In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Today's News: Our Take
Dancing with the Stars Backstage Feud Gets a Lift
Tony Dovolani and Jane Seymour by Carol Kaelson
After Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba repeatedly slammed Tony Dovolani's use of illegal lifts in his and partner Jane Seymour's routines, the pro hoofer presented the judge with a ballroom rulebook. "Because she does not know anything about ballroom, I figured she should at least read [it]," Tony tells People. "I highlighted the parts I wanted her to read, including the description of what a lift is."
Unfortunately for Dovolani and Seymour, Inaba was neither amused nor enlightened. He says the ex-Fly Girl "gave me the finger.... I thought I hit home." Or certainly too close to it. — Ben Katner
For more on Dancing with the Stars, read this morning's backstage report.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 9:21 AM
|
|
Wow! I guess the gloves are off this year. First Marie now Toni!
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 10:35 AM
|
I could use some enlightenment. I missed that episode - how can you have an "illegal lift", or was the problem that, if it was a lift then it was poorly executed?
What did ballroom pros Len and Bruno say about it?
While it seems like it could have been an effort to call a truce, either Tony went about it the wrongway or Carrie took it the wrong way. EITHER way, doesn't seem like either of them is handling it in a professional manner.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 10:54 AM
|
A lift is when a dancer takes two feet off the ground with assistance. If the dancer can get both feet off the ground unassisted then it is not a lift, but if the move requires a partner to support you while its happening then it is a lift and not allowed.
Of course, lifts are allowed in real ballroom dancing and even DWTS allows lifts later in the competition, but, for whatever reason, they are not allowed in the early stages. Rules are rules.
As for the scenario above -- love it! WTG Tony! Carrie Ann -- if you can't laugh at yourself you are waaayyy too uptight.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 11:08 AM
|
|
Thanks LadyK! I admittedly don't start watching DWTS until week 5 or 6 and totally missed that that was a rule - I can certainly see many reasons why.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 11:31 AM
|
|
They don't want the younger lighter stars to get an advantage and for safety reasons. Tony gets on my nerves so does Max they seem more arrogrant than other dancers. Fueds are good for ratings real or publicity generated.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 11:57 AM
|
I've been watching since the first season and even a casual fan from the couch could remember the "no lifts" rule. When they all started complaining about it I was a little shocked .The minute they did it, I thought "isn't there a no lifts rule". So, if I knew it, you know they did. If you want to get mad at anyone, blame Kelly Monaco 
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 12:15 PM
|
|
I recorded the show with the lift in question, and watched it again and again. I certainly didn't see Jane's toes leave the floor. It didn't look like a lift to me. It was an elegant dance, if there had been a lift, the other two judges would have mentioned it as well. Len and Bruno seldom miss anything.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 12:35 PM
|
Anyone who has ever watched Tony Dovolani dance in competition [check him out when PBS airs "Championship Ballroom Dancing"] can see why this man is an undefeated champion. Not only does he know the rules, but he executes them perfectly. There are also different definitions of what constitutes "a lift." Feet barely off the ground are not "lifts," being raised above the man's shoulders are.
Tony impresses me ... Carrie Ann does not and never has. Were she to attempt to compete on the level Tony has, she would be out in the first round.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 1:00 PM
|
I have seen Toni in competition on PBS and yes he is FANTASTIC! This guy can really dance!
I think it Carrie Ann needs to lighten up a whole lot!
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 1:03 PM
|
I think Carrie Ann is very unprofessional with her atttidue and her desire to be noticed. She failed to comment on several other lifts that were less subtle than Jane's.It so happens that one of those was her favorite(guess which one?)
I think the judging should be consistent with every dancer and the judges comments should be accurate,not so opinionated. The judges comments certainly steer many viewers who think they are being honest with their professional opinions.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 1:14 PM
|
I hope someone from DWS reads this.
Would you please tell Edyta to put some clothes on? She always looks like a skank, even when they do 'romantic' dances she has hardly any clothes on. She could take some clothing advice from any of the other girls, Cheryl Burke, Julienne Hough, who dress beautifully. Who picks her outfits anyway? Doesn't anyone do an outfit check before they let them out on the floor? Edyta's skanky outfits take away from the beauty of the show. I wonder if the other girls are embarrassed by her lack of clothing.
That Indian outfit she had on last night was completely unnecessary and I think it embarrassed her partner.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 1:18 PM
|
|
Kudos to Tony!!
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 1:40 PM
|
|
I've got to agree with Tony. I'm not sure Jane's feet left the floor but even if they did, that particular step certainly did not qualify as a lift.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 2:03 PM
|
|
KansasRose - the show actually makes the outfits for everyone so TPTB certainly know about them. Hello, would most shows turn down a little T&A? That being said, my 9 yo DD is in complete agreement. She mentions it every week.
|
|
Oct 30, 2007 2:05 PM
|
|
|
