Professional jockey Victor Espinoza is the latest star to be eliminated during the 21st season of 'Dancing With The Stars.' Photo by Frank Polich/UPI |
License Photo
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Professional jockey Victor Espinoza was eliminated on Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night.
The second of this week's "Hometown Glory" two-part episode of Dancing With The Stars challenged the contestants to learn and perform two consecutive dance routines on two consecutive nights.
The result of the challenged left Espinoza out of the remaining competition, making him the second contestant this season to go home. Espinoza, danced with partner Karina Smirnoff to "Girl on Fire," honoring the professional dancer's difficult transition from Ukraine to the U.S. The couple scored 20 points before being voted off the show.
Tamar Braxton and partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy, on the other hand, earned the best score of the night with their New York-themed Charleston. Judges gave them a score of 25 out of 30 points.
In conjunction with the episode's homegrown theme, highlighting each professional dancer's roots, Chmerkovskiy -- a native Ukrainian -- says his true home is New York City. To honor the Big Apple, the duo created a fun routine to Robin Thicke's "Living in New York City."
Nick Carter returned after slipping on the dance floor during Monday's episode. The former Backstreet Boy and partner Sharna Burgess performed a Foxtrot routine to Skylar Grey's "Coming Home, Pt. II" while singer Andy Grammar and his partner, Allison Holker performed a contemporary dance to Katie Thompson's "Heaven is a Place on Earth."
Burgess celebrated her native Australia with the duo's routine and judge Bruno Tonioli said the bit put Carter "back on track" after his slip. The performance earned them a solid 24 points out of 30.
Grammer and Thompson's slow routine prompted judge Carrie Ann Inaba to feel the singer's "commitment" to the performance. The partners scored a total of 23 points this round, a reoccurring number for quite a few of Tuesday's contestants.
The goofy crowd favorite, Gary Busey and his partner Anna Trebunskaya scored a total of 15 points for their pasodoble routine to the Russian composer Tchaikovsky. "I'm here to kill for you," Busey said to his partner during rehearsal in a feigned accent. The judges didn't quite enjoy the actor's performance, as Tonioli compared him to Frekenstein's monster, but Busey stays in the game due to his popularity among fans.
Bindi Irwin and partner Derek Hough performed an altered waltz (including lifts) to Johnny Lang's "Only a Man" to honor Hough's Utah upbringing. Judge Julianne Hough said the routine reminded her of "two dancers dancing as one," while the other judges looked down on the inclusion of lifts in the traditional waltz. The duo scored 23 points in this round and will remain in the competition.
Army National Guardsman specialist Alek Skarlatos and his partner Lindsay Arnold together scored 22 points during the latest DWTS episode. The two honored their native United States with a decorated quickstep to "American Girl." Judge Inaba said the routine was just "OK" while Tonioli was enthusiastic.
The remaining teams, including Hayes Grier and partner Emma Slater; Alexa PenaVega and partner Mark Ballas; and Carlos PenaVega and Witney Carson will return for the show's next episode of Dancing With The Stars airing Monday night on ABC.