Strategically Out of Place (DWTS: The Next Pro 103)

Summary

Teen Beat – Strategically Out of Place (DWTS: The Next Pro 103)

Podcast: Teen Beat
Host: iHeartPodcasts (Danielle Fishel & Co-Host, with guest Val Chmerkovskiy)
Date: July 28, 2026
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

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Overview

This episode dives into the third week of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro", examining the challenges, group dynamics, and drama as contestants compete to become the next pro dancer on the show. Danielle Fishel and Val Chmerkovskiy dissect dance performances, group challenges, and the high-stakes, high-drama environment of reality dance competition. The episode covers issues of representation, professional growth, teamwork, authenticity, leadership, and the critical importance of humility and collaborative spirit in the professional dance world.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Val’s Recent Headlines and the Power (and Pitfall) of Commentary

• Val addresses making recent headlines for his direct feedback in earlier episodes, expressing surprise and a bit of nervousness—but standing by his honest critique.
  • “I got nervous … I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings … but this is just my reflection … I’m not banging my chest saying that this is the truth. This is what I see.” (03:16 – 03:54)
• Val emphasizes he would always deliver his feedback directly:
  • “All the thoughts that I share publicly are thoughts that I would share privately to that person.” (04:38)

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Recap of Show Events: Opening and Group Dance Challenge

• Episode 3 Recap: Benji was eliminated last week, contestants reminded of the need for selflessness—especially in making the celebrity partner look good.
• Teamwork Mantra:
  • “Sometimes you have to be selfless to make your celebrity look good.” (Host quoting Mark Ballas, 06:00)
• Ballroom Philosophy: The role of the professional is to present and lift up their partner, especially the woman—a guiding principle of the art form.
  • “Our job is to present our … partners. … So much of the movement is inspired by that philosophy.” (06:08 – 06:34)

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Special Guest Judge: Britt Stewart & Representation Matters

• Britt Stewart arrives—her presence especially meaningful for contestant Selena, highlighting the scarcity of Black and brown ballroom pros on TV.
• Britt’s influence:
  • “Class… The way she handles herself … communicates … that professionalism …” (08:25)
• Access & Inclusivity:
  • Val celebrates teachers like Pierre Dulaine (“Take the Lead” was based on him), who brought partner dance to underserved communities—and reflects on his own journey as a Ukrainian-American in Latin dance.
  • “It’s an expensive activity … I try to feel compelled to give back to that community who dances authentically but never gets access to a high level of education in the sport.” (09:19 – 10:54)

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The Group Dance: Pressure, Skill Sets, and Studio Mishaps

• Contestants told to recreate Britt’s number on short notice—a staple of DWTS pro life, requiring extreme adaptability.
• Val on group dance prep:
  • “You have three hours to learn the entire piece and shoot the wide … that pressure was really well communicated in this challenge.” (11:34 – 12:08)
• Skills at play:
  • Conventional ballroom dancers hone a single, perfect routine over months, but pickup choreo speed, artistry, and “translatability” (ability to teach/coach) determine success on this show.
  • “Competitive ballroom dance, you’re perfecting pretty much the same seven moves… There’s very little time for artistry, creativity or individuality.” (17:14 – 18:12)
  • “Not everybody has … you could be a superstar—not all great professionals translate as well in coaching.” (20:55 – 21:05)

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Rising Tensions: Group Dynamics and Clash Between Selena and Nina

• Selena and Nina’s clash: Differences in communication (frank vs. diplomatic) threaten their group effectiveness.
  • “Nina is, you know, watching her … I know exactly who that is … I grew up in the Eastern European Tri-State…” (26:01)
  • “Selena … is a Southern Cali girl … very respectful … She’s competitive but … it’s different.” (26:27)
  • “Nina was incredibly selfish and unprofessional … not learning a single thing about humility.” (26:46)
• Teamwork matters:
  • “If it hurts working with you—next. Respectfully.” (27:34 – 27:46)
• On apologies:
  • “She’s like, ‘I’m sorry you felt that way’—which is not really an apology.” (40:49 – 40:50)

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Rehearsal Drama: Group Dance Mishaps and Injury

• Physical risks in group dance: Natalie is accidentally hit in the face by Stephanie—a stark reminder that dance is a physical, sometimes dangerous, sport.
  • “That spatial awareness … It was a 50/50 collision.” (34:00 – 34:17)
• Natalie is taken out on a stretcher, and the rest must continue practicing—underscoring the show’s “the show must go on” ethos.

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Group Dance Performances and Leadership

• Three key leadership themes:
  1. Preparedness over confidence: “When you’re under-prepared … you can shrink that distance with preparedness.” (55:07 – 55:39)
  2. Importance of giving credit:
     • “The hardest thing about Dancing with the Stars is having the mental and emotional strength to go the distance under incredible pressure.”
     • “You better give credit where credit is due…” (57:04 – 57:24)
  3. Qualities of great leaders: decisiveness, humility, willingness to praise others, and effective delegation.
     • “The only thing that’s more important in the room than humility is decisiveness.” (51:44)

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Performance Recap & Judges’ Critiques

Team Paso Doble:

• Team: Tristan, Selena, Stephanie, Eric
• Song: “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” – Lenny Kravitz
• Feedback:
  • Judges note they lacked cohesion, felt more like individuals than a group; choreography could’ve used stronger leadership.
  • “They were out there as individuals and Tristan felt a little lost.” (59:45 – 60:25)
  • “I didn’t agree with the criticism of Selena … I didn’t think she was the weakest link at all.” (59:26–59:45)

Team Tango:

• Team: Nina (captain), AJ, Allen, Adele
• Song: “Into You” – Ariana Grande
• Notes: Alan slips and falls, recovers. AJ takes the lead in choreography.
• Feedback:
  • Praised for letting AJ lead and for execution under pressure.
  • “You’re making decisions while doing. And that is always in every creative field, in any field I think … start moving.” (53:44–53:48)
  • “You want to expand, you don’t want to shrink … he won the challenge.” (63:19 – 64:04)

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Results & Elimination Shock

• Team Tango wins the challenge; Team Paso Doble’s Selena and Tristan are put in jeopardy.
• Twist: Natalie is eliminated for medical reasons after her injury; no one else sent home this week.
• Emotional moment: Natalie returns to say goodbye.
• “It’s very emotional, both for the two dancers who are being saved … but also, there is a lot of sadness for Natalie.” (68:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“All the thoughts that I share publicly are thoughts that I would share privately to that person … This is a show that’s broadcasted to millions of people … it’s free game, baby.”
— Val Chmerkovskiy (04:38–04:58)

“Class… The way she handles herself and the way she communicates … that group of next pros … got a sense of what a certain professionalism feels and sounds like.”
— Val Chmerkovskiy on Britt Stewart (08:25–08:44)

“It’s an expensive activity … I try to feel compelled to give back to that community who dances authentically but never gets access to a high level of education in the sport.”
— Val (09:19–10:54)

“You could be a superstar. Not all great professionals translate as well in coaching … sometimes the dancers that never really were the special ones … end up being sometimes the best coaches.”
— Val (20:57–21:29)

