On Monday evening, the most happiest place on earth transcended into the Dancing with the Stars ballroom. Season 19 winner Alfonso Riberio delivered an opening number on alongside Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daffy and the remaining contenders and their pros.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDyW9rSdVDw
With it being Disney night on DWTS, each couple came to dance and displayed mystical moves as characters from some of the company’s greatest films of all time. From Mulan to Moana, read below to find out which themed performances earned the top spot on the leaderboard and who we bid a farewell.
Rashad and Emma- Foxtrot
Bouncing off of their highest scoring performance last week, the duo performed an elegant routine to “Evermore” By Josh Groban from Beauty and the Beast. Len said the Beast turned into Prince Charming, admitting that he has yet to see Rashad dance a “bad dance.” He thought his footwork was suspect here and there; however worked through challenging musical phrasing. Julianne admitted there may have been issues with the time, but she thought it was timeless. Bruno thought the pair captured the true Disney feel and believed their performance was beautifully done. Carrie Ann referred to Rashad as a wild horse, connecting immediately with the music. Though tonight, she thought his movements felt small and looked constricted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5ylQt0UexA
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 8, Julianne- 9, Bruno- 8 = 32/40
Nick and Peta- Jazz
Nick and Peta danced a fun-filled jazz routine to “I’ve Got No Strings” from Pinocchio. Julianne thought it was a blast and commended Peta on how well done the choreography was. She said Nick doesn’t need strings because as each week passes, he is constantly getting better. Bruno believes what was stirring in Nick last week has now exploded. He thought the reality star was living and loving the moment, showcasing his inner child. Carrie Ann said the performance was truly a break though and from here on out, viewers will see something extraordinary. She called him fantastic, free and a pleasure to watch. Len agreed, comparing watching the pair to going to Disney World. The judge couldn’t help but feel anything other than happy while watching their routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49KabsMfiZI
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 8, Julianne- 9, Bruno-8 = 34/40
Erika and Gleb- Viennese Waltz
After finding out they were one of this week’s couples in jeopardy of going home, Erika and Gleb made sure to make their Finding Dory inspired Viennese Waltz to Sia’s “Unforgettable” crisp as can be. Bruno felt as if he met Erika for the first time, seeing her honesty and connection with her partner. He advised her to show more of that if she makes it to next week. Carrie Ann told the real housewife to forget princesses, because she is queen. Commending her for getting through her struggles these past few weeks, Len thought it was terrific. Julianne said for Erika to come out there and give everything she had was beautiful. She did a fabulous job of showing women everywhere they can be remarkable just as she is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRDiHWkovoQ
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Julianne- 8, Bruno- 8 = 32/40
Heather and Alan- Jazz
Heather and Alan channeled their inner Anna and Cristoff, dancing to “For the First Time in Forever” from Frozen. Carrie Ann thought in a weird way, it was a missed opportunity and underwhelming because she expected more out of Heather and has been anticipating her jazz routine since the start of the competition. Len agreed slightly with Carrie Ann, but felt she definitely brought the fun. Julianne disagreed with Carrie Ann wholeheartedly, calling the performance absolutely amazing. She said there could have been more moves, but they embodied their characters flawlessly which is the point of Disney Night. Bruno chose to side with Julianne. He felt the jazz was executed well throughout the pair’s routine. It was also revealed that Maks will return to his pro position next week and we can’t wait!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkSnxOeP4Y
Carrie Ann- 8, Len- 8, Julianne- 9, Bruno- 9 = 34/40
Bonner and Sharna- Tango
The pair performed a tango to Owl City’s “When Can I See You Again?” from the movie Wreck-It Ralph. Len said Bonner did not take take the easy route, appreciating the amount in hold that occurred in their tango. He thought the former bull rider did a great job. Julianne, who is a die hard fan of the 2012 film, saw Bonner really come to life and agreed with Len. Bruno said the good news is he didn’t “wreck” the tango. The judge appreciated his effort to do everything correctly, but tells him to make sure he does not execute everything so dimensionally. Carrie Ann thought the technique was really good; however, would like to see more dynamics as she feels Bonner tends to float in the middle emotionally and energetically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63qxBal8yho
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 8, Julianne- 8, Bruno- 7 = 30/40
Normani and Val- Paso Doble
Season 9 winner Donny Osmond sang “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” while Normani and Val danced a fierce Paso Doble from Mulan. Julianne said Normani showed every little girl out there they can do everything they set their mind to. She thought their routine was gorgeous, but that does not even begin to compromise the strength and everything their brilliant performance possessed. Bruno said there was power, attack, and precision. However, Normani impressively didn’t lose the slightest bit of artistry throughout. Carrie Ann called it epic and simply perfection. Len said he wouldn’t go overboard with perfection, but deeply enjoyed the spirit the dance possessed and thought it was well done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh4em_TP19A
Carrie Ann- 10, Len- 9, Julianne- 8, Bruno = 39/40
David and Lindsay- Jive
David and Lindsay performed an energetic jive inspired by the upcoming movie Cars 3. The pair danced alongside ZZ Ward who sang her song “Ride” from the movie’s soundtrack. Bruno said David always brings it home, commending him despite the routine’s level of difficulty. Carrie Ann thought the former baseball player didn’t miss one move, but still was a bit hoppy going through the motions. Len applauded the amount of high energy incorporated into the routine and though David’s feet were a little bit flat, admitted he had a tough dance to perform. Julianne agreed with Len’s feet comment, adding his top half was incredible and he didn’t miss a single beat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA4Z5fa7gog
Carrie Ann- 7, Len- 7, Julianne- 8, Bruno- 7 = 29/40
Nancy and Artem- Jazz
Dancing to “That’s How You Know” from Enchanted, Nancy and Artem delivered a show-stopping performance. Carrie Ann called Nancy the most “princess like” of the evening. She thought her moves were so effortlessly smooth. Len seconded that. Not only was there “nice” dancing, Nancy executed the spirit of the film’s character incredibly well. Julianne thought it was so amazing and beautifully done. She advises Nancy to focus on where she wants to go. If she does that moving forward in the competition, she is going to be great. Bruno thought that in spite of having amazing dancers surrounding her, the former Olympian held her own and dominated the dance floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwVPekw2m0
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Julianne- 9, Bruno-9 = 36/40
Simone and Sasha- Contemporary
Moana star Auli‘i Cravalho sang her Oscar nominated hit “How Far I’ll Go” for Simone and Sasha’s contemporary routine, which was our personal favorite of the evening. Len thought the couple’s dance was a “smasher” and just loved the routine. He believed Simone’s dancing was fantastic and said it “floated his boat.” Julianne expressed that Simone showcasing her passion of gymnastics allowed her to really portray the character of Moana, who uses her strengths to her advantage. Bruno joked that gravity does not apply to Simone. He thought her and Sasha’s performance was just lovely. Carrie Ann loved the power, yet poetic dance. It still blows our minds that the couple didn’t receive a perfect score.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtW4JX3KXRA
Carrie Ann- 9, Len- 9, Julianne- 10, Bruno- 10 = 38/40
At the end of the show, we had to say goodbye to Erika and Gleb while Nick and Peta survived elimination. Erika thanked everyone at Dancing with the Stars for the wonderful opportunity, proud that she was able to leave the competition on a high note.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipceG4-NtjQ