On September 26, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) contestants Maureen McCormick and Artem Chigvintsev showed off a salsa dance set to Tres Deseos/Three Wishes by Gloria Estefan. The last week of September was dedicated to salsa dancing, and the duo battled Amber Rose and Maksim Chmerkovskiy for the highest marks. Maureen and Artem were scored 28 out of 40 from the judges, but watch for yourself and see what you think they deserve:
The moves were sharp and sexy enough to trump Amber and Maksim, who scored 25 out of 40, putting them into jeopardy for the week. What do you think of their performance?
While all the stars are paired with professional dancers, it’s clear that Maureen and Artem took a more traditional approach to salsa dancing. Amber and Maksim show off a lot of flare and solo work, and their costumes have a more urban vibe than the winning couple’s. Sometimes going a little off the grid can pay off, but it seems like the judges favored a more classical salsa dance, and there’s no denying that Maureen’s costume stole the show.
Maureen’s Background
Maureen is no stranger to an audience and performing. Best known for her role as Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch television series (1969-1974), she’s gone on to appear in numerous shows, films, and is also a recording artist. Like many stars on the DWTS series, now in its 23rd season, this is a brand new kind of challenge. It can revitalize careers, help kickstart a healthier lifestyle and/or weight loss goal, and takes stars out of their element. By partnering with a professional dancer and teacher, the contestants are pushed to their limits and often practice for several hours each day.
DWTS challenges contestants to practice, perform and excel at a wide variety of dance styles from ballroom to hip hop. However, it’s not just nailing your own moves that matter. How contestants work with their assigned partner is key because that chemistry (or lack thereof) will show through in their performance. It’s a bit of luck when it comes to getting paired with the right person, just like any dancer seeking a partner.
Benefits of DWTS
It’s common to see many of the stars experience a dramatic weight loss and intense toning up during their season (assuming they make it far enough into the process!). Salsa dancing is certainly a healthy activity, and if you do it regularly it can help with fat loss, stamina and muscle building. However, the many hours each day the stars rehearse and practice is short-term and not feasible for the average person. Salsa shouldn’t be pursued “just” as a weight loss tool, but can be a fun way to help your healthy journey along.
The stars, just like all dancers, also experience the camaraderie and competition that can be found in the salsa world. It’s a very social, passionate dance, and the contestants get to know their partners and competitors closely in just a few weeks. Of course, it’s still a competition, and for anyone interested in competitive salsa dancing, DWTS can give you a taste of what’s to come. Whether you want to dance socially, be competitive, or you’re not sure yet, check out DWTS for some inspiration. You’ll be amazed by the progress some of the stars make.
What Makes a Winning Pair?
DWTS is a wildly popular show, and there’s a lot more to it than “who’s the best dancer,” although that’s certainly important. How intriguing a couple is also plays a role. They can be overwhelmingly likeable, bring so much drama they simply can’t be booted off early, or otherwise draw in audiences. Fortunately, if you want to get competitive, you don’t have to deal with such Hollywood politics. In a non-star-studded competition, all that really matters is your performance, your costume, and your chemistry.
The stars who are drawn to DWTS come from all backgrounds and with various experiences. Some have no dance experience at all, and some even consider themselves very out of shape. It shows that salsa really is for everyone, and that you’re capable of much more than you think. Maybe you don’t have a private instructor at your side daily, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shoot for the stars yourself.
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