by Kylene Hamulak

 

Four couples are battling in the ballroom on the final competition night of Dancing With the Stars, but who will end up taking the mirror ball tomorrow night? After three months, it's still anybody's game, and tonight's three dance rounds are bound to bring the drama to the floor.

 

Round 1: Judges' Pick

 

Jacoby and Karina, Jive

Len is rehearsing with the pair this week, hoping to help him fix his footwork to earn a 10 from Len. After Len works the miracle that Karina has been working on for three months, he learns some of Jacoby's best moves. Len says that he did see improvement and overall, he saw "slightly crisper footwork" in addition to his enthusiasm. Bruno asks he's plugged in to some nuclear reactor, noting that he brings an "unlimited supply of energy and power." He thinks he missed a few steps but, "otherwise, great fun." Carrie Ann agrees that there was improvement, but she doesn't think he totally conquered his problems with footwork.

Total Score: 27 (9-9-9)

 

Aly and Mark, Samba

Joining Aly and Mark is Bruno, who wants them to add a "Samba Roll." Mark explains to Aly that it's the hardest step in Samba, one that even pros stay away from. Bruno says she was cleaner and slicker than ever and she did everything he asked her to, calling it "FIRST CLASS!" Carrie Ann describes her as the combination of all the remaining contestants - Jacob's swagger, the lines of Kellie, and the musicality of Zendaya. Len agrees - "YOU are on the way up, that was terrific."

Total Score: 28 (9-9-10 (Bruno)

 

Kellie and Derek, Quick Step

The challenge for Kellie and Derek this week is to find a way to stand out, since they've been so good all along. Len visits their rehearsal, hoping to help them work on their connection, the only thing that kept them from a truly perfect score for their previous Quick Step. It works - Len describes the dance, "like a stamp on a letter!" saying he was "palpating, perspirating, I got so excited, I was nearly flatulating." Bruno calls her the belle of the ball, and says it was technically a tour de force. Carrie Ann congratulates them - she compliments the improvement in their body contant.

Total Score: 30 (10-10-10)

 

Zendaya and Val, Samba

Carrie Ann is in on Zendaya and Val's rehearsal to work on their Samba, particularly bringing more technique to the dance. At the top of the show, we learned that Val took a pretty hard kick to the eye by Zendaya that resulted in a lot of blood loss and threatened his ability to perform. After the performance, Carrie Ann called it "a perfect combination of blending an authentic samba" and said she worked her "Zendaya magic!" Len says it was "eye popping, show stopping, jaw dropping - that's the Samba!" He thinks she's barely scratched the surface of her talent. Bruno says Zendaya has a "natural flamboyance" and showed terrific technique that keeps getting better.

Total Score: 30 (10-10-10)

 

Round 2: Cha-Cha Relay

 

The second round of dance is a Cha-Cha Relay, where all four couples will perform the same dance to the same music. Each group is trying to find the quality that will earn them the highest score (5 extra points from the judges), which could make a lot of difference in the results.

 

Kellie and Derek are on the floor, looking amazing as usual. Jacoby and Karina enter the competition by leaping over Kellie and Derek, dance, and then leave the floor in style too, with Jacoby sliding under Mark as he enters the floor with Aly. Aly's got her shakes down to a science at this point and shimmies til it's time for Zendaya and Val to show what they've got. And, as always, they've got a lot. All four couples look terrific. The judges all agree that this four truly is the top four for the season, noting how difficult it is to choose between them.

 

So what are the rankings after the relay?  Jacoby and Karina get 2 points for their 4^th Place finish. Aly and Mark take 3 points for their 3^rd Place ranking, while Kellie and Derek have 4 points added to their score for 2^nd Place, leaving Zendaya and Val with 5 points and the 1^st Place Cha-Cha Relay title.

 

 

Round 3: Freestyle

 

Jacoby and Karina

This pair wants to bring the spirit of New Orleans to the dance floor, complete with a flash mob parade taking over the ballroom. It's awesome. Len calls it a "full-on, flat out attack." Bruno loved the sense of celebration but points out a couple of spots where he thinks Jacoby lost the timing. Carrie Ann thinks he chose the right strategy for him, but felt he was outshined and a little bit lost in the shuffle.

Total Score: 27 (9-9-9)

 

Aly and Mark

So as Mark is explaining his ideas for the freestyle, there's some sort of verticle bar involved. He is careful not to call it a pole, but come on...it's a stripper pole. The routine is futuristic and cool (I guess), but it feels more like a floor routine with tricks than a ballroom routine with dancing. The judges eat it up though. Bruno calls it different and unexpected and commends them for taking the risk. Carrie Ann tells us she worked a pole back in the day (ya don't say, Carrie Ann!) and applauds Aly for pushing her boundaries. Len loved the concept and dubs her "Alexandra the Great."

Total Score: 30 (10-10-10)

 

Kellie and Derek

Derek's got a lot of ideas for Kellie and the supersized freestyle, but instead of adding a lot of tricks and fancy things, he strips the production down to favor the power of the dance. And it sure is powerful. It's a beautiful contemporary dance where Kellie defies gravity and the couple stays in such control of each other that if you told me they were both professionals, I would believe it. Carrie Ann is doing her ugly cry again before she can start her critique and simply comes over to give Kellie a hug for baring her soul. Len says she was totally immersed in the dance and each other, and Bruno calls it a "dance of spellbinding beauty. That really was a contemporary piece of art."

Total Score: 30 (10-10-10)

 

Zendaya and Val

The final freestyle of the competition belongs to Zendaya and Val, who want to dance to inspire kids. Joining them for the routine is a troupe of mini-dancers, who enter the dancer floor for a short section after Zendaya and Val have shown off their skills. Sidenote: I can't help but notice that Zendaya's skirt looks a little like toilet paper got stuck when she was tucking her shirt back in. Len says, "There were so many parts to that number, but it all came together and created a fabulous routine!" Bruno loves the "unique luminosity" that Zendaya brings to every dance. "Simply irresistible!" Carrie Ann calls her devine, and says Zendaya showcases why she's such an incredible role model.

Total Score: 30 (10-10-10)

 

Final Thoughts: Tom quieted the audience for a period tonight out of respect for the victims of the tornado that devasted Oklahoma City this afternoon. My guess is that we'll see another tribute tomorrow, as the true tragedy comes to light.

 

Scores are close going into tomorrow's final dance, but this is between Zendaya and Kellie and their respective partners. Aly is good, but Zendaya and Kellie are in another league. Both are deserving winners, and I'll be surprised if one of these two girls is NOT hoisting up that mirror ball trophy tomorrow.

 

The Standings:

65 - Zendaya and Val

64 - Kellie and Derek

61 - Aly and Mark

56 - Jacoby and Karina

 

Who was your vote for the freestyle encore? Which couple will be named Season 16 Champions tomorrow? Share your thoughts below!

 

Dancing With The Stars finale airs tomorrow, 8/7c on ABC!

 

(Images courtesy of ABC)

 

Follow Kylene on Twitter @keepingupwithky!