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DISNEY Week
Season 22/Week 4
Who is ready for a magical night? It’s always a great week on Dancing with the Stars, love all the creativity that flows, the sets, the costumes/makeup and feel good music. This year’s cast continues to impress so I bet they will not disappoint tonight.
Opening number was so much fun to watch! All the pro’s look amazing and who doesn’t love watching Val play violin and dance at the same time, his talent is well…endless. I think tonight will be a special night!
Welcome to Zendaya as guest judge this week! It was nice to have her back on the show. Also great to have Brittany Cherry back in the troupe tonight.
Also note the dances all go up to 1 min 30 seconds this week.
Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess:
Dance: Jazz/Song: “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin
There is just something I love about Antonio. I really feel he shares his heart with us each week. Sharna is such a great instructor. She mentioned he needs to bring his cool cat to the routine and she hopes it is his best dance yet. First of all Sharna looks absolutely amazing tonight, you go girl!
I thought Antonio absolutely had his best dance to date, he held his own wi
th the male pro dancers and he absolutely brought the cool factor. FANASTIC performance. It was fun, it was creative and he demonstrated so much personality in the character. I had to go back and watch it again I loved it! Bravo! I truly hope the judges break out the higher paddles for this dance because they deserve it! FINALLY some good scores for #teamboomin!!!
Scores: 9-8-9-9 (35 out of 40)
Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani:
Dance: Waltz/Song: “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid
Marla seems like such a sweet person, I love her Zen attitude, when it gets stressful let’s just do a cartwheel. She and Tony have such a great partnership.
I loved their dance, the opening animation was great, their dance with clean, classy, graceful and really told the story. Great job to Tony on the choreography. I know a lot of people have said they think they have played it safe. I think they have just been giving us good, clean, solid dances each week. Marla is so classy. The judges gave them all good feedback. Zendaya made a good point to enjoy the process. I am sure it’s extremely hard with so much going on each week.
Scores: 7-7-7-7 (28 out of 40)
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd:
Dance: Samba/Song: “Trashin The Camp” from Tarzan
Every week I am on the edge of my seat when it’s time for Nyle and Peta. I am just in awe of this couple. It will be very interesting what happens during switch up week. I am hoping Sharna gets matched with Nyle. Nyle is going to be one smoking hot Tarzan! 
OMG that was the BEST! I think that was my favorite dance I have ever seen Peta perform with a partner! It was so much fun first and foremost but, my gosh, I am speechless. Nyle hits every single beat, every single move at just the right time and it is just amazing. Kudos to Peta for fantastic choreography and for another week of inspiring teaching ability. Nyle you showed off such amazing charisma, your fun personality and well you might just be the hottest Tarzan any of us ladies have ever seen! FANTASTIC job to you both! I am sure you will be getting some great scores! The judges were all blown away.
Scores: 8-8-9-9 (34 out of 40)
Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff:
Dance: Jazz/Song: “A Spoon Full of Sugar” from Mary Poppins
I am always interested in what they are showing in the packages each week as in many ways that is the producers telling a story and sometimes it does catch the stars at their most frustrating moments. My impression of Doug is he is a perfectionist. I think he has always been good at everything he has done and this is hard because he may not be picking it up as quickly as he wants to. Karina made a good point when he got frustrated and said it’s only dancing. I hope he finds the fun in this experience.
If there is an underdog this season I routed for it would 
be Doug, I do think he tries, I just think it’s not coming together for him to the point
of progressing as much as some of the others. This is a tough season filled with a lot of talent. Their dance was fun, there were some mishaps and it’s just not up to the same level as the other pairs right now but, I truly applaud Doug for the effort he puts in each week.
When Tom told them they are safe after their dance I have to say my mouth fell to the floor. We are in for a surprise elimination this week I am afraid to say.
Scores: 6-6-6-6 (24 out of 40)
Kim Fields and Sasha Farber:
Dance: Quickstep/Song “I Wanna Be Like You” from The Jungle Book
Kim and Sasha are another pair I really look forward to each week. Kim has truly relaxed and embraced the fun of the show. She is full of joy, spunk and they are just such a great pairing! It’s so great having Sasha back as a pro this year!
Their dance was so much fun, it was light, full of content and creativity! It was hard not to smile and you could feel Kim’s joy right through the screen
! Len really loved it and said it was her best dance so far and I totally agree. Every week Kim improves. Her smile is contagious. It was hilarious when she dove on the desk to thank Bruno for his compliment.
Scores: 8-8-8-8 (32 out of 40)
Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe:
Dance: Cha-cha/Song: “Try Everything” from Zootopia
Jodie has the right mindset. Loved what she said in her package that last week was emotional but, now it was time for some fun. It’s apparent she works really hard with Keo each week and really wants to excel. I am still shocked they were in the bottom 3 last week. Loved seeing Jodie’s kids come to practice and be so excited for this week!
Their dance was a lot of fun, Keo is really getting to show his talents 
as a pro on the show this season and Jodie never stopped smiling even though they were having a few issues in the dance. She said later that she couldn’t hear the music over the enthusiastic fans which really made it hard for her in the Cha-cha. Bruno is waiting for the WOW factor, I agree she has it in her absolutely. She just needs a breakout week. Len had a lot of positive comments which I thought was great. Jodie really has the potential and I hope they have the chance to let it shine.
Scores: 7-6-7-7 (27 out of 30)
Von Miller and Witney Carson:
Dance: Viennese waltz/Song: “A Dream Is A Wish” from Cinderella
Witney looked absolutely breathtaking tonight. The perfect Cinderella. This couple I am still on the fence about. I don’t think the packages help matters, especially the comment on how did we end up with the same scores as them? I don’t blame Witney for her rules that would drive me crazy too and it’s just not polite.
