase all of your extraordinary qualities....You are a gem."
10.0 - Carrie Ann pulls out the fortune cookies to find the perfect reaction - "With great risk comes great reward." She calls it a freestyle jackpot.
10.0 - Len borrows a quote too, and good thing - he's speechless when trying to find his own words to describe the routine. He is only able to utter, "That was....wonderful."
TOTAL: 30.0

Team: Shawn and Derek
Seeing that Shawn has the Fantastic-Fab-Fierce-Whatevertheycallthemselvestoday Five joining her for the freestyle, I'm going to have to assume that this is the reason the teams were allowed to bring other performers on for the freestyle. It's all about Shawn's Olympic redemption, right? And boy is it. It's like she's in a music video, complete with her name spelled out in giant letters and Fierce Five backup dancers. It's a great routine full of tricks and, admittedly, great dancing from Shawn and Derek, but who expected anything less? And who wants to bet we see Mikayla's unimpressed face if it's anything less than perfect scores? Judges said:
10.0 - Carrie Ann calls Shawn incredible and, honestly, sometimes I think she scares Shawn when she jumps over the table in her excitement. "You've been doing freestyles the whole season, we've been waiting for this, and you do not disappoint!"
10.0 - Len says it was a medley of Derek and Shawn's greatest hits and names it a "gold medal performance!"
10.0 - Bruno thinks it was "Fierce, flawless, exciting, explosive, brilliance - truly the crowning glory of a fantastic night!"
TOTAL: 30.0

At the end of scoring tonight, Melissa and Tony are in the lead with a perfect 60, but Kelly and Val with 59 aren't far behind. Shawn and Derek are at the bottom by only a few points with 57, and their freestyle is sure to earn them more than a few calls from the fans. During the live results show, all three pairs will be choosing the style and music for their final routine. It's too close to call here, folks - tune in for the finale to see who takes that mirror ball trophy home!

Catch Dancing With The Stars: All Stars Finale results Tuesday at 9/8c on ABC!

(Image courtesy of ABC)