Tonight on ABC after weeks of competition the final four dancers will dance in part 1 of the Finale of Dancing With The Stars on an all-new Monday, November 21, 2016, season 23 episode 11 episode and we have your Dancing With The Stars recap below! On tonight’s DWTS Season 23 episode 11 “Finale Part 1,” as per the ABC synopsis, “The final four couples compete during the 11th week of performances, which includes two rounds of dancing: a redemption dance and a freestyle dance. Also: Train sing, “Play That Song”; a dance from “La La Land” is performed and one couple are eliminated.”
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It’s night one of the Dancing With The Stars finale – and the final four teams are celebrating the night with freestyles. In the first round though, it’s judges’ choice. Calving Johnson Jr. and Lindsay Arnold were at the bottom of the leaderboard last week, they take the stage first tonight and perform the Viennese Waltz. They danced the Viennese Waltz back in Week 3, and Calvin is sure that they can get 10’s this time around.
After their performance, Calvin and Lindsay line up to hear what the judges thought, and head judge Len Goodman is back!
Len: Without a doubt, the most improved dance in this final, honestly! When I think back to Week 1, you got a 6, and you were lucky to get a 6. This had such fluidity and a charm about it, your hold has got much better, you still got to work a little on your footwork. Over all, what a fabulous start to the evening.
Julianne: Len said it totally perfectly, you have come so far in this season. Your frame, your posture, your footwork, everything was so on par tonight. I remember the first time you did the Viennese Waltz, we didn’t get to comment, but I wanted to say I felt like I could only keep my eyes on Lindsay. And, tonight I can say that I could only keep my eyes on you.
Bruno: The big easy on Cloud 9, I loved the way you swept your girl off her feet, but you had the loving care of a true gentleman. You really took the lead, tonight you were doing it, you were using the flow beautifully and you are always so watchable.
Carrie Ann: The first time you did this, there was more drama and passion and knee slides, but tonight I saw how far you have come as a dancer. You didn’t need to do any of that because you were able to dance it lovely, in fact so much so that it felt like the ballroom was too small for you, could barely contain you, dancing your Viennese Waltz all over the place. This is what’s devastating me, Lindsay your foot came off on the drag and I am going to have to call a lift, but I want you to know that my score – it’s the finals and everyone is here and it matters. But, I felt tremendous improvement from last time.
Scores: Carrie Ann : 8 Bruno: 9 Julianne: 9 Len: 9 Total: 35/40
The next couple to take the stage tonight is Jana Kramer and Gleb. For their redemption dance, the judges chose the Tango. Jana and Gleb danced the Tango in Week 2, but Jana was injured and she feels like she didn’t do her best, she’s excited for another chance to prove herself. Gleb was sick during rehearsals, so Jana spent half the week practicing with Alan has a stand-in, here’s to hoping she and Gleb can pull it off without a hitch!
Now, it’s time to hear what the judges thought.
Julianne: By the way Gleb, I feel for you. Every time I danced, I always got sick during the finals. It’s something about the pressure and how long the journey is. But, Jana this has been your journey of overcoming obstacles, I definitely think that the training hurt a little bit, but I didn’t feel the same spark I was hoping for. But, you guys still have the freestyle so come back and kill it.
Bruno: Well, it sparked for me. I still think you are hotter than hell! When these two dance, you can give night sweats to a saint. You have such full-blooded passion, determination, and drive. You’re not a dancer and what you have achieved is incredible. And this time around it was slicker than the first time.
Carrie Ann: I’m actually on Bruno’s side, I can see how far you have come. The first time you danced the Tango I gave you a 7, because there was a real imbalance, a lack of confidence and strength, and matching Gleb’s intensity. Tonight I thought you matched him exactly and there was so much power. However, everyone saw this too, your foot came off too! I was like, did you not just hear me? But it was beautiful and you have improved.
