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Robert Irwin Gets His Best Score Yet
6 minutes ago
Ahead of his performance, Robert revealed that he is such a big Wicked fan that he rented out a theater to watch the film for his 21st birthday.
Robert and partner Witney then performed a Jazz routine to “Dancing Through Life,” with Robert channeling Prince Fiyero and Rylee channeling Glinda.
After the dance, Carrie Ann told Robert that “Dancing Through Life” “needs to be your theme song.”
“That was so ambitious,” she said. “You really took the challenge. You nailed it.”
Derek told Robert that he needs to swap his hiking boots for Broadway shoes. “You were meant to be a performer,” he said.
Jon said that he’s been having so much fun watching Robert at home but seeing him dance in person was “even better.”
Bruno called the performance a “joyful, theatrical treat.”
While awaiting his score, Robert said, “I wouldn’t be able to do this without Witney. She’s my new big sister. I got another one.”
Score: 36/40
Alix Earle Channels Glinda
16 minutes ago
Alix and partner Val performed a Jazz routine to “What Is This Feeling?”
In her intro package, Alix said she “did theater when I was younger,” but because of her lack of singing talent, “I always got cast as a tree.”
“One time I was a printing machine,” she said. “[Now] I get to live out my musical theater dreams.”
During the routine, Alix did Ariana’s famous Glinda hair flip. She and Val also recreated the book sequence from the film.
Bruno said he thought the routine was “delicious.”
“It was right back to the classic musical comedy,” he said.
While Carrie Ann said it wasn’t Alix’s “most difficult dance,” she said “it was your best dance.” She said she could picture Alix’s younger sister Izabel watching her.
Derek said “tonight is all about storytelling, and the way you told that story was fantastic.”
Jon seconded that and said it was “so fun” to watch the dance.
Score: 35/40
Scott Hoying Sweeps One Judge Away to Oz
27 minutes ago
Scott and partner Rylee performed a Contemporary routine to “The Wizard And I.”
In his intro package ahead of the performance, Scott said he’s “seen Wicked on Broadway maybe 20 times” and that the Wicked film is “on replay” in his home.
“I’ve known Ariana for years, and I got to sing with Cynthia before,” he said.
After the performance, guest judge Jon asked, “Is this the best season of Dancing with the Stars ever?!”
“To learn a new style of dance and go out there is incredible,” he said. “I wish some of the transitions were a little cleaner, but you swept me away to Oz.”
Bruno noted that Scott “was so enthusiastic that he missed some of the passes” and gave him advice to “control it a little bit more, my love.” Carrie Ann also gave Scott constructive criticism about his arms but said it “was an amazing way to start the show.”
Derek agreed with Jon’s note about transitions and told Scott to ” think of the dance as one continuous thought and not separate sentences.”
Score: 28/40
An Opening Fit for Broadway
36 minutes ago
In a video message, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo introduced the opening number choreographed by Wicked’s Christopher Scott to a medley “No One Mourns the Wicked / Defying Gravity / For Good / Thank Goodness / Dancing Through Life / What Is This Feeling?”
During the “Dancing Through Life” portion of the performance, Derek Hough took center stage. For “What Is This Feeling?” hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro took on the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively.
A Special Guest Joins the Judges’ Panel
1 hr 1 min ago
Wicked and Wicked: For Good director Jon M. Chu will join Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough on the judges’ panel to provide his expert insights.
Dancing Through the Lineup
1 hr 1 min ago
Scott Hoying and partner Rylee Arnold will perform a Contemporary routine to “The Wizard And I.”
Alix Earle and partner Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a Jazz routine to “What Is This Feeling?”
Robert Irwin and partner Witney Carson will perform a Jazz routine to “Dancing Through Life.”
Whitney Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas will perform a Quickstep to “Popular.”
Dylan Efron and partner Daniella Karagach will perform a Rumba to “I’m Not That Girl.”
Andy Richter and partner Emma Slater will perform a Jazz routine to “One Short Day.”
Elaine Hendrix and partner Alan Bersten will perform a Contemporary routine to “Defying Gravity.”
Jen Affleck and partner Jan Ravnik will perform a Foxtrot to “As Long as You’re Mine.”
Danielle Fishel and partner Pasha Pashkov will perform an Argentine Tango to “No Good Deed.”
Jordan Chiles and partner Ezra Sosa will perform a Rumba to “For Good.”