The reality dance competition show “Dancing With the Stars” has captured the hearts of over 6 million viewers this year, as public figures such as Paralympian Ezra Frech and actress Jenna Dewan of “Step Up” take the ballroom by storm. Tuesday nights are now something for me to look forward to for a few months as I become enthralled by each contestant’s journey, finding my own personal favorites to root for along the way (text CONNOR to 21523)!Â
Although this is the first year I chose to watch the season from the beginning, it gives me so much nostalgia. I fondly remember sitting on the recliners in my grandparents’ house with a bowl of ice cream as we would catch up on that week’s episode. Hearing the intro music and Bruno Mars’s enthusiastic commentary always brings me back to those memories as we talked about whether we agreed or disagreed with the scores. This year, what truly got me into the show was Brooke and Connor’s podcast (aptly named after them). I had gotten a few of their clips on social media and got hooked on their back-and-forth banter and pop culture breakdowns. It turned out to be perfect timing since just a few weeks later, Connor Wood announced he would be one of the contestants on “Dancing With the Stars.” Since then, I have eagerly looked forward to hearing the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and listening to Brooke speak her mind about the judges every week.Â
Despite not being a reality show, it is not without its share of drama. During Super Bowl Night, judge Carrie Ann Inaba made a comment criticizing Jenna Johnson, one of the pros, for incorporating an illegal lift in her dance. Later that night, Jenna’s husband Val, who is also a pro dancer on the show, posted a comment on social media towards Carrie Ann saying, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” referencing the viral Will Smith slap at the Oscars in 2022. This comment caused a lot of social media discourse within the DWTS community, with people flocking to Instagram and TikTok to share their two cents on the issue and whether they thought Val went too far with his comment. Eventually, the controversy led to Val getting suspended the next week, and his partner Jenna Dewan had to dance with another pro during Dedication Night. I think social media has had a great impact on the popularity and outreach of the show, but at the same time, the oversaturation of social media content can sometimes feel like more of a popularity contest, rather than a matter of who danced the best that week.Â
The most recent episode, Dedication Night, felt like the show went back to its purpose. The night was a beautiful celebration of people and places who have helped the stars become who they are today. At one point, judge Derek Hough said, “This is what Dancing With the Stars is all about,” and I couldn’t agree more. My favorite dance of the night was definitely Ezra Frech’s dedication to his mom. In one of his interviews, he mentioned how his mom always told him to “walk into every room with your chin up, your chest out, and you let them know you’ve arrived.” The contemporary dance he performed was a perfect representation of the support his mom gave him throughout his life, leading him to win two Paralympic gold medals. His partner, Daniella Karagach, even did a blade stand during the dance, using his prosthetic leg as a support for her lift, which was a beautiful metaphor for how Ezra’s disability has given him strength, rather than seeing it as a weakness. This dance also earned him the first 10 of the season!
My other favorite dance of the night was Olympian figure skater Amber Glenn, performing a dance dedicated to her sister, who helped her through mental health struggles as a young girl in the competitive figure skating world. Her partner Pasha Pashkov, dressed in all black, represented the depression weighing her down during their contemporary dance. Her sister entered the stage and lifted Amber out of the darkness, dragging Pasha across the floor, releasing the hold her anxieties had on her. Showcasing a sensitive issue like this in such a beautiful way almost brought me to tears because so many people struggle with their mental health and try their best to hide it until someone is able to see their pain and help them through it.Â
Some other gorgeous dances include:
- Julia Stiles’ dedication to the late Heath Ledger with the cast of 10 Things I Hate About You.
- Tyler Cameron’s incredibly moving dedication to his mom who passed away — with a surprise announcement that his wife is pregnant (it’s a girl)!
- Harry Shum Jr. bringing his daughter out on stage.
The entire night reminded me why I love the show so much: seeing all the contestants cheer each other on and become a family rather than seeing each other as opponents they have to beat. The intersection of pop culture with vulnerable performances also helps the audience realize these celebrities have gone through similar experiences as well, and the wonderful experience of connection through an expressive art form such as dance. My current predictions for who makes it to the finale are Ezra Frech/Daniella (obviously), Amber/Pasha, Maura/Mark, Julia/Ezra Sosa, and Harry/Jenna (but I have my fingers crossed for Connor/Rylee as well). I can’t wait to watch Horror Movie Night on Tuesday!