Hayley was such a surprise for me this season, too, and I really came around to enjoying her. She made everything work and was never given a really prime, pimp dance (dancing her AT with Leonardo was a nice bonus, but I am not sure I could ever consider the Argentine Tango a gift of a routine when we have Amy dancing Travis choreo with Travis at the end of a show). She said she was the “sexy” dancer maybe, and she was definitely that (could Amy have danced that rumba with such sensuality?). But Hayley was also so sweet and grounded and girl-next-door like – it was easy to like her. But I feel like the writing was on the wall for her, just a tad. Paul’s elimination was more upsetting in that I felt the rug pulled from under me. From Paul’s crushed-but-trying-to-stay-professional facial reaction, I think he felt a little like that too. Or maybe it was just me.

Their contemporary together was one of my faves of the night, and of course now the dance takes on an extra layer of sadness and bitter-sweetness. Mwwah I am going to miss that Armenian Latin ballroom dynamo! I think he was a pretty singularly special talent, and I am so grateful I’ve had the chance to watch Paul all these weeks. He was a revelation ;)