Tonight on Dancing with the Stars, the four contestants were each given a private Master Class session with Len Goodman. With next week’s finals on the line, the celebrities were happy to accept any advice that they could get.

For this week’s semifinal round, the dancers first had to perform a style they hadn’t individually tried yet. The second half of the show was then devoted to new styles introduced this season (the Salsa and the Jitterbug).

Who proved they were worthy of a Top Three finish…and who needed more of the head judge’s help? Read on!

Brooke Burke (partner Derek Hough)

(Dance: Jive/ Song: ‘The House is Rockin’’)
Although I liked Brooke’s energy, something felt a bit off for me. I wasn’t quite sure if her knees were simply too skinny to pull off a convincing Jive, or if her performance was just as wobbly as it looked. And what was up with Derek swinging her around under his legs? Has the ban on lifts been pulled?

Len didn’t pull any punches. He said the disastrous performance was filled with mistakes. Bruno said Brooke’s technique went down the toilet. Her legs were bent and her weight was on the back of the foot. Tonioli advised Burke to not overdo it; just do it right. Carrie Ann said the blatant illegal lift was a bit disrespectful—especially since they were now in the semis.  Score: 7/7/7 (21)

(Dance: Paso Doble/ Song: ‘Le Disko’)
Cody - who looked like a Ken doll - was as stiff as the plastic figure tonight. Although posture is key to this style, I felt like the actor was overcompensating. His determination was obvious and almost awkward. I did like his series of leaps though.

Although Bruno is a supporter of innovation, he felt the performance lacked any sense of style. He said the Spanish lines were non-existent and the timing was poor. Carrie Ann said Cody earned a 10 for determination. Unfortunately, she’d rather not see so much tension at this stage of the game. Len said Cody earned his marching orders tonight. Despite having a few elements of the Paso Doble, Len thought the dance was just stiff and wooden.  Score: 8/7/7 (22)

(Dance: Mambo/ Song: ‘Abril en Portugal’)
Warren - who looked nice in his pin-striped suit and red vest combo - was able to get funky and playful with this number. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite sure if he was doing a Mambo because the dance looked very similar to other styles he had already attempted. But whatever Sapp was doing, he definitely had fun doing it.

Carrie Ann advised the football player to step his game up just a hair. She said his lackluster dance needed a little more content. Len said Warren simply goes with what he knows. Although he doesn’t “mess about” with technique, he delivers in personality. Bruno said Sapp’s super-sized sense of fun allows him to get away with murder. Tonight, Tonioli felt the athlete was engaging yet flat-footed. Score: 8/8/8 (24)

(Dance: Mambo/ Song: ‘Straight to Number One’)
This was absolutely a great music selection for the couple. Even though Bass has taken his share of critical hits over the season, he has really started to come out of his shell. This performance was fun, youthful…and extremely confident. The showman was definitely on top of his game tonight.

Len said it doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish that counts. He said this was the best dance so far. Bruno thought the performance was semifinal material. It had content, imagination and quirky details. Carrie Ann said the “showstopper” was dynamic and colorful. She thought it was Lance’s best dance of the season.  Score: 10/9/9 (28)

(Dance: Salsa/ Song: ‘Babarabatiri’)
The second time was definitely a charm for Brooke; she looked hot on the floor and in her sexy fringe pants. Burke didn’t let a season low in her earlier Jive affect the rest of her night. Not only did she rebound, she did a nice split leap move in the air right into the splits on the floor. It was an impressive move definitely worthy of a finale performance.

Bruno gladly welcomed Brooke back into competition. Carrie Ann said a champion is someone who rises above it all and comes back. Len said the performance was crisp, clear and full of great technique.  Score: 9/10/9 (28)

(Dance: Salsa/ Song: ‘Juventud del Presente’)
Once again, Cody was lacking in the style department. His hips were stiff and his musicality was off. I was also thrown off by the strange headlock he gave Julianne at one point.

Carrie Ann thought Cody’s performance was fun to watch despite the musicality issues. Len actually thought Linley did quite well. The head judge was also impressed with the nice lifts. Although he thought the teenager was a little loose technically, Bruno said he went for it and had fun with it.  Score: 8/8/8 (24)

(Dance: Jitterbug/ Song: ‘That Old Black Magic’)
Now this is what musicality looks like. The lively style encouraged the teddy bear to ramp up his playful side. Although his performance looked a little sloppy toward the end, Sapp’s infectious enthusiasm easily overshadowed any problems.

Goodman thought Warren was a true joy to watch. He said the athlete came out 100% and sold it. Bruno said Len’s master class didn’t work on Sapp; his feet were all over the place. Carrie Ann loved the performance. She said he brought his A-game to the dance floor.  Score: 9/8/8 (25)

(Dance: Jitterbug/ Song: ‘Jim Dandy’)
This performance had it all: musicality, footwork, lifts….and a competitor with only one shoe. Despite losing a sneaker in the middle of the dance, Lance carried on like a true professional. His ability to carry off the fast style without full support was definitely something worth applause.

Bruno said shoes on or off, the performance was brilliant. He thought it was a real joy to watch. Carrie Ann said magic happened on that dance floor. She was pleased to see that he didn’t miss a step. Len thought it was a job well done. He then complimented Bass on completing two fabulous dances tonight.  Score: 10/9/10 (29)

(You can find all the Dancing with the Stars: Season 7 posts here.)