One-Armed Dancer Steals The Lead, Injury Can't Keep "Dancing With The Stars" Contestant Down

NEW YORK, May 6, 2008

Cheryl Burke and Cristian de la Fuente of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars." (ABC/KELSEY McNEAL)

(CBS/AP) It may always take two to tango, but it apparently only takes one arm to tango and mambo.

Cristian de la Fuente and his partner were the top-scoring couple after Monday night's "Dancing With the Stars" performance round, despite an earlier injury to the Chilean television actor's left arm.

The high scores prompted the actor to quip that he should have started dancing with one arm a while ago.

Photos: Dancing With The Stars

De la Fuente dropped partner Cheryl Burke last week when he ruptured a tendon in his biceps, but his doctor cleared him to continue in the ABC-TV dancing competition. Burke choreographed their dances so that de la Fuente mostly used his good arm - including for the lifts, which were allowed this round.

The couple pulled it off, using energy and precision (and a glittery support sleeve for de la Fuente during the mambo) to overcome the injury. De la Fuente was clearly favoring his injured arm, which he used only when absolutely necessary and hung limp at other times.

Two of the three judges said they expected to see the injury in terms of performances and were surprised when they could not. One just congratulated Burke on her choreography.

They scored a 28 for the tango, and a near-perfect 29 for the mambo, to lead all contestants in judges' scores at the end of the night. Audience votes in conjunction with the judges' scores were to determine who stays and who goes in Tuesday night's elimination round.

De la Fuente has said he will need surgery to repair the injury, but that he planned to delay the operation so he could continue dancing.

The competition's leaders - figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and NFL star Jason Taylor - fell behind this week; judges found fault with the sambas they performed. They said Taylor's samba lacked musicality and the speed and energy Yamaguchi brought to her dance detracted from other aspects of her performance.

The judges said R&B singer Mario's Viennese waltz showed an elegance they hadn't seen from him previously, but they were split on his performance of the jive. Marissa Jaret Winokur got kind words but low scores from the judges for her performances.

Audience voting will be added to the judge's scores and the couple with the lowest score will be eliminated tonight. The two-hour show will mark the program's 100th episode and will be celebrated with appearances by contestants from previous seasons and a look back at the competitions. Former contestant Mario Lopez will perform a number from "A Chorus Line" and Rascal Flatts will be the special musical guest.

Here's how the judges rated Monday night's performances:

Cristian De La Fuente

Tango: - The judges loved de la Fuente's smoldering mambo, with Tonioli saying "that's exactly the way a tango should be." (Score: 27)

Mambo: - De la Fuente earned his highest score of the season for this dance. "The things you can do with one arm," gushed judge Bruno Tonioli. "It's magic - more energy than a volcano in the Andes!" (Score: 29)

Total: 56

Kristi Yamaguchi

Quickstep: Yamaguchi earned good marks for her quickstep, which Goodman called "light, fabulous, right back where you were a couple of weeks ago." Judge Carrie Ann Inaba liked it, but noticed that the couple went out of synch during the routine. (Score: 29)

Samba: The judges were not very impressed by Yamaguchi's samba. Inaba thought it was awkward and a little bit out of control. Tonioli did credit Yamaguchi and her partner for always attempting difficult choreography. (Score: 26)

Total: 55

Mario

Viennese Waltz Mario was criticized last week by the judges who said he lacked elegance on the dance floor. He must have taken them seriously, because this week he won raves for his Viennese Waltz. "The chronicles of dancing has a new prince, Prince Mario," said Tonioli. "All polish and distinction, poise, restraint, elegance." (Score: 27)

Jive Goodman thought Mario's jive had little technique and a lot of roughness, but Tonioli and Inaba thought his moves were in the true spirit of rock and roll. (Score: 26)

Total: 53

Jason Taylor

Tango Goodman said that Taylor's tango was "too much like an Argentine tango," and not enough like a classic ballroom tango. Tonioli and Inaba disagreed and hit Goodman with their scoring paddles after he gave Taylor's performance a 9. (Score: 29)

Samba - Taylor and his partner Edyta Sliwinska received low marks for their samba, which Inanba pointed out is a very difficult dance. "It happens to the best - look at Tom Cruise," quipped Tonioli. (Score: 23)

Total: 52

Marissa Jaret Winokur

Fox Trot - Inaba and Goodman complimented Winokur on her exuberance on the dance floor. But, Tonioli said her bold and brassy style was not appropriate for the foxtrot. (Score: 25)

Mambo - Tonioli liked Marissa's mambo, saying "I want more of that, that was a beautiful mambo." Goodman thought it was a little too dainty and Inaba noted that the couple had flubbed a difficult turn that just moments ago had been executed perfectly by Kristi Yamaguchi. (Score: 25)

Total: 50