'Dancing With the Stars': Pro Allison Holker Blogs Double Elimination Night

We are midway through the Dancing With the Stars season and tensions are high, competition is tough, and the true finalist are starting to reveal themselves. Up until now every couple has had their own highs and lows or great stories to tell, but now each week we are looking for more. We expect the celebrities to grow in the syllabus of dance. We are looking for details in style and technique in each dance, and of course high-class performances. It’s in this week we as an audience decide who we hope to see stay until the end.

The celebrities are under a lot of pressure this week. They have to learn two dances, one dance with their pro and one team dance — in this case, it’s guys vs. the girls. Not only that, but two couples had to leave the competition. Everyone is exhausted, competitive, and starting to realize how much they really want to win that mirrorball trophy. It happens every year — each competitor is having fun learning something new, but now the stakes are high and they want to win. But who has what it takes? Let’s discuss.

Highlight of the night: Nyle and Peta

HE GOT HIS MOJO BACK. So happy to see Nyle performing like the champion he is. I thought the music, lighting and dancing were just phenomenal. He came out with charisma, great technique and a breathtaking connection with his partner Peta. Every couple has to have a tough week to refuel the tank, and thank goodness that happened to this couple because they came back even stronger this week. I want to see more from them.

Best of the night: Ginger and Val

Yes! This was what I have been waiting for. I was shouting “10! 10! 10!” at my television screen — reminder: I just had a baby so I’m watching the show at home while multitasking with feeding and changing my 4 week old baby boys diapers, it’s a beautiful visual I know. Ginger just stole my heart; it was perfection. It oozed passion, technique and prestige, and it was hands down one of my favorite dances Val has ever choreographed. The combination of Whitney Houston, Ginger and Val made for an unforgettable performance.

Thoughts on the Team Dances

The guys came out and danced to one of my favorites, James Brown. They had so much energy, and you could feel how well they worked as a team. Nyle has now had to work with and match other men for the first time and I’m sure it was intimidating, but he kept his head high, and the other men were there for him. At one moment Nyle lost the musicality, but the other guys followed him which made the dance even better in my eyes. This is what the show is all about — coming together, pushing each other competitively, but more importantly, creating a family. These men proved their team spirit last night.

The women danced a Beyoncé medley. Bey is one of my idols, so I needed to see these girls pull up and really take control of the stage like Beyoncé would. Whenever Beyoncé performs, she walks into a room like she owns the place, and she doesn’t allow you to look away. And my girls, they came out and performed as a team, they walked out onto their platforms with so much confidence and really took control of the room. You girls were powerful! In my opinion the teams tied. They both worked so hard, and it payed off.

All right, everyone — thanks for following along!

Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC