DWTS - Week Two

It's the second week and wonder who will go home tomorrow night? The dancetestants have already had to learn two dances during the first week, which hasn't been required before. Tonight they had to learn a new dance in three days, which was really difficult for all the stars. The pros had to choreograph something challenging but doable. The stars are already losing some weight.

THE RUMBA

Fast Facts:
- A dance that tells the story of love and eroticism between a man and a woman
- The Rumba relies on the age-old premise of the lady trying to conquer the gentleman by means of her womanly charms. Incorporating all the elements of teasing and withdrawal, it is considered the most sensual of the Latin dances.

Distinctive moves:
- The Rumba should portray romance and therefore have good interplay between the dancers.
- In this dance the emphasis is on the body. Hip actions are produced by controlled transfer of weight from foot to foot.
- Look out for figure-eight hip rolls - this is a hip roll where the hips alternate in a forward movement.
- There are lots of slow stylish body shapes in the Rumba.
- When it comes to the footwork, look for a straightening of legs, and swiveling action in the feet.
- The walks should be strong and direct.
- The body never stops changing its shape.
- No heel leads - the dancers must not walk on the heels of their feet; they are on the balls of feet only.
- Look out for the Cucaracha step - rock to the right or the left, then replace and close.
- Look out for the Fan position - the woman goes on the man's left side at arms length and at 90 degrees to the man.

THE PASO DOBLE

Fast Facts:
- The Paso Doble on the competition floor should create a Spanish Bull Fighting atmosphere. The - Paso Doble is the dance for the Man, which allows him to fill the "Space" with strong three-dimensional shapes and movements danced with "Pride and Dignity."
- The woman's role varies depending on the intepretation of the dance. The woman can take the role of the matador's cape, the bull or even the matador at different times within the dance.
- Characteristics of the Paso Doble are the "Marching" flavor given to the steps and the cape movements creating the required tension between both dancers.
- It is one of the only dances that is danced only in the ballroom world.
- It is one of the most dramatic of the dances.

Distinctive moves:
- Look out for chassez cape - the man using the woman as the cape to bring her around.
- Apel - this is when the man stamps his foot - this should be very strong. The man would stamp his foot as if he was trying to attract the bull's attention (the bull often gets distracted by the crowd in a bull fight).
- There are strong Flamenco influences in the dance where the use of castanets is simulated.
- The arpel is a commencement of a movement with the stamping of the feet where the man and woman walk in separate directions.

Now here are descriptions of how the evening went.


• Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo

Dance: Rumba
Score: 23

Len likee (8)! Bruno said she captured the sensuality and vulnerability of a recalcitrant mistress who gives but not too much (8). OK. Carrie Ann said she moves like she sings and liked it except for the two lifts (7). The Lift Police is back! They looked good dancing together.


• Brooke Burke and Derek Hough

Dance: Paso Doble
Score: 24

Technically good, but not even close to as hot as the one Mel and Maks did. That one sizzled! The judges liked it and praised them. Bruno said Brooke was born to dance. All 8's! She'll be in the finals as long as the fan votes come through.


• Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff

Dance: Rumba
Score: 16

Rocco is still sort of stiff but nothing like Harry Hamlin who was zombie-ish. Bruno said the throbbing, pulsating Latin lover wasn't there. Carrie Ann said the musicality wasn't there. More tears than cheers for Len. Poor Rocco, so very likeable, but not long for DWTS. :-( What a great sport he is and so postive.


• Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer

Dance: Paso Doble
Score: 20

Well, how odd that they played "I Kissed a Girl" while they danced after what I wrote about that last week. Oh gag, and then they really laid one on at the end of the dance. Why? Oh! Unless Lacey thinks SHE is kissing the girl, AND he applied cherry chapstick after the kiss. That's the ticket!

This wasn't really a paso doble. Even I could tell that. It was a dance, but the judges said it wasn't the correct style and jumped all over them about it. I'm still grossed out from the kiss. Lance said they had to do something different because of that song. Then Lance said, "I definitely kissed a girl. I liked it." Sheesh! OK, gay nephews, what's going on here?


• Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas

Dance: Rumba
Score: 17

Kim had lessons from Robin of the Pussycat Dolls to be sexy. We'll see if it worked. No, not really. She poses more than dances. Bruno said she was colder and more distant than Siberia. Brrr! The other judges agreed but used different words.


• Misty May-Treanor and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Dance: Paso Doble
Score: 21

Misty had trouble with this dance. Bruno called her Mighty Xena the Warrior Princess! They said Maks choreographed a difficult routine. She is almost too focused at times and dances like a jock but not those agile football players and skaters. Tom joked that Maks apologized three times in one show and said we want to keep this one. Maks can apologize to me anytime he wants to.


• Maurice Green and Cheryl Burke

Dance: Rumba
Score: 19

Cheryl took him to see bellydancers to learn how to work his hips. They got him up there to teach him, and he did better but didn't do it enough during their dance. And they danced to a Marvin Gaye song! The judges said he wasn't smooth and loose enough.


• Cloris Leachman and Corky Ballas

Dance: Paso Doble
Score: 15

The judges liked it better when she added humor to her dances intentionally. This was dramatic and intense. Their costumes were great. Cloris is still a bit awkward, and I thought she'd never get up from the floor! It's impressive that she does this well at her age.


• Susan Lucci and Tony Dovolani

Dance: Rumba
Score: 21

Speaking of age, Susan has so much energy, grace, and stamina. She had to go back and forth from west to east coast and back and from Erica Kane to her dancing self. She is TINY and reminds me of Jane Seymour's body. She looks as if she had some injections in her cheeks and lips the way it should be done. She looked younger and rested and not like a lion or Priscilla Presley. The judges were complimentary of her dancing and acting.


• Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson

Dance: Paso Doble
Score: 24

He got his sequins Warren's been wanting. Kym said his biggest challenge was not smiling. She had him get in the paso mood by recalling how he was on the football field. Their dance was intense, dangerous, and passionate just as it is supposed to be. The judges praised them. They got sort of tangled up at the end of the dance in those pleather capes. He should go far in this.


• Cody Linley and Julianne Hough

Dance: Rumba
Score: 21

As he said, at his age he doesn't have the life experience to be romantic and sexy. He shouldn't have had to do much acting since he dances with Julianne. I thought he did a teen-age boy version of a good rumba and hope they score him accordingly. His moves were pretty good but could have been looser and smoother. They are cute together. Aha! I'm better than I thought! Carrie Ann said it was an age-appropriate rumba, very innocent and attractive. She said he needs to loosen up, too. Bruno said he was a kid in the candy store and didn't know which bit to go for first. They all said he needs to focus and has the talent. He'll probably stick around a while because he has the ability and those Hannah Montana fans with cell phones.

There are some I like better than others, but I don't have a clear favorite yet. Do you?