The remaining couples on Dancing With the Stars cast a spell over the ballroom on Tuesday for the show’s Disney-themed night.
The evening was filled with inspiring routines from Disney film classics, creating moments as enchanting as they were nostalgic.
The energy was undeniable for Natalie Rogers-Cropper, associate choreographer for Broadway’s The Lion King.
“Disney creates something so human that’s tangible,” she told Yahoo Entertainment. “It captures human emotion, human strength, overcoming adversity, human love for each other and for all things.”
Disney also represents “all types of people in their movies,” she said. “We need art to show us who we are.”
Rogers-Cropper said discipline, technique and a strong dose of imagination are essential for creating meaningful connections with audiences.
“Dance is the only art form that involves a human being as the [sole] art subject,” she said. “Those watching it say, ‘I relate to it.’ Maybe it reminds them of how they felt on their wedding day. Whatever the case, there’s a connection.”
That was true in Tuesday’s episode, which kicked off with a performance of “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin, choreographed by Mandy Moore and featuring Michael James Scott, who plays Genie in the Broadway production.
In addition to their routines, contestants were divided into two teams for group performances, with the scores from these dances contributing to their overall totals for the night.
“Team Goof,” led by dance captain Ilona Maher and consisting of Joey Graziadei, Chandler Kinney and Jenn Tran, earned all nines for their dance to “I2I” from A Goofy Movie. Meanwhile, “Team Roar,” led by captain Dwight Howard, included Danny Amendola, Stephen Nedoroscik and Phaedra Parks, who scored eights for their performance of The Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”
Chandler Kinney’s paso doble to “We Own the Night” from Zombies 2, as well as Danny Amendola and partner Witney Carson’s jazz routine to NSync’s “Bye Bye Bye” featured in Deadpool & Wolverine, tied with the highest scores of the night at 27 points.
Howard earned all eights for his tango to “When Can I See You Again?” from Wreck-It Ralph (his highest score yet), alongside partner Daniella Karagach. Stephen Nedoroscik and partner Rylee Arnold also earned eights for their Charleston to “A Star Is Born” from Hercules.
Two pairs earned scores of 25: Joey Graziadei and his partner, Jenna Johnson, who did the samba to “Trashin’ the Camp” from Tarzan, and Ilona Maher and partner Alan Bersten, who performed a jazz routine to “Surface Pressure” from Encanto.
At the end of the night, Phaedra Parks, who performed a jazz routine to “Cruella de Vil” from 101 Dalmatians with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, were eliminated from the competition.
Howard, Parks share Disney memories
Parks and Howard spoke with Yahoo Entertainment about the significance of their song choices for Disney Night before taking to the ballroom floor.
Howard said he drew parallels between himself and the character Ralph from Wreck-It Ralph, who is a video game “bad guy” who longs to be the good guy.
“This movie shows a part of who I am,” he said. “Some people see me as this big, mean giant — but I have a big heart.”
As for Parks, her jazz routine may not have earned enough votes to stay in the running, but the song choice did hold special meaning, as it was one of her son’s favorites while he was growing up.
“This song embodies the nostalgia and joy of childhood,” she said.
Dancing With the Stars returns for its “Halloween Nightmares” episode, which airs Oct. 29 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
How did the stars perform?
Judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli
Phaedra Parks and pro Val Chmerkovskiy: Eliminated
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Dance: Jazz
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Song: “Cruella de Vil” from 101 Dalmatians
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Score: Carrie Ann 8, Derek 8, Bruno 8
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Routine: 24/30
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Total: 48 (with team points added in)
Chandler Kinney and pro Brandon Armstrong: Safe
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Dance: Paso doble
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Song: “We Own the Night” from Zombies 2
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Score: Carrie Ann 9, Derek 9, Bruno 9
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Routine: 27/30
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Total: 54 (with team points added in)
Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson: Safe
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Dance: Jazz
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Song: “Bye Bye Bye” from Deadpool & Wolverine
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Score: Carrie Ann 9, Derek 9, Bruno 9
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Routine: 27/30
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Total: 51 (with team points added in)
Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson: Safe
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Dance: Samba
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Song: “Trashin’ the Camp” from Tarzan
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Score: Carrie Ann 8, Derek 8, Bruno 9
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Routine: 25/30
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Total: 52 (with team points added in)
Ilona Maher and pro Alan Bersten: Safe
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Dance: Jazz
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Song: “Surface Pressure” from Encanto
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Score: Carrie Ann 9, Derek 8, Bruno 8
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Routine: 25/30
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Total: 52 (with team points added in)
Jenn Tran and pro Sasha Farber: Safe
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Dance: Rumba
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Song: “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid
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Score: Carrie Ann 8, Derek 8, Bruno 8
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Routine: 24/30
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Total: 51 (with team points added in)
Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold: Safe
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Dance: Charleston
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Song: “A Star Is Born” from Hercules
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Score: Carrie Ann 8, Derek 8, Bruno 8
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Routine: 24/30
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Total: 48 (with Team points added in)
Dwight Howard and pro Daniella Karagach: Safe
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Dance: Tango
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Song: “When Can I See You Again?” from Wreck-It Ralph
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Score: Carrie Ann 8, Derek 8, Bruno 8
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Routine: 24/30
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Total: 48 (with Team points added in)
Who’s been eliminated so far?
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Week 2: Anna Delvey and Tori Spelling
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Week 4: Reginald VelJohnson and Eric Roberts
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Week 5: Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko
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Week 6: Phaedra Parks and pro Val Chmerkovskiy
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