DWTS Season 14, Week 9 Sneak Peek: Who Is Dancing What for the Semifinals?

This is Heartbreak Week. That’s the unofficial theme of Week 9 every season on Dancing With the Stars because it means one couple will just miss making the Finals. Everyone wants to be in that final three to do their Freestyles and fight for the Mirror Ball trophy, but they can’t. One of the final four couples of Season 14 will have to leave Tuesday, so Monday’s Semifinals performances (Monday, May 14) will be crucial. Here’s what the couples told On the Red Carpet — and other outlets —  about their plans to stay in the race.

Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd, Waltz & Samba
Peta definitely feels pressure to get Donald to the end — she has to impress the judges, the audience and the fans at home. "It's an increasing load of pressure."

But she likes how they are set up for this week. “We have the Waltz and the Samba,” Peta told OTRC. “I like those two dances for the Semifinals. They're perfect for the Semifinals — one romantic and soft one and then we're going to blast them with the Samba."

Do they think sex appeal has a correlation to votes? "Definitely," said Peta. "Especially because a majority of the people voting are women, so if the guys are looking amazing they're going to vote." Donald said he guesses so. Does the term "sex appeal" make him uncomfortable? "I mean, I think I'm a nice, sexy guy," Donald said. Peta laughed at that. "I don't know how to say that!” Donald said. “Normally women say ‘sexy’ but, no I'm fine with that. I'm OK with that. It's not bad at all."

What does Donald have inside that will ensure he doesn’t go home next week? "I would say hard work and dedication," Donald said. "And it's going to take every part of leadership in Peta to make sure we do that. If we do that, we're going to be fine. I think that's where it starts and it starts now."

Watch their video here.

Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas, Salsa & Quickstep
Mark said they dropped a couple of points this past week so they hope they can pick them up in the Semifinals.

"It's a Salsa and Quickstep for us," Mark said. "I'm excited, I love both those dances. So I'm excited." Katherine added, "I'm really excited, actually. I think they're two dances that I think we can have a lot of fun with. That's what we need."

What does Katherine have to do to make the final three? "She's got to bend her legs in Quickstep,” Mark said, “she's got to straighten them in Salsa and she just has to be in the moment, not worry about anything other than that minute and 15 seconds."

Mark, for one, doesn't feel like sex appeal correlates to votes. (At least not for them.) "I feel like good dancing, good connection with your partner, innovative routines and just good chemistry will get your votes — and if they don't that's really what SHOULD get you votes. At the end of the day it's about dancing, it's not about getting your nipples out. If the fans are loving what we're doing as a couple and dancing and trying to keep it innovative and classy and fun, then we're super grateful."

"Classy is a strategy, isn't it," Katherine said. "Classy. Just trying to keep it classy." Mark quotes himself from a recent episode: "You can't spell class without 'ass'!"

Watch the video here.

Maria Menounos & Derek Hough, Argentine Tango & Jive
Maria and Derek feel like the underdogs to make the Finals.

"Everybody that's left, the final four, it's the strongest Semifinal that I can remember," Derek said. "Everybody is so strong. It's going to be a real tight squeeze in that Final. We're going to have to bring it. We're going to have to do some showstoppers this week to make it."

Maria is just going to trust Derek and do whatever he says. "He's done this and he's done it well and he's the most celebrated champion on the show, so whatever he says goes.”

They don't talk about their specific Semifinals dances, but at the end of the OTRC video they come up with fun new "twists" for the show. It's pretty funny.

Maria told AfterBuzzTV out of the final four she's the weakest dancer, plus she has all these injuries. "I have two really strong, hard dances — I have to do the Jive, and that's not something that comes really natural to me, and I have to do the Argentine Tango. That one I feel like I'll be better at but it's a lot of pressure on the feet." She needs to try and figure out how to manage the pain.

Watch their OTRC video here.

William Levy & Cheryl Burke, Tango & Samba
William and Cheryl didn’t talk to On the Red Carpet and Cheryl has yet to post an OK! blog with information, like she did last week. However, William tweeted early Thursday morning, “@WillyLevyAngels today we worked the Tango. Tomorrow we will start with Samba.” So both Donald and William have sexy Sambas this week. Keep a medic on standby — Bruno Tonioli is gonna have a heart attack!

Watch the next new episode of DWTS on Monday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Sources: OTRC, AfterBuzzTV, Twitter

Gina Carbone is a contributing writer at Wetpaint Entertainment. Follow her on Twitter @ginacarbone.

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