The show must go on.
After the shocking elimination of Heather Morris in Week 6, there was no telling who could be eliminated next. As evidenced by Show 7 and a Double Elimination. It seems that Movie Week was a theme with the ABC producers, as viewers everywhere are feeling the suspense of a Hitchcock movie hoping that their favorite celebrities survive.
Week 7 Dance: Paso Doble
No doubt whatsoever, Rashad is the top male in this competition... and now, it's not even close. What Bonner is lacking in flexibility, Jennings has it. What David Ross is lacking in focus, Jennings has it. What Nick Viall is lacking in presentation, Jennings has it.
His Paso Doble was a testament to that. His performance was dominant, and he's breaking the mold of what male competitors can achieve.
Moving Forward
Nothing has changed for Jennings, other than his dance skill, the costumes, and his improving execution. The consistent thing? His chances.
"Prediction: Jennings may be, quite literally, the last man standing in Season 24."
Week 7 Dance: Tango
There's that look, the chin down with the eyes up. The one you've seen guys like James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Brad Pitt mesmerize adoring female fans with - let's call it "Blue Steel". While "Blue Steel" may make for a more intriguing and mysterious look on a guy posing in a picture - it can be a disaster for a dance performance.
Nick Viall was, and still is, a master of the "Blue Steel" look. It's probably how he pulled off such an impressive run on those dating shows, but it is most likely his undoing on Dancing with the Stars.
Moving Forward
Nick danced his last dance in Week 7. Albeit, it was loaded with great material, Peta didn't go overboard on the "smoke and mirrors" props, and he definitely left on a high note. Here's hoping he can turn the love of his life into his regular dance partner, and his time in the public eye into another worthwhile gig.
"Prediction: He may be the one going home next week, but it's not for a lack of effort."
Week 7 Dance: Paso Doble
This was quite the production. The only thing that it was lacking was a Paso Doble routine. There were plenty of positives for Bonner - he looks more confident, and he danced with much more animation - but all in all, this week was a step back for him.
Moving Forward
The Dancing with the Stars audience should know by now that high production value - like movie sets, stunt props, and a cast of background dancers - can't cover a lack of dance development. This was a Hollywood cover job if there ever was one, and Mr. Bolton and Sharna are going to need more than that to move forward.
Prediction: As popular as he is with the fans, with competitors like Mr. T and Erika Jayne gone, Bolton is going to have a tough time in comparison to Biles, Jennings, and Kordei.
Week 7 Dance: Tango
Normani and Val danced to the iconic song "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas", which translates to "Maybe, Maybe, Maybe". Well, there was nothing "Maybe" about this routine, or Normani's chances to go all the way to the Finals. This Tango, more of an Argentine Tango for those of you dancers scoring at home, was phenomenal and looked effortless.
Moving Forward
Val has been steadily drawing out the strengths of Normani, and adjusting the delivery to mask any potential weaknesses she may have - and we're still trying to find out what those are.
"Normani is motivated and it shows. There's a point in anyone's Dance Journey when things start to click, and the student starts to see themselves as a dancer, not just someone taking dance lessons. Normani is there, but with fire in her belly and daggers in her eyes."
David Ross & Lindsay
Week 7 Dance: Salsa
It takes a certain level of confidence and comfort to get to a stage where your dance performance tells a story, and has a very readable point of view. David and Lindsay have shown that consistently from week to week, and that has become their point of differentiation against some of the more nimble or acrobatic performers.
Their Salsa showed enough quality and authenticity to justify the Mr. Roboto futuristic hip-hop vibe.
Moving Forward
As a baseball player, David Ross was not an All Star, but he was a fan favorite. In DWTS he seems to be following a similar path.
"Ross has done enough to secure a solid run through this season of DWTS, but to be a serious contender, Ross will need to show a refined and sophisticated side. He's like a Light Beer - It's perfect for a ballgame, but not what you'd serve at a fancy dinner. Here's hoping we see David Ross, the Cabernet, at some point in the near future. "
Week 6 Dance: Tango
Nancy has established herself as an ice skater turned ballroom dancer. The confidence in her body awareness is evident in her Tango routine, and she continues to make her performances look easier and easier.
Moving Forward
She had a great night, had some shaky spots in the Dance Off, but Nancy Kerrigan was eliminated. While this wasn't as controversial an elimination as Heather Morris, it certainly made it clear that the show is moving closer to the finale faster than we may have thought.
Nancy had a wonderful transformation throughout the season. With rumors of her being difficult before the show aired, she consistently made strides in her improvement, and that was evident both in her dancing, and in the joy she showed during her performances.
Hopefully, she sees the potential of ballroom dancing as an ongoing hobby, but even if she were to step away from dancing for good - she proved to America that she still has star power when the lights are shining.
"Prediction: She may have started slow, but at this pace of improvement, Kerrigan could unseat some early favorites."
Week 6 Dance: Charleston
This Charleston routine was smart, fun, and featured just enough of the high flying abilities without it overpowering a great performance. This Charleston (Lindy Hop) routine was the Gold Standard for future routines in that genre. It was that good, and Biles is looking like the Finalist everyone anticipated.
Moving Forward
While many viewers may only see Biles the talented gymnast, she has worked hard and transformed into a wonderful dancer.
"Sasha has done a masterful job of developing and showcasing Simone's softer movements, and not over-indulging on her strength and flexibility."
The clock is ticking. As tough as it is to face the reality that some of the early favorites aren't safe any longer, these eliminations are also a telling reminder that the season is winding down to a close sooner that later.
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