Loved their quickstep, thought it was the best dance of the night actually BUT I really didn't like the Samba

Google seems to suggest he's dating someone called Joanna who didn't win American Idol (I have no idea, I don't watch it). But then again, I didn't realise him and Sabrina had split up!

Shawn is not Marks girlfriend,he is dating Joanna Pacitti a former American Idol contestant.Mark did date his first partner on the show Sabrina Bryan for over a year i think but split last year.

Check out this link

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/gallery/starsnaps/

Do you think they've got 'boyfriend' mixed up with 'dance partner' then?

I absolutely loved that quickstep but I suppose I'm a bit prejudiced as Maks is far and away my favourite pro. I actually really enjoyed Mayo's Tango as well but didn't think their cha cha cha was as good and I definitely didn't like Anna's samba.

On the home page of digital spy, where they show their "star" photos there is a pic of Shawn with the caption that is shown "leaving [wherever] after watching boyfriend Mark Ballas and his band......" (They're not the exact works, but near enough).

Think as has been suggested DS confused dance partner with boyfriend/girlfriend....

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Yes they have got mixed up i would think.Mark has said on the show a few times that Shawn is a minor,and even said he had to correograph their routines to be age appropriate.Shawn has also said Mark is like her big brother,also he is dating Joanna Pacitti.

Totally agree with you Force 10 - Maks is my favourite pro too - it was a joy to see him dancing to his own level and it really highlights how much the pro's drop their level to meet the celebs during the competition.

I so agree. Puffle and Force Ten. It was so good to see him dancing again at that pro level. He has said that he does not like doing the quickstep but you'd never know it. I know there will never be another Mel B. but after him taking a season off and then going out early on the next 2 seasons, it is time for Maks to get a great partner and go the distance again. . He said in an interview he wants a partner with a gymnastic background and nerves of steel.

Oh, don't remind me. He should have won when he had Mel B as a partner. It was only their stupid hip hop show dance that ruined it for them. Why oh why did he listen to Mel? They should have done a ballroom type show dance and then I think they would have won. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.

Here's a few more clips of interviews and things this week:

Good Morning America

EXTRA Backstage

The Insider

I love to watch Maks dance. Sometimes it is the pro dancers with a strong personality that get the most from their celeb partners.
Mel B - she was my winner, but I wondered if the reason she didn't win was because she was English?

I love to watch Maks dance. Sometimes it is the pro dancers with a strong personality that not only get the most from their celeb partners, but are also the best dancers. If they lack passion they will never have the edge over anyone else....

Mel B was my winner, but I wondered if the reason she didn't win was because she was English?

Who would have guessed that Denise Richards would not be a great partner though?

We have said on here before that she would probably have done much better on DWTS with some of the other male pros. Maks went down in my estimation this season because of how he was with Denise. I know some people will say it was a two way problem, but I only saw how Maks acted towards Denise and I found it uncomfortable to watch.

That was debated on the ABC boards a lot but I really think it was because Helio had a huge, huge fan base. Women adored him and he had all that chemistry with Julianne. And Helio and Julianne had a better showdance/freestyle. Mel was cooked at the point was and missed some steps in her freestyle. I swear the competitions are won and lost on that freestyle.

I would have much preferred Mel B. and Maks win. Mel B. had such a fun personality and she brought out the best in Maks. I have to believe that it was very close but Helio just had the edge with the fans. He is Brazilian so I did not think it was a case of an American needing to win it. Maks always say women vote for cute men and not women, but Kristi Y. and Brooke B. proved him wrong.

Maks needs that kind of partner who is not sensitive and lets his toughness roll off of them. The thing that is irritating me about him this year is that he complained about Melissa's dance experience and now he wants Melissa to win. He is still on this kick that the women cannot win the competition against the men. He doesn't want Gilles to win.

Maks could be in for shock then as I think he's got a great chance of winning. Is there any bad history between Maks and Cheryl?

If Maks is judging on the dancing - regardless of Melissa's previous experience - then he will want her to win as she is the better dancer. But could that dance experience put viewers off voting for her. Is she popular in US?

I don't think so. He is very good friends with Cheryl and they attend a lot of events together. But Tony is his best friend and Maks is very clear about wanting a women to win the competition.

I have to say I wondered if it was because Mel B was English and to be honest I don't believe the show dance has much to do with the result - we've seen it in the UK time and again, the winner is rarely decided on the showdance, usually what has gone on before.

I personally would prefer Melissa to win, only because I want Tony to win more than Cheryl. Also, I think Melissa did a wonderful job coming in at such short notice and I don't believe previous dance experience should be held against her - speaking from experience I know it's not always as easy as people think to go from one dance discipline to another - especially if you've danced one discipline for years and years and the style and movements are ingrained into your brain - very difficult to retrain yourself and your body to work in a different way.

I can only go by the ABC and TWoP message boards but Melissa seems to the most polarizing celebrity (other than Ty staying so long) this year.

There is a lot of talk of her being a ringer and getting the sympathy vote (she was the dumpee on the Bachelor and she was given a score for a dance she did not do and Tony pleaded to keep her in). And much talk of her not connecting emotionally and always having her big smile. She reminds of Mary Tyler Moore when she was young. But there are also fans who love her and are supporting her strongly. I noticed she has a lot male fans. Then there is Tony and he finally has a good partner. He has a strong fanbase and he is beaming this year.

Just a personal opinion but I really think the win will come down to best freestyle/showdance. Mark will be able to do the lifts and spins and athletic freestyle and he will get help from Corky (a bone of contention from Maks). You pretty much know that a Mark/Shawn freestyle will be spectacular. Cheryl has proven herself twice in her freestyles. Tony did not do a very good with Stacy Keibler. Even the Melissa fans are worried he will not be able overcome Cheryl and Mark in the choreography department. And you never know what Chelsie could come up with even if Ty is bad dancer. I think Tony is really motivated this year and he will come up with something good.

I agree with you, I think this year he's realised that it could possibly be his best chance of winning and Melissa is so good it'd be a crime for him NOT to choreograph something amazing for her.

Gilles revealed his showdance song at the end of this interview taken before the semis http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/182...NI_5-11-09.mp3
The song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZ5R3C5bzs

Put in spoilers just in case

I have to disagree about the showdance influencing results - Tom & Camilla only won scd last year because of their showdance; I think it was the same when Darren Gough won, and Colin James lost it with the ridiculous showdance that Erin had put together for him.

Agree about Melissa. Previous dance experience will certainly be a help in the first few weeks (poise, balance, ability to move to music etc) but by now that advantage will be lost in the need to learn the technique of new dances.

I feel also, the producers were in a difficult position when choosing a last minute replacement celeb. If they had chosen someone who had never danced anything before, then that person would almost definitely have been first out with only a couple of days to learn a dance.

I'd like Melissa to win (I too like Tony!!!) but wouldn't be upset if Gilles wins. But I might be if Shawn/Ty won!!!!

Sorry Kaycee but in the first SCD book bought out they had the voting figures for Darren Gough/Colin Jackson during the final. Darren was ahead of Colin all the way through the final by a large margin, so the show dances made no difference to the eventual winner.
I'm also willing to bet that Tom and Camilla were ahead of Rachel and Vincent also by a pretty good margin throughout the final, as was shown by the voting by the public in the Semi-final where Tom came out top despite the judges putting him in last place.