'Dancing With the Stars' Week 5 recap: Disney done right
Warning: This recap of Week 5 of Dancing With the Stars contains spoilers.
Dancing With the Stars rolled out the glittery red carpet for one of the most popular themes of the season — Disney Night. But this time, the celebrity ballroom competition celebrated the House of Mouse through the ages, with tributes to features from every era, from the 1920s to the present day. (Translation: From Steamboat Willie to — plug alert! — the upcoming Disney Pixar film Coco.) And magic was definitely in the air. Sure, Bruno Tonioli felt like he was bathed in stardust, but we’re talking about Len Goodman, who was one of the most generous scorers of the night!
Of course, every Disney film has a villain, and for DWTS’s Disney Night it was Tom Bergeron, who was tasked with announcing this season’s fourth eliminated couple: Sasha Pieterse and Gleb Savchenko. This, after Sasha channeled her inner Ariel for a mermaid-themed rumba to “Kiss the Girl” from the hit 1989 movie The Little Mermaid, where it was clear that this was the most fun the Pretty Little Liars star has had all season.
“It was incredible,” Pieterse said of her experience on the ABC dancing show. “I knew it was going to be amazing, but it blew my expectations away… I’m grateful for the experience, and I’m so happy I got to share my story.”
With one more mirrorball dream dashed, here’s how the rest of the stars danced through the ages.
Victoria Arlen and Val Chmerkovskiy: 27/30
Theme: Steamboat Willie
Victoria and Val went back to 1928 to pay tribute to Mickey Mouse’s first appearance, in the animated short Steamboat Willie. The couple’s jazz was animated all right — where else can you see a clean-shaven Val dancing in striped shorts, with traces of everything from the Lindy hop to twerking? Head judge Len said the dance was just like a Disney movie, “full of joy, sparkle, and entertainment.”
Vanessa Lachey and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 24/30
Theme: Snow White
The year was 1937 as Vanessa and Maks performed an elegant waltz to “Un Jour, Mon Prince Viendra” from Disney’s very first animated film. While Carrie Ann Inaba noted that a Snow White-clad Vanessa “stopped breathing” during the dance a few times, Bruno said that even “Grumpy [aka Len] here would be happy with that dance.” Of course, our favorite part of this segment may have been the couple’s pretaped package, which showed a mini Maks playing all seven dwarfs. (Note: He nailed Dopey.)
Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas: 28/30
Theme: Pinocchio
When you wish upon a star … you get this. Lindsey and Mark’s foxtrot was straight out of a 1940s movie — with Mickey on the piano as a bonus. All of the judges raved about the dance — Len even gave it a 10! — with Carrie Ann saying it featured “one of the finest holds” she’s ever seen. No lie, this violinist can dance.
Nick Lachey and Peta Murgatroyd: 22/30
Theme: The Jungle Book
Nick and Peta had “The Bare Necessities” down for their quickstep to the famous song from the 1967 Disney classic, but Len called out the 98 Degrees alum for his “droopy right arm.” Carrie Ann and Bruno also noted that Nick lost his step a couple of times. On a more positive note, it was the first time the former boy bander showed his abs this season. Bless.
Drew Scott and Emma Slater: 25/30
Theme: The Muppet Movie
Drew and Emma’s Viennese waltz was full of color as they danced to “Rainbow Connection” from 1979’s The Muppet Movie. Bruno said the Property Brothers star gets “more and more polished each week,” and Carrie Ann revealed that the duo has become one of her favorite couples this season. Kermit the Frog was even in the house to judge this one, but, unfortunately, his “10” didn’t count.
Terrell Owens and Cheryl Burke: 25/30
Theme: The Lion King
He is lion, hear him roar. You gotta love a dance that features T.O. wearing a king’s crown. The NFL star’s quickstep with Cheryl to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from the 1994 movie The Lion King was worth the wait. Len praised the star’s speed and control, and Bruno called him “the leader of the pride.” Carrie Ann gave the couple their first 9 of the season.
Frankie Muniz and Witney Carson: 29/30
Theme: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Frankie was fierce as he danced a pirate-themed Argentine tango with Witney in tribute to the fourth installment of the Johnny Depp series. The pro dancer had a slight misstep as her heel got caught in her skirt, but Frankie danced “a proper, swashbuckling routine” that had Len telling him, “You won’t be walking the plank for a few weeks.”
Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold: 30/30
Theme: Moana
Last week’s leaderboard topper took on 2016’s biggest animated hit as he danced the foxtrot with Lindsay to his own song, “You’re Welcome,” from the Moana soundtrack. While Len said he’s not usually a fan of all that extra stuff in the middle of a dance, he paved the way for a 10 by adding, “That part in the hold was so good I can forgive anything.” Three Mickey-ear-10 paddles later and we have our first perfect score of the season.
Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: 27/30
Theme: Coco
Nikki and Artem danced a jazz routine to the new song “Remember Me” from Disney Pixar’s upcoming 2017 animated feature based on the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. Bruno was ready for a Mexican fiesta — and maybe some tequila shots — as he told the WWE superstar that the Latin flair suits her. “Full of fun, all the flavor of Mexico. Your best dance yet,” Len said. Olé!
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of DWTS for free on Yahoo View.
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