Dancing with the Sophie

By: Sophie Asher, Multimedia Director

This past Tuesday, “Dancing with the Stars” aired their “20th birthday” episode – and it’s safe to say I was absolutely obsessed! 

I was immediately blown away by the opening number, which was the best one I had seen yet. The choreography was incredible and highlighted everyone’s talents in the best way possible. It was so cool to see the show bring back the original six professional dancers from its very first season in 2005.

As the opening number finished, former “Dancing with the Stars” host Tom Bergeron appeared, emerging through clouds of smoke from backstage. I didn’t know you could miss somebody you never watched as a host before, but Tom just exudes charisma and an element of nostalgia. I was very excited to watch him as a guest judge for the night.

With my expectations set high, I was eager to see some truly spectacular performances. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on the seven competing couples and their routines:

Andy Richter and Emma Slater: I originally planned to rank the couples in the order they performed, but I am too eager to address the elephant in the room. In the least offensive way possible (which is going to be offensive), seeing Andy’s more-than-justified elimination felt like waking up on Christmas morning. I apologize to all the dedicated Fandys. However, I will give credit where credit’s due – the couple’s quickstep to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Robbie Williams was their best dance yet. The way I see it, it was a great last dance to end their journey. 

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: I am so obsessed with Elaine. She’s an absolute powerhouse, keeping pace with the rest of the competition even at 54 years old. I really enjoyed her and Alan’s salsa to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock. It was full of energy and so much fun – and I absolutely loved their neon green outfits! I do have a bone to pick with the judges, because why did almost everyone else receive a 10 but not these two? It seemed underscored, yet again. Just saying.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: This was a beautiful dance by a beloved pairing (peep Prince William – hello??).​​ The pair’s foxtrot to “Footprints in the Sand” was passionate and elegant. It was the perfect choice to perform a dance inspired by his sister Bindi’s dedication routine for their father, Steve. I will say – I do feel Robert can do no wrong at this point in the competition. The couple is leading the popularity vote by a significant margin, and I’d be shocked if they didn’t take home the mirrorball.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: Man, bring it on! With the competition on the rise, Dylan and Dani are turning up the heat! Their Argentine tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers was highly sensual and easy on the eyes. I do find myself wondering, though, is Daniella just too good? Her incredible air walk and spins were captivating, but it seems to be taking attention away from Dylan’s skills. Is Dylan improving, or is Daniella distracting? I did enjoy the dance nonetheless. 

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: This pairing did a seductive cha-cha to “Get Up” by Ciara, with some iconic moments, like where Jordan was pulsing on Ezra. However, I felt like there was a moment in the routine that was slow. Overall, I enjoyed the dance and thought the nines were a fair reflection of the performance. I would love to see Ezra make it to the finale, especially considering he’s the only pro left in the competition who hasn’t won a mirrorball. 

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: These two just do it for me every time. First off, Alix looked absolutely stunning in her flapper look. I honestly loved the entire 1920s vibe of the whole dance. I have no negative notes regarding their foxtrot to “Singin’ In The Rain” by Matthew Morrison. It was a gorgeous dance – but I’m also biased and love this pair. I am glad to see “Dancing with the Stars” viewers embracing Alix, seeing her determination and work ethic shine. I’ve enjoyed watching her on TikTok since before this season. 

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: I mean, yeah. Everyone knew this was going to devour. Their Argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago the Musical” was textbook perfect. Like I mentioned in my last review, I’m still annoyed at the unfair advantage Mark gets with the most talented partners every season. I still don’t think they will have the popular vote to take home the mirrorball. 

Every single pair left in the competition is a force to be reckoned with. It’s incredibly difficult to judge at this stage, as everyone is exceptionally talented and the margin for error is so small. At this point, I was interested to see the results of the dance relay. 

The dance relay was a super fun competition and a creative way to bring back past mirrorball winners from earlier seasons. Two pairs, with one current celebrity dancer and one former, dance to the same song. One pair starts the song, and the second pair jumps in to take over.

The first group was Elaine Hendrix, dancing with season 24 champion Rashad Jennings, versus Jordan Chiles, dancing with season four champion Apollo Ohno. They danced to “I Get a Kick Out of You” by Michael Bublé. At this point in the competition, I was getting a little worried about Elaine making it through, so I was really riding for her. I will admit, Jordan and Apollo performed the better leg of the song and deserved the win. Y’all are just lucky my girl Elaine is still here. 

The second group was Dylan Efron, dancing with season 20 champion Rumer Willis, versus Andy Richter, dancing with season 29 winner Kaitlyn Bristowe. They danced to “Earned It” by The Weeknd. When Dylan and Daniella found out they were going against Andy in the relay, I just knew they let out an evil laugh. Dylan’s win was obvious, but I suppose Andy did a good job too. I don’t know how to feel about his attempt to be “sexy” with the fake abs. 

The final group to dance was the most anticipated. It consisted of Alix Earle dancing with Season 33 champion Joey Graziadei (my king) versus Robert Irwin dancing with Season 32 winner Xochitl Gomez. They danced to “Dance With Me Tonight” by Olly Murs. Watching the dance, I thought I preferred Alix and Joey’s leg, but I guess I was wrong, since Robert and Xochitl came out on top. It was a strong competition and could have been anyone’s victory.

With the competition in full swing, I’m eagerly waiting to see how everything unfolds. So tell me – who do you think will take home the mirrorball?