Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
By Kim | Season 14 | Episode 8 | Aired on 04.16.2012
They are dancing the salsa. Well, their routine has a LOT of content. Melissa doesn't stop moving from the first moment to the last, and she's trying REALLY hard. That said, there's something weird about her legs and hips. I don't know if they're stiff or what, but they don't look feminine. Judges? Bruno loved her attack but wants her to have more control. Carrie Ann loved Melissa's increased confidence but it was out of control a bit, and she advises Melissa to take smaller steps. I actually agree with that, and that might be the weirdness I saw. Len says there were good parts and bad parts, but overall, he enjoyed it. Way to say nothing, Len. Scores: Carrie Ann 7, Len 7, and Bruno 7.
Last week, Maria and Derek got high scores, and this week, they have the salsa, so they have to bring on the sexy. In rehearsals, they are practicing a move where Maria goes through Derek's legs face down and her hands slip and she lands chin-first on the floor. OUCH! It made a really loud noise and freaked her out, but she turned out to be fine. Good Lord. First, her ribs, then her feet, and now her chin.
So their dance. It has a LOT of tricks. But weirdly, not much content. Melissa and Maks did twice as much actual dancing, to my eyes. This seemed like a lot of repetitions of the basic salsa step in between Derek tearing off his shirt (that happened) or them grinding their pelvises together (that happened) or them kissing (that happened). It felt like Derek was choreographing around Maria's weaknesses and yet, in the parts that she actually danced, Maria looked good. Judges? Carrie Ann thought it was hot, but she didn't think they needed the kiss. Len thought the routine revealed Maria's huge talent. I think Derek has a boner, you guys. There is something happening in his pants area. Bruno asks if it was legal, if they need a room, and if he can join in. Well, that's a useful critique of the dance. Scores: Carrie Ann 9, Len 9, and Bruno 9. Hmm. I feel like they were rewarding glitz over technique.
Mark and Katherine were worried last week, so this week they are working extra hard on their Argentine tango. Except Katherine's kicks and flicks end up kicking Mark in the nuts, multiple times. I'm not going to pretend I didn't enjoy that. He needs a few kicks in the nuts. When their tango starts, Mark is holding a bottle and they do the first third of the dance with it, which is just distracting. That said, Katherine looks like a pro. Her movements are so smooth and beautiful. And there are tempo changes but Katherine doesn't miss a beat. It was really great.