Dancing with the Stars - Week 7

Week 7 of “Dancing with the Stars” had seven couples, two dances, new costume designer, and another sick dancer. With the end of the season and a new couple crowned as the winners head judge Len Goodman had a bit of advice for the remaining couples saying that the pressure could make or break a couple and that good was no longer good enough.

This week the celebrities got the opportunity to design the costumes. Along with their solo dance performances the couples were divided into groups to perform a team dance for which they would receive a single score that would be added to their solo dance scores for a maximum total of 60 points.

With another week of the dance off and double eliminations the pressure was on for the couples to perform their best, which proved to be more of a challenge for some than others.

Siting that he had not had this much fun since watching Barney with his children, football star Michael IrvinMichael Irvin chose purple for his and Anna’s costumes. Performing the elegant Foxtrot Michael earned his best score yet. Saying that he was glad the footballer stayed around Len called the dance very good. Bruno complemented Michael on his improved musicality and Carrie Ann said that the performance was very well done including the costumes. Michael and Anna earned a score of 24 for their Foxtrot.

Next up were Donny and Kym performing a Quickstep with Donny sporting a tuxedo. Len praised Donny’s Quickstep while Bruno and Carrie Ann noted that despite the mistakes Donny was a great performer. Donny and Kym earned a score of 24 on their Quickstep.

With Lacey taking ill during the week Mark found himself with three different partners along with the taping of his show “Iron Chef” in New York City leaving Mark only 48 hours to lean his performances. Lacey, Tony Dovolani, and Anna Trebinskya all partnered with Mark and Anna performing in Lacey’s place. Unfortunately for Mark the bad week showed up in his performance with Bruno comparing Mark’s Samba to “Kung Fu Panda doing a Samba on Planet of the Apes”. Mark and Anna scored the lowest points of the night earning only 19.

May and Dmitriy were the only couple to repeat a dance with the Foxtrot. Dmitriy called in a former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant to help Mya out with her Foxtrot – Chloris Leachman lent a helping hand in getting Mya in character for her dance. While Bruno and Carrie Ann loved the performance with Bruno comparing it to the Golden Age of Hollywood; the performance had too many gimmicks to suit Len. Mya and Dmitriy scored a 25 on their Foxtrot.

After avoiding a third trip to the bottom two last week Aaron and Karina were hoping their Jive would keep the good reviews coming. Carrie Ann called Aaron a little roadrunner and Bruno said Aaron kicked tuchas, and Len said that the performance had enough energy to light up Hollywood adding that he was tempted to dust off his 10 paddle. Len wasn’t the only one who dusted of the 10 with only Carrie Ann awarding a nine for a total of 29 points.

Kelly and Louis took on the Salsa in a week that proved trying for Kelly who was upset after Bruno called her Jitterbug beige. In a dance that had the dancers pulling costume parts of their partners Carrie Ann called Kelly to the desk for a high five calling the performance brilliant. Len stood and called the dance a full performance and Bruno took it a step further and stood on the desk dancing around. Kelly later thanked Bruno for calling her Jitterbug beige. Kelly and Louis earned a score of 24 for their dance.

The final solo performance of the evening belonged to Joanna and Derek who performed a Rumba that earned praise from the judges along with three nines for a total of 27.

Team Paso performing a Paso Doble were Mark and Anna, Aaron and Karina, Mya and Dmitriy, and Michael and Anna. While judges noted that the dancers properly attacked the dance there were occasions when the dancers were a bit out of sync. Team Paso received a score of 24 for their dance.

Team Tango consisted of Joanna and Derek, Donny and Kym, and Kelly and Louis. With Donny as the only celebrity dancer the girls focused on him in the first part of the dance. Len said that the dance was superior and the team earned a score of 28 for their Tango.

Mark and Anna (Lacey) – 19

Michael and Anna – 23
Donny and Kym – 24
Kelly and Louis – 24
Mya nad Dmitriy – 25
Joanna and Derek – 27
Aaron and Karina – 29

After team dances

Mark and Lacey (Anna) – 43
Michael and Anna – 47
Mya and Dmitriy – 49
Kelly and Louis – 51
Donny and Kym – 52
Aaron and Karina – 53
Joanna and Derek - 55