Dancing with the Stars - Week 1 the Guys

“Dancing with the Stars” kicked off season 9 with a little something different. The show opened with the male contingent of the professional dance force performing a group number to “The Boys are Back in Town”. The group dance was not the only change in store for the show. The design a dance, Macy’s Stars of Dance, and professional dance competition will all make a return; but this season the dance relay makes its debut.

Dancers on “Dancing with the Stars” must perform ballroom dances and Latin dances. On week one the male celebrities opened the season and after performing their chosen dance style they were divided into two groups to perform a relay – one behind the other performing the same dance to the same song – for 30 seconds for a chance to impress the judges and better their scores. Points are rewarded, 10-8-6-4, for each place which are then added to the scores from their first dance.

The first couple to take the floor was singer Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff performing a Cha Cha Cha. Head judge Len Goodman, Carrie Ann InabaCarrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tomioli all agreed that Carter showed great potential and rewarded Aaron and Karina the highest single dance score of the night with a 22.

Next up were UFC and MMA champion Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunskaya who performed the elegant Foxtrot. Len said the dance was better than he expected and Bruno referred to the couple as the gentle Neanderthal and the Russian Princess. Carrie Ann summed up the judges thoughts with not graceful but entertaining. Judges gave Chuck and Anna a score of 16.

Actor Mark Dacoscos and self professed ballroom rebel Lacey Schwimmer took on the Cha Cha Cha. Taking advantage of Mark’s martial arts prowess they performed a kung fu Cha Cha Cha to “Kung Fu Fighting” that was not totally to traditionalist Len Goodman’s liking. Carrie Ann loved the Asian theme and Bruno noted that the talent was there but all judges agreed that the dance was a bit too gimmicky. Mark and Lacey scored a 21 for their dance.

It was a bit of déjà vu for Edyta SliwinskaEdyta Sliwinska, the only professional dancer to appear in every season of “Dancing with the Stars”, who was paired with Ashley Hamilton the son of former dancer partner George Hamilton. The couple performed a Foxtrot that Bruno said had a total lack of showmanship. Len praised the basic footwork and Carrie Ann said that Ashley needed to define himself. Judges gave the couple a score of 15 for the dance.

Showman Donny OsmondDonny Osmond and Australian dance champion Kym Johnson took on the Foxtrot. Osmond said that his sister and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Marie dared her brother to finish better than she did; Marie finished third in season five. Judges praised Donny for his showmanship performance and entertainment value but said that he needed to work on the dance moves. Donny and Kym received a score of 20 for their dance.

Snowboard champion Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower performed a Foxtrot. In his pre-dance video Louie admitted to not only having never had a dance lesson, but that he had never even seen an episode of the show. Despite that Len said that Louie’s technique and hold were very good. Bruno called Louie cute but added that the dance lacked fluidity and Carrie Ann said that she was a bit surprised and enjoyed the dance. Louie and Chelsie received a score of 19.

Football star Michael IrvinMichael Irvin and the newest member to the show and last season’s professional dancer competition winner Anna Demidova performed a Cha Cha Cha. When Anna asked Irvin why he came on the show, Irvin said Jerry RiceJerry Rice. Irvin sees the dance competition as his only chance to beat Jerry Rice who made it to the finals. Len said that it was not great for a first dance and Bruno said that Michael had great presence and was a crowd pleaser but that the dance was poor. Carrie Ann said that Michael beat Jerry in charisma but that the dance had a lack of content and needed more dance moves. Michael and Anna received the lowest score of the ngith with a 13.

The last couple on the floor was politician and former majority leader of the House of Representatives Tom Delay and two time “Dancing with the Stars” champion Cheryl Burke who took on the Cha Cha Cha to the song “Wild Thing”. Bruno told Tom he was crazier than Sarah PalinSarah Palin. Carrie Ann called the performance surreal and noted that Tom had natural grace. Len said that parts of the dance were magic and parts tragic adding that the Cha Cha Cha moves were good. The couple scored a 16 for their dance.

The first of the two relay dances was a Salsa and was performed by Chuck, Ashley, Donny, Louie, and their partners. When the dance was over Ashely received 4 points, Chuck 6 points, Louie 8 points, and Donny was the winner with 10 points.

The second relay dance was a Viennese Waltz with Michael, Aaron, Tom, Mark, and their partners. Tom received 4 points, Michael got 6 points, Mark 8 points, and Aaron won with 10 points.

On Tuesday night the female celebrities will take the dance floor with their partners for a chance to wow the judges.

Ashley and Edyta – 19
Michael and Anna – 19
Tom and Cheryl - 20
Chuck and Anna – 22
Louie and Chelsie -27
Mark and Lacey – 29
Donny and Kym - 30

Aaron and Karina – 32