Let's Dance: Have fun at the dance show despite Corona challenges

It was again Friday, 8:15 pm on RTL: The fifth episode of "Let's Dance" again offered the audience a lot of emotions and good performances in front of the television. Top performances were delivered by Lili Paul-Roncalli (21) and Luca Hänni (25). The lowest points from the jury were given to Ulrike von der Groeben (62) and Sükrü Pehlivan (47). An entertaining show despite some getting used to.

The show started this week without applause. In the meantime, the small audience consisting of family members and friends was no longer even in the hall. But it couldn't be done entirely without – with applause "from the can" was helped. Moderator Daniel Hartwich (41) quipped: "I can hear exactly, you continue to clap." Due to hygienic measures, the group did not open with a group dance, but Tango, Slowfox and Quickstep were offered by professional dancers.

#letsdancemituns: dancing with the jury

At the beginning there was an appeal from the jurors: The audience should dance along at home. Joachim Llambi (55), Motsi Mabuse (38) and Jorge González (52) danced what the audience should dance and film at home. The finished video could be posted on Instagram under the hashtag #letsdance. During the audition Llambi took Massimo Sinató (39) on the scoop: "Even Massimo can do these steps." He could laugh heartily about it.

The implementation looked like this:

Emotional: The first dance number

The first dance was a Viennese waltz, danced by actors Tijan Njie (28) and Kathrin Menzinger (31). Njie joked about the origin of his dance partner: "Viennese waltzes with a Viennese can only be pleasant." They danced to the dramatic ballad "Monsters" by James Blunt. During the training, Njie had injured his shoulder, which meant that rehearsals were no longer possible from the middle of the week. However, none of this was noticeable during his performance. Jorge González was enthusiastic: "What a great opening." Llambi criticized the flow of dance. This achievement was rewarded with 24 points.

The second couple was model Loiza Lamers (25) with dance partner Andrzej Cibis (32). The two of them had to shiver in the red light last week, but they moved on to the next round. This time there was a rumba for "Naked" by James Arthur. They passionately danced the "dance of love". The jury criticized the stabilization of the body. "It has to be worked on more safely and intensively," says Joachim Llambi. There was praise for the soft and feminine movements. The model received a total of 16 points.

Great development since Show 1

Laura Müller (19) learned the Charleston from Christian Polanc (41) this week. In the style of the 1920s, the two danced to "Boyfriend" by Lou Bega (44). In front of pink and white balloons, the dancing couple gave everything, except for the body tension, there were only positive things from the jurors, and their constant improvement was praised. The model received 24 points.

She is the oldest candidate and gives everything every week: presenter Ulrike von der Groeben (62) with dance partner Valentin Lusin (33). The "hot, fire-blooded" salsa was followed in five, the trial week was exhausting. Effort was not noticeable for "Bajo la Tormenta" by Sergio George's Salsa Giants. With fire in the background, von der Groeben danced with great joy. Finally, there was a rapid end position. "Well done," says Mabuse enthusiastically about the fitness of the 62-year-old. There was even a little dance with juror González: "It is important to enjoy it!" Llambi was more critical: "I feel you don't know what you're doing." Sobering jury voting: the moderator received 13 points.

Many feelings at Hänni, Sükrü with "blockage in the head"

Contemporary was on the program for singer Luca Hänni (25) with Christina Luft (30) this week. The dance is as difficult and demanding as pronouncing the name for Hänni. The performance was about the not so nice things in life. The singer recently separated from his girlfriend. Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved" was the appropriate soundtrack for the story of the two. "It was very expressive," said González. Even the critical Llambi was tame: "This is the first 10 of me this season." It is no surprise that the pair scored 30 out of 30 points.

Moderator and antique expert Sükrü Pehlivan (47) was on stage with a jive this week. During the training week he complained during the training week that his thoughts were blocking his head. "Everything you do has to be done with your heart," said the moderator. "Marble, stone and iron breaks" by Drafi Deutscher was the musical basis. The joy of dancing showed the 47-year-old on his face. Entertainment factor: high. The jury's comments weren't quite as positive, even González was reluctant. There was no more than 11 points for this jive. He and his dance partner Alona Uehlin (30) remained calm and just continued to grin.

Entertaining in any case

It is the dance that he did not want to dance: Tango for actors Martin Klempnow (46) and Marta Arndt (30). Falco's "Tango The Night" is the song of the number. The 46-year-old, dressed as a zombie, danced solidly with a kind of circus uniform. The jury rated the performance as good entertainment. But: "not the strongest in dance," Llambi said. 18 points for Klempnow.

In the current season, she shows her serious but humorous side: Ilka Bessin (48). Together with Erich Klann (32) she danced a Paso Doble to "Satisfaction" from the Rolling Stones. Even at the rehearsals, she remained ambitious. The red and black backdrop, the quasi arena of the RTL studio, helped with the mood, but the dance performance was not the hoped-for performance. "It was a walk through," said Llambi, no dancing in his eyes. Mabuse sees positive things and an improvement. "Criticism always brings you forward, you shouldn't take the negative too much to heart," summarizes Bessin. There were 15 points for her.

Brilliant performance by Paul-Roncalli, solid Moritz Hans

She is considered one of the top favorites: circus artist Lili Paul-Roncalli (21). With a sophisticated choreography, Paul-Roncalli went on the floor with Massimo Sinató (39). They danced a cha-cha-cha to "Promises" by Calvin Harris & Sam Smith. Their charisma was brighter than the neon tubes around the dancing couple. For Jorge González the performance was "sexy", for Mabuse "cheeky" and Llambi praised the fact that she dared to do something while dancing. The expert jury gave it 28 points.

Moritz Hans (23) and Renata Lusin (32) delivered a solid conclusion with a rumba for "Love Someone" by Lukas Graham. The romantic dance was danced to the satisfaction of the jury. There was criticism for the less fluid transitions and technical shortcomings. "You have the options and I want you to exhaust them," said Llambi. Nevertheless, the two dusted off a solid 24 points for their appearance.

One was missing

John Kelly (52) was not on the live show because of a family illness. He could not show his cha-cha-cha for "Give It Up" with dance partner Regina Luca (31). The singer addressed his dance colleagues via video message. He’s sorry and happy to be back next week.

Boys against girls

The samples were shown as a substitute for the live group performance. The motto was: boys against girls. The girls are very clichéd as ballerinas. Ilka Bessin was less enthusiastic about it. There was no live dancing, instead in the training outfit in the video. At the beginning you heard "Swan Lake", later hip-hop mixed in. Ilka Bessin wore it with humor and caused a laugh: "Sorry guys, everyone can do Michael Jackson!" The girls' team received a total of 6 points.

That was the motto of the boys. These became Michael Jackson dancers. Equipped with white hats, they already felt invincible during training. In the video of the male candidates, "Smooth Criminal" was danced similar to the real music video. More points than women: 8 points for men.

Special measures for the corona virus

There was no audience again this week, but this time no visit from family and friends. Instead, the candidates sat scattered on the grandstand instead of "group cuddling" in the lounge above the dance floor. Group dances were avoided and the safety distance was maintained. That also applied to the jury. This was spread all over the desk. Daniel Hartwich mentioned these measures at the beginning of the show, and the "fuss" was also dispensed with. To ensure that the interviews with the families do not go away completely, family members were shown to the candidates via stream on a tablet by moderator Victoria Swarovski (26).

At the end of the show Ulrike von der Groeben, Sükrü Pehlivan and Loiza Lamers had to tremble, after the audience voting Loiza Lamers had to leave the show for good.

You can find every episode of "Let's Dance" on the streaming platform "TV Now".