“If it hurts working with you—next. Respectfully.”
— Val (27:34–27:46)

“The only thing that’s more important in the room than humility is decisiveness.”
— Val (51:44)

“You want to expand, you don’t want to shrink … he won the challenge.”
— Val on AJ (63:39 – 64:04)

“You better give credit where credit is due. … That’s what you should do. … The people that are most willing to give credit are the ones that typically are the most brilliant.”
— Danielle & Val (57:24–58:36)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Val addresses “headline” drama: 03:16–04:58
• Mark Ballas’s selflessness advice and ballroom philosophy: 06:00–07:36
• On Britt Stewart & representation: 07:36–10:54
• Group number—pressure, pickup skills required: 11:34–13:03
• Ballroom vs. Convention Dancer—skills comparison: 16:56–19:43
• Teaching as a distinct skill: 20:55–22:26
• Selena vs. Nina—group tension, communication styles: 24:56–27:14
• Group dance prep, injury (Natalie): 33:00–36:13
• Importance of praise and leadership: 57:04–58:36
• Team routines feedback and elimination: 59:22–68:05

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Tone & Delivery

• Lively, candid, and laced with both professional admiration and sharp, humorous critique.
• Hosts and guests are authentic—Val offers both tough love and praise, drawing on personal experience and inside baseball from the world of competitive dance.
• They openly discuss missteps, personality clashes, and growth moments, always rooting for the contestants to evolve.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• The Next Pro is about far more than just dance ability: adaptability, group-mindedness, communication, humility, and leadership all make a difference.
• Talent is important, but working well with others and supporting your team is crucial for longevity in the industry.
• Mistakes and injuries happen, but resilience, kindness, and learning from challenges set the professionals apart.
• Inclusivity and representation remain important discussions in the dance community.
• Leadership comes in many forms (authoritative, collaborative)—decisiveness and compassion are both valued.

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Preview for Next Week:
Jenna Johnson visits to teach about chemistry—“Who better to teach about chemistry than Jenna Johnson?” (68:25)

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Recommendation:
This episode is a must-listen for fans of dance, reality competition, anyone curious about high-pressure group dynamics, or those looking for lessons in humility and leadership. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for what it takes to make it as a pro dancer in the industry.

Transcript

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[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Well, Val, we are back. We are ready to recap episode three of the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars, the next Pro Already three episodes in.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

It's getting spicy.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It is getting spicy. They did not hold back this episode.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

No.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Speaking of spice, one of us made some headlines from their takes last week, and I don't. I don't love pointing out which one of us it was, but I will say it was not the one of us that came in eighth place last season. So what are you feeling when you wake up and see Val Smirkovsky Headlines?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I got nervous.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Do you.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean. I mean, yeah. Listen, I don't. I don't want to hurt a people's feelings.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yep.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So whether those are the feelings of the person I'm. I'm discussing or the family of the people or the people that love the person I'm discussing, you know, it's. It's not. I mean, it's hard to say. It's not personal, because I'm literally speaking about the person, but this is just my reflection. You don't got to take it either. I'm not. I'm not, like, banging my chest saying that this is the truth. This is what I see. And in my. From where I'm standing, there's, you know, my perspective and what kind of value I would want to give this person.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, I'm not here to knock anybody down. So when I see it, I'm conflicted because on one end, I'm like, I didn't want to ruffle those feathers.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But on the other end, I'm, you know, I'm happy people are listening, tuning in, and are excited to, you know, broaden their ballroom dance perspective. Dancing the stars perspective.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Well, I love that you stand on your business because you know what is needed for the show and you're not saying anything that isn't something you would say to their face.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

No, I would say, yeah, you're not.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

You would say it to their face.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Totally. Totally. I mean, and if you can't, you know, that's a very cowardly way of going about sharing your thoughts about someone.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

All the thoughts that I share publicly are thoughts that I would share privately to that person. How certain private thoughts should stay private. But this isn't one of those cases. This is a show that's broadcasted to millions of people right now, and this is someone that's trying to win the position and the opportunity to work alongside myself and other pros.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So, yeah, free game, baby.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

That's right. Also, anybody who listened to our show and then looks at the headlines also knows they are also a lot of clickbait.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

No, totally. Totally. And I. And that's the frustration.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And I appreciate that for the most part, people took the time to understand the broader context and my delivery. I didn't just think it's important, you know, it's. Yes, of course it's what you say that's important, but how you say it, at what time you say it, the effort that you put into thoughtfully say it, I think also matters.

[Greenies Advertiser]

Yes.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Dancing with the Stars, the next pro Season one, Episode three. We open with a recap of episode two for those keeping score at home. Benji was eliminated. Robert, our host and judges, Shirley and Mark Ballas enter and Robert gets a wellness check from the contestants. Everyone agrees that it has been a tough journey so far. And Mark reminds them, sometimes you have to be selfless to make your celebrity look good. And that's some pretty good advice, right, Val?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Totally. I mean, that's the mantra of ballroom dance as far as, you know, from the masculine side. We, we are taught, if we are taught by good teachers from day one, that, that our job is to, to present our, our partners, our ladies. And you know, so much of the movement is inspired by that philosophy. And I think I spoke on it last week when I talk about the, a shadow position, whenever we have side by side choreography, the male is always in shadow position. And because of that philosophy, not because he's sacrificing anything, but just because these are the roles that we are playing together here in this, in this team activity of ballroom dance. That's why I said what I said about Benji and his role in the rom. But that doesn't mean that he couldn't shine in that style. Of course he could, but that wouldn't be the style that strategically he'd shine the brightest in. And so it's all relative. These are all excellent dancers, but it's all, it's how great you are next to the guy next to you or the girl next to you. So I loved what Mark said and yeah, I'm excited. I want to get into this episode because there's a lot of redemption. As far as we spoke about AJ I have, you know, I think I'd surprise some, some listeners about my perspective on him this episode and, and, and yeah, the, the new drama that unfolds. I just love how much drama is in this show.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It is drama filled. Yeah, it, it started right from the beginning. It was the moment we have all been waiting for. Our guest judge, the wonderful Brit Stewart, arrives in a stunning red dress with a troop behind her. Contestant Selena is thrilled to see her. We've heard from Selena before that Brit is her favorite pro. She's talked about the fact that there's not a lot of black ballroom dancers represented on tv. And so Brit is. Is one of the main reasons she's invested in this show. And I have heard from all of you many a times that Brit is not only one of the world's best dancers, but that she is a very gifted choreographer. And we saw it here. What do you want to say about the queen that is Brit classed?

[Kia Advertiser]

Class.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

When I think Brit synonymous with Britt Stewart is the word class. Classy. The way she handles herself and the way she communicates, which I love, because I think the, you know, that group of next pros, they. They got a sense of what a certain professionalism feels and sounds like.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

How you conduct yourself in the room, which was incredible. So Brit did a great job. Team dances, what else? Yeah, I mean, she's an incredible choreographer. I'm excited for this challenge. I think it's perfect that we touch on kind of just a different. A different challenge and how that highlights the different qualities and different people who can work in a team and otherwise, as far as, I guess, you know, back to Brit. Trailblazing. Yes. There's not enough black and brown representation in ballroom dance.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And, you know, I'm not naive to the fact that it's an exclusive, you know, besides the popularity of it, it's an expensive activity. Shout out to Pierre Delane, who Take the Lead is. Is based on that movie with Antonio Banderas. You know, this is a dancer that dedicated himself to teaching and after school programs all over the public school system in New York City, the greater New York City area. Again, what the movie's about. And he introduced partner dancing to. To a community that otherwise just doesn't have access to that totally. You know, I try to find time to do the same. I'm inspired by that, you know, the Latin. It's ironic to me that I'm a professional Latin dancer. You know, this is a community that adopted this Ukrainian kid, and I'm enjoying a very fruitful career because of it. So I try to feel compelled to give back to that community who dances authentically, but never gets access to a high level of education in the sport. So I think that's why I'm excited for Brit when she joined the Keoughs and the Brandons and hopefully the Sosas and more and more. Like I said, I love the fact that Chmerkovsky's Chigwintsev and Savchenko and all These Eastern European names, but it's fun to see, like I said, the black and brown community represented on our show.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Well said. Well, Britt performs to a cover of All Shook up, surrounded by the troupe, and as always, she's magical. Robert is equally impressed. And Brit announces the challenge for the week. It involves the ever popular element of Dancing with the Stars, the group dance, most notably those big show openers you guys are famous for now. Val, as someone who has participated in these numbers now for years, tell the listener what it's like prepping for these. Who choreographs? How long do you have? Like, are you also doing this right alongside all your celeb work and choreographing for that week and the next week?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Totally, totally. No, it's a huge undertaking, but it's exciting, you know, to me, it's an opportunity for us to, first of all, become a student to be directed by a choreographer that's invited sometimes. Yes. It's in. In house. Right. So it's one of the pros taking the lead choreographing a big number, but it's not me doing the prepare. You know, the prepare work. Right. I'm just showing up and I'm told what to do. And. And typically, it's really cool dance moves. The issue is that it's at six in the morning on a Friday.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Oh, my gosh.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And it's three hours, and you have three hours to learn the entire piece and shoot the wide, and the wide is kind of the final take for the director, production, and everybody to kind of, you know, figure out how to compliment it. If it's a Friday and it's a Tuesday show, you understand how important that Friday 3 wide is. Right? And so that pressure was really well communicated in this challenge. I love that. I love that they got a chance to really feel the pressure and the pressure of doing it clean right now. Yeah. I mean, that's the process. But they. They did a great job. I mean, you saw how, again, I have so many sports analogies, but really, it's. Whether it's sports or in anything, high pressure. Sorry, that is so loud. I'm in the studio. I'm in the closet.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I know. I love this. You are at the dance.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Obviously, it's Sasha that you hear.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Open that door and tell him to shut up. Open that door.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Hey, hey, simmer down. We're doing a podcast here.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Gosh, work doesn't stop for some of us.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

They flipped me off. You can't hear it, but. But I can see.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

But okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah, yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Send them. Send them my leaf.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I will.

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[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

This week we got a little bit of a shocker because the contestants are told that they are going to recreate the dance they just saw Brit perform. That's a nice little surprise. I like that. And then we get a confession interview from contestant Adele who admits that her background is in competitive ballroom, not group. So she's feeling nervous. How are these two totally different skills? The I. It's always okay. Why,

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

why that's why again, you. It's so hard to cast for. For the show is because there's so many different hats that you have to perfect and specialize in that you wear on the show. It's a very unique hybrid of a ballroom dance professional.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So competitive ballroom dance, you perfecting pretty much the same seven moves. And I say that loosely, obviously, but it's about execution. It's like figure skating in the Olympics. Yes, there's some artistry, but really you're trying to get to the. The heavy hitters.

[Lowe's Pro Rewards Advertiser]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Who can hit the four axle, whatever thing. And the thing that's what competitive ballroom dances. But that's where you get, you know, the good ones, not the ones that dabbled in it, but the ones that really competed and won. You, you, you could see the velocity, you could see it, but there's very few. There's very little time for artistry, creativity or individuality. Yeah, you. You kind of find that in between the cracks, but really you are just executing excellence and it's really a game of self millimeters. And hopefully you have a little bit of a performer in you as well.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Then that says, you know, if you got a little swag, a little seasoning to all that mastery, you're killing it. But again, we're not exercising constantly different languages, hearing the same song and challenging yourself to speak a different language to the body. We. We have one language. Not even a language, one dialect. And we just.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, and that's what you're speaking to

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

the best of all. That's competitive ballroom dance.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, then you have a. Then you have the broader convention dance kid that now, you know, I've been a part of for seven years with Jen. We teach at a convention for many years. That's how I know Selena. I know Selena. For a long time, too. Not from the ballroom competitive world, but I know I've seen her shine for a long time at the highest level, but at the highest level of speaking languages like jazz and ballet and enough hip hop and enough tap to, you know, to really be a master of all of these languages, even at a. At a young age. So that's why when we get into this episode and I see the clashes of those worlds right now, the ego starts to play, Right. This kid won Blackpool and this girl won this and this one. But they're looking at Selena, and Selena's like, girl, I've been the one for a very long time in a very big world. You just never been a part of it.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And these are the qualities that I bring to the table, which is picks up choreography in five seconds. That's a discipline that is exercised over time.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, even if the movement is foreign for her body, you could see that she's still picking it up and downloading it very quickly and is ready to perform. Whereas for ballroom dancers, because it's the same routine you're. You're really working on for years. Yeah, yeah, years. Imagine your cha cha or your foxtrot, but you did it not for three days, then performed in front of millions and forgot it. You did it for 10 months before you even saw a competition for it.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I for sure would have been able to do more than just open my arm if I had 10 months, so. Well, maybe not. What was that, Val?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

No, no, I'm saying. Well, no, you did so much more in just four days.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Thank you.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But you. I. I don't know if. If that relates to other things. I mean, it's like baseball, and it's not like baseball and banana bowl, but, like, you got to be an entertainer, too. And then there's a third flip, which is very important, which is now a whole different, I guess, quality that separates the next people. And that's teaching.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Not everybody has you.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You could be a superstar. Not all great professionals translate as well. In coaching, you see that in sports, you see that in dance.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean, you could be an incredible performer that has natural ability that you just. You don't even know how to explain. You're like, I don't. Oh, I just feel it. And some people just feel it that you can't communicate, that you can't teach that. And sometimes the dancers that never really were the special ones, that had to really work hard, really had to come up with philosophies on how to go from a to B.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Those end up being sometimes the best coaches, the best teachers. They've done a lot more analysis. And then on top of that experience, if you've never. If you've never been nervous about charging people money for 45 minutes of your time, then you don't. You don't know that, that, that sense of responsibility.

