DANCING WITH THE STARS Showdown: Final Performances!

Tonight is the big night for DANCING WITH THE STARS - the finalists face off for the last time, and tomorrow one couple takes it all! The celebrities will perform two dances tonight - a judges' choice, and the much-anticipated freestyle.

Setting the bar high on their first dance are Chelsea and Mark, who receive tips from Carrie Ann on their judges' choice. The advice pays off when after a hugely energized routine, the pair receives a resounding 29 points.

Kirstie and Maks receive their advice from Bruno, who tells Kirstie that she needs to "take her moment" more often when she dances. Clad in bright orange, the couple sambas their way to nines across the board.

Hines and Kym are looking to match their perfect scores from last week, and they get their advice from Len. Kym is wearing a neck brace during their rehearsal, no doubt a remnant from her injury, but she and a dapper Hines put all of that aside in a glamorous routine. The judges award them 29 points.

First to take on the freestyle is Chelsea, who combines strenuous choreography with lit up sneakers and gloves to create a truly electric performance. With last season's runner up Kyle Massey in the audience to cheer her on, she and Mark garner perfect 10s.

"The freestyle is do or die," Maks tells Kirstie before they take the stage. She takes a slower, smoother approach than Chelsea before tearing away her skirt and turning the dance up a notch with lifts - and even a cartwheel thrown in for good measure, earning her another 27 points.

For their freestyle, Hines and Kym are dressed as a cheerleader and band leader to bring Hines's idea of a routine based on a halftime show to fruition. Hines uses his strength to his advantage and lifts Kym throughout the routine, culminating with a toss in the air at the end. The impressive dance gives them perfect 10s.

With six solid performances rounding out the night, and three popular celebrities rounding out the finalists, who will take home the Mirror Ball Trophy? Will it be Kirstie, whose huge leaps of improvement and no-nonsense attitude has made her an audience favorite? Or Chelsea, whose boundless energy and positivity have led her through the competition? Or will it be Hines, whose athleticism and easygoing nature have given him an advantage? Who's your favorite? Tune in tomorrow to find out who the victory will belong to in a jam-packed season closer! 

 

Viewers may cast their votes - for the very last time this season - for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 30 minutes after the "Dancing with the Stars" performance shows. Wireless customers with AT&T may also text message their votes by texting the word "VOTE" to the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Viewers may also vote online at www.abc.com starting from the opening of each episode on the East Coast, until 8:00 a.m., PT the following day. Fans may cast the maximum limit of votes for each voting method.

"Dancing with the Stars" is the U.S. version of the international smash hit series, "Strictly Come Dancing." This version is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Conrad Green serves as executive producer and Rob Wade is co-executive producer. Alex Rudzinski directs. "Dancing with the Stars" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

 

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