Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro brought the sex appeal to its latest challenge.
Two-time Mirrorball Champion Jenna Johnson (with Adam Rippon in Season 26 and Joey Graziadei in Season 33) joined the show as a mentor and guest judge for Episode 4, which was all about enhancing the teamwork required to make an impact on Dancing With the Stars. After technique work and group work, it was time to dig deeper into one-on-one partnerships by demonstrating strong chemistry. Just how hot did the contestants make it?
Tristen Sanders and Selena Hamilton came in with something to prove after landing in the bottom two for their faulty paso doble with Erik Linder and Stephani Sosa last week. The only reason one of them wasn’t eliminated was that Natalie Jolley had to medically withdraw; Stephani had accidentally whacked her in the eye during rehearsals for one of the challenge’s group numbers. AJ Pritchard, meanwhile, showed humility on his team after two weeks of cocky preening, letting his teammates Allen