[Tony Ayo (Real Report Host)]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Besides their time, their money, their expectation, the studio's expectation, you know, meeting those pressures, when you walk in and you meet a stranger and on the spot, you have to know how to communicate, how to analyze and how to give feedback.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And then how to execute that feedback and make that person be a little better.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

If you've never done that part, not perform, not, dance, not, but that part, then you are. Yeah. You're in for a real treat here on Dancing With a Star.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, that's. That's a good point. Well, with that, the hopefuls leave for group rehearsal, where Britt swings by and starts teaching the number. She focuses mostly on synchronicity and spatial awareness. We see some immediate spills and mistakes, most notably by Adele, who kind of predicted that she was going to have issues here. Natalie seems to be thriving. She likes working together. She's fast paced with Corio, as does Selena. And the first session ends, and the girls hang back for more prep. And we see some headbutting between Selena and Nina, which is never a great sign for group numbers.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Here's. So we'll get to the Selena God, get to that beef. Oh, before we get into the human part of this thing, back to the dance, you know, the important things as far as going into a group number, you have to be clean and precise and, you know, allude back to what Mark said. It's like when you serve the bigger collective, you look better. And that's the whole point. It's not about you standing out in this particular moment in time. It's about you becoming uniform with your team. And, man, you got to be a certain person for that as well. You got to be disciplined enough to want to be. To be clean and take those directions. But you also have to have the humility to. To think about the broader group. And a lot of people don't prioritize that at all. Yeah, especially on our show where you have cuts of camera, you know, selfish dancers, they'll just wait for that cut and then be back to, you know. No, it's about sacrificing yourself for the. For the greater good, at least in these group dances. And I think that's another quality that the convention World teaches because there's a lot of studio group numbers. And those. Those teachers are sticklers. I mean, if we said 45, then it's 45 every time. Not when I feel it. Not when I. No, it's very robotic when it comes to executing those things.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And in the born world, we don't have that.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

It's about individuality. It's about your team, your partner, but really, that's. That's where it ends. And then it's about setting yourself apart from all of these other copies. Doing the same seven steps.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Hold on. We're not going to skip. We're not going to skip over the Celine and Nina.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Well, to see them, the way they are talking to each other. So I. You know what? I think Nina suffers from a little bit of what I think I suffer from in my personal life, which is. I don't hear my tone always. Which I think she. In her mind, I think she thinks she's just saying something in a factual way.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

And doesn't hear that she's saying it. And in what comes across as a patronizing way.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. No, I mean, I have a very renowned sibling that. That, you know, who are you talking about his delivery sometimes.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

And if you don't hear it, if you like. I don't think Max and I can do it, too. I don't think Max or I hear it.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

No, no. And. And totally. And yes, you're completely right. Nina is, you know, watching her. I know exactly who that is. Not because I know who she is, but I know that. Prototype.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But individual. And not to box her in, but I grew up in the Eastern European Tri State. Brooklyn, New York, New Jersey, Philly area. You know, I. I understand that there's very little time for nuance and explanation. It's like, this is what I want. This is how I feel. Do you want something else? Tell me. Cool. I'm not going to ask you. I'm not going to say please and thank you. Let's just get it.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And why I said Southern California. Because it's. Selena, as far as I understand, is a Southern Cali girl. Very respectful, very. You know, I mean, she's competitive.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But it's. I mean, Jen and I have these conversations all the time, you know, where I'm just having a conversation. She's thinking that we're. We're having a confrontation.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But have it all settled. That that's. Yeah, that's not. That's not what happened, though. And that's not an Excuse. And I'm. I'm going to just shout it out. Nina was incredibly selfish and unprofessional. And it's funny coming off of a week with the Benji situation, not learning a single thing about humility, you know? So, again, I don't want this podcast and everything. I. All my feedback to be about humility, because we will get to aj

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

but

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

it's a huge quality. You're working. At the end of the day, this isn't your show. You are part of a collective, and I'm just telling you. And you could vouch for that. In this business, for every talented person, there's a hundred other talented people.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

It's all about how you make people feel around you and what you like working with. Because if it's not good, like, if it. If it hurts working with you next.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Respectfully.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. There are a hundred people ready to take your spot.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And on the flip side, that's why you have a culture breeding like, yes, man. And. And, yes. No. Look, it's. It's a balance, man. Yeah, It's a balance. You. You have to be proud for sure. And have self respect, of course, after you earn it.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, and right now, you just started, so I. I just feel like. Yeah, and I guess we'll get to it, because in the house, they have a conversation, and Selena kind of like, brings that up one more time, and here's an opportunity to just be like, um, oh, man, I hear you.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Wow.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Okay, listen, those are not my intentions. I know this is a competition, but I'm not trying to be that person. And if I was that person. I'm sorry. That's not what I meant.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

When they talk about it at the house, though, the look on. Genuine shock, though, because she didn't think that's where it was going. And that's what made me realize. I don't think she hears herself at all. I don't think when we watch it and you see it, you're like, oh, my gosh, she cut her off. She wasn't letting Selena finish sentences. She was saying things with a really, like, no, what I mean is. And we hear it. I don't think she hears it. I don't think she's. I don't think she's perceiving herself.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You're giving her a lot of grace.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

And I. I am. I am. Because when she. When. To see the look of shock on her face, I could tell, like, oh, she. She wasn't aware that she had been. You know, she doesn't hear herself. And so I think then, you know, I hope that when she's like, wow, two weeks back to back, I've been told I will be interested to see if next week if she has a different delivery or if she's just never going to learn from.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

We're rooting for her.

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

We are rooting.

[Lowe's Pro Rewards Advertiser]

We're rooting.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I'm rooting for all of them. We all. This is a. This is a journey of self.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

If it happens again, I'll be.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

We were rooting for you. We were rooting for you. Exactly.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Wait, I came in for two things. How is this $47? All right, we're gonna need a plan here.

Just start simple with bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee. If you're under 25 plus as an new checking customer, you can earn $100 when you open an account and make qualifying Zeller debit transactions.

Oh, that's actually really simple.

Safe balance banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more atb of a.com earn 100. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC.

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

Hey, it's Rach. And if you're like me, you want treats that are simple and taste amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. They're deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet moment for yourself, Johnny Pops are the perfect treat. And there's a kind deed on every stick to encourage everyone to share a little kindness. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops, a better Pop for a better world.

[Martha (Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador)]

When Kohler, the global design leader in luxurious kitchen and bath products, came to me and said, martha, we need an ambassador for our timeless, elegant, durable cast iron products. I said, I'm in. Now let me see the factory. Weeks later, I was suited up in coveralls and work boots, walking through their Kohler, Wisconsin cast iron foundry. I stood next to the molten iron furnace, saw the hand applying enamel, and touched the gorgeous finished products waiting to be sent out into the world. Since 1883, Kohler cast iron products have been forged and finished by the incredible craftspeople right in Kohler, Wisconsin. I'll tell you, I gained a newfound respect and appreciation for Kohler's cast iron craftsmanship. So now I'm lending my discerning staff of approval to my most beloved Kohler Kohler cast iron products. For their durability, beauty and timelessness. Shop my Kohler Cast Iron favorites curated on Kohler.com bring the warmth, character and enduring style of these timeless products into your kitchens and bathrooms. As the Kohler Cast Iron ambassador, I say long live cast Iron.

