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Dedication Night Highlights Emotional Performances on “Dancing With the Stars”
In Week 4 of “Dancing With the Stars,” the remaining couples captivated the audience with their heartfelt performances dedicated to significant figures in their lives. This special edition, known as Dedication Night, showcased the personal stories driving each dance.
One of the standout moments came from Derek Hough and his wife, Hayley, who delivered an emotionally charged performance. This was Hayley’s first dance since her life-threatening brain bleed last year, and Hough expressed how overwhelming it was to witness her recovery. He shared his deep appreciation for the medical professionals involved in her treatment, emphasizing the miracle of her return to the dance floor.
Football player Danny Amendola topped the leaderboard with a remarkable score of 36 for his Contemporary routine alongside partner Witney Carson, performed to “Unsteady (Erich Lee Gravity Remix)” by X Ambassadors. This performance was particularly meaningful for Amendola, as he dedicated it to the late Mike Leach, his former college coach at Texas Tech, who had offered him a scholarship. The judges were impressed, with Carrie Ann Inaba calling it a “breakthrough” and Hough describing it as “stunning.”
Following closely behind was “The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, who matched Amendola’s score with their poignant Viennese Waltz dedicated to Graziadei’s fiancée, Kelsey Anderson.
In a surprising turn, model Brooks Nader was eliminated after performing a cheerful salsa with her sisters. Reflecting on her experience, Nader remarked on the joy she and partner Gleb Savchenko shared during their journey on the show.
Basketball icon Dwight Howard encountered challenges with his Rumba set to his own song “Shoot For The Stars,” earning the lowest score of the night at 29. However, he managed to stay in the competition thanks to fan votes. Guest judge Mark Ballas encouraged Howard to add more hip movement to his routine, which elicited a playful reaction from Bruno Tonioli, who noted Howard’s later attempts to incorporate the feedback.
Another surprising development occurred as Chandler Kinney, a former leaderboard frontrunner, found herself in jeopardy despite performing a contemporary piece dedicated to her mother, Taryn. Kinney shared the sacrifices her mother made to support her aspirations, stating, “She would drive me from audition to audition… I literally would not be a fraction of the person I am today without her.” The dance received a total score of 32.
Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and pro dancer Rylee Arnold performed a captivating Argentine Tango dedicated to men’s gymnastics, beginning with Nedoroscik on the pommel horse. The routine, set to “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, earned praise from the judges, with Tonioli stating, “Now we are in business,” and Hough acknowledging the complexities of the choreography.
Ilona Maher, an Olympian rugby player, and partner Alan Bersten brought a Rumba to life with their dedication to the U.S. women’s national rugby sevens team. Maher showed resilience following a dip in scores the previous week, earning accolades from Inaba for both her grace and courage during the performance.
“Real Housewives” star Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy performed a Rumba dedicated to Phaedra’s mother, garnering a score of 32 from the judges.
Lastly, “The Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran dedicated her Foxtrot to Taylor Swift, dancing to “The Archer.” Tran reflected on the support Swift’s music provided during turbulent times in her life, stating, “Taylor Swift’s music has helped me realize there’s so much strength in being vulnerable and allowing other people to see you for who you really are.”
This week’s performances were a powerful testament to personal connections and the emotional journeys of the contestants, leaving viewers eager to see what will unfold in the upcoming episodes of “Dancing With the Stars.”
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