We decided to give everyone a shot at the Mirrorball Trophy, and not just the young gymnast types. We pinpointed one key thing that could put each of these celebrities in the running for winning it all on Dancing With the Stars Season 23.
The country singer, with the model looks pairs with the dancer, with model looks. But for either of these print campaign worthy people to hold Mirror Ball Trophy, they'll need something more.
As a singer, Jana Kramer probably knows all too well that there are some songs that are untouchable. You don't reinterpret them, remix them, or try to one-up them. They are the classics, the standards. As a dancer, Gleb Savchenko probably knows that he pushed the envelope on what the standards are for a dance like Viennese Waltz - which resulted in a minor lecture from Len Goodman. This is why Kramer and Savchenko need fundamentals. Crystal clear, by the book, basic actions so they don't get painted into the non-traditional, "oops we just remixed this classic", corner.
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is as silky smooth as they come, but he'll be singing his hit song, "When Can I See You Again?" to his teacher, Allison Holker, if he doesn't break the mold a bit.
He's got to be daring. A Tango is a great dance for bringing the Alpha Male out in any dancer, and while Foxtrot speaks to his laid back persona, a dance like Tango - which he performed in week 2 - will keep him from retracting back to his smooth Foxtrot-like comfort zone.
Marilu Henner is up against some young talent, but for this ageless stage and screen star, this probably isn't the first time.
Best Advice: Henner is in great shape, but she won't win the Mirror Ball trophy on athleticism. To win it all, Henner and Hough will need to dive deep into the character of each dance with smart choreography that showcases the nuances of the music they are given. Fortunately, she's got an Emmy winning choreographer as a teacher. Henner is an incredibly versatile performer, and no one has been better at interpreting the music than Hough, and that's why this pair make a great duo.
Amber Rose has the capability of filling out a dance frame, and lighting up the room like no one else, but the question is - will she?
Trust the process. Despite the efforts of show veteran, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Rose has already stirred up some controversy by suggesting that DWTS is rigged. Learning to dance takes time, and even though the stars on the show are digesting a year's worth of lessons every 2-3 weeks, it still takes time to look and feel confident. Winning it all will start with one single, comfort zone altering, jaw dropping performance for the audience to see Rose as a possible contender, and hopefully Rose will start to believe it as well. Maybe she did just that with her Game of Thrones routine in Week 2?
Rick Perry could surprise you, but even if he doesn't; he's got a bigger plan in mind.
Just keep dancing! How many celebrities, including Mirror Ball winners, keep dancing when the show is over? We loved hearing that Rick's goal was to surprise his daughter with his dance skills. That's an audience more important than any other. Whether it is Emma Slater, or some great Dance Studios in Texas we can highly recommend, we think Governor Perry should keep dancing and be the first to volunteer for a "where are they now" update on the show in the future.
She's already an odds on favorite to win this season, and we already picked her as a contender, but here are some things Laurie Hernandez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy must do to win.
Miss Hernandez wowed everyone in week 1, but this isn't the time for her to start clearing her awards shelf for space for the Mirror Ball Trophy. She's got to stay humble, tune out all of the hype, and keep working. Dance-wise, expect Val to work a steady does of basic actions with Laurie's training so anything athletic, or acrobatic, is rooted in fundamentals. Did she do just that in her Week 2 Performance?
Ryan Lochte is an underdog in Season 23, but maybe that can work to his advantage.
Focus. The last thing Lochte needs in his life is another interview about the Olympics scandal, or protester storming the dance floor because of it. Last time we checked, there were no protesters in the Week 2 airing of the show. Cheryl Burke is a smart and capable teacher, and this isn't the time to make any statement other than "let's focus on dancing". Lochte needs to play the long game and show us his focus from week to week so, if all goes well, his comeback story can unfold.
Vanilla Ice had a strong debut in week 1. Then again, much of his opening choreography was older than his instructor, Whitney Carson.
Vanilla Ice needs to show us that he's more than Vanilla Ice. He needs to ditch the hat, the baggy pants, and any more of his 90's running man moves to show the viewing public that he's all in on becoming a Ballroom and Latin dancer. Let's see if he did enough with his Foxtrot in Week 2.
Calvin Johnson is an athletic marvel, but can that hard work and physical skill translate to the Ballroom?
He needs to dance tall. It's very common for tall guys to drop their focus to shorter partners. It feels polite to assimilate, especially when you're 6'4". Johnson is the tallest contestant this season, but now he's got to dance that way. By standing tall, and finishing all of his lines, he and Lindsay Arnold, have a chance to make a Jerry Rice run at the Mirrorball Trophy.
Maureen McCormick showed us in Week 1 that she was moved to emotion at the thought of becoming a dancer. Her next goal is to move the viewers to vote for her.
Diversity. With great posture, and that charismatic smile, McCormick already has the carriage of someone who takes ballroom dance lessons. Now she needs to show people that she has a sexy side. While challenging, the Latin dances will present an opportunity for her to do that, and it may be enough to move her much further in the competition.
Jake T. Austin made no attempts to mask his feelings for his teacher, Jenna Johnson. But if the rumors are true, he's got to turn his sights on a different trophy.
Sure, rumors of DWTS romance always sell more magazines, get more blog views, and add more juicy speculation to the show, but that has nothing to do with Jake's ability to absorb dance information. If Austin wants to go far in this competition, he's got to have focus. Like an athlete in training camp, or an actor immersing themselves in their character, Jake needs to buckle down and focus on dancing.
James Hinchcliffe used to be the most famous racer-turned-dancer that no one was talking about. That is, until he wowed everyone with his performance in Week 1.
Hip Action. At some point, Hinchcliffe will need to move his hips in a Latin Dance, and Sharna Burgess can make that happen. After a convincing and authentic Ballroom performance in Week 1, a Paso Doble in week 2, he's a lock to go further than most of the other guys on the show. Hip Motion won't just sway the female voters, but it's also a cornerstone for solid Latin technique.
Terra Jole may be a Little Person, but she joined the show to push the boundaries, not to hide behind them.
Volume. There are tall dancers that lack Volume, and there are shorter ones that don't. To dance with volume means to occupy as much space through your dancing as your body will allow. This makes your performance stand out, and this fits the boundary pushing theme for Jole.
Read more about our DWTS Season 23 Predictions
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