[Kia Advertiser]

Some so called SUVs feel more like toys. You need a real vehicle that'll handle real life. A real SUV like the all new 2027 Kia Seltos with its best in class interior room. It'll make the others feel like toys. Check out the new 2027 Kia Seltos X line. It's real world ready Kia movement that inspires limited inventory available comparison based on publicly available data regarding Cargo Room and 2026 entry All Wheel Drive CUVs. As of May 2026 entry All Wheel drive CUV class as defined by Kia segmentation.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

So then we get some alone time with Tristan and he's admittedly having trouble. Britt is concerned with what she is seeing not only from Tristan, but from Nina as well. Stephanie, however, is the other very comfortable.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

That's the other thing. It's like you cannot be the weakest link and talking the most smack.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You cannot.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes, you're right again.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

We're gonna get to aj.

[Greenies Advertiser]

Okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

AJ is just ages.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

You're just dangling the carrot of aj. You can't wait. We can't wait. So Stephanie is comfortable. Group is old hat to her, especially since she was in the IRL season 33 troop. This is her wheelhouse. But then she accidentally smacks Natalie right in the face. Yeah, clearly this is a freak accident, but the impact was serious. Can we talk about group dance injuries? How common are they?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah, I mean, they happen. Look, that spatial awareness. And I know the contact happened from Stephanie to Natalie, but Natalie was in the wrong spot. I mean. Yeah, this is a 5050 collision.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right, right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, so, yeah, I mean, that was a really, I mean, unfortunate moment, but a great TV moment as well, because you saw Stephanie really, you know, you saw a real emotion there. And it stinks to be in that position. And it happened. It just. I. I don't recall anything like that on our show.

[Lowe's Pro Rewards Advertiser]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

People get hurt, people get hit. But to be injured like that. Yeah, that was the first.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Well, it escalates pretty quickly. Brit brings out an ice pack and she's already. Natalie's already developing a black eye. Her hands get tingly and she is in a lot of pain. And then out come the producers. Stephanie feels terrible. We see her doing an interview and she is crying and it Just basically stinks all around.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

And then here comes the ambulance. Natalie is given pain meds and she is taken out on a stretcher. So then minus Natalie is back to practice. I know. Well, we had it in season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. We also had an ambulance and a stretcher moment with Elaine.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Some dance is a contact sport.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I mean, it really is. I. We saw the amount of injuries I saw you guys deal with on tour.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

What you're able to still do after. I mean, you had. You went to the emergency room. You had vertigo.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

You needed to have.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Not as cool.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I mean, that's not as cool. No. You had to have your crystals shaken back into place or whatever. So crazy.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. No, I mean, again, it's. It's like the injuries tend to be, you know, ligaments or joints. It's from. Not wear and tear, but certain things like that.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Very rarely do we get rocked in the head or the face and have to sit out, you know, And I think this tour Brit guard caught an elbow to the face, I think.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Jenna.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

You punched Jenna in the eye.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. Yeah. So again, I mean, there's high energy, There's a lot of adrenaline. And again, those three hour rehearsals, you really don't have a lot of time, so.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

No.

[Tony Ayo (Real Report Host)]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean, it happens.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I know. It's just so wild too, to, like, see. See a fellow contestant. Okay. A stretcher. All right, guys, we're. We've got an hour and 15 minutes now. You got to get right back to it, right? Yeah. You just gotta. Let's not think about it. We gotta get back to dance.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I'd just be strategically out of place all the time. I'm just the only one left.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It's just me. Everyone get out of way. So Nina is working on her timing, something that was criticized in week one, and she is feeling the pressure. And then Brit has a huge surprise for the group. It's time to perform right now. They've had three hours to learn the dance, which is the amount of time you pros get to learn the opening number for the show. I am completely unwell at the thought of that. I don't know how you guys do it, but Shirley and Mark walk in and that's right. The real judges will be watching. And the contestants are freaking out. No one feels like they're at 100%. And AJ is worried. This is going to be a surprise elimination. Yeah. Did you think someone was going to go home right now?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yes.

[Martha (Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador)]

Okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yes and no. Yes. If Natalie wasn't If Natalie was still there, I think the plans were to eliminate somebody then.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Aha. Interesting. That's TV for you.

[Tony Ayo (Real Report Host)]

That's tv.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. They pulled an audible, but it also revealed a real big moment with Tristan. And, yeah, you know, they did get a. A chance to perform it, and they did get the feedback and they got saved.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes, they did. But they waste no time. The dance starts to all shook up and we start seeing some issues quickly. What were your thoughts watching the group dance? I was still very impressed because I can't believe that you guys could do a whole number like that in just three hours. But were you impressed or did you see lots of cracks?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah, I saw a lot of. I mean, I could be both. I was impressed because it wasn't an easy routine, and it is hard to pick everything up in three hours. I'm also not. You know, like I said, we typically, it's six in the morning when we're learning these things, and certain choreography gets more complicated than others for what they were given. You know, it's intermediate advance in the sense of, like, the challenge. And I thought they did great. For the most part, from beginning to the end, they did it. But then, yeah, you see, you see the cracks. You see certain people just not being ready for that moment. You know, unfortunately, Tristan was one of those people.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Britt cuts right to the chase, and she asks who the weakest link was. And Shirley notes that Tristan was entirely off to time wise. And Mark points out that Nina was too. And it feels like they are about to be kicked off the show. But instead, Britt says they will not be on the chopping block just yet. There will be a second challenge where they could redeem themselves. The dancers huddle, and Tristan is visibly upset. And it's very nice to see everyone who comes and supports him, including Mark and Shirley. It's a nice little moment.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Have you ever. Have you ever been the emotional one in a group of dancers that need some. Some hugs?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Was I receiving the hugs? No.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I, I, I cried in private.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Right?

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

You cry in the shower?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah, I go. Go in the closet, do a podcast and cry.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Cry.

[Lowe's Pro Rewards Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean, it happens again. It happens, but it's been happening, so I know. You know, it's like. Yeah. So I could just. I could already see it. You know, these challenges are a weekly challenge. It's not like, you know, and now choreograph one thing you're gonna do one time. No, no. This is like every week. This is baseline. You have to be able to pick it up. And then you have to be able to execute it. Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

That night back at the house, everyone admits this has been tough. And it breaks down a bit when Selena says that she thinks Nina doesn't have respect for her. Nina apologizes, but does not fully agree with the critique.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Is that called an apology?

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I mean, I wouldn't really call it. She's like, I'm sorry you felt that way. That's what she says, I'm sorry you felt that way. Which is not really an apology.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I will say this. I mean, including Nina, like, so many great characters, like, if I'm just looking at the show for the show's sake, it's so good. And they did a great job. I mean, and they're all so dynamic.

[Martha (Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador)]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Whether they're qualified or not, I. I like this show. I like them and how much they're willing to be themselves. I also like that. So, you know, for better or for worse.

