Trav's Thoughts

It's encores and results, live from Hollywood!

We agreed with the judges sometimes and sometimes we didn't.  Here are the performances from Monday that we found encore worthy.

We were pleasantly surprised by the Rumba from Nancy and Tristan.  We liked it.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


David took charge of his Tango and danced as a strong lead for Kym.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


Rob has improved steadily every week, and his Rumba with Cheryl was all grown up.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


JR and Karina take dance of the night honors for their outstanding Samba.  Click here if the video doesn't play.


Excellent.

Here is a reminder of our leader board after Monday's performances:

28 JR and Karina
25 David and Kym
25 Rob and Cheryl
24 Ricki and Derek
24 Hope and Maks
22 Nancy and Tristan
21 Chaz and Lacey
18 Carson and Anna

Our Dance Troupe leads off the show with Val and Peta in a nice little Madonna medley in dance.

First results...Ricki and Derek are safe.

Kelly Clarkson is in the ballroom, with an assist from Tristan and Kym.  That was Kelly's new single, Mr Know-It-All.  I really liked it.  Yes Kelly!  Come on the show as a celebrity performer! 

We've got something new here called a Spotlight Performance, sponsored by AT&T.  Mark and Derek dance with a young woman named Charm Ladonna.  She was raised in Compton CA by a single mom who sacrificed everything so Charm could take dance.  She got an audition with Madonna and went to work as a professional dancer.

Now Charm volunteers at her old Compton elementary school, teaching kids to dance and showing them by example that anything is possible if you work for it and make your opportunity.  Her mom was in the audience to watch a great performance.  Here's the segment and the performance.  It's worth your 5 minutes.



Let's see.  Next up is the Band Perry.  I don't know who they are.  Oh wait...I recognize this song, If I Die Young.  OK.  Now I know who they are.  Even better, we get to see Karina and Louis.

More results...JR and Karina are safe.  Rob and Cheryl are safe.

Kelly Clarkson returns to perform Walk Away, accompanied by Mark, Shawna, Val, and Peta.

Final results...Chaz and Lacey are safe.  Nancy and Tristan are safe.  David and Kym are safe.  Hope and Maks are safe.

That means Carson and Anna are eliminated.


I think that's the right decision, but some of the sparkle just went out of this season.  Carson wasn't a very good dancer, but he did what you do when you're not as coordinated...he learned and he had a good time.  He was entertaining, and he did give us a really nice Tango a couple of weeks ago.

Very quickly...Hope needs to remember that this competition is supposed to be fun.  I know she's a world class athlete, but she's got to ease up on the pressure she puts on herself and just dance.  She did earn a 24 from the judges on Monday, but when I watch her it seems to me that she regresses each week.  I want her to do well, but watching her rehearsal footage with Maks is way too dramatic and tense.

Anyway, tune in next week when our 7 remaining pairs will dance to Broadway tunes!

Later gang!


I continue to count down to 4 November with 30 days of Peace quotes and 100 reasons to blog for Peace.



Reason 16:  My dear friend Mimi, founder of the Blog Blast, said "The more you align yourself with creative souls, the more creative you become yourself and the more your passion is fed by their energy."  I blog for Peace because I believe in the truth of that statement, and because I want to join my creativity and passion for art in all its forms to something powerful and worthwhile.