Carrie Ann Inaba blogs 'DWTS,' week 7
Apr 22, 2009, 02:20 PM | by Carrie Ann
Categories: 'Dancing With the Stars'
What a week! All the tables turned, new leaders emerged, and the whole leader board got "a shaking up." And that is why I LOVE THIS SEASON! I knew it! I had a feeling all along that the season was going to be very interesting and highly competitive as we approached the end of the season. Let’s start with Chuck and Julianne. I am so happy for them that they finally had a breakthrough. I always felt that he had an ease of movement that if he engaged his spirit and confidence behind it -- along with the training and technique he could tackle if he set his mind to it -- that he could do well. It was as if he finally decided that he was just going to go for it -- no excuses. That is such a wonderful thing to watch. A real breakthough. And we got to experience it right there with him. Congratulations Chuck and Julianne!
I would have to say Tony and Melissa had wonderful night as well -- and Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas too!. Melissa’s Argentine Tango was really something special. That was a VERY difficult routine. It was filled to the brim with steps and there was no room for error. With all the leg flicks and weight changes and intricate movements, if they had missed one step or weight change, there would have been a problem and there was no space to catch up. But what I was impressed with were Tony’s lifts. I knew that he really specializes in lifts, but that was a really nice showcase of lifts (which are acceptable in the Argentine Tango). I also want to add that Melissa was stunning in that outfit. She really took on a strong persona and pulled it off wonderfully.
Shawn Johnson and Mark did a fantastic cha-cha-cha. I read a lot of your comments and I see that a lot of you really get upset when she doesn’t get great scores. It's nice to see your support for her. But I think you don’t have to worry about that anymore. She also had a breakthrough. Until Monday night, she was having a bit of trouble really getting the characters of the dance and letting go and finding her freedom in the dance to express herself. I saw it on Monday night and I was so proud of her. I’m sure most of you out there must also feel like a proud parent when Shawn does well. It’s like she is growing up in front of our eyes. She is such a special person -- so professional, so mature, so focused, so strong, and so pure. Her precision is her best asset, but it has also held her back a bit from adding that level of performance. Shawn and Chuck both really stepped it up, and I bet we see even more of it as weeks go by. And she got her first 10! Congratulations Shawn!!! She said it was her first 10 ever -- even in gymnastics!
Gilles and Cheryl performed a Viennese Waltz and did a nice job with it -- but at this level we can see that the contestants' success will definitely depend on the dances they get to perform. We have great performers left, but they all have different styles of performing. I gave Gilles a correction about his posture that I hope he will work on, because at this point everyone has to really put their best foot forward. With this sort of competition and the level that everyone is performing at, there is no room for error. Those little things will separate the winner from the runner up, because we have some great contenders left.
Don’t worry, I’m not forgetting about Ty and Lil' Kim. Lil' Kim and Derek proved a really interesting point in this competition on Monday night, and I think they sent out a good message to everyone in general. They tried to impress Len -- or what they thought Len wanted -- by toning down her performance. But in doing so, Kim lost some of her special spark. This is a good lesson -- it is important to do what you do best and follow your own heart when making choices. It worked out well and I’m glad they survived -- this week Kim and Derek dropped quite far down the leader board and I was worried about them. But they are still in it and I think she’ll be back to herself next week, bringing back her inner tiger!
And Ty had a good week. But I think he was a bit intimidated after Chuck did so well. Sometimes it is so difficult to come after someone who really changes the energy in the room. I felt that he was a bit nervous. But he is still such a nice surprise in how far he has come with his dancing. His scores have been all over the place and they started out very low. He definitely specializes in the ballroom dances, where he can “hold on” as he said. Now that LT is gone, we’ll see who ends up on the bottom next week. It's going to be sad next week when someone goes home.
Lawrence was happy to go home, it seemed, so I’m happy for him. I guess he’s back to golf now. Good luck, LT!
Last night’s result show was filled with dancing. I am excited to see how the new dancers who are vying for a spot on the show will do as the weeks progress. We don’t have any voting power as judges -- this is all up to the audience vote. It’s really nice to see these kids having this opportunity. They all seemed like nice people and had different strengths, but on this show it takes a lot to be a professional. First of all, you have to be a great teacher -- you must be able to teach the steps and technique and then choreograph your numbers in a way that best displays your partner's talent and assets. You must be able to perform in a way that doesn’t outshine your celebrity partner but helps complement what he or she brings to the dance floor, and you need to be a strong guide and partner on the journey to the mirror ball. You also have to have your own star quality because, as we have seen, our dancers become stars in their own right. What it takes to make these celebrities shine is a lot more than just being a good dancer. It takes a certain type of person. You have to be strong and patient, creative and intelligent, and I really applaud our dancers for all that they do. Being a DWTS professional dancer is an incredible opportunity. Look at Julianne and Mark and Derek, who have gone on to record albums and are doing quite well. Our show is a wonderful opportunity for both dancers and celebrities to create even better futures for themselves and open doors in their careers that are quite amazing.
Also, NATASHA BEDDINGFIELD! She performed the most incredible version of "Soulmate," which is my personal favorite song. I LOVE THAT SONG. She is one heck of a singer. I loved the way she changed it up and the performance of Dimitry and Lacey was quite good. Lacey gets better and better with each performance. I loved watching her. And Dimitry is such a fine performer -- he's a bit shy, but a good partner for Lacey.
Our results show this week was jam-packed, but my favorite performance was the BURN THE FLOOR performance. I am in discussions to be a producer on that show as it heads to Broadway this summer. I saw the show in San Francisco a few weeks ago and loved it. (They are playing until next week, before they head on tour and then come to Broadway in the summer, so keep your eyes open and I hope you will all come out and support their show.) The dancers are beautiful and grew up all over the world. You'll see some fantastic dancing if you go. It will help you get through your summer without DWTS!
Finally, I just wanted to remind everyone that the auction for my "DWTS Experience" package at Clothes Off Our Back is coming to a close on May 1. So if you are interesting in coming to the show’s finale, you can bid on those tickets and the whole package. All the proceeds go to The Andrea Rizzo Foundation, which provides dance therapy for pediatric cancer patients and children with special needs. It’s a wonderful cause -- very dear to my heart -- and I just wanted to remind you that if you want to come to the show and get a beautiful dress and a diamond necklace, and some cute shoes, the auction is still going on.
Thanks for tuning in -- it’s getting exciting, isn’t it?!
Thanks for your comments as well.
Oh -- behind the scenes -- Sheila E. was there last night and came over and gave me a hug -- and it was a very exciting moment. I have been a fan of hers for a long time. She is an incredible percussionist and performer and the first star I met when I was young. She signed me an autograph on a piece of glass. She wrote backwards and I kept that glass for a long time…until one day, I had someone clean my house and she cleaned the glass and the autograph was gone when I got home. ; (
But I still have the memory. ;)
Have a great day -- summer is coming!!
Enjoy,
Carrie Ann
More on Dancing With the Stars:
Carrie Ann's blogs: Week 6, Week 5, Week 4, Week 3, Week 2
Annie Barrett's 'DWTS' elimination recap: Suited to a Tee
'DWTS': Season 8's Crazy Costume Watch!
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