[Lowe's Pro Rewards Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

That exchange was. I already told you, you know, lack of awareness. Just not. And that's okay. I mean, I didn't. I wasn't born Aristotle, you know, this took years to refine, so hopefully she

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

wasn't built in a day.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. But. Yeah, no, this is just. Just not reading the room. Not reading the rehearsal room or that room.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

They may have cut it, of course, but totally.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And I want to give her that grace, too.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

They. I would have wondered if she. I mean, I would have liked to have seen her ask other people around her. Did you. Did I. Did. Did I seem like I was being disrespectful to you and I would have loved. For other people.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Well, you see in reactions that people are like, why, yes. She's not really. Yeah. So that. That's, for me, that's.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

A collective. When she. When Selena says it, people weren't like, I know.

[Dr. Doug Lucas (LifeMD Host)]

Really?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You felt that? So, anyway.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, well, I.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You gotta watch. You gotta watch the show, guys.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It's so good. You gotta see what comes next. So Nina is not sure how to work this out, but she says she'll bite the bullet and push through the uncomfortable feelings and. Have you ever been in a group dance situation with a majority of people you don't feel like you get along with?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. I'm sure those dynamics are difficult.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Totally.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean, again, that's just. The world doesn't revolve around me, and it doesn't necessarily. Is filtered through my lens. And, you know, I've. I had one time that I was offered a gig, and one time I flexed the okay, I'll do it. But if. If so and so doesn't. Personally there.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And they honor that because I was, you know, a big deal and that was awful. And I would never do that again. I haven't obviously ever done that again.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

But did you feel that way right away? Like, when you then went into the situation, did you immediately regret having done it or something?

[Bank of America Advertiser]

That.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

With time.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Because I don't want to be of influence. You know, I don't want to use my influence to take something away from people. I want to give it to people. Now, granted, taking that place away from that person gave that place to somebody with. With a better attitude and just a more generous spirit when it comes to whatever I was doing, but I just don't want to get it to that. I never want to conduct myself that way. But having said that, that's back to the original conversation. Regardless of what field you are, it's about how you make people feel.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And a lot of times, unfortunately, people never not going to even say that to your face. The fact that Selena, for instance, in this Nina situation, not to kind of be the same conversation, but the fact that she even addressed it and was like, hey, this is how I feel. You're not even gonna get that right. Typically, you're just gonna bless your heart, you know, and walk away. And it's just like, I never want to work with that person again.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, so I try to treat people with kindness. I try to also be an example of that. But. But yeah, you got to show up with the right attitude.

[Bank of America Advertiser]

Wait, I came in for two things. How is this $47? All right, we're gonna need a plan here.

Just start simple with bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee. If you're under 25 plus as a new checking customer. Customer. You can earn $100 when you open an account and make qualifying Zeller debit transactions.

Oh, that's actually really simple.

Safe Balance Banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more at b of a.com earn100 terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC.

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

Hey, it's Rach. And if you're like me, you want treats that are simple and taste amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. They're deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet moment for yourself, Johnny Pops are the perfect treat. And there's a kind deed on every stick to Encourage everyone to share a little kindness. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops. A better pop for a better world.

[Martha (Kohler Cast Iron Ambassador)]

When Kohler, the global design leader in luxurious kitchen and bath products came to me and said, martha, we need an ambassador for our timeless, elegant, durable cast iron products. I said, I'm in. Now let me see the factory. Weeks later I was suited up in coveralls and work boots walking through their Kohler Wisconsin cast iron foundry. I stood next to the molten iron furnace, saw the hand applying enamel and touched the gorgeous finished product products waiting to be sent out into the world. Since 1883, Kohler cast iron products have been forged and finished by the incredible craftspeople right in Kohler, Wisconsin. I'll tell you, I gained a newfound respect and appreciation for Kohler's cast iron craftsmanship. So now I'm lending my discerning staff of approval to my most beloved Kohler Kohler cast iron products for their durability, beauty and timelessness. Shop my Kohler Cast Iron favorites curated on Kohler.com bring the warmth, character and enduring style of these timeless products into your kitchens and bathrooms. As the Kohler cast Iron ambassador, I say long live cast iron.

[Kia Advertiser]

Some so called SUVs feel more like toys. You need a real vehicle that'll handle real life. A real SUV like the all new 2027 Kia Seltos with its best in class interior room. It'll make the others feel like toys. Check out the new 2027 Kia Seltos X line. It's real world ready Kia movement that inspires limited inventory available comparison based on publicly available data regarding Cargo Room and 2026 entry All Wheel Drive CUVs as of May 2026 entry All Wheel drive CUV class as defined by Kia segmentation.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It's now day two of rehearsals. Robert and Britt arrive and Natalie is still out which is obviously going to put her at a major disadvantage. They announced challenge number two is creating a group dance and I had a real Leonardo DiCaprio meme moment here where I was pointing at the screen because we got to see our group dance for from season 34 and I my group dance experience was it's maybe my favorite week of the entire show.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Oh yeah. Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I loved it. I thought it was very interesting to see the way you all work together. So I wasn't on your team, so not you, but the pros that were on my team seeing the way you guys communicate with each other when you take a lead versus when you decide to let other people share their perspectives on it and then decide to take a step back. I felt like the pros that I had were. Everyone was very open to constructive criticism. Everyone wanted to make sure everyone was shining it. I. It was just. It was the most fun. It was also very overwhelming because it was very fast. And I was on a team of celebs that included Jordan Chiles and Whitney Levitt.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

We had Robert and the.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

And Dylan.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Dylan.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

So, I mean, I have three of five who ended up being finalists. And I'm the weakest link of the girls. I also have Danny.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Okay. Yeah.

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I'm like, no, it was.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It was. It was. So I. And I was team captain because I had been in, like, I was the lowest standing. It was all very overwhelming.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

It was a lot to handle.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, it was a lot to handle, but it still ended up being my favorite week because I just loved seeing the way everybody worked together. And also, I had a. Basically an emotional meltdown right before we went to go shoot the group dance, and Mark literally grabbed me by the shoulders and was like, danielle, you've gotta get it together. And he's like, take a deep breath with me. And he, like, breathe. He, like, basically put me through a little meditation. And then I was like, I've got this. And I feel like the dance number went off without a hitch.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So it was really good.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It was a great movie.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Glasses.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It was so fun.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Super cool.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It was great. Did you have a good time in the group dance last year?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. Those are the best times, you know, again, because especially for the celebs, this experience is about also building camaraderie with the team beyond you and your partner. Obviously, that is the core relationship you build. But those team dances, the first time in the season that you really get to be in the room for a while, you see everybody's process. That's the other thing that I don't know how Mark does his thing.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Until that group dance.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

If we have it, I don't know how. That's why going through the troupe, I think, is really beneficial for, you know, an upcoming pro because of that. Because you see everybody's process, and it's just so invaluable.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

If you're going into this, you know, and so team dance is a reflection of that. Just shows, like, you know, I learned a lot in those rooms from the times I shared team dances with Derek and Mark and Max and, you know, the. The Lindsey's and Jenna's brilliant. Like, just. You just see who's nice with it, you know, and how they do it and who's just, like, not fazed by the process. Which leads me to the next process. I mean, conversation. My guy A.J. you know, it's like, still so cocky. So cocky. But, you know, what's. You know, it. The only thing that's more important in the room than humility is decisiveness, you know, and. And that arrogance creates a decisiveness that is crucial.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Especially for that challenge came in. Boom, boom, boom. You know, it's like what. What you. What I criticized the week before in this. In this, you know, the. The matter of fact way that he spoke to Selena, went about choreographing his stories. Piece of winning the bl. You know, all of these things. But on the flip side, some of the hardest things in those rooms, under time duress, are making decisions.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

This is not a creative process. This is not a.

