Dancing With The Stars, Week Seven

By Armando Martin, Fred Astaire National Dance Director

It was a great night at Dancing with the Stars last Tuesday. As a long time professional dancer and competitor, I must give all the stars and their teachers a lot of credit for being able to put two dances together and perform them as well as they did in only 5 days. It blew my mind that that can be done by non professional dancers.

This week's competition is absolutely bringing the cream to the top. It was very evident by their dancing that some of the contestants still there did not really belong there and probably should have departed a few weeks ago.

So let us take a look at all the dancers one by one.

First tonight was Laila Ali and Maks. Laila is an absolutely natural dancer, athlete and lady. The Quick Step is not an easy dance to do but tonight - with her great use of feet, legs, and absolute and total control over her body - she made it look as though she has been doing it for years. I felt that Maks could have challenged her more in the Choreography department but she did fantastic with what she was given.

In the Samba, Maks did a much better job of choreographing Laila's part in order to bring out her best talents and also was smart enough to use her attributes. She has beauty, talent and a great strength of center, not to mention her sexual portrayal of the dance. The only negative that I saw was her arms - although they are beautiful and long, they sometimes look like she is struggling to find the right place to put them. Total Score for Maks and Laila: 59

The second couple dancing that evening was John Ratzenberger and Edyta. They danced a Fox-trot and a Rumba. John was a very lucky gentleman to make it as far as he did. His footwork and overall technique was very much lacking throughout the competition but I think that his soft Teddy Bear look and pleasant demeanor won him a lot of fans. Also, I am sure that most people remember him from his days on Cheers (as I do). John and Edyta were sent home the next night with a total score of 45.

Next to take the dance floor was Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough. If you have ever seen Apolo on the ice, you would know what an intense competitor he is and it would be clear that under that cute smile and almost shy attitude he has a killer instinct in him. It is that instinct and the perfect body and shape for a dancer that makes him one of my picks for the last three finalists. Apolo and Julianne started out with a Fox-trot that was so well done that it would have made the final of a small Rising Star event. His frame was impeccable and it allowed him to make some wonderful shapes and move across the floor with the balance and fluidity of an accomplished Gold level Student. His rendition of the Mambo was just as strong. He is so over his feet when he dances, which I guess you can attribute to his ice skating training, that he can do just about any type of step or trick and pull it off without a hinge. His hip action, foot work posture and rhythmicality made him the guy to beat.

Len Goodman's comments about his wanting more from Apollo and giving kudos to John can only account for the fact that he feels that a younger, more talented performer can do more than an older one, but in this case Apolo is by a wide margin.

Total score for Apolo and Julianne: 54

In the fourth order of appearance this evening was Ian and Cheryl dancing a Tango and a Mambo. Ian, to me, has the best body and presence to pull off a great upset. He is tall, very good looking, has long legs arms and very flexible feet, but I think he lacks a full understanding of what dancing is all about and is too self aware of that fact. His Tango tonight was not very good. His frame was very loose and he was almost squatting when he danced; however, his Mambo was much better. He kept his knees bent and stayed low to the ground the whole time giving Cheryl a good strong base from which to dance herself.

In my opinion, Ian needs to learn his steps faster than just work on the feeling and musicality, because he does have the physical attributes to be a contender. Total Score for Ian and Cheryl: 54

What can you say about Billy Ray? I very much appreciate his exuberance, his trying hard, his dedication to the job at hand, but what I do not appreciate is his dancing. All he can do is just get through the steps. Karina - who is by far the best female pro in the competition - has done a good job of giving him choreography that allows him to shine with personality but he is very much lacking technique and posture. You have to like the guy. He is very charismatic, funny and very humble for someone as accomplished as he is in the music world, but after he goes home next week we will truly have a dance competition in our hands. Total Score for Billy Ray and Karina: 38

Tying Laila and Maks also with a 59 was Joey and Kym. This guy you just have to like. He is funny, very talented and by far the best Character in the competition. Previous seasons had George Hamilton and John O'Hurley; this season, we have Joey. This guy is going to be the one to beat. He has talent, good footwork, great feeling for the dances, and he puts it all together in a great package that entertains you from beginning to end.

His Fox-trot was smooth, well expressed, and dynamic. Again, Len did not like the razzle dazzle, but that is what dancing should be when it is done with all the ingredients mixed in the right amount.

His Jive was full of life and packed with difficult kicks and tricks that he handled like a seasoned pro. His technique was strong, his posture excellent, and his performance flawless for a guy who's been working on this for only a few weeks.

I think that next week is going to be the beginning of the real competition so don't miss it. I'll be back in touch next Wednesday as well.