Happy Cinco de Mayo, Dancing with the Stars fans! Or should that be "Bailando con las Estrellas"? Shouldn't they have saved Latin Night for this week? (Alright, I'll stop.)
Mark Ballas kicks off the festivities by performing his new single "Get My Name" with the rest of the pros. And Erin and Tom introduce the episode's guest judge, Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller — whom the camera catches in an unfortunate "I don't know what I'm doing here" moment early on.
To the dances!
Charlie White and Sharna Burgess (quickstep)
The dance: Charlie and Sharna find out they're safe before performing, but are still frustrated after their scores last week. Charlie gets a pep talk from his mom (awww) before hitting the floor tonight. He looks a little loosy-goosy in parts of this dance, especially towards the end, and I'm very concerned about Sharna's dress staying on. It's a fine routine, but definitely doesn't warrant a (spoiler alert) perfect score.
What the judges say: Len's not sure if the dance was special enough to warrant a 10. Abby rattles off a list of technical complaints, but compliments Charlie's "impeccable musicality." An enthused Bruno compares Charlie to a Kentucky Derby racehorse but said his stops could have been cleaner. Carrie Ann says it was a breakout moment for Charlie.
Score: 40 (out of 40)
Update: Meryl and Maks are safe, Danica and Val are in jeopardy.
Danica McKellar and Val Chmerkovskiy (tango)
The dance: Danica's got a Black Swan vibe going on with her costume and makeup, and her face is so intense throughout this dance it's almost frightening. I'm not feeling this Tears for Fears cover, and for a performance that purports to be so dramatic, the dance itself is, while technically sound, a little ... almost boring.
What the judges say: Abby praises Val for the concept, but criticizes Danica's shoulders. Bruno calls the performance "majestic and powerful," and adds that he'd be "devastated" if she and Val are sent home. Carrie Ann gushes over Danica's handling of the difficult choreography. Len says it was "terrific."
Score: 38
Meryl Davis and Maks Chmerkovskiy (rumba)
The dance: Wow, sparks are flying between Meryl and Maks, huh?! Get a room, you two! (And preferably one that's not the rehearsal space.) Whatever's going on between them, they manage to pull off a "couple fighting and making up" skit in their dance without making it seem cheesy. The dance is sexy and taut, but feels more interpretive rather than a classic rumba.
What the judges say: Bruno says "it was like watching a play without words" and loves the "unconventional" performance. Carrie Ann calls them "mesmerizing," but says it could have used more rumba content. Len agrees, and adds that it wouldn't have normally been his thing, but is mostly complimentary. Abby criticizes Meryl's feet. (Maks' response? "I really don't care about anything she has to say." Alright then!)
Score: 36
Update: Amy and Derek are safe, James and Peta are in jeopardy, Candace and Mark are also in jeopardy.
Candace Cameron Bure and Mark Ballas (foxtrot)
The dance: Mark is such a goofball! This I Love Lucy-ish skit is basically the opposite of Meryl and Maks' intense faux-argument, but it's a welcome detour into more lighthearted territory. Candace seems to be eating it up, too. She looks more relaxed during this performance than she has in weeks, and her footwork is mostly on point. Looks like that visit to Dr. Jenn is paying off!
What the judges say: Carrie Ann congratulates Candace on finding her footing (and her confidence). Len says it was "joyful" to watch. Abby shockingly has nothing bad to say, but makes some comment about the choreography that no one understands. Bruno loves the slapstick, but cautions Candace to watch her lines.
Score: 36
James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd (Viennese waltz)
The dance: James gets a morale boost from his bandmates in Big Time Rush this week. I love his and Peta's springtime cherry blossom set. James' footwork and posture seem a little off during the first part of this dance, but when he and Peta come together and get in sync, the dance is gorgeous.
What the judges say: Len says he's a fan of James, but criticizes his posture. Abby basically says that Peta only looks amazing because James lets her. Bruno loves the "romance blossoming" (symbolism!), but agrees with Len about James' holds. Carrie Ann also agrees with Len and says she'll dock a point for Peta's foot coming up at one point.
Score: 36
Amy Purdy and Derek Hough (Argentine tango)
The dance: I don't know how Amy's going to make it through this routine after her back/rib injury last week, but here goes nothing. Derek's choreography, no surprise, is to die for. Let's be honest, he's doing most of the work in this number, but Amy still manages to impress with sharp, controlled movements throughout the dance. Given what she's been dealing with the past week, it's incredible to watch.
What the judges say: Abby compliments Derek's choreography and tells her young dancers they should look to Amy for inspiration. Bruno calls the performance "totally spellbinding." Carrie Ann says the dance took her breath away, and even grouchy Len feels like he was in a dream.
Score: 40
Now, on to the second round: the Celebrity Dancing Duel, in which two couples will be paired up to dance as a foursome.
Meryl/Maks and Danica/Val (samba)
The dance: This is so awkward. Maks calls Danica "condescending," and then he and Val's grandmother surprises them by showing up at the studio. (Meryl's apparently already at the "meet the family" stage! I kid. Mostly.) For the dance itself, the pairs are great, but they can't get it together as a quintet and Danica and Meryl aren't in sync at all when they take center stage. All in all, the whole doesn't add up to more than the sum of its parts.
What the judges say: Len notes the "lack of synchronicity" between Danica and Meryl, but loved it overall. Abby criticizes their arms and wishes the girls would have been in heels. Bruno and Carrie Ann both compliment the content, but Carrie Ann notes that since it's going to be scored as a group performance, it wasn't great.
The score: 34
Charlie/Sharna and Candace/Mark (contemporary)
The dance: No synchronicity issues here! This choreography is great — particularly with Charlie lifting Candace so that her feet never once touch the ground for the duration of their 20-second solo. The dance tells a story while still managing to be beautiful and engaging. This is the best routine of the night so far.
What the judges say: Abby tells Candace she looks like a member of her company, and tells Charlie he's "amazing." Bruno says they're "made for each other." Carrie Ann nitpicks that Charlie knocked Sharna off at one point. Len noticed it too, but is complimentary overall.
Score: 38
James/Peta and Amy/Derek (jive)
The dance: Amy's nervous to dance with James, who doesn't know how much support she needs in a typical dance. (Honestly, my stomach dropped and I gasped out loud when he fell with her in rehearsal.) This routine is so fun! It also puts the Chmerkovskiy brothers to shame, with James and Peta nailing their solo and looking like they've been dancing together for the entire competition.
What the judges say: It was "fabulous," according to Bruno. Carrie Ann is thrilled that James and Amy danced as well with each other as they do with their pro partners. Len quotes the song title and says there "ain't nothin' wrong with that" (heh), and Abby says it made her want to get up and dance.
Score: 39
And now the moment we've all been sadistically waiting for. Who's going home?
Safe: Candace and Mark
Eliminated: Danica and Val
That's a shame. Danica sweetly says that it "works out" because she didn't want to see any of the other contestants eliminated.
What did you think? What were your favorite routines of the night? Are you sad to see Danica and Val go home? Weigh in below!
Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
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Happy Cinco de Mayo, Dancing with the Stars fans! Or should that be "Bailando con las Estrellas"? Shouldn't they have saved Latin Night for this week? (Alright, I'll stop.)
Mark Ballas kicks off the festivities by performing his new single "Get My Name" with the rest of the pros. And Erin and Tom introduce the episode's guest judge, Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller — whom the camera catches in an unfortunate "I don't know what I'm doing here" moment early on.
To the dances!
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