Thats very interesting but I dont think that her chances are quite high.
All I will say is that most people expect either Willy or DD to win but like season 8 everyone thought that Gilles would win and he didnt because of that terrible freestyle.
Somehow I think that Cheryl learned her lesson but I still think that a lot of it has to do with the freestyle;the couple that will came up with the most entertaining F. on the night will take it

Seconded! To be fair, it was Derek and the judges who were to blame for her inflated scores/weird choreography.

I love the idea of a "redemption dance".

I love it when exes somehow manage to stay friends ;especially when it didnt work out .
Pleasantly surprised at this tweet of Shannon Elizabeth who was Derek's 2nd dance partner I believe(the one who he was secretly involved in a relationship with but not so secretly when Brooke spilled the beans later

http://www.whosay.com/shannonelizabe...w&code=Kop3kBK

I like the idea of the 24 hr dance.

Katherine is definitly the dark horse in this race. And her freestyle could be really different and outstanding in this sandwich with these two hunks.

It seems, that Cheryl is going for the Salsa and Peta promised a lot of lifting. If Marks stays classy with a pinch of sassy à la Broadway it could become the most memorable performance of the night. Katherine has the best technique and can execute very difficult footwork. And her lines in the spins and when she poses are adorable. I bet Mark is going with these strentghs ....

This is a good drawing, thought it was a photo at first -

http://twitpic.com/9mg8e0

http://instagr.am/p/KwWDexhTdR/

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...,6593537.story

http://instagr.am/p/KwrsLfBTSc/

http://lockerz.com/s/210048024

http://lockerz.com/s/209931768

Thanks Mokka

I always think Strictly should have a redemption dance. Am curious about the 24 hour dance.......

I also don't think the judges should have any say in the final.

Looking forward to seeing the freestyles and a bit nervous about what Mark might do - it's his opportunity to show his creativity, and knowing Mark, that could spell triumph or disaster . I really hope he works to her strengths.

http://tv.uk.msn.com/features/how-ka...with-the-stars

I'm surprised theres so much hate for Derek/Derek and Maria here. Firstly - he's far and away the best dancer and choreographer on the show. And so the final will be the poorer without him. Sure, perhaps he is given an easier ride by the judges than some (theres no denying that "jive" was brutal) but then they have never been fair or consistent with anyone have they? Besides, it's hardly his fault.
As for him with Maria - she's the most improved of the celebs and has had some of the most memorable and best dances of the season. Again, it's true at times she has been given higher scores than she has merited. But they all have, in particular William who has seen the least professional and vulgar "judging" that any contestant has ever had (from Bruno).
Katherine too has been rather lucky with scores of late.

As for the final, William seems a nice bloke but is rather stiff and generally looks to be concentrating very hard. There is little performance value from him. Cheryl I find very cold and I fully expect her to be very cynical and exploitative in what she will give him. She will surely win and although he won't have been the worst dancer to do so, the manner in which he has been shoved down our throats by the show will leave a bitter taste.
Katherine for my money wants this all far, far too much. I found her recent meltdowns father tough to watch. And the longer she has been in the show, the more nervous about it all she has become - and her dancing has suffered as a result. She is the best dancer still, so it's possible she could bring the wow factor. But I expect her to finish 3rd.
Donald seems to think he is better than he actually is. He is competent, with a decent level of performance/drama but technically unremarkable. His partner, a fantastic dancer seems perhaps the weakest of the 3 pros for choreography.
He will likely be last from the judges but his fanbase will see him 2nd

I don't doubt that Derek is a fantastic choreographer, but it's much easier to choreograph for a celeb when they aren't truly awful. He's never had a very weak celeb, so he's never been tested.

Maria's Samba wasn't a Samba and her Jive wasn't a Jive. Had she really improved? Derek covered her weaknesses by putting her into place and he kept her in hold a lot. Most of the choreography was very simple and she didn't have to do very much. Clever choreography, not good dancing. Derek can't be blamed for the scores, but he can be blamed for taking the p!ss several times in his choreography.

I'd say Maria was an average dancer on the show. Her Latin was never good and she didn't have much natural rhythm.

I don't rate William as a dancer at all. If Katherine can't win, then I'd like it to be Donald.

