The contestants switched gears on “Dancing With the Stars” this week, leaving the raucous, sexy energy of rock, Latin, and Motown in the rearview. And that change left them with the first perfect score of the year.
Classical Night saw the stars tapping into regal, romantic storylines and threw in a new twist: After their individual performances, the stars split into two groups, Team Tango and Team Paso, to compete head-to-head in a battle for extra points from the judges.
Pint-size prodigy Jackie Evancho, along with classical icons Joshua Bell and Vittorio Grigolo, set the mood with soaring performances, and an enhanced orchestra was the perfect backdrop for the week’s challenge. Our stars proved their versatility, but some had trouble with the transition. Here are the week’s top five dances:
(5) William Levy and Cheryl Burke (27 points)
William Levy claims that he’s “not a classical guy,” but his wholesome, romantic Viennese waltz was one of the night’s highlights. The sweet, sweeping performance, already reminiscent of a fairy tale, didn’t need a flashy storyline to stand out. Although William usually brings out Bruno Tonioli’s saucy side, the judge was so unabashedly impressed that he shied away from his jokes and kept his comments sincere. “You captured the purity and ethereal quality of the dance,” he said, pointing out the vulnerability that William had conveyed.
(4) Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd (27 points)Donald’s fiery paso doble during Rock Week seared a terrifying, shirtless image of the Super Bowl champ into our minds. That’s why it was refreshing, if a little disconcerting, to see him deliver a precise, pristine Viennese waltz that was all elegance. The performance, which started out with the royally attired couple perched on thrones, was regal with an overtone of delightful cheerfulness that kept it a little bit tongue-in-cheek. The judges loved it, and once again Donald found himself near the top of the leaderboard.
