Karina Smirnoff: Aaron Definitely Deserves To Stay

You may not believe it, but I barely made it to yesterday’s performance. I was sick all week. You know how you barrel through the flu even while feeling your body getting really weak. That was me. I thought I was going ot pass out before the live show. Seriously. I couldn’t even stand up. I was literally out while I was getting my make up done.

After my hair and makeup I still had 20 minutes before I had to walk the stage. I took a power nap. Then I was able to pull myself through. I don’t know how it happened, but I was ready – and as you saw on the show so was Aaron.

He was so ready.

We loved last night’s dance. When I was looking for inspiration, I thought about the old European ballroom dancing that was done 100 years ago. I talked to Aaron about being very proper and the picture of old Europe that I had in my mind. He mentioned that his family was actually from Finland, and that he had been raised by his grandmother who came from there and was a proper, mannered, old-fashioned person. I told him to step into that character. He dedicated that dance to his grandma, who, I think, he said passed away in 2003. He created an emotional attachment to the dance and I think it made a huge difference.

Watch all of last night’s dances here.

Aaron is a really good ballroom dancer. He understands it. Intuitively. He can mimic the steps if I show him what the guy’s supposed to do. When I started the competition, I thought he’d be better in Latin. But he feels closer to ballroom. You could see it last night. The judges saw it. They definitely praised him. Carrie Ann said he missed steps. But I watched the video back, and I saw he actually did miss a step at the very end. But I don’t know how they saw it. My dress covered it. But he didn’t miss any steps in the beginning. I watched. He didn’t miss any.

To vote for us, call: 1-800 – VOTE4-01

You can never tell with the judges. I thought Donny and Kym did an amazing job last night, absolutely amazing. But the judges didn’t appreciate it. It was kind of weird.

What did you think? Watch it again here and let me know.

I know some of you get really emotional about this. Like Cathy and Janet and Liz. I ready your comments about last week. Thank you for being angry that we were in the bottom two. And thank you and everyone else so much for voting. If not for you, we probably would have been sent home already.

To vote for us, call: 1-800 – VOTE4-01

Then Mac brought up the issue that seems to come up every week, the one about Aaron trying to decide whether he’s a boy or a man. My response? Look, Aaron is 21. I wish people would remember what they were like when they were 21. That’s around the age when you start growing into a man or a young woman. But it’s still like being a child. However, one admirable thing about Aaron that all of you can see. He’s definitely growing from this experience. He hasn’t’ complained. He hasn’t quit. He’s dug in and tried harder and hard.. I take my hat off to him.

And to people like Timberly, Pat, Raye, Terry and Nancy…thank you for your support and kind words. Thank you for watching, for rooting and for calling. Everyone, we need you now. Please call and vote.

To vote for us, call: 1-800 – VOTE4-01

We need you.

As for the judges, we can’t control their thoughts and opinions. All we can do is make the best of it.

Am I being philosophical? Yes. You know, to be really, really honest, I’m trying to prepare that we might be in the bottom two. I hope not. I seriously hope not. Dancing wise, Aaron definitely deserves to stay in the competition at least a few more weeks and who knows, maybe into the finals. But as I’ve said before, it’s not always the quality of the dance.

(ABC)

It’s also a popularity contest. That’s what makes it especially hard if you’re like me and get emotionally attached to the celebrity’s effort, the competition and the desire to win. There are a few of us like that. Derek’s another one who gets emotionally attached. So the past couple weeks have been really hard on me – and Aaron.

Especially poor Aaron, who is dancing his heart out. I don’t know what people think, but he is trying as hard has he can every day. And when we found ourselves in the bottom two, it was hard. I thought about it constantly. Could I have done something different, something better? Aaron asked me the same questions. What could we have done different and better?

All we could do was work hard – and that’s what we did this past week. I didn’t think its legal to work as hard as we did. I was crying when my alarm went off. I didn’t want to get up. But I think it paid off. The results were there. We did our best. That’s why today is going to be what it’s going to be tough. We squeezed every single drop out of ourselves. At least if we go home, I know without a doubt that we’ll have done our very best.

To vote for us, call: 1-800 – VOTE4-01

More on These Topics: Dancing With The Stars | Karina Smirnoff | Top