This week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars was different than most — on the stage were not only the stars and their partners, but someone close to them as well. The 10 couples remaining fought extra hard this time, not only to get one step closer to the iconic Mirrorball Trophy, but also in honor of the person whom they were dedicating their piece to. Undoubtedly, every contestant made that person proud through their outstanding and heartfelt performances, showcasing not only their talent but also their dedication and spirit.
Week five of Dancing with the Stars was none other than Dedication Night, a beloved tradition on the show. In previous years, the stars would dedicate their dance to someone special, but the person would not be present on the stage. For the first time in the show’s history, “the celebrity contestants will be joined by their family and friends on the dance floor,” according to Celebrity News.
Leading up to Tuesday night’s show, it was announced on the official social media pages of Dancing with the Stars who each contestant would be inviting on the show and why. Alix Earle, for starters, dedicated her dance to her 12-year-old half-sister, Izabel. Earle and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, performed a captivating contemporary routine to “Sparks” by Coldplay. The dance began with the Earle sisters sharing an emotional embrace that put tears in my eyes. It was clear how much she has improved in the last few weeks and how much Chmerkovskiy has influenced her. The two earned an astonishing 35 out of 40, the second-highest score of the night.
If Earle and Chmerkovskiy had such a moving piece, who could have scored any higher? Yet Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach managed to do that, earning an impressive 36 out of 40 and securing the top spot on the leaderboard. Their contemporary was performed to “Rewrite the Stars” by Zendaya and Zac Efron, adding an extra emotional layer to the piece. Efron dedicated the piece to his little sister, Olivia, who shared the stage with the couple.
Another couple that stood out was pro Emma Slater and her partner, comedian Andy Richter. This week, they performed their Salsa to Harry Belfante’s “Jump in the Line.” Richter dedicated this dance to his daughter, Cornelia. The partnership of Richter and Slater has received a lot of attention on social media. Some individuals believe Richter is not qualified for the job and should be eliminated; however, others argue that he has been putting an exceptional amount of effort and dedication into improving his skills, which is what, at its core, Dancing with the Stars is all about. Richter has also been having health complications, which is what could lead to his “negative” performance, according to a statement from US! Weekly. Slater is extremely supportive of Richter and has high confidence in his potential. “I don’t have to do very much,” said Slater, “If I tell Andy where the camera is and I tell him that the ‘character of the dance is this’ and where the camera is, he knows what to do. He is amazing.” This season’s judges, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, gave Slater and Richter one of the lowest scores of the night, earning a 24 out of 40.
Surprisingly for many, Slater and Richter are going to be on our screens next week, despite receiving the lowest score of the night. This is because they received many votes from viewers, which is a large factor contributing to why they have gotten this far in the first place. So, although I was happy for the adorable couple, I was, likewise, in utter shock — who would be going home? Nobody.
Tuesday’s episode of Dancing with the Stars was undoubtedly sentimental and heartfelt. How could the judges send someone home after they just danced with their husband, wife, or daughter? They morally could not; it would have crushed them. As confetti fell down, the contestants and audience alike were shocked when they realized that all 10 couples would be moving on to next week’s Wicked Night. “We couldn’t send anyone home tonight on such a special night. All of the scores and all of the votes will carry over to next week,” said Judge Hough live on Tuesday night.
There are only a handful of episodes to go in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars before the three-hour finale airs, and I think it is safe to say that we can all hardly wait to see what happens next!
