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Dancing with the Stars: Who Got Sent Home?

Read our recap of Spring Break night

liz-raftery.jpg
Liz Raftery

It may be rainy and cold here in New York, but it's Spring Break week on Dancing with the Stars. Can you smell that salty sea air?

We also get our first team dances of the season. And we get forewarned that two couples will be going home next week, when the Tuesday night results shows return.

Who will it be? Let's see how everyone fared this week.

VIDEO: Dancing's Derek Hough teaches us how to tango!

Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev (quickstep)
The dance: For whatever reason, Patti seems to have loosened up a little bit this week - maybe a little too much, as she accidentally kicks off one of her shoes mid-routine. But in spite of that mishap (from which she recovers nicely), this is the most energetic we've seen Patti, and a great way to kick off this fun-themed night.
What the judges say: Len quips that it was the best dance of the night so far (heh). Julianne is impressed by Patti's one-shoed footwork and compliments Artem as well. Bruno thought the dance was fun, and Carrie Ann tells Patti she's the most consistent contestant, and says maybe the one-shoe look could become a fashion statement.
Score: 29 (out of 40)

Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough (tango)
The dance: My colleague Robyn Ross experienced firsthand just how difficult it is to learn the tango this week, but once Derek and Nastia hit the floor there's no evidence of the aches and pains the Olympian is reportedly feeling in rehearsals. Their tango is stunning, graceful and elegant, and they're connected like magnets for the entire routine - even as Derek sends Nastia into an eye-popping spin halfway through.
What the judges say: Julianne says she didn't feel that Derek and Nastia connected properly for the dance, but Bruno marvels at how well they "attacked" the tango. Carrie Ann says that Nastia's movement gives her a leg up on the rest of the competitors, but cautions her to not rely too much on her gymnastics background. Len says the dance was too fast and should have been a little bit more deliberate.
Score: 34

Willow Shields and Mark Ballas (salsa)
The dance: Willow - who's just found out she has extra ribs, a condition that affects less than 1 percent of the population - seems a little off for most of this dance, and her facial expressions don't often match the music or the moves she's doing. Maybe she's just too young to pull off an appropriately sexy salsa, but for the first time all season, Willow looks completely out of her element.
What the judges say: Bruno offers some minor technical criticisms but calls the lifts "brilliant." Carrie Ann says the routine was appropriately mature while not being too sexy. Len and Julianne both wanted more "snap" in Willow's legs.
Score: 34

Derek Hough: Our team dance may be a disaster

Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson (jive)
The dance: This is definitely an improvement from Robert and Kym's disastrous dance from last week. Robert could be a little looser for sure, and his creepy forced smile is back, but the routine should be enough to land them in the middle of the pack this time around, rather than at the bottom.
What the judges say: Carrie Ann tells Robert and Kym they're "cute" and Robert didn't miss a step, but their timing was a little off. Len compliments the content and says it was a marked improvement. Julianne admires Robert's tenacity even though Kym doesn't "dumb down" the choreography for him. Bruno says Robert's kicks and flicks reminded him of a "frisky pony," albeit one that can't keep time.
Score: 28

Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess (rumba)
The dance: Well, this is a bit uncomfortable. Their rumba is sensual and intense, if a little boring. But it's clear that Noah's head is elsewhere, and he says after the dance that he was upset by his and Sharna's package - which showed the pair in a tense moment during rehearsals (and proves yet again that every Dancing with the Stars team turns into a stereotypically bickering couple by the end of the season). Perhaps thrown by the expression on Noah's face, it's actually Sharna who falters at one point - but Noah's jaw is clenched so tightly during the judges' feedback that you can see his cheek spasm-ing. On a side note - damn, his upper body is unreal.
What the judges say: Len says generally that Noah is an "amazing guy." Julianne offers Noah advice on his arm extension. Bruno compliments Noah's hip movements, and Carrie Ann points out the difficulty of the rumba. And all the judges tell Noah to set his emotions aside.
Score: 29

Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy (jazz)
The dance: Rumer takes the sexy quotient up to a 10 this week (Val's probably right to be concerned about what Bruce Willis will think of this routine). The dance is great, putting a modern, hip-hop spin onto a traditional jazz number. Rumer and Val continue to be completely in sync and in a completely different league than the rest of the pairs they're competing against.
What the judges say: Julianne says she was "a little underwhelmed," mostly because her expectations are so high. Bruno totally disagrees, praising Rumer and Val for putting their own spin on the number. But Carrie Ann is Team Julianne, saying the dance felt disjointed and a little disappointing. Len didn't like the raunch.
Score: 32

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Chris Soules and Witney Carson (Viennese waltz)
The dance: Contrary to Witney's observation during rehearsals, I don't think anyone is in danger of forgetting that Chris is a farmer and not a dancer. But even if he isn't the most naturally gifted contestant, he's definitely showing improvement week to week. Chris will never look like a natural out on the dancefloor, but he's more fluid this week than we've ever seen before. His and Witney's matching pink outfits are a nice touch as well.
What the judges say: Bruno gushes over Chris' lines and his spins. Carrie Ann says she was completely wooed by the performance. Len loved the romance of the routine, but says Chris' footwork lacked technique. Julianne leans over the table to shake Chris' hand because she was blown away by his confidence.
Score: 31

Riker Lynch and Allison Holker (samba)
The dance: Though they only had two full days to rehearse, Riker and Allison beat this samba into submission. Riker's footwork is completely on point, and he's a joy to watch (though I am curious what they would have done if they really had gotten stuck with Missy Elliott's "Work It"). Definitely one of the best routines of the night from these two.
What the judges say: Carrie Ann says Riker turns her into a fangirl. Len loves Riker's enthusiasm but says his moves were good, if not great. Julianne tells him to make sure he doesn't stray into bow-legged territory. Bruno was impressed by the individual touches they added to the dance.
Score: 37

We get some results based on last week's voting and tonight'sjudges scores. Here they are, in no particular order:

Safe: Nastia and Derek, Willow and Mark, Rumer and Val, Chris and Witney

In jeopardy: Noah and Sharna, Robert and Kym, Patti and Artem, Riker and Allison

Now it's on to the team dances. We have Team Yolo (Mark/Willow, Derek/Nastia, Kym/Robert, Sharna/Noah) and Team Trouble (Rumer/Val, Chris/Witney, Patti/Artem, Riker/Allison).

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Team Yolo
The dance: Between Nastia and Derek's cross-country schedule and a general lack of camaraderie among the members of Team Yolo, the dance looks like quite a mess in rehearsals. But once their time comes, any doubts are laid to rest. Noah and Sharna and Derek and Nastia are the strongest pairs in this group, with Nastia working some gymnastic moves into her and Derek's solo. However, Robert using Kym's butt as a bongo drum makes me cringe.
What the judges say: Len thinks the dance was terrific. Julianne was most impressed by Robert and Kym. Bruno calls the overall dance "superb" and tells Willow she's "hot." (She's also 14, Bruno.) Carrie Ann loves Spring Break week.
Score: 39

Team Trouble
The dance: The setup - Patti LaBelle as a school marm - is a little jarring, mostly because she doesn't have any dancing to do for the first minute or so of the routine. All of the pairings (even Patti and Artem, when she sheds her blazer) are fine, but the dance is lacking the oomph and cohesiveness of Team Yolo.
What the judges say: Julianne loved the dance in all its uniqueness, and Bruno is also effusive in his praise, noting in particularly that it's a "breakthrough night" for Chris. Carrie Ann is in awe of Patti LaBelle, and Len says Riker reminds him of himself at a younger age.
Score: 39

So it's a tie, at least as far as the team dances are concerned.

Safe: Noah and Sharna, Riker and Allison, Robert and Kym

Eliminated: Patti and Artem

What did you think, Dancing fans? What was your favorite routine from Spring Break week? Were you disappointed to see Patti and Artem eliminated? Which two couples will be going home next Tuesday? And are you happy that results shows are coming back? Sound off in the comments!

Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.

VIDEO: Dancing's Derek teaches us how to tango!