[Greenies Advertiser]

I don't want

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

to make it political, but this is not socialism. This is authoritarian.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

This is a regime.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

This is a regime. Again, you want to workshop ideas, and I say that only because I go the other way. I love camaraderie. I love, obviously, leadership, but I love leading by inspiring the people around me. And so I love the town hall meeting of. What do you think? But, yeah, why don't we just fly out of the thing? What about you? And I think this should be orange. And what about you? And yeah, you know, and then 45 minutes later, like, no, we're not getting a zipline. We're not getting that none of this is practical. And we just wasted an hour.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know?

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Where the rooms were like, for instance, Derek is very effective in a team dance environment because he came guns blazing with no apologies.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

He came in.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yo.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Hey. If you know him, you just know how. You know, it's like he has one thought before it ends. He goes into the next one. Yeah, we can start here, and then we could start, and then we could. You know, never mind. Let's do it. Like, and it's like 5, 6, 7, 8, and we're doing it. And so you're. You're making decisions while doing. And that is always in the. In every creative field, in any field, I think. Start.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, just start moving.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You're going to have a lot of bad ideas. Start moving.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, and I thought back to A.J. i got to give him props. He led the way, and he did a great job. He made a great. You know, he led the way On a great final performance. We'll get to that. But overall, great decision making, very decisive props. He took that episode for me.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Well, just like in season 34, where Andy and I were the bottom two, and then we were made. We were made team captains for the group dance. Nina and Tristan are captains, and Nina drafts in this order. Alan, A.J. and the rolls Royce. Adele and Tristan picks Stephanie, Selena, and Eric. Nina's team. Team is going to do the tango, and Tristan gets the paso doble. AJ Is most at home with the tango, so Nina puts him in charge of the dance, which is a big step for her to give up control. And this obviously does seem to be his wheelhouse, and he is taking on a lot of risk as the brains of the operation. And Tristan's team Paso will let the entire team form things together. But Selena expresses concern with him just shutting down. She thinks he. He should step up as the captain. What did you think about the way Tristan handled being team captain in this scenario?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I mean, here's the challenge. Like, when you're under. Not under prepared, but when you are, like, in over your head, you can shrink that distance with preparedness. And like, really, you hear those stories, you know, catch me if you can. It became an attorney, like, by, like, you got to do extraordinary. You got to put extraordinary effort into something, and you could bridge that gap of just not. Not being in over, over your head.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

He didn't have that. Like, I've been in over my head before. I was asked to choreograph something like season one. I was like a group number. I am. How do you. Where do I start?

[Kia Advertiser]

But I had.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I had a chance to prepare, over prepare, ask advice, blah, blah, blah. And then by the time I got in the room, I already had something to work with. He didn't have that. And so this is a combination of not having the tools and then not having the ability to over prepare for something that you weren't ready for. As far as the other team with AJ Again, Nina made an executive decision not out of humility, but because she was also in over her head. And she saw somebody that had confidence in what he was doing and, and, and was like, sure, yeah, yes, go ahead. I'll. And I'll call her out again. I mean, man, she's really getting in this episode. But I'll call her out when they were standing in line and it's, you know, and here's the thing. It's like when you delegate responsibility to somebody else, then you better praise that somebody else. And not say. Not take credit. And you see when they're asked, so who choreographed this routine? You know, Adele right away starts to turn to AJ and she starts to say, well, we all contributed, and we just kind of let A.J. no, A.J. took it over from beginning to the end, which is fine.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I know. This is a competition. The hardest thing about Dancing with the Stars is having the mental strength and the emotional strength to go the distance under incredible pressure.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And you. You're seeing that the challenges are just another challenge.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

They're all very important.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

But like you said, you better give credit where credit is due. And being able to let go of your ego enough to say, oh, you want me to do what's. I was team captain. What was best for me and the team this week is to let this exit expert in tango take over. And that's what we. That's what I decided to do. And he. So he did the choreography. It would have. They wouldn't. They wouldn't have knocked her for that. Great, good idea. You had someone who was ready, willing, and able to step in and do a better job than you were, and you could learn from him. And you. That's what you. Yeah, great. That's what you should do.

[Rachel (Johnny Pops Advertiser)]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. That was just. I mean, I'm being petty now, but that was a moment I caught, too.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

It was like, no, that's not petty. I. I'm right there with you. I always love to make sure everyone gets their credit.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Excellent.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Right? Rolls Royce, all that, huh? She. You know, it's interesting. It's like the people that are most willing to give credit are the ones that typically are the most brilliant. You know, it's like. Maybe brilliant is a big word, but it's like, yeah, of course. You. You just demand credit when you. You.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, you've lost sleep over something.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Totally fight for credit. But I don't understand people that aren't generous with their credit, that aren't enthusiastically looking forward to the opportunity to give,

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

to praise somebody else. Yeah, I. Right there with you. Well, after a little bit of practice, it's time for the competition. The contestants are all dressed up, and I recognize some of those beautiful outfits. And we are in the ballroom. The judges are in place, but Natalie is not there. Robert says he will explain her absence a little later. First up is team Pasa Doble. Tristan, Selena, Stephanie, and Eric. Shirley asks who took the lead with choreography, and they say they worked it out as a team. And then we see the dance to Lenny Kravitz. Are you gonna go my way? What did you think of Team Pasa

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Doble, by the way? Both teams that are. Great job.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, they did.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Both did a great job. I thought again, man, am I really showing my bias here? But, like, I thought they were a bit. I didn't. I didn't agree with the criticism of Selena.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I didn't think she was the weakest link at all. She was great. So that was. That was weird.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

A little surprising.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

See her in the bottom, too. Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But everything else. Yeah. I mean, it was good.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. I thought it was good. I thought it was great too.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Everybody's good.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I know.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

It's all relative. Good is relative to great.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yep.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So it's like good is not good enough sometimes.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

That's the other thing that's hard is being able to evaluate, is this good enough?

