Well that was uneventful l episode of Dancing nothing actually progressed the competition further.
In an Australian first, viewers were given the power to swap the stars and their professional dance partners in The Switch Up. It was sink or swim for the stars with tonight’s Switch Up twist but David Rodan triumphed during a highly competitive night of dancing.
Top scoring for the second week running with 38 points, David showed off a different side with a smooth and sensual Rumba. Dancing alongside Tai Hara’s partner Jorja Freeman, the AFL legend won warm praise from the judges with Todd McKenney and Adam Garcia awarding him a perfect score. “For a beginner, you understand dance,” Todd said. Adam agreed: “I was totally enraptured. You are the true essence of a dancer.”
It was a three-way tie for second place with Tai Hara, Matt Cooper and Ricki-Lee each scoring 32 points. Tai bounced back after narrowly avoiding elimination last week to give his best performance to date. Paired with Matt Cooper’s partner Masha Belash, the Home and Away star’s shirtless Paso Doble set pulses racing. Todd exclaimed: “Marsha what have you done to him? The difference from last week is enormous.”
Matt continued to impress with his Foxtrot earning rave reviews. The routine with Eamon’s partner Ash-Leigh Hunter had the judges comparing him to Hollywood dance legends. “That was so smooth,” Todd said. “It was Fred Astaire-esque. I absolutely loved it.”
With Lynne McGranger’s partner Carmelo Pizzino by her side, Ricki Lee’s cheeky Jive to Itch’s Another Man was a definite crowd-pleaser. Adam said: “You’re like a living music video. You light up a stage.”
Olympic champion Torah Bright shone on the dance floor with her Viennese Waltz scoring 30 points. Matched up with Ricki-Lee’s partner Jarryd Byrne, she delighted judges with a fairytale performance complete with cascading cherry blossoms. Kym Johnson said: “It was pure dance joy.”
LYNNE McGranger scored 29 points for her emotive Foxtrot with Torah’s partner Robbie Kmetoni. Kym acknowledged: “You did have the hardest pairing with the height and age difference but I was mesmerised by it.”
In last place, Eamon Sullivan channeled his inner geek during his jive which earned him 26 points. Helen Richey said: “It was a good effort but not one of your better dances.”
Because of tonight’s Switch-Up, no one was sent home but the performances do still count. Tonight’s scores and the viewer vote will be added to the results from Thursday night, when the next couple will be eliminated.
The stars will be back in just 48 hours’ time, reunited with their regular partner, and dancing for survival in Thursday night’s Halloween special.
Final scores:
DAVID RODAN & JORJA FREEMAN – 38
TAI HARA & MASHA BELASH – 32
MATT COOPER & ASH-LEIGH HUNTER – 32
RICKI-LEE & CARMELO PIZZINO – 32
TORAH BRIGHT & JARRYD BYRNE – 30
LYNNE McGRANGER & ROBBIE KMETONI – 29
EAMON SULLIVAN & MELANIE HOOPER – 26
Don’t miss Halloween special this Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven. The stars are already spooked about having just 48 hours to rehearse…plus they have to master two brand new routines!
