‘Dancing With the Stars’ results recap: Breaking up is hard to do

No Mirrorball rose for him. At the end of the eighth week of ballroom competition, newly engaged “Bachelor” Sean Lowe and his pro partner Peta Murgatroyd found themselves unable to muster up enough viewer votes and were thus ejected from the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 16 glitterverse.

To be fair, this elimination was somewhat of a reprieve for the reality show star. Sure, he didn’t make it into the semifinals. But Sean and Peta had been unable to rise up from the bottom of the pack for some time now, and this week the judges even commented that he had taken a couple flat-footed steps back in his performances (“I wish I could have a redo on this one,” Sean said after his tango).

Still, “I’ve enjoyed every second of it,” Sean said of the competition. He got to shimmy shirtless and play a dancing magician. And through it all, Peta said he remained humble, as well as a bit struck at all the bright lights and star wattage. “I’m still just a normal guy from Dallas,” he said. At least he saved himself from a disco inferno — the dance the viewers selected for him to perform next week.

PHOTOS: ‘Dancing with The Stars’ Season 16 cast

Also having to make their way down the green great staircase mile, though “not necessarily in the bottom two,” were Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff. And in another semi-dramatic twist, Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough were also deemed in jeopardy.

But first, the ladies and gents of the Troupe (and Gleb Savchenko and Lindsay Arnold) got everyone’s attention at the top of the hour with a slinky number choreographed with gusto by Jason Gilkison.

The encore dance, according to Len, was a “no-brainer” — the first perfect 30 score of the season, courtesy of Zendaya and Valentin Chmerkovskiy and featuring Gleb. Val said backstage on Monday that the Disney Channel star messed up three times, so it was nice to see the whole thing cleaner this time around. More perfect, if that’s a thing.

Sean Lowe could have used a little Jason Derulo magic with his trio last night. The Usher-esque R&B artist showed the audience he had more than recovered from his neck injury by starting off his performance in a headstand. He also did a bit of musical magic of his own with his rendition of his latest single, “The Other Side,” where he disappeared into a magic box and then magically reappeared on … the other side! Jason’s got great energy and hops. Add that to the laser lights and metallic trim and the ballroom was successfully transformed into Club DWTS.

The viewer votes have also spoken, and the remaining contestants got their new dance styles for the next week. Kellie and Derek were tasked with flamenco (or “Flamin’ Co,” as Kellie pronounces it). Ingo Rademacher & Kym Johnson were pleased as punch with the Charleston. Val has his work cut out for him to keep up with Zendaya in hip-hop. Alexandra Raisman and Mark Ballas got their request for Afro-jazz fulfilled. Jacoby & Karina got Lindy Hop.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments

We got a rare glimpse at the most precious of ballroom glitterverse species: the after-party-hopping, Ferrari-driving world of reality contestant offspring with adorable legume names. In “The Adventures of Peanut Rademacher,” we were treated to a day in the life the of wall-blender and potential “DWTS” Season 33 contender, who runs around on set like he owns the place, busts a move with Len Goodman and treats the sky box sofas like his own private trampoline with Jacoby Jones. What a great life.

The Macy’s Stars of Dance was what Tom called a “gravity-defying performance” that sprang from the brainchild of our own Derek Hough and featured “So You Think You Can Dance” alum Jaimie Goodwin. Basically, Derek took a page from Fred Astaire and Lionel Richie and danced all over the walls and a ceiling of a rotating room in a very impressive, very cool routine, set to Kerli’s “Walking on Air.” Only, he and Jaimie did the routine … liiiiive!

Emeli Sandé showed how she dethroned the Beatles’ longstanding UK debut album record by belting her single “Next to Me” while Dmitry Chaplin and Cheryl Burke gave a great assist on the dance floor.

What do you think, ballroom fans? Do you like how the semifinals are shaping up? Who’s excited to see Afro-jazz and hip-hop next week?

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