On the evening of Oct. 20, Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) hosted a dedication night, an opportunity for the stars of the season to honor someone with a meaningful performance. There were multiple heartfelt moments throughout the episode, such as Connor Woods’s dance honoring his dad and Amber Glenn’s dance accompanied by her sister, but Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa absolutely brought the house down with the final dance of the night.
The masterminds at DWTS knew what they were doing by having Stiles and Sosa perform last. For this heartfelt theme week, Stiles chose to dedicate her dance to the late actor Heath Ledger, whom Stiles starred alongside in the 1999 rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You, which has become an iconic staple in pop culture throughout the last 26 years.
Dancing to Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Stiles and Sosa’s contemporary number earned 36 out of a total of 40 points from the judges. But it wasn’t just the stellar choreography and dancing, or even the sweet dedication to Ledger, that viewers were in awe of; fans of 10 Things I Hate About You were quick to notice a multitude of Easter eggs and references sprinkled throughout the routine. In case you missed them, here are 10 references that you won’t soon forget — not even a little bit, not even at all.
1. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
The song Stiles and Sosa danced to on Oct. 20 is a reference within itself. In 10 Things I Hate About You, Ledger’s character, Patrick Verona, sings the tune to Stiles’s character, Kat Stratford, in a bold performance as a way to win her over. Ledger’s song and dance moves are forever engraved into fans’ minds, so of course “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” was the most fitting song choice.
2. Julia Stiles’s dress
For the performance, Stiles took the ballroom floor in a gorgeous blue dress covered in rhinestones. The color and silhouette is a cheeky homage to the movie, resembling a dress Stiles’s character wears to a dance, accompanied by Ledger’s character.
3. Ezra Sosa’s outfit
If Stiles wore an outfit that nods to the movie, of course Sosa had to as well. Sosa executed the routine in black pants in a relaxed button-up shirt. Although missing the jacket, the outfit seemingly resembles one that Patrick wears during his own dance number, and to the dance.
4. Julia Stiles’s Hair
Besides the dress, Stiles’s hair was also on theme. Throughout the movie, Kat is rocking her legendary spiral curls, which made a comeback in the ballroom. Although it was not the hairstyle that Kat wears to the dance, the subtle reference is still so sweet.
5. Heath Ledger’s dance moves
By far one of the most iconic scenes is when Patrick performs his rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” over the intercom and on the school bleachers. Throughout the number, and while trying to run from campus security, Patrick performs a handful of cheeky dance moves including quirky jumps, a side slide and spin, and over-exaggerated steps. These notable steps were incorporated through Stiles’s dance as a wonderfully lighthearted way to remember Ledger’s humor.Â
6. The head scratch
In the middle of the dance, Stiles intentionally scratches Sosa’s head. The action may come from one of the sweetest scenes in the entire movie. After a house party, Patrick leads Kat away from the chaos and to a swingset. As an aftermath of the excessive alcohol, Kat throws up, and is then comforted by Patrick as he scratches her head.
7. The rose
Toward the end of the routine, as the music slows, Sosa pulls a red rose out of his pocket and hands it to Stiles. This gesture is a reference to the same thing that Patrick does to Kat in the movie. The moment is incredibly sweet as it’s the catalyst that transitions the performance from dance to tribute. The final thing Stiles does with the rose is place it in front of a screen showing Ledger’s image.
8. The poem recited during the tribute
When the tribute begins, with Stiles still holding the rose, her voice interrupts the music. It’s taken from a scene in 10 Things I Hate About You, where Kat is reciting a poem about Patrick, stating 10 things that she hates about him. The last line of the poem, which was included in the tribute is, “But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.”
9. The photo of Stiles and Ledger
During the tribute, a photo is projected of Ledger and Stiles as Patrick and Kat. The specific image was captured after a scene in which Patrick and Kat share their first kiss post-paintball fight. It’s not incredibly noticeable at first glance, but the colorful paint can be seen on Ledger and Stiles’s face and hair.Â
10. The cast reunion
At the very end of the performance, Stiles steps back in a line of five additional people, all holding hands. The people are five additional costars from 10 Things I Hate About You: Andrew Keegan, Susan May Pratt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, and Gabrielle Union.Â