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Or am I tripping about perfecting something that's already great? Or. No, this is not good enough. It's good for that, but it's not good for this. So I think that was the case. I don't know if I'm making sense, but it's. It was good.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

The other one was a bit more polished and just exceptional.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. Well, the judges were not impressed with Team Pasa Doble. They wanted more. They liked the beginning, but Brit felt like they were out there as individuals and Tristan felt a little lost. Mark didn't like Selena's spatial awareness. And Shirley noted weak knee walks, which felt like a real Batman symbol from my boy here. I felt like that was a real shout out to our boy Val. This knee walks. She said she thought they had weak knee walks. And I was like, we know somebody who knows how to do a knee walk. I know someone.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I got lucky with the epic camera angle.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Nuh. Don't you dare. Look at you with your effusive credit. Look at you. See you. You putting it in, putting it into play right here. Credit to the director, but no, those are incredible knee walks. But she did praise Eric and Stephanie. She said the team would have been better off with someone in the lead. Mark mentions it gets even harder when you're dealing with an amateur celebrity, which,

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

yeah, that was a great point.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Great point. Imagine throwing in four celebs who, you know, you have no idea where they're going to be. So, yeah, that. That could be really hard. And then it's time for Team Tango. Nina, AJ Allen and Adele. Nina tells Shirley that AJ Took the lead on this piece, but everyone chipped in. It's not really what I Saw. But okay. Mark is very excited to see ballroom from AJ because they have seen him do jive the last two weeks. And they noticed that Nina was able to release control. Then the dance begins. It is to Ariana Grande's into you. And the unthinkable happens in the first 10 seconds. Alan slips and falls to the ground. Val, what went through your head when you saw that?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Just again, nerves. You know, everybody got their own challenge. Like, Alan has checks off so many boxes.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Uh huh.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

His whole thing is composure. I mean, he's got crazy, you know, crazy energy, which is so fun to watch. Crazy just for lack of a better. You know, he's just high energy and high energy. Yeah, he's controlling that energy. Otherwise you're gonna trip on an invisible step.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Trip over your own feet.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But, you know, those things are. They're minute in the finale. I would have a problem with that. But. But overall, you know, these things happen.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. I mean, Alan doesn't let it stop him. They finish the dance, they look sharp. And, uh, and how. How did you end up feeling after team Tango's dance and AJ Taking the lead and the strong.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Strong. That's when I had that revelation. It's like this kid, man, I can't even be mad at that.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know, like, sure, I might not like that approach, but it's not about what I like or the approach. It's about the end result.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yep.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

We could apologize after.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Did you feel like his choreography stood out to you?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Right? Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Okay.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. He made great decisions. Because again, it's not just about choreography. No, that's not Emmy winning choreography. There's nothing really unique or original about that choreography. But sometimes, especially on the time to rest, it's not time for you to be an artist. It's time for you to be a craftsman.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I know.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

And those are two different things. And he. You could see that he's got so many miles under his belt that he's a craftsman. He knows exactly what to pull out for what challenge. And that's why he. You know, I love when he said, you want to expand, you don't want to shrink or whatever he said. I was like, I never even said it like that. But yeah, very good. So he just. Yeah, he won the challenge. He's the best one. If this is the challenge he wanted.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah. When the song ends, the team has a nice group hug. Really supporting Alan, who is visibly beating himself up over the fall. And now with the judges. Mark acknowledges Alan's fall, but praises him for getting up. Everyone falls it's fine. He loved Nina's improvement and said letting AJ Lead was the right choice. Shirley still has some concerns about timing. She gave maybe a little bit of credit to AJ and we see some mother and son bickering over that comment, which was. I loved seeing their dynamic.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Yeah. That's also not like a show within the show. I love Mark and Shirley, again, that's a show I've subscribed to for the last 20 years.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So I'm. It's well documented and he'll share some of his, you know, mother's antics in regards to educating him and coaching him on his own accord. But, yeah, they're amazing. And yeah, just. I just love her. Like, she always got time.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

To tell you how it is.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I loved that it was like an A and a B storyline where Nina is also being told, your delivery sucks sometimes. And Mark turns to his mom and he goes, it's just, you know, it's the delivery and it's like, you see it. You see it playing out. Yeah.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

You know what the difference is?

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Shirley's earned it.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Come on.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Beyond. I know, I know.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Listen, nobody earned. No. Nobody earns the right to be cruel, to be somebody else, to be a narcissist, to be condescending, patronize. No, no one earns that. I've met, you know, don't meet your idols. I've met people I've admired for their work who were absolutely awful human beings, and I could separate the two. Yeah, but you. Yeah, she's earned that sass. She. She's earned that lack of reiteration. She's not gonna spoon feed it to you. She's gonna say it and she's gonna say it respectfully, and that's all you're getting, and that's more than you deserve.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Right.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

So. So I love Shirley and I. And, yeah, she's earned that tone.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Well, Shirley loves adele and calls A.J. the star of the day. Britt was very impressed and knows it was out of their comfort zone. Zone. I loved when Shirley said that AJ had been self absorbed for the, you know, and. And full of himself for the first two weeks. And I thought, well, we.

[Greenies Advertiser]

We.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

We agreed, you know, you. We called it out here, that's for sure. So then we go to break and we return to the big moment. We have a clear winner here. It is no shock that Team Tango has won the challenge and is safe from elimination. And then from Team Pasa Doble, Shirley announces that Selena and Tristan are in jeopardy. Are those the right two to be in jeopardy. Tristan for me. Yes.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Tristan and Selena. No, I. I don't think Selena should be in the bottom two.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Yeah, I didn't. I didn't see that either.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

But here's something to also consider. Like, fans don't have a vote.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I know. It doesn't matter what we think, so

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

it really, you know, it doesn't matter. It's. It's really comes down to that. I just didn't think that she should have been in the bottom, but I know.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I agreed. I thought for sure. I. When they were in the bottom, too, I was like, well, bye, Tristan. Like, all right, Tristan. Tristan's gone. I was obviously like, there's okay. And then when it's time to find out who's going home, we get the shocker. Everyone is safe. Shirley reveals that Natalie has not been medically cleared to return, so she has been eliminated. It's very emotional, both for the two dancers who are being saved after thinking they might be going home. But also, there is a lot of sadness for Natalie.

[Tony Ayo (Real Report Host)]

Yeah.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

Stephanie has a lot going through her mind back in the line. But Natalie does come out to say goodbye and support everyone, which is nice to know that she's not, like, laid up in a hospital bed somewhere. Well, the dancers ugly cry around Natalie, and we prep for week four when Jenna Johnson will be stopping by.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

I'm so excited.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I am so excited, too. And her. Her theme is chemistry. Who better to teach about chemistry than Jenna Johnson?

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

She's a chemist.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

She sure is. She's in the lab where she's cooking up. She's a scientist. I know you have to get going back to rehearsal. Thank you for joining us. Thank you all to all of our listeners for joining us as well. I can't wait for next week where we get to talk all about your beautiful wife.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Thank you. Yeah, I'm excited. Her facials alone are just so hilarious. And I. I just love watching her on tv. I just love watching her in her element as well. I think we. We share that space so often that, you know, I'm in my zone. She's in her zone. We're servicing our partners. We're, you know, we focused on other people, and it's fun to see her do her craft, and I just get to be a fan and watch her do it.

[Female Dancing with the Stars Host]

I can't wait. I'm gonna be a fan right along with you. Have a great rest of your day then.

[Val Chmerkovskiy]

Thank you so much. Thank you. Bye.

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[Dr. Doug Lucas (LifeMD Host)]

Whether it's help with hormone therapy, weight management, or sexual health, every woman should have access to affordable prescription medication and personalized care that understands the whole woman. Join me Dr. Doug Lucas, clinical lead of hormone optimization and longevity at LifeMD, along with other leading experts on the podcast. Here's something good on women's health and longevity. To learn more, go to LifeMD.com iHeartra.