Dancing with the Stars Week 8: Ballroom, Latin and a perfect 30

November 9, 10:35 PMDancing with the Stars ExaminerEvelyn McCormack

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Mya and Dmitry Chaplin
ABC

With only five couples left on Dancing with the Stars, Monday night’s performance show gave us a chance to finally see Season 9’s best dances, and lots of them. Mya and partner Dmitry Chaplin earned the best scores of the night, including a perfect 30 for the couple’s Latin number, a samba.

It was a ballroom and Latin night, with each of the remaining couples performing two longer dances. The Latin round was made a bit more interesting by the fact that each couple had to dance a number themed by decades. “It’s time to turn on the heat as they dance to the eras, Latin style,” announced head judge Len Goodman.

The ballroom dance came first, though, and got out of the gate quickly with Mya and Dmitry Chaplin’s quick step, which the judges loved. “My priority is how you dance and it would appear that your priority is the wow in the dance,” said Len. “Again tonight, there was a disappointment for me because I couldn’t find anything to criticize.” “This is quality!,” shouted judge Bruno Tonioli. Carrie Ann Inaba noted that the quick step is one of the more difficult ballroom dances to perform. “I thought it was fantastic,” she said. The couple received their highest total score yet in the season, a 29.

Next up were Aaron Carter and partner Karina Smirnoff, dancing the fox trot. In spite of the fact that Smirnoff was ill during the week, the couple looked graceful and confident on the floor. But the judges were lukewarm about the performance. “I can really see how much work went into this. I felt it was a little bit tense,” said Bruno. “I am proud of you, whatever happens, because you worked so hard,” said Len. “You’ve done very, very well.”

Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough followed up with the quick step, which just didn’t measure up to Mya’s performance. “There was a lot of running about,” said Len. “This is not the standard for the quarter finals.” “It looked like you were running away from the scene of a crime,” said Bruno.

Kelly Osbourne and partner Louis Van Amstel danced next, tackling the fox trot. Osbourne and Amstel looked confident on the dance floor, and the judges liked the performance. “It’s been a long while since we’ve seen you do ballroom,” said Len. “Your footwork was a real distraction, but the rest of you was fantastic.” “When you keep your focus, it works,” said Bruno. “You have a secret weapon,” said Carrie Ann. “The moment you have a breakthrough, the audience goes crazy for you.” Osbourne and Amstel earned a 25 for the performance, higher than Krupa and Hough’s score.

Donny Osmond danced a lovely Viennese waltz with partner Kym Johnson that once again earned the couple a standing ovation from the studio audience and generally good reviews from the judges. “You can really play it,” said Bruno. “It was like watching a Lifetime movie.” “I found it mesmerizing,” said Carrie Ann. “There was something very special about that dance.” “There was improvement in your posture,” said Len. “For me, it was a bit arty farty.” Still, Osmond received a total score of 26, putting him in second place for the ballroom round.

In the Latin round, Mya and Chaplin brought it again, dancing a “1970s samba” to the Donna Summer tune “Bad Girls.” The couple received praise and excitement from the judges, and a long-elusive perfect score of 30.

”I believe it,” said Carrie Ann. “I believe that you want to win this competition. It was beyond belief.” “You are absolutely on fire,” said Len. “Your hips were hypnotic.” “You are unbelievable,” said Bruno. “I love bad girls, and you are the baddest of them all.”

Dancing Latin next were Carter and Smirnoff, who performed a 1990s samba. Carter, who had a hit song in the 1990s, got a standing ovation and compliments from the judges for the energetic dance. “You came out and performed it, sold it and really worked your socks off,” said Len. “All the energy is finally made good,” said Bruno. Although Carter has experienced ups and downs during Season 9, noted Carrie Ann, “You’re truly a great performer. You were hitting it.” Huh?

Krupa and Hough danced a Paso Doble of the future, described by Hough as one of the most unique dances he’s ever choreographed. The number that reminded me why this show is such a hit, with the couple wearing lit, futuristic costumes.

“A masterful re-invention of a classic,” said Bruno. “Derek, you’re a genius.” And Carrie Ann gave Krupa props, saying, “Joanna, you did not miss a step here.” Even Len waxed poetic about the performance. “That was genius,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t know how you were going to do this. It was fantastic.”

Up next were Osbourne and Van Amstel, performing a 1960s themed jive that prompted Bruno to say, “Groovy, baby.” The performance got strong votes from the judges. “Kelly, you have been an absolute revelation to me,” said Len. “You come in week after week, stronger and stronger.” “Definitely one of your best performances,” said Carrie Ann, who added that she was a bit freaked out by a doll carried by Osbourne at the start and end of the performance. “I thought the doll lasted a bit too long,” she said.

Last up were Osmond and Johnson, who dance a Paso Doble with a 1980s theme. Osmond reprised his 1980s mullet, and introduced a strange, new look. The judges were mixed about the over-the-top costumes, makeup and performance. “Don’t laugh at me,” said Osmond when the dance was over.

“It was a cross between Adam Ant and Adam Carolla,” said Len. “But I liked it.” “Nobody could ever top this,” said Bruno. “It was like watching Donny doing Marie doing Donny doing Marie.” “It was a little odd for me,” said Carrie Ann.

When it was all over, Mya walked away with the strongest combined score of the night, a 59, while Osmond and Carter had the lowest combined scores of 50 each. Could this be the last of Carter, who has been in the bottom three couples for a number of weeks? Or will Donny's kooky Paso Doble put the 51-year-old out to pasture?

Here is a recap of the dances and scores for Monday night’s show:

Mya and Dmitry Chaplin
Dance 1: Quick Step
Scores: 9, 10, and 10, for a total of 29.
Dance 2: 1970s Samba
Scores: 10, 10, and 10, for a total of 30.
Combined Scores: 59
Phone number: 1-800-868-3411

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff
Dance 1: Fox Trot
Scores: 7, 8, and 8, for a total of 23.
Dance 2: 1990s Samba
Scores: 9, 9, and 9, for a total of 27.
Combined Scores: 50
1-800-868-3401

Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough:
Dance 1: Quick Step
Scores: 8, 7, and 8, for a total of 23.
Dance 2: Futuristic Paso Doble
Scores: 9, 10, and 10, for a total of 29.
Combined Scores: 52
Phone number: 1-800-868-3415

Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel
Dance 1: Fox Trot
Scores: 8, 8, and 9, for a total of 25.
Dance 2: Jive
Scores: 8, 9, and 9, for a total of 26.
Combined Scores: 51
Phone number: 1-800-868-3416

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson
Dance 1: Viennese Waltz
Scores: 9, 8, and 9, for a total of 26.
Dance 2: Paso Doble
Scores: 8, 8, and 8, for a total of 24.
Combined Scores: 50
Phone number: 1-800-868-3405

Tuesday’s Results Show will include the elimination of one couple, a return of the hilarious “DanceCenter” segment, and performances by “Britain’s Got Talent: sensation Susan Boyle and crooner Michael Buble.