Witney did a great job with the choreography, with the major height difference b
etween them I am sure this dance was challenging to keep the frame. I found it hard when I was learning to dance to do it with someone the same height as me. I do think this was Von’s best dance to date. I just think maybe he isn’t connecting with the audience or something. Will be interesting to see how he does in switch up week.
Scores: 8-8-8-8 (32 out of 40)
Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Foxtrot/Song: “Belle (Bonjour)” from Beauty And the Beast
I am in love with #teamGinandJuice! They are such a great positive match and I look forward to their dances each week. Ginger is totally living the dream of so many on this show and to be partnered with Val too! Val is so relaxed and you can tell how much fun they are having even as they work hard!
Ginger could easily be on Broadway I literally smiled through their entire dance it was absolute PERFECTION. Val made a very sexy Gaston it was so fun watching them both bring their characters to life tonight! 
Val you deserve tremendous praise for your creativity on this dance. You perfectly choreographed to all of Ginger’s strengths and I truly thought it deserved 10 but, let’s see what the judges say.
I thought it deserved a 10 but, straight 9’s still puts them to the top of the leaderboard. You had your breakout week Ginger!
Scores: 9-9-9-9 (36 out of 40)
Wanya Morris & Lindsay Arnold:
Dance: Samba/Song: “Circle of Life” from The Lion King
Wanya is such a powerhouse, I am thinking tonight he will be one to watch. He 
seems to excel with the faster dance styles. He absolutely has that competitive drive and he’s fun to watch.
Their dance was crazy powerful, fast, really allowed Wanya to show off his tremendous presence. Lindsay has been doing a great job creating very unique, fresh dances each week. She and Wanya really are a fun partnership to watch as
well. He has a great spirit and I love his drive to be his personal best which will take him far in the competition.
Scores: 8-9-9-9 (35 out of 40)
Paige Vanzant and Mark Ballas:
Dance: Quickstep/Song: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story
Paige seems like such a sweet girl. Love that she has found friends on DWTS. Their song tonight truly fits her sweet and fun personality. She’s an absolute contender this season and she shines every single week when she hits the da
nce floor.
I am enjoying Mark’s choreography this season. Sometimes his routine
s are a bit too theatrical for me but, this season he is in a great zone. He is showing off Paige’s talent and personality in every routine. They did such a great job tonight, it was fun, it was filled with content and you can tell Mark is really challenging her. They truly captured the story, I absolutely loved it!
Scores: 9-9-9-9 (36 out of 40)
Elimination Time:
Bottom 2:
Keo and Jodie
Tony and Marla
Neither of these couples belonged in the bottom 2 in my opinion. It was awful to see Tony and Marla go home. Marla was so amazing all season and I truly enjoyed her partnership with Tony.
Final thoughts:
Bravo to ALL of the dancers, makeup artists, crew, set design, hair, costumes and everyone that worked hard on this show. It was truly an amazing production from start to finish! It’s the Switch Up next week below would be my ideal switch up’s. Switch up week is always so interesting because we are just seeing all of these partnerships grow and then they get thrown a curveball but it can also be helpful to get another pros prospective. The new partners will be announced on GMA 4/13.
My ideal switch up partners:
Val and Jodie
Keo and Ginger
Mark and Kim
Sasha and Paige
Sharna and Nyle
Peta and Antonio
Witney and Wanya
Lindsay and Doug
Karina and Von
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on social m
edia! To follow me go to @lightscmemories on IG & Twitter and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightscmemories/
Just a reminder too if you want to get tickets to the HOTTEST tour this summer go to: http://www.maksandvaltour.com/ I will be blogging on the show and their various amazing VIP Packages this summer.
I could not be more excited & happy to say that after watching for 22 seasons I will be a part of the live audience next week! It will give me a whole new perspective watching it live and I cannot wait to see all of these talented individuals perform in person!
VOTE by phone, facebook and on abc.com to avoid future surprising eliminations.
Until next time,
Xoxoxo
Heather
Most Memorable Year
This week is always one of the more emotional weeks on the show. It allows you to learn more about the stars, their history, loss, love, struggle, triumphs, survival, dreams and so much more. You also start to see the relationships truly forming between the Pros and their partners.
Break out the tissues I am sure it will be a special night!
Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: Contemporary
Ginger is just adorable. She seems so sweet and genuine. I loved learning more about her story. Her most memorable year was 2013 when everything in her life started to change, she took Val to the spot where she had her first date, her first kiss and engagement with her now husband. She also shared that her career had always been #1 until she met her husband Ben. For me personally her story really hit home. I think life puts you in the path of what is meant to be and you have to be open to the new experiences, the adventures, the change because just like Ginger it could be fate is putting you in the path of your Mr. Right, your dream job and the path you are meant to take in life. Now they have a beautiful baby. They danced to Phillip Phillip’s Home.
Ginger and Val did a really beautiful contemporary dance. I thought it was clean, emotional, beautiful, fun and truly expressed Ginger’s love story. Plus I think it allowed us the viewers to see a different side to Ginger’s abilities. The first two weeks she had the faster dances in the Samba and Jive. This time she had to slow it down and I thought she truly demonstrated the emotion of the dance which isn’t always an easy thing to do when you have so much swirling through your head. Val always delivers 100% to his partners, brilliant choreography and displays pure kindness. That’s what makes him such a great partner and teacher. BRAVO Ginger and Val what a great way to start off the night. OMG how cute was Adrian, and Ben’s blinged out baby carrier wrap was the best! I thought the judges scored it too low.
