The remaining five contestants on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro were put to their hardest test yet in Episode 5 when they were paired with huge Dancing With the Stars fans (and content creators) for their next dance. The Season 35 hopefuls had just two days to teach their students a routine to perform in front of the judges.
Witney Carson joined the group as a guest mentor and judge this week, reuniting with her Season 34 partner (and Mirrorball trophy winner) Robert Irwin. At the end of the episode, two pros were put in jeopardy, and one was eliminated ahead of the Semifinals.
Scroll down for a recap of the night’s performances and to find out who went home.
Nina Mayster
Nina Mayster was paired with Jay Wyson to dance a foxtrot. During rehearsals, Nina spent a lot of time trying to perfect Jay’s technique, but fell behind on teaching the actual choreography.
Shirley Ballas praised Nina for making Jay feel comfortable and welcome in rehearsals, but noted, “There were some fundamental issues. When it comes to actual postural elements, the hold was not correct, the footwork was not correct, and when you dance ballroom, your feet should be in a parallel position, there is no turnout. You did have a go at some basic steps, so I’ll give you that, but all in all, the assignment was coaching and I’m a stickler for technique.”
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Mark Ballas critiqued the frame, while Witney said, “I live for the hip-hop moments. I loved those moments. Nina, I think that was so brilliant to put those in. It was so fun to watch. I felt like, Nina, when I saw you in rehearsal, you gave Jay a lot of information. Time management is extremely important in this job…”
Adele Zaikman
Adele Zaikman choreographed an “extremely difficult” tango for Anthony Riccardo. Going into the performance, he was admittedly the least confident of all the fans. However, the pair’s hard work paid off, with Witney noting to her fellow judges, “She can do the job.”
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Mark said the routine had “dynamics” and praised Adele for her “no-nonsense” teaching method in rehearsals. “That’s the only way to achieve an ambitious routine on Dancing With the Stars and that’s what this was.”
Shirley told Adele her teaching style was “fierce and fair,” although she noted, “I would just like [to see] a little bit more fun!” She also applauded the “risks” Adele took in her choreography.
AJ Pritchard
Up next, AJ Pritchard was teamed up with Bailey McKnight for a Viennese waltz. Witney called the routine “beautiful,” but noted, “AJ, I would’ve loved to have seen a little bit more of an emotional moment. Part of the job is not only to create this routine, but to also let the audience in and feel a little bit of your story.”
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Mark praised AJ for knowing his craft and noted that Bailey “felt comfortable in [his] arms, which is so important.” Shirley was definitely impressed, asa she added, “What you did in two days is miraculous. The assignment was coaching and you absolutely killed it.”
Allen Genkin
Allen Genkin was teamed up with Zaira Yzabelle for a waltz. Shirley praised the pair’s partnership, although she noted that “we got a little bit lost when it came to the basic steps.” She told Allen that if he could just “tighten up the basics,” he’ll be a “force to be reckoned with.”
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Witney said she “loved” the performance and how well Allen and Zaira worked together in rehearsals. “The way you built her confidence up was so heartwarming and that’s really important in this job,” she praised.
Selena Hamilton
The final pairing of the night was Selena Hamilton and Jeremy Urann, who danced a quickstep. Going into the routine, they were at a bit of a disadvantage because of their major height difference, along with the fact that she’s only had a few years of ballroom dance experience.
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Witney admitted that there wasn’t enough quickstep content in the dance, but said it was a “memorable” performance, regardless. Mark added, “It was fun, it had musicality, it was sharp and fast and quick. However, it has to get around the floor. Out of all the dances, this is the one that can travel. But good job.”
Shirley agreed that there wasn’t enough movement in the dance and not enough quickstep content. “The assignment was coaching,” she pointed out. “I want to be able to tell from here if you can coach and it starts with the character of the dance. The character of quickstep is a traveling dance, not a stationary dance. I do appreciate what you performed and I can see you can do all sorts of splits and kicks, but I am a rule person, and when I’m given a rule and the brief is quickstep, that’s what I want to see.”
Who was eliminated in Episode 6?
In the end, Selena and Nina were put in jeopardy. “This was a very, very difficult decision because I feel that both of you young ladies lack knowledge,” Shirley admitted.
Nina was the dancer who was eliminated ahead of the Semifinals. Next week, Selena, AJ, Adele, and Allen will be paired with actual DWTS pros for their next routines.
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC
