The Olympic gymnast is praised for showing a good balance between emotion and athletic moves in her contemporary number.
- Apr 9, 2013
AceShowbiz - The remaining contestants of "Dancing with the Stars" season 16 returned on Monday night, April 8 to dance the "best year of your life." Lisa Vanderpump, who fainted during rehearsal and skipped the practice on Sunday, was curiously missing at the beginning of the show, but she eventually made it to dance that night.
Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd kicked off the competition that night. "The Bachelor" star picked 2012, the time he met fiancee Catherine, as the best year of his life. He danced an elegant Vienese waltz, and Len Goodman commended him for his "pretty good effort at a difficult dance." Carrie Ann Inaba warned him to "watch the lifts." The judges gave him 20 points.
Victor Ortiz and Lindsay Arnold danced a paso doble to commemorate the time he won the WBC Welterweight Championship. The aggressive dance might fit to describe his feelings, but Bruno Tonioli commented, "You're supposed to dance it, not attack it." Len admired his spirit and said the boxer did well. Victor got 18 points.
Jacoby Jones chose 2012 as the best year of his life because that's when his son was born. To celebrate it, he and Karina Smirnoff danced a foxtrot which Carrie Ann called "phenomenal." Bruno and Len also liked it, with the former saying, "You were trotting at full-throttle!" The NFL player earned 24 points.
Aly Raisman raised the bar even higher when she came out later. Celebrating 2012 when she won her Olympic Gold Medal, she danced a contemporary routine with Mark Ballas which allowed her to incorporate some gymnastics moves. "I liked the balance between showing emotion and the athleticism of the whole thing," Len raved, while Bruno exclaimed, "You're going for gold, my darling!" She earned 27 points.
Andy Dick's best year is 2013 because of his sobriety and his kids. He and Sharna Burgess danced a Viennese waltz to express his emotion and he dedicated the dance to his daughter Meg. He brought Carrie Ann to tears as Bruno described the number as being "simple. Effective. Straight from the heart." Len added, "You came onto this show a man, whatever happens, you'll go out of this a hero." The funnyman got 21 points.
For Zendaya Coleman, 2009 is the best year of her life because she started working in L.A. and got discovered at the time. She and Val Chmerkovskiy danced a samba to Beyonce Knowles' "Love on Top". Carrie Ann gushed, "Honey, you are baby Beyonce! The way you worked that movement girl, Beyonce better watch her back." Bruno said it was "so slick." The judges gave her 26 points.
Ingo Rademacher and Kym Johnson danced a Viennese waltz to celebrate 2009, the time he got married. Len said, "I commend you on your footwork," but noticed "there was a couple of little incidents with the arms." Bruno, however, called it "elegant, dashing and deeply romantic." The actor got 23 points.
D.L. Hughley's best year was when he's in 8th/9th grade, because "everything was sweeter." He danced a foxtrot with Cheryl Burke, busting some sexy moves and crawling on the floor. Bruno and Len agreed that the dance had more content than D.L.'s previous performances, with Carrie Ann adding, "That's the real breakthrough, my friend." He earned 21 points for his fun dance.
Kellie Pickler danced a rumba with Derek Hough to celebrate 2011, the year he got married to Kyle Jacobs, who sang "Say I Do" live to accompany her dance. Carrie Ann said, "Every single shape you hit is like a work of art," but added, "There was something a little strange with your movements." Bruno said it was "beau-ti-ful." The country music singer got 26 points.
Saved until last, Lisa Vanderpump and her pro partner Gleb Savchenko danced cha cha cha to celebrate the year her daughter got married. She missed some steps, but the judges excused it considering her health issue. "[The mistakes] are down to under-rehearsal," Len said. Bruno chimed in, "You look pretty well for someone coming out of hospital." The reality TV star got 18 points.