I had enjoyed Derek's choreography the most this season.
I'm too cynical to believe most injuries.
I love watching the ladies in the audience melt when Mr Levy is on.
Katherine is as good as any this series.
Donald is a pro, whatever he does, he's trained that way.
I shall enjoy the final whatever the result.
Tom is the main reason I love this show. BBC is the least.
Len? No comment.

You took the words right out of my mouth Rose lol.I entirely agree with everything you said .
I personally think that Derek is the best teacher, choreographer and dancer at Dwts but what I dont like is the blatant favoritism that some judges or you could even say the show has towards him.
He gets away with a lot of stuff, and thats my problem(probaly not his fault but its still annoying).
Maria imo was never really good(just an average dancer) to begin with and I dont see how she improved .
I just want to laugh when I heard people say that she improved,I mean really? when Its Derek's stellar choreography which masked her weaknesses that makes people think that she improved.
I found her stiff in her Latin dances , not good hip actions and dont even get me started on their so-called "jive"
I think that her ballroom was so much better though and she had a great posture but thats about it.

Go ahead and read previous posts again . There is no hate for Derek's here. People are simply expressing their opinions about him or Maria(and other dancers) in a concise manner.
This is not an appreciation thread, like "cough" puredwts or purederekhough

Really?
This thread started out fairly neutral & has ended up the Katharine & Mark love in at times.

But everyone can express his own opinion here without getting bashed. Maybe in the end most of the posters on this board ended up with the opinion that Katherine is the best of the remaining contestants after other favorits got the boot?

Sherri about the shocker elimination ...

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/...-18-12/1402540

"Gutted" is quite the word among words. I agree! If I tried to spell the British way or use commas the British way, etc.. I'd likely screw it up and irritate the spelling-sensitive on both sides of the Atlantic. That's great that you're able to do that!


The "24-hour" dance seems similar to the "Dance Duel" thing the contestants had to prepare earlier in the season, in case they were in the bottom two. I didn't think the dances that came out of that - even by decent dancers like Roshon - were very good. I'm not expecting quality out of the 24-hour dance: just frayed nerves and stressed contestants.

I hope either Donald or Katherine pull out the win. I read on TWOP that Cheryl is getting outside choreography help from a salsa expert for William's freestyle. The salsa choreographer tweeted a picture of her and Cheryl and basically announced that she's choreographing their freestyle.

DWTS makes such a deal about their dancers being choreographers for their celebs, I wonder if the outside-choreography help goes on more often than we know behind the scenes. Anyway, I hope Mark and Peta are using all the resources that the show allows also. Although, maybe Mark would be too professionally proud to do that (?)

After his family already adopted Katherine he gets maybe the one or the other hint from his parents? I'm curious to watch the freestyles and hope that they're all kinda spectacular and put the contestant in the center of the attention.

I recall Mark brought in Julianne to teach Kristi Y. lifts. I have no proof but I suspect that he may ask Derek for input as well his mother. I actually think that might be a good idea as long Katherine is game. Especially if they observe practice and tweek it. I think if she has confidence she will engage more with the audience.


No pressure for the pros right now. It is really up to choreo when it comes to freestyle if the celeb is talented.

Mark blogged about the schedule on Monday night and about the voting procedure ... http://www.markballas.com/blogdetail...the-finals/581

Hi Lili Yes, that sounds familiar. And I've definitely seen other pros come in to help with a celebrity's technique. For instance, I remember Derek helping Apolo with the male moves in samba. Last season, Lacey's dad helped Chaz Bono learn how to dance.

Also, I bet the pros do talk shop about choreography amongst their dancer friends and relatives in the way that you describe.

I just wonder, though, if the show will be open about another choreographer, who should probably be given official credit, coming in and choreographing a freestyle for one of their pros. I don't think DWTS gives choreography credit to anyone but their staff pros, and they go out of their way to make it seem as if their pros do this on their own.

I guess we'll see what happens pretty soon.


Hello mokkamilch I hope the freestyles are spectacular too!

Markettes Team KMark ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-YyZ4niX80

Sounds good for me

Now it's official that Katherine and Mark dance the Paso Doble again.

Is Katherine Jenkins Ready For The Dancing Finals? http://watch.accesshollywood.com/vid.../1648099590001

Thanks for that mokka - they seem to look quite fresh and in good spirits, so that's a positive.