Len: This left stuff, I can understand if there is an intent to lift, when it is a spin and it comes off I don’t think it should be penalized. I’ll just say there was a funny thing with your leg, I am not talking about the lift.
Scores Carrie Ann: 8 Len: 9 Bruno: 9 Julianne: 9 Total: 35/40
The next couple to take the DWTS stage is Laurie Hernandez and Val, for their Redemption Dance the judges have selected the Paso Doble. In Week 5, Laurie and Val performed the Paso and didn’t exactly wow the judges, now it’s their chance to redo it.
Bruno: What happened to my sweet young thing! That was wicked in the best possible way! You knocked the heavyweight out of that Paso Doble. You always have had precision and power, but what I saw tonight was you had this shape flowing and going just the way I like.
Carrie Ann: I agree that was what we were looking for! This time I wanted to see you really expand and do all of the shaping, which I saw right away, and this time we made eye contact in the middle of the dance and I felt your joy and determination. You are the most determined soul I have ever et and it showed in that beautiful Paso Doble.
Len: I loved the intensity you had between each other, I didn’t see your Paso Doble the first time around. I’m so glad I got to see you do it again because there was nothing in that dance that I didn’t like.
Julianne: Okay so last time I said I really wanted to see you guys connect, and I can obviously tell that you guys have been working on that. I know these dances are super important to show the growth and you guys 100% did that. Well done.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 10 Julianne: 9 Bruno: 10 Total 38/40
The final redemption dance tonight is James Hinchcliffe and Sharna’s Foxtrot. This week, former DWTS champ ad Indy driver Helio came in to rehearse with James and Sharna, so they may have a bit of an edge on the competition. After their performance, James and Sharna wait to hear what the judges thought.
Carrie Ann: I remember this was your first dance you performed and I was sad because I didn’t get to comment. I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with you, and tonight I am even more impressed. You glide through this dance like you are ice-skating, you are sexy because you do it so right. There was a bit of a stumble in the middle, but thank you for not lifting.
Len: If you went to that bookshelf and pulled out a dictionary and looked up dance talent – you would find James Hinchliffe.
Julianne: From day one, you have always been the whole package for me. I think that tonight the music, it was a proper foxtrot, you had the dorky swag, and I a so bummed that the mistake happened. But, it was literally the perfect foxtrot.
Bruno: I didn’t see that, what I saw was the geek getting the prize. What I liked about that was every chapter was composed to perfection, every punctuation was in character, it was top quality from the prologue until the ending, I was totally engrossed. It was brilliant.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Len: 9 Julianne: 9 Bruno: 10 Total: 39/40
FREESTYLE DANCES
Now, it’s time for the freestyle dances. Jana Kramer and Gleb are up first, [VIDEO HERE] tonight they chose a contemporary dance for their freestyle, but it’s not just any contemporary, they will be dancing the entire dance with a piece of cloth connecting them.
Len: I thought it was a fascinating dance, I loved the concept of it, it was a very exposing dance though and every little hiccup can be seen clearly. Something happened when you were flying across the floor, but what a wonderful dance, a beautiful performance.
Julianne: I can see the disappointment or something on your face, but I want you all to listen, you should all be so proud of yourselves for getting so far. It takes so much pressure and weight on you to get here, and I know that, you put everything you had in it to get here tonight. There was a stumble. You took a risk tonight, but it worked and I think you should be very happy tonight and everyone else should be.
Bruno: I loved the concept, they were tied up by an unbreakable bond, or was it bondage? I don’t know it worked either way. It was like watching life unfolding, there were ups and downs, but you have to charge through it and succeed at the end and overall you did. I loved the fearless way you threw yourself in to it. You don’t hold anything back and It was wonderful to see.