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff: Waltz
Doug is so sweet and truly takes the approach to dancing from the heart. I am really routing for him because you just see the improvement and desire in him each and every week. He had such a wonderful upbringing, humble roots and a very loving home. Doug’s most memorable year was 2015. Doug’s family suffered a truly heartbreaking double tragedy. His Dad passed away and his Mom got up and walked over, gave his Dad a kiss and then fell forward and passed away as well. Doctor’s said the only explanation was dying of a broken heart. He and Karina are dancing to the song Rainbow Connection to honor his parents.
I don’t know how anyone could watch that dance and not have tears. Karina choreographed a beautiful tribute to Doug’s parents. Doug continues to improve week after week and this week was no exception. He overcame a tiny mishap where it looked like he might have tripped on Karina’s foot, but, he recovered it well. You could feel the love and loss through every movement of that dance. That is one of the things I love so much about dance when you have the ability to show the feelings inside through the movement. The judges all gave him great feedback and suggestions but, acknowledged what a beautiful job he did.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Kim Fields and Sasha Farber: Foxtrot
I think Kim is also improving week over week. I can remember watching Kim on Facts of Life as a little girl. Her most memorable year was 1976 when she booked her first gig in the Mrs. Butterworth commercial. Loved the message her Mom gave her telling her she had to believe this is why they went to CA and believe God isn’t going to let you down. She went back out and a star was born! It lead to Good Times and then Facts of Life. Kim wanted this dance to be a thank you to the fans. I saw a huge change in Kim this week. She seemed to relax and was having a lot more fun with the rehearsals. Kim and Sasha make such an adorable partnership.
Tonight was their best dance to date hands down. Again, it truly looked like Kim had fun through the entire dance. It was spunky, it was clean, it was so much fun and free spirited. The judges all thanked Sasha for all the great content. I loved seeing Kim’s pure exuberance and she and Sasha should both be so proud of their great performance.
Scores: 8-7-7 (22 out of 30)
Von Miller and Witney Carson: Contemporary
I am still trying to put my finger on what Von hasn’t shown us yet…maybe more vulnerability? I don’t think he is bad dancer, I just think for me anyway something isn’t connecting or translating to the viewers the same way it is for Doug and Antonio. I think the package this week helped everyone to get to know him a little better. His most memorable year was 2016 when he won the Super Bowl and was named the MVP. We learned his backstory that is Dad didn’t want him to play football in the beginning but, his Mom went behind his back and signed up both boys. In the end what a wonderful decision she made, you know what they say Momma knows best. His Dad is quite proud to say his son was the MVP of a Super Bowl! In the Air Tonight is the song they are dancing to which is the song Von listens to before each game to put him in the right mindset.
This is always one of Witney’s best dance styles to choreograph. She did another wonderful job tonight. I thought tonight was also Von’s best dance to date. I thought the judges all had great feedback for him and maybe Carrie Ann nailed it by saying she doesn’t feel he is giving it 100% all the way through. I definitely felt like he was more in it this week than the last two weeks and you can see the partnership growing. He seemed more relaxed this week too so maybe it will just take time, I think everyone’s journey is always different.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani: Jive
Marla is just such a classy woman, it truly comes across in all that she does. I think she and Tony make such a wonderful pair. Her most memorable year was 1993 when her daughter Tiffany was born. She and Donald Trump divorced in the year 2000 and Marla became a single mom to Tiffany. She seems like she would be such a hip, fun mom. You could see the special bond they have in the package.
They danced to the song Happy. I loved it! Their da
nce was light, it was fun, had lots of content and filled with joy. Marla always pays attention to the details and clearly works on it. I would say Tiffany is probably beaming with pride for her mom right now. Tony’s pure joy is also so much fun to see. I love it when he gets great partners and can really demonstrate what an amazing teacher/dancer he is and his fun personality. The judges all had great feedback and suggestions.
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess (Guest appearance by Antonio Jr): Foxtrot
I am impressed by Antonio each week and I love his partnership with Sharna. Antonio makes himself vulnerable and I truly feel he gives it 100% each week. I love his attitude when he said it’s not about how we start its how we progress and how we finish. His most memorable year was 2007, he was a freshman in college, and broke a college record on the same day his son was born. The birth of his son truly impacted his life. He realized right then that he had to work hard and wanted to give his son the life he didn’t have growing up. Telling your children that you love them, playing with them and giving them your time are all precious gifts. Antonio’s eyes truly just lit up in the package when he was talking about his children.
They danced to 7 Years which was a beautiful song choice and I loved how they incorporated Antonio Jr in the piece. Antonio Jr has such a bright personality like his dad. I loved it, I route for Antonio each week for many reasons. He makes improvements each week, he is fun and animated. He is just a joy to watch. Judges had mixed reviews. Carrie Ann loved it, Len still thinks a lot of improvement and refinement was needed. Again this week I feel the scores were too low for Antonio and Sharna.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Paige Vanzant and Mark Ballas: Paso Doble
Mark is back after being out last week due to a back injury and Paige continues to be one to watch this season. She is a very talented dancer and it’s amazing how graceful she is coming from being a UFC fighter. Her most memorable year was 2014 when she was in her first UFC fight. Her story about being bullied I am sure resonated with so many of the viewers. It’s truly one of the most difficult things to go through as a teen or adult. I love to see amazing stories like this where they got through it, she found her inner strength and found an outlet. She is currently in the top 10 best fighters in the world. Anyone being bullied right now please see you can get through it, even though the days can be dark you will find your bright light, your outlet, your passion. Don’t give in because the bullies win if you do.
Their dance was nothing short of AMAZING. If we don’t see Paige in the final 3 I will be really shocked. She put down another strong, intense, fantastic performance. Mark pushed the limits in his choreography which he often does. I thought he perfectly showcased Paige’s story this week. It truly was a wonderful performance, way to go! Will be interesting to see what the judges say. Len liked the performance but, to him it wasn’t a Paso. Carrie Ann said it was Bad A**.
