I didn't know what to expect from Monday's Instant Dance. Each pair had to learn a Latin dance, but was not given their music until 20-30 minutes prior to the performance on Monday. How did it go?
The two front runners in the scoring, Brandy and Jennifer, were outstanding. I thought Kyle and Kurt had close to their best moments. And while I didn't think Bristol showed much improvement, she didn't backslide either.
I say that this should become a regular feature. And here are the dances we liked.
We loved the Quickstep from Jennifer and Derek. Click here if the video doesn't play.
We thought the Waltz from Brandy and Maks was pretty close to perfect. Click here if the video doesn't play.
The Instant Dance Jive from Kyle and Lacey had just enough wildness without going over the edge. Click here if the video doesn't play.
The Instant Dance Cha Cha Cha that Kurt danced with Anna was terrific, and we thought was scored too low. Click here if the video doesn't play.
What we liked about the Instant Dance Cha Cha Cha from Brandy and Maks was how relaxed, confident, and effortless it was. Click here if the video doesn't play.
Dance of the night goes to the sublime Instant Dance Rumba from Jennifer and Derek. Click here if the video doesn't play.
Excellent.
Here's a reminder of the leader board from Monday night:
57 Brandy and Maks
57 Jennifer and Derek
56 Kyle and Lacey
48 Kurt and Anna
47 Bristol and Mark
The judges select the Jive from Kyle and Lacey as the encore performance.
Results...Kyle and Lacey are in the Final Four.
Must we have Dance Center again? Evidently we must.
Taio Cruz is in the ballroom. It should come as no surprise to anyone that I have no idea who this young man is. He is accompanied by Dmitry, Tony, Louis, Peta, Chelsie, and Kym. I actually enjoyed the music.
John Legend and the Roots perform Wake Up Everybody. And we get more from our pros, which I always enjoy. This time we have Tony, Maks, Cheryl, and Chelsie. That was a fine cover of a song originally performed by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in 1975, featuring Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals. The song was written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, and Victor Carstarphen.
More results...Jennifer and Derek are in the Final Four.
So Maks was forced to apologize backstage without a reciprocal apology from Carrie Ann for taking that dust up on Monday much too far. I think they were both wrong for letting their difference of opinion overshadow the performance.
Oh my gosh! Ballroom kids dancing a Jive accompanied by a piano prodigy. That was awesome!! And two of those kids are from the Seattle area.
John Legend and the Roots return to perform Ordinary People, accompanied by Mark and...yes, that's Jeanine Mason, SYTYCD Season 5 champion. That was beautiful, both the music and the dancing.
Did we really have to follow that amazing moment with another Dance Center? Evidently we did.
More results...Bristol and Mark are in the Final Four. Brandy and Maks are in the Final Four.
That means Kurt and Anna are out.
That's a shame. I can say that I respect what he accomplished on the show. He's a true gentleman. I thought the Instant Dance Cha Cha Cha on Monday was one of his best performances of the season, and I thought the judges did him a disservice with 8's across.
But remember, it's not just the judges' scores. It's the fans that vote for their favorites. I would have thrown all my votes to Jennifer even if she hadn't danced as well as she did.
And to be fair, at the end of the show Carrie Ann was given time to express her respect for all the professional dancers.
Check back next week for the semi-finals!
