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ABC/Adam TaylorBoyz II Men‘s Wanye Morris survived the first elimination of this season’s Dancing with the Stars on Monday.
Once again, Morris and his pro partner Lindsay Arnold found themselves in a tie for the top spot, this time with UFC fighter Paige VanZant and her partner Alan Bersten, who was filling in for Mark Ballas, sidelined with an injury he suffered during rehearsals. Each couple received 24 out of a possible 30.
Wanya and Lindsay performed a Salsa to Pitbull‘s “Echa Pa’lla” that judge Len Goodman called a “full of” dance, noting, “It’s full of energy, full of excitement, full of rhythm and I’m full of praise.” Goodman’s fellow judge, Carrie Ann Inaba dubbed Morris “king of the ballroom.”
Backstage, Morris told ABC Radio that he felt good about their chances of earning a high score, explaining, “We felt like if we worked hard enough anything’s a possibility…The goal is to elevate each week and if we can do that and have fun doing it at the same time, then America will see it, the judges will see it.”
The 42-year-old excelled, in spite of a hectic week of playing shows with his band and rehearsing Monday’s dance routine. Morris says thankfully he won’t be on tour for the whole season of DWTS, which should make things a little easier, adding that he, “can’t wait to get in rehearsal.”
Veteran journalist Geraldo Rivera was the first contestant eliminated on Monday’s show.
Dancing with the Stars continues next Monday on ABC.
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