Dancing with the Stars: Week 3

 A double elimination this week on Dancing with the Stars proves you have to vote to make sure your favorite contestant stays on the show. Drew Lachey and Helio Castrneves have hung up their dancing shoes, despite getting better use out of them than some of the remaining contestants. Show producers gave creative control to the celebrities this week and that means they got to call the shots. Drew and Anna did a nice cha cha routine. The dance concept was a rock concert and it was well done, but after seeing all of the other performers it seems as though Drew’s dance was a bit weak and lacked a standout quality. I would have likely forgotten about it if I hadn’t written it down. Helio and Chelsea had a pinstripe concept for their performance and it went well except when the racecar driver got caught in Chelsea’s dress. There just weren’t enough viewer votes to pull either of the two through to the next week.

Kirstie Alley is on my list of celebrity dancers that should have gone home instead. Her routine was high in entertainment value. Kirstie consistently brings that quality to her dances. However, while there were no technical mess-ups with the footwork it still feels labored. It is like her legs and feet move much slower than they should, which is hard to watch when the song is upbeat. It leaves me wanting more.

            Bristol Palin is at the bottom of the leaderboard again, however her routine was cleaner this week and the creative aspect that she put into it was nicely executed. In my eyes, Bristol managed to lift herself out of the bottom spot on my list this week. You can tell she is trying hard.

            This week my list of favorites contains my regulars. Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough have been on this list every week so far, and for good reason. They keep bringing the innovation, energy, and optimism. Each week they’ve pushed their routines further and further to tackle more complicated moves and incorporate elements that have never been tried before. This week their quickstep routine was high flying, with the help of trampolines, and tricky. Gilles and Peta delivered a strong and sexy tango to “Sweet Dreams.” Gilles developed an excellently conceptualized theme that fit right along with the name of the song. In the beginning, Gilles was lifted off the bed and transported across the air above the stage by a harness and rigging. All pieces of the routine, from the costume to the set, fit perfectly with the dream theme. Apollo and Karina performed a smooth and sensual tango to “Fever.” Apollo’s concept of a statue being brought to life for one dance was original and was executed well. Each of my three favorites brings something different to the dance floor and at this time it would be hard for me to pick just one favorite.