Carrie Ann: I have so much respect for you, so many things are going through my mind, ultimately to me you are the underdog. You are sort of this little precious being that has really developed, you are here because you clutch at everything. You pulled yourselves up together, this partnership has been so passionate and true and honest. Tonight there was a slide and I have to take off points because that’s what I do, but I want you to walk away being proud of yourselves because that was stunning.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Bruno: 9 Julianne: 9 Len: 9 Total: 36/40
Calvin Johnson and Lindsay are up next. For their freestyle, they are going all out tonight, Lindsay has packed their routine full of lips, tricks, jazz, and even treadmills! Calvin Johnson Jr and Lindsay perform their Freestyle [VIDEO HERE] for the judges, then wait to hear their critiques.
Julianne: All I a going to say is the thing I love so much about freestyles is that it is a little bit of everything, joy, charm, charisma, flips and tricks, everything. You did every single one of those things tonight and I absolutely loved it.
Bruno: After this straight to Broadway to join Motown! That was so wonderful, it was Calvin’s hit parade. You brought every quality that he has right in to focus, everything was absolutely right.
Carrie Ann: All I know is the world needs more of Calvin Johnson Jr. You started out kind of cool, like I’m not giving you too much, then bam, bam, Carrie Ann took a point off for my lifts, bam! What a joy!
Len: If I was the postman I would send you a love letter. Freestyles are about entertainment and dance. There was never a question of if you could entertain, but tonight you proved that you can dance.Scores
Scores: Len: 10 Carrie Ann: 10 Julianne: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 40/40
Laurie Hernandez and Val take the DWTS stage [VIDEO HERE] next to perform their freestyle for the judges. Seeing as how Laurie is just a kid, and the youngest competitor on this season of DWTS, Val has choreographed a playground themed freestyle, complete with a slide. Now, it’s time to hear what the judges have to say.
Bruno: Laurie my darling, the playground! So much energy you can send a rocket ship to the moon. It was the embodiment of the spirit of youth, I feel invigorated and joyful, I want to join in. You are just fantastic my darling.
Carrie Ann: Val, you captured her essence beautifully, Laurie what you did was you delivered. I didn’t have any doubt that you were going to be incredible, but I didn’t know you would be so uplifting. You brought tears to my eyes because I was so happy. You are inspiring, you have this burden on you to inspire the kids of America, and I want to tell you that freestyle featured that essence and delivered it with a bang.
Len: It was fantastic, I loved it. It was just a joyful experience to watch it. I was there with you on the playground and I was 12 years old again, just having a fantastic time. It was wonderful!
Julianne: Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of awesome! That was incredible, it was so fresh and youthful and crisp. And, you are wearing my favorite color which is yellow and sunshine, and I’m with them I can’t talk.
Scores: Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Julianne: 10 Carrie Ann: 10 Total: 40/40
James Hinchcliffe and Sharna’s Freestyle [VIDEO HERE] is last but not least. James and Sharna’s dance is a bit heavier than the other freestyles, they decide to use James’ own words to reinact his horrific Indy car accident that nearly killed him.
Carrie Ann: In 24 season I have never seen a more passionate, creative, intelligent, artistic and well-danced freestyle. That had everything and more, you are the miracle man of season 23.
Len: It not only showcased you as a dancer, but also as a person. Sometimes I think show dances are going to be all fast and gay and jolly, this was poignant, beautiful, wonderful choreography. Well done!
Julianne: Just when I think you have done your best dance, you come out and you do that. Every single week you have come out and I have been like that is the best dance I have seen this season, and then you come back and do it again and again. And, that’s what this competition is about, outdoing yourself each week, and that is exactly what you have done.
Bruno: That was unique, exceptional, beyond dancing, it was visual poetry. Real, honest, extremely beautiful. It was another DWTS memorable moment. Beautiful.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10 Len: 10 Bruno: 10 Julianne: 10 Total: 40/40
Now, it’s time to send someone home, and learn who the final three dancers in the finale will be. Laurie Hernandez and Val, Calvin Johnson Jr and Lindsay, and James Hinchcliffe and Sharna are all dancing tomorrow night in the finals.
Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko are officially eliminated from Dancing With The Stars.
THE END!