Scores: 8-7-8 (23 out of 30)
Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe: Foxtrot
Jodie is op
ening herself up more and more each week. Her story wasn’t always perfect, she went through some tough times with drug and alcohol addiction when she was trying to numb the pain she was feeling inside. It’s a common issue for child actors. They live these bigger than life experiences and then the role ends and the world in a way gets quiet and they are still just a teen trying to grow up. Her most memorable year was this year when Fuller House came back in 2016. She has been sober now for 5 years. She is a Mom and it was great listening to her co-stars describe what a real person she is. The story of her mom saying that she had such a bright light when she was a kid and how she watched it become very dark really pulled at your heart strings.
They danced to Rise Up by Andra Day. My initial thought was they should have had the performer off the floor because it was distracting watching the dance. I thought Jodie performed absolutely beautiful and put her whole heart into every movement. It was clean, it was purely emotional and you could see how bright Jodie’s light truly is shining once again. They should be incredibly proud of their performance tonight. Hands down Jodie’s best dance to date.
Scores: 8-7-8 (23 out of 30)
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev: Samba
There was lot of discussion last week about Mischa’s behavior after the performance among the fans. I can see how some felt she walked off because she didn’t want to get upset on camera but, I still hold the opinion she was being a bit of a diva. I think the package also showed that. Blaming Artem? Seriously he has been extremely patient with her and is one of the sweetest pros. He truly seems like he had his hands full. So many people would love to have the opportunity that Mischa has by being on this cast and it has felt every week to me like she didn’t want to be there. I still think they will be the ones going home tonight which makes me sad for Artem. Her most memorable year was 2008 when the OC was at its prime and she wasn’t sure she was enjoying it anymore. My opinion she knew this was going to be her last week on the show and she did show up and seemed to enjoy it.
They danced to Party in the USA. It was definitely her best performance to date. It was ok overall. It was nice to see her smiling and having more fun. Artem it seems deserves an award for patience.
Scores: 6-6-6 (18 out of 30)
Wanya Morris & Lindsay Arnold: Waltz
Wanya is such a joy to watch perform and I think he will continue to be one to watch this season. His most memorable year was 1996 when Boyz II Men performed at the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Atlanta after a terrorist bombing. Wayna shard how impactful it was to perform not only in front of all those people, under those circumstances but, it was such a huge moment for him. He felt like they truly had made it.
They danced to the National Anthem. I thought they had another solid performance. I do think the slower dances are just different and maybe a bit more challenging for Wayna. His big personality shines more in the faster tempo dances but, it was still a good performance. Y
ou can tell he works hard, he has determination and overall a pleasure to watch each week. Without a doubt everyone is very proud of you Wanya and fabulous job in the choreographed Lindsay!
Scores: 8-8-8 (24 out of 30)
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd: Tango
I really look forward to Nyle and Peta’s dance each week. I am in awe of Nyle and his fearlessness and willingness to learn to dance and not let his challenges stop him. Peta continues to do an absolutely stellar job not only teaching Nyle but, standing up for him. I completely agree what Peta said about the judges’ comments last week about his musicality. My family and I were talking about that earlier this evening. I don’t know how you can make a comment like that when he is deaf and what he is doing week after week is nothing short of remarkable. I sit on the edge of my seat each week to watch this beautiful story unfold. His most memorable year was 2012 when he traveled the world without an interpreter. I love that his mom never taught Nyle that deaf people are disabled she taught him that he is who he is, a human being. He comes from a deaf family that goes back 4 generations. He truly is fearless in every single way and I hope he knows what a true inspiration he is to so many. Nothing should stop you from trying something new, to putting yourself out there.
They danced to Verge. Their dance was bold, dynamic, passionate, powerful, and precise and again I am sitting here blown away at the performance. Nyle is also one to watch! He hits every beat, every move, and every emotion of the dance. It was stunning. I am glad Carrie Ann acknowledged her comments last week and clarified what she meant. I have to agree he is better than Superman. Phenomenal.
Scores: 8-8-9 (25 out of 30)
Elimination Time:
1st couple in jeopardy: Doug and Karina
2nd couple in jeopardy: Mischa and Artem
3rd couple in jeopardy: Jodie and Keo
You literally had to pick my mouth up off the floor when they announced Jodie and Keo were in jeopardy. This is why you have to VOTE! They absolutely did not deserve to be in jeopardy.
Mischa and Artem were eliminated. I cannot think of a time that someone looked so happy to be going home. Artem you are a gem as always and we hate to see you go so early in the season.
Top of the Leaderboard this week:
Nyle and Peta
Bottom of the Leaderboard this week, tie with all 3 football players:
Doug & Karina
Von & Witney
Antonio & Sharna
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on social media! To follow me go to @lightscmemories on IG & Twitter and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightscmemories/
Just a reminder too if you want to get tickets to the hottest tour this summer go to: http://www.maksandvaltour.com/ I will be blogging on the show and their VIP Pkgs this summer.
REMEMBER TO VOTE for your favorites to avoid any surprise eliminations!
Until next time,
Xoxo
Heather
Who’s going home tonight…all I know is we are in for a red hot LATIN night!
The opening number was smoldering! The female pros were slaying it and well the male pros were sexy as usual! I LOVE Latin night! Let’s get this night rolling!
Up first!
Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe: Tonight’s Dance: Samba. Jodie mentioned feeling the pressure and you can tell again that she is a perfectionist. It’s so hard to learn to dance but, to learn in this time frame definitely dials the pressure up and more so for a Type A/perfectionist type. I should know I am one as well we want to do everything perfect right away. Jodie will need to remember why she is doing it in addition to winning it is to have fun. I thought she did great tonight! She stayed right on pace with the female troupe members behind her. It was hot, it was sexy, it demonstrated how hard she worked and Len was happy with the true Samba content. I also have to give a kudos to Keo, we are finally getting to see his talent as a choreographer. I know Jodie will go far in this competition. Great job!
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani: Tonight’s Dance: Argentine Tango. Tony mentioned Marla shined from the word GO last week and I agree. Marla really was amazing and this partnership is going to be one to watch. Tony has such amazing charisma. Marla and Tony provide a very sophisticated pairing. Marla eats h
ealthy and it shows, she looks fantastic. Tonight’s dance was sexy & hot for sure. I thought it was precise, she had great lines and had the character of the dance down. Seems Glen wanted more intensity or down and dirty based on his score/comments. Overall good feedback from the judges. Good job Marla & Tony!
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Geraldo Rivera and Edyta Sliwinska: Tonight’s Dance: Salsa. This is a fun dance to learn. Geraldo really has the most to prove this week. This is not a walking competition it’s a dancing competition at the end of the day. He cannot just stand there and have Edyta dance around him each week. The character he was trying to portray in Donald Trump was there but, the content in the dance was not. I didn’t even see the basic salsa moves. He truly should be the one that goes home this week. It’s been so nice having Edyta back. She is a fabulous dancer!
Scores: 5-4-4 (13 out of 30)
Paige Vanzant and Mark Ballas (Alan Bernsten): Tonight’s Dance: Salsa. Mark injured his back at rehearsal the day before so Alan is filling him for him tonight. Mark doesn’t know the status yet as he is still waiting for MRI and other scan results. Under the circumstances this really allowed Alan to be able to highlight his talents and I hope one day we will see him as a Pro. He is such a sweet man and a great dancer. Paige and Alan slayed that dance…WOW. It was hot, it was powerful, it had fantastic hip action, lifts etc. Paige is adorable and such a powerhouse athlete. Paige is another one to watch this season and I would bet we will see her in the final weeks for sure! It seems l
ike I am saying that about so many but, man this season is filled with amazing talent. Incredible! Paige you were able to roll with the punches and pulled off an amazing performance with Alan, BRAVO!
Scores: 8-8-8 (24 out of 30)
Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess: Tonight’s Dance: Rumba. I am excited to watch this pair do the rumba, it’s such a passionate dance. They are a hot pair and Sharna is so sweet. Let’s see if Antonio can invade Sharna’s personal space tonight. Antonio’s smile throughout the dance was just adorable. I really love this pair. It was full of chemistry, sex appeal, lust, you could feel the emotion and they should be proud of their performance. Bruno made a point of stressing to keep fluid motion in the rumba. Carrie Ann busted them on the lift and Len thinks Antonio has potential. I was shocked at the scores, seriously 2 6’s? What? That was a hot rumba. Sharna will help fine tune all of his movements, she is one of the best!
Scores: 6-6-7 (19 out of 30)
Kim Fields and Sasha Farber: Tonight’s Dance: Salsa: Sasha is such a great teacher and a kind, sweet man. Kim just needs to learn that he is trying to help her to succeed not trying to hurt her feelings. I understand how she could be emotional though, it’s a lot of hours and pressure. She is such a great dynamic performer. I think she has a lot of potential. The dance was fun, she had great energy and great movement. There looked to be a few bumps in the routine but, overall it was good. The judges all noted a mistake. Bruno gave her great advice on how to cover it in the future. Carrie Ann told her she has Tina Turner legs and a Beyoncé upper body. I thought the scores were fair. Keep working
hard Kim you do have potential.
Scores: 7-6-6 (19 out of 30)
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd: Tonight’s Dance: Rumba. This dance is sure to be hot! Peta and Nyle are both gorgeous and talented. Nyle has the most beautiful eyes, my gosh. I am just in awe of Nyle’s performance and Peta’s teaching ability. It is beyond stunning to watch them dance, keep timing, the way they do, Nyle’s ability to follow Peta’s eye’s, her body and cue’s. It’s all truly amazing to watch. The judges commented on the lift and they will get a deduction for that. I totally didn’t agree with Len on this one. He thought there was too much, it should have slo
wer. Bruno offered some valuable feedback on how to finish his hand movements when he cannot hear the music. Carrie Ann thought it was stunning. I thought Len’s score was too low in this case. They are absolutely beautiful and I look forward to their dance each week.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev: Tonight’s Dance: Cha-Cha. Mischa you have such an amazing partner in Artem and such potential to succeed. I worry already by what is being portrayed in the packages. You want America to pull for you and after watching this show for so many seasons you have to really let your guard down and let people get to kno
w you, to root for you. I would say as an observer you have to put in more time/effort because in a way it still looks like you are still walking and not dancing. Dancing doesn’t come naturally to everyone but, you can do this! There were definitely some mistakes. I think the judges all gave her good feedback. She needs to take it as feedback, learn from it and improve for next week. They are trying to help her. Again, I will say she has one of the best pro’s in her corner, soak in all the effort Artem is offering you. You also cannot just walk off like that on live TV it comes off like you are being a diva. It’s understandable if you were upset or sad just hold it in for another few seconds vs. walking off on camera. Think of who is voting for you.
