{alltv} With four pairs left, 'Dancing' gets down and dirty

Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas

The Disney star has shown serious hop and is the last of the young guns in the competition.

Strengths: Kane is the best pure dancer, though she insists her musical theater background isn't an advantage. "Being 'Chorus Girl No. 2 waving a rose on stage' does not prepare you for ballroom dancing," she says. She gets a boost from the crowd-pleasing routines of two-time champ Ballas.

Weaknesses: Out of all the competitors, she's the least known, which could hurt in a tight vote. "We have these huge personalities on the show," Kane concedes. "I need to get mine out there."

X-factor: Should she make it to the finals, Kane will have a big edge on the freestyle. "I cannot wait," she says. "It will be like, 'Finally.'"

Cheering squad: Disney supports its own. Nick Jonas attended last week. Kyle Massey instructed her. Miley Cyrus even tweeted support. Her young fans are working social media in a way that leaves the old dudes in the dust.

Low point: The normally cheerful Ballas had a rare run-in with the judges after disappointing marks in Week 7. "I get protective," he says.

Secret weapon: "She's fearless" about trying any dance, Ballas says. Attention-grabbing outfits show off her impossibly long midriff.

Injury: Ballas rolled his ankle in the quick step in Week 6.

Bergeron says: "Chelsea is a great technical dancer with so much range, and Mark is so ambitious in his choreography. They can play the youth and versatility card."

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro has proven he's a ballroom contender.

Strengths: Ward is a supreme athlete with the heart of a champion — he has two Super Bowl rings. "I'll do whatever it takes to win," he says. Johnson won DWTS with Donny Osmond.

Weaknesses: The upright posture was tough for Ward to learn. "In football, that's the worst position to be in, up high," he says. "But every morning I get up before going to the bathroom and stand up tall."

X-factor: Ward has brought his game-day preparation to the dance floor. "I draw my whole dance routine down, I move furniture and dance with pillows," he says. "I treat it just like football." As a couple, they study dance film.

Cheering squad: The ratings in Pittsburgh are off the charts, aided by the appearance of Steelers legends such as Troy Polamalu and Franco Harris in the audience. Fans in the crowd actually wave the Terrible Towel.

Low point: Johnson took a nasty fall during Friday rehearsals and was carried away on a stretcher in a neck brace. But she's vowed to suit up for game time. "I'm a little shaken up, sore," she said on Facebook. "But I will be fine." This drama will dominate the semifinals.

Secret weapon: Besides Ward's brilliant smile, the couple have teased viewer interest with their very friendly relationship. The are-they-or-aren't-they game peaked last week with Ward presenting Johnson a giant sparkling ring. "You have to have a rapport," Ward says with a smile. "We hear the rumors."

Bergeron says: "He wins people over when he steps on the floor. He's disciplined and a natural crowd-pleaser."

Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff

The Karate Kid has earned his black belt by impressing judges and fans.

Strengths: A solid dancer with massive emotional pull from Karate Kid has made this couple a fan favorite. Macchio is so dogged in perfecting his craft that Mr. Miyagi would be proud.

Weaknesses: The top contender found himself near elimination last week after suffering a severe leg injury, which will clearly carry over.

X-factor: Macchio has brought out a new side to the normally volatile Smirnoff. "There was only one time I wanted to be mad," says Smirnoff. "It didn't happen."

Cheering squad: "Karate Kid touched a lot of people," who saved the couple from a dire elimination position last week. "I'll take it," Macchio says.

Secret weapon: Macchio has promised to unveil the Karate Kid "crane kick" at a key moment. "If we get to the finals, I'll find a way to please the fans who have been begging for it," he says. The parallel between the movie's injury and the DWTS injury might be too hard for viewers not to demand a triumphant ending.

Bergeron says: "His first dance blew people away. He's totally committed with strong support."

Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

The Cheers actress is finding that everybody still knows her name … and voting number.

Strengths: "Kirstie Alley is the biggest star we've had on the show, period," says Chmerkovskiy. More than that, her fans watch, and vote.

Weaknesses: Where do you start with a 60-year-old actress whose biggest role in recent years was a reality show about being large? "We've had to overcome weight issues, stamina issues," he says.

X-factor: The two massive personalities are fun to watch, even if they appear to want to kill each other. "We're very volatile, like a tango," says Alley. "That's how we roll."

Cheering squad: Pal Kelly Preston and Veronica's Closet co-star Kathy Najimy. But her greatest source of support is her fan base, which has pulled her up through lower scores. "We have wild fans," she says. "They are making this happen."

Low point: Alley survived a three-week-long injury fest that moved from her knee to her hip. She's also lost a shoe during a dance. "She's resilient," says Chmerkovskiy.

Secret weapon: Alley has lost so much weight that each week is like watching The Biggest Loser.

Bergeron says: "She dominates as an entertainer. It's her most formidable weapon."