Yahoo Finance DWTS : Suni Lee and Melora Hardin Eliminated in Semifinal Round Ahead of Season 30 Finale
It's almost time to crown a new champion on Dancing with the Stars!
In another double elimination, Olympic gymnast Suni Lee and actress Melora Hardin were sent home following Monday's semifinal round of competition, leaving the remaining four contestants — JoJo Siwa, Iman Shumpert, Cody Rigsby and Amanda Kloots — still in the running to win the mirrorball trophy in next week's season 30 finale.
Prior to saying goodbye to Lee, 18, and Hardin, 54, the celebrities battled on the ballroom floor to secure their spot in the finals. Each pairing delivered two routines throughout the night, including a redemption dance based on a style they struggled to perform earlier in the season.
(ABC/Christopher Willard)
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The Office alum and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev were mentored by judge Len Goodman for their redemption rumba to "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole, which scored 36 out of 40. The pair's second routine was a contemporary dance to "Thunder" by Imagine Dragons, which also earned 36 out of 40.
Despite her elimination, Hardin focused on the positives, telling reporters afterward: "My body is looking incredible, according to my husband! I've lost 12 pounds."
However, she continued, "That'd be, like, the lowest thing I would say I've gained. I've gained so much from Artem, like, from just the amazing dancing that he has made me do and helped me do ... and learning how to dance with a partner is so extraordinary. It's unlike anything else."
"Artem is an incredible teacher, an amazing choreographer, an incredible dancer," she added. "I feel like I've been so held and so loved ... I really feel like we have a beautiful friendship that will continue."
Lee and pro partner Sasha Farber were mentored by judge Carrie Ann Inaba for their redemption foxtrot to "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé, which scored 37 out of 40. The duo later performed a contemporary dance to "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles for 38 out of 40.
"It definitely sucks because I feel like I really had a breakthrough these past couple of weeks," Lee said of her elimination. "And I had my best two dances tonight, which is one of the reasons why it sucks to go home, but I'm also really happy with how it ended."
"Obviously, we didn't make it to the finale," she added, "but I feel like I finally found myself, and I'm more confident in myself. And I feel like I'm more open now, and that was the main goal to come on this show. Obviously, winning was there, but I feel like I love myself more than ever and that is a really important thing."
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Siwa, 18, and pro partner Jenna Johnson were also mentored by Goodman, 77, for their redemption Argentine tango to "Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)" by Gotan Project, which scored a perfect 40 out of 40. Later, the duo performed a contemporary dance — which was dedicated to the pop star's late grandfather — to "Before You Go (Piano Version)" by Lewis Capaldi for another 40 out of 40.
"I think he'd be very proud," the Dance Moms alum told reporters of her granddad afterward, adding, "You know what, I think he is so proud. You know in one way or another, he's watching and he's with us. I think we did him good tonight."
She also reacted to the love from pal Demi Lovato, who tweeted their support for Siwa earlier in the evening. "Demi is literally one of the best humans in the world," Siwa said. "We were texting all day today. They were so supportive of literally this whole journey."
She continued: "I mean, I remember when we first said that we were going to be two girls dancing together, Demi was one of the first people that texted me, and then today, they were saying so many nice things about how this is game-changing, how this is brave and just giving so much love and support. It's nice when you look up to humans and then they're actually genuinely good humans, and that's how Demi is."
(ABC/Christopher Willard)
Rigsby, 34, and pro partner Cheryl Burke were mentored by judge Bruno Tonioli for their redemption salsa to "Danza Kuduro" by Don Omar and Lucenzo, which scored 35 out of 40. For their second dance, the pair performed an Argentine tango to "La Cumparsita" by Forever Tango for 36 out of 40.
After the show, the Peloton instructor teased his upcoming performance for the finale, saying, "I just want our final freestyle to be very gay!"
"I mean, we've talked about music already," he added. "And I think once we get into it and work the choreography, I think I'm going to be opinionated because I'm a very opinionated person."
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Shumpert, 31, and pro partner Daniella Karagach were mentored by judge Derek Hough for their redemption tango to "Telephone" by Martynas, which scored 37 out of 40. For their second dance, the pair performed a jazz to "Dark Fantasy" by Kanye West — also featuring the NBA star's wife, singer Teyana Taylor — for 38 out of 40.
"I came on the show to take on a challenge, and this is something that I've never done," Shumpert told reporters. "It's been a lot of fun, the whole journey through it, so we're just going to keep rolling."
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Kloots, 39, and pro partner Alan Bersten were also mentored by Goodman for their redemption tango to "Titanium" by David Guetta, which scored 39 out of 40. The duo later closed out the show with an emotional contemporary dance to "Live Your Life" by Kloots' late husband Nick Cordero for a perfect 40 out of 40.
"I kind of just tried to take in the moment, to be honest," she said afterward. "And you know, I felt so grateful and lucky to be able to do this dance tonight to Nick's song. I mean, it truly was an honor."
Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