Scores: 5-5-5- (15 out of 30)
Von Miller and Witney Carson: Tonight’s Dance: Cha Cha. Witney is getting a lot of Barbie Drill Sargent talk online. She is a tough instructor but, she’s good. I am still a little unsure of this matchup. Nothing against either person just not seeing them click as much as some of the pairs but, I am sure that will come in time it’s only week 2. Seriously the farting is just gross. Witney had fun choreography but, something was off to me. It was ok overall just not the potential I think they have as a pair. I am surprised they scored ahead of Antonio because I did think Sharna & Antonio were better this week. Hopefully next week we will see a totally WOW performance from them because I do think they have the potential.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Wanya Morris & Lindsay Arnold: Tonight’s Dance: Salsa. Wanya is a big guy like the football players but, he sure can move. They definitely have the potential to go far this season. Tonight they truly gave another WOW performance. It was great, it was full of fun energy, great content and personality. Wanya can let loose and even though they are traveling while he performs with Boyz II Men they clearly put in the time & effort. Absolutely fantastic job Wa
nya & Lindsay!
Scores: 8-8-8 (24 out of 30)
Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff: Tonight’s Dance: Paso Doble. I am routing for Doug to improve tonight. There is something about him as a fan of the show I want to see him improve and bring it! Doug brought the house down with that dance tonight! What an improvement over last week, he showed strength, effort, energy, power, was in character and it was so dynamic! I thought the judges gave him great feedback, positive reinforcement and suggestions. Doug should be very proud of himself it was truly fantastic and great job to Karina as well.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: Tonight’s Dance: Samba. OMG the package had me laughing. If anyone can bring your sexy swagger back Ginger it is Val! He is just amazing. I r
eally like Ginger, she is adorable and fun to watch. She is spunky and sweet and seriously is so fortunate to have Val as her partner. There was a minor slip up but she was good at not letting it get to her and not showing it on her face she just kept moving. That comes from Val’s great teaching ability, you just keep moving. Kudos to Val from Len on the content of the dance! She has such a bright light that shines and they will absolutely go far in this competition in my opinion. I liked what Carrie Ann said that sexiness is just owning your own unique beauty. Ginger you did great! Val fantastic job on the choreography. This was a fantastic performance, I think the scores were probably fair given a few small errors but, they should be happy with their performance!
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Elimination time: Mischa & Artem, Geraldo & Edyta and Doug and Karina were the bottom 3 tonight. First couple to be eliminated was: Geraldo & Edyta. Truly that was the right result.
Final thoughts. I think Mischa will be going home next week and I hate to say it because I adore Artem but, between her dance performance tonight and the total diva behavior it’s going to hurt her with the voters. The other low score performances this week all demonstrated more effort and showed more personality.
This season is packed with talent that is for sure, it’s going to be so interesting how it all pans out. I don’t even think I could pick the top 3 yet. I love Monday nights it always inspires me to keep up my own dance lessons. What fun it would be to be on this show!
Top of Leaderboard:
Paige & Mark
Wanya & Lindsay
Bottom of Leaderboard:
Mischa & Artem.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on social media! To follow me go to @lightscmemories on IG & Twitter and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lights-Camera-Memories-935628749847172/?ref=hl
Just a reminder too if you want to get tickets to the hottest tour this summer go to: http://www.maksandvaltour.com/ I will be blogging on the show and their VIP Pkgs all summer.
REMEMBER TO VOTE: I included edits this week from twitter with all the voting information on them!
Until next time,
Xoxo
Heather
Emma Slater from #DWTS!
This season of Dancing with the Stars has the potential to be the best season to date. There is a lot of talent and fun personalities on the cast. I have been watching this show since Season 1 and it continues to improve year after year and it truly is a guilty pleasure of mine. Watching the show and going on the tours inspired me to learn to dance. I recently did a boot camp in NYC and truly had fun and surprised myself. It’s not easy that is for sure, it is great exercise and its fun to challenge yourself.
Opening number was a lot of fun, you could feel the energy through the television screen and it must have been fantastic fun to be in the audience. I hope one day I will be lucky enough to sit in the audience. You have to sign up for a waiting list and then they contact you as tickets become available.
It’s also great to have Len back. He is often tough but, he does provide a lot of great insight in his critiques. Carrie Ann and Bruno are always a pleasure and Bruno just makes me smile every week with his passionate critiques.
Kim Fields and Sasha Farber: First things first, it’s so great to have Sasha back as a Pro. He tru
ly deserves this opportunity and Kim is lucky to have him as a partner. Kim Fields was on Facts of Life, Living Single and Real Housewives of Atlanta. First dance is the Cha-Cha. I thought they did a good job for the first week. The Cha-Cha in my opinion is a difficult dance to learn. Kim showed a lot of personality, charisma and truly looked like she was having a lot of fun out there.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Paige Vanzant and Mark Ballas: Paige is a UFC Fighter and Mark is a two time DWTS Champion. Paige is adorable and has a f
un personality. First dance: Foxtrot. I thought Paige did a great job, she was very elegant and seemed to soften up since the practice footage. She had a lot of great lines and a lot of grace. Paige has a lot of potential that is for sure!
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff: Karina has one DWTS Mirror Ball Championship. Doug is an NFL Legend. First dance: Foxtrot. Doug s
eems to have a Type A personality and truly seems to have the desire to learn. It’s not easy to try something new that is totally out of your comfort zone. He has a fun energy and truly looked like he was trying. Is he a natural dancer…no but, he gave it his all and I give him a lot of credit for that. I think each week you will see him improve.
Scores: 5-5-5 (15 out of 30)
Jodie Sweetin & Keo Motsepe: I am so glad Keo has a great partner this year. The last few seasons for him have been tough and he is truly talented. Jodie played Stephanie Tanner from Full House and the recent Fuller House series. She has genuin
e excitement which is always fun to watch. She is a perfectionist and it’s hard when you are as you learn to dance because you want everything to be totally correct. Their first dance was a Tango. I found this was a fun dance to learn when I took my lessons. I thought they did a good job. It had a lot of attitude and was great for a week 1 performance. Jodie has a lot of potential to go far this season.
Scores: 7-6-7 (20 out of 30)
Geraldo Rivera and Edyta Sliwinska: It’s great having Edyta back this season after a 12 season break. She is extremely talented and beautiful. Geraldo is best known for his talk show and news reporting. I didn’t realize he was 72 years old. First dance: Cha-Cha. I am trying to find something positive to say about the performance. He literally walked through the entire performance and unless he makes a lot of improvement he could be the first one going home or definitely early to leave in the season.
Scores: 5-4-4 (13 out of 30)
Marla Maples & Tony Dovolani: Tony won the Mirror ball during the All Stars season with Melissa Rycroft. Marla is a Broadway star, TV Host and ex-wife to Donald Trump. I am excited about this match up, it has a ton of potential. Tony is
just so sweet and such an amazing dancer. He has a ton of charisma, as does Marla and it will be fun to watch this pair. First dance: Quickstep. Marla is very elegant, has a fun personality and a lot of potential. I think they will go far this season. . I thought their dance was a lot of fun!
Scores: 7-7-7 (21 out of 30)
Wanya Morris & Lindsay Arnold: Wanya is a singer in the group Boyz II Men. This is Lindsay’s third season. First da
nce: Cha-Cha. Wanya has a fun personality and his charisma shines through the TV screen. He’s going to fun to watch! This pair reminded me so much of Alfonso and Witney. I think he will go far in this competition for sure, so much fun to watch this pair!
Scores: 8-7-8 (23 out of 30)
Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: Ginger is a new Mom and a meteorologist on GMA. Val won the Mirror Ball with Rumor in Season 20. Full disclosure I am a huge Val supporter, have been since his very first appearance on the show. He has that special gift, a huge heart and he is so sweet to everyone he comes in contact with. Ginger is super cute, she has a lot of spunk 
and a desire to learn. First dance: Jive. This was a challenging first dance. Jive does not look like an easy dance to learn. Val posted a video of his swollen knees on Instagram one night after practice. Ginger really has a dynamic personality and I think this pair has a lot of potential. Val is a great teacher and they will be another fun pair to watch.
Scores: 8-7-8 (23 out of 30)
Mischa Barton and Artem Chigvintsev: Artem is such a gem, what a n
ice person and a true talent. Mischa is well known for being an actress on the OC. First dance: Tango. Mischa is definitely not a natural dancer. She did ok for the first dance and I think she will need to put a lot more work/effort into it to be successful this season especially with this cast. I am sure she was nervous. I also think she will need to relax a bit and let people get to know. Artem is a good teacher, hopefully she will loosen up a bit and take advantage of learning from him.
Scores: 5-5-6 (16 out of 30)
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd: Nyle is deaf, an actor and winner of America’s Next Top Model. Peta was the Season 14 champion. I am so excited to watch this pair dance! Nyle is gorgeous! First dance: Cha Cha. I have one w
ord after watching their performance: WOW! The fact he is deaf did not stop him at all. He can only feel vibrations if the music is loud enough. Peta did such a fantastic job as a teacher and they truly seemed to be in tune with each other’s bodies. I am so excited to watch this beautiful pair dance this season. Nyle truly shows that you cannot let anything stop you from learning, from giving it your all and truly blew everyone away on night one.
Scores: 8-7-8 (23 out of 30)
Antonio Brown & Sharna Burgess: Antonio plays for the Pittsburg Steelers as a wide receiver. This is Sharna’s 7th season and she is just a sweetheart. Loved having her on the Dance All Night tour this year. I
think the combination of their personalities is going to make them a team to watch this season! First dance: Quickstep. Antonio did a great job, he has crazy charism as well and this super fun spunk! I will be really surprised if they don’t go far this season!
Scores: 8-6-7 (21 out of 30)
Von Miller and Witney Carson: Von Miller plays for the Denver Broncos and was the MVP of this year’s Super Bowl. Witney won a Mirror Ball in Season 19 with Alfonso. Witney is a great teacher and a sweet person. I have seen her on a few of the tours
and I am sure she will be an asset to teaching Von. They definitely will be dealing with a major height difference. First dance: Foxtrot. I thought they did well for the first dance. Von is charming and I think just needs to loosen up a bit more.
Scores: 8-6-7 (21 out of 30)
To vote this season you can vote up to one hour after the show at the #’s below and vote on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/dancingwiththestars/app/374212512648812/
Top of the leaderboard this week were:
Wanya & Lindsay
Ginger & Val
Nyle & Peta
Bottom of the leaderboard this week were:
Geraldo & Edyta
Dance Troupe comments: Welcome to the new members. I was bummed to see Brittany wasn’t in the troupe this year. Also wished we had Julz Tocker and Paul Barris in the troupe, they did such a great job on tour this winter.
Final thoughts: What a season this is going to be! I always look forward to Monday nights. Sorry this blog is a bit late this week. I was traveling for business. So many great stars this season. I think from the football player’s night 1 performance Antonio is the one to watch with Von a close second. It’s going to be such a joy watching Nyle this season, I am still blown away by his performance tonight. Ginger and Wanya also have a ton of potential. I think bottom two this week will be Geraldo and either Mischa or Doug. I think first to go home based on performance should be Geraldo but, we all know it comes down to the votes!
Want to see photos from past tours go to: @lightscmemories on instagram & twitter! Also more on my facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Lights-Camera-Memories-935628749847172/?ref=hl
DWTS Tour is taking the summer off but, you absolutely want to get tickets to the Maks & Val Our Way tour! I cannot wait to blog about the show, the amazing VIP pkgs and more! http://www.maksandvaltour.com/
Until next time,
Xoxo
Heather
Jon Bon Jovi Nashville
Runaway Tours Trip
I was so excited to be back in one of my favorite cities this past weekend. It was great to see so many friends from around the world that I have met over the years through Bon Jovi events. Crazy it had been almost 5 months since the last time we were together.
This was my 19th Runaway Tours trip. They have improved so much since my first one back in
2011. Back then you had to be in a big group photo with 8-10 other people you didn’t know. Now you get a photo with JBJ based on how many are in your room, single, double and sometimes triple depending on the options they give you. This trip included 2 nights hotel stay (there was also a no hotel option), a welcome party, bus to/from the venue, the show, a photo with JBJ grouped by room, a great signed photo that I will treasure which looked like it was from last fall’s mini tour and a small zip up bag with the Runaway Tours logo on it.
The welcome party was a lot of fun and I noticed they definitely improved the food spread for this trip. The 1st night parties are always a lot of fun, everyone is so excited for the next day, gives you a good chance to meet new people and we dance/sing all night to Jovi music.
The next day we were on our own to explore the city. We went down and did some shopping and had lunch on Broadway and I purchased my first pair of cowboy boots. I couldn’t get over how comfortable they were. One personal wish of mine on the trips would be instead of or in addition to doing the 2nd night party, organize a tour of the city all together or in Nashville the Country Music Hall of Fame or something like that as a big group. That would allow more time to get to know people instead of just being off in your groups of friends and it would be better for new trip people to meet others.
We met up at meeting time to board the buses to the venue and of course everyone was excited as usual. I decided to dress down and be casual this time as it seems I am always in a dress. This time I wore a plaid shirt http://www.nordstrom.com/, jeans http://www.luckybrand.com/ and boots http://www.bootbarn.com/. It was quite cold and windy in Nashville that day and I was wishing I had my winter coat. We got there and all were told to line up. Problem was it was freezing & the wind was going right through you and we waited in that weather for a good 20-30 minutes. That is my one personal pet peeve as you will see in other posts. When you either buy a VIP Pkg or spend the kind of money you do for these special trips I wish we were not left out in harsh weather conditions whether it be extreme heat or cold.
Another small comment to make which is not the fault of Runaway tours is a small group of us arrived and were not sure where to go and we went up to stand near the wall outside to try to block some of the wind. This was at the Cannery Ballroom. I am not sure if he was the owner or maybe head bouncer, but he was beyond rude to a friend of mine. Instead of being considerate to the weather conditions he said either you go out there and wait by the fence or you will not be allowed in my establishment. My point on this is, these are new customers to your venue that paid a substantial amount of money to do this trip. He would have gotten a lot further with a comment like I am very sorry, I understand it is freezing outside but, if you can go line up we will get you inside as fast as possible. Kindness goes a long way.
Once we got into the venue the excitement really grew. This event included a special acoustic performance and Q&A with Jon Bon Jovi, Lorenza Ponce, Bobby Bandiera, Carl Gentry and one new musician that I didn’t catch his name. Jon was in such a good mood and it was great to have some new questions instead of the typical boxers or briefs type. Jon did let us know that the record is done and is currently being mixed and should be released in the fall. It looks like as of now the tour will start early next year! That was exciting news and for many a relief as it gives more time to save money to do the shows they want on the tour. There is seriously nothing like a Bon Jovi concert. The energy is palpable but, more on that in future blogs.
The set list was great and I included an image of it for you all. I love the version of Bad Name JBJ does at these events and Livin on a Prayer gave me goosebumps it was so amazing! I love hearing the ballads too. I have been lucky enough to hear one of my all-time favorites on a few trips (Never Say Goodbye), this trip we were treated with Superman and Blind Love. Just breathtakingly beautiful.
Video Link(s)
Snippet of songs from Nashville: https://youtu.be/Z0rG1CrEU50
Superman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ8-FHeGXdQ
Bad Name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt1cVUWnCeA
It’s My Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygZsTjb-e7M
Destination Anywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WI0bDki3IQ
Blind Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGVdqWZH8jM
Seat Next To You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2YzBg9IyPY
When the performance ended we all line up for our pictures with JBJ. This is where I always tell friends or people that ask me to have the right expectations. This is a photo op not a meet and greet and they do go rather quickly. Every artist varies in the time you get with them in photo op. Jon is always so kind and I will admit this interaction made me smile and I am still smiling today. Usually the photos are posted in 3-5 days after a Runaway Trip. As soon as they get posted I will add it.
Once all the photos were done there was the after party at the venue. The food was very good that they had out this trip. We didn’t stay long at the after party but, it was pretty typical to past parties and the night before.
The next day we all sadly said until next time and flew home. I originally wasn’t going to go on this trip and I
changed my mind when I realized it was a good friend’s birthday and I wanted to be there to celebrate with her. I am very glad it worked out and I did attend. It was a one of those truly special trips that I will forever keep engrained in my memories.
Rob Fuzesi and his team truly did a great job on the Nashville trip.
They have two more trips currently on sale if you are interested http://www.runawaytours.com/
Don Henley in Dallas (April 30-May 2)
Florida Georgia Line & Jon Bon Jovi along with the iheart Country Festival in Austin (April 29-May 1)
JBJ in Dublin Ireland (July 21-23rd)
One suggestion I would love to see implemented for tour travel companies is a loyalty program. Wouldn’t it be so cool to say after you have done 50 trips you get something like a meet and greet or x period of time with JBJ, at 100 trips you get xyz. That would make people really want to go on a lot of trips to achieve that status/rewards. Very similar to how cruise lines, airlines have reward programs and how Aerosmith does their concert tickets. Similar to the Keith Urban 100 club concept which I will also cover in a future blog.
Until next time,
Xoxo
Heather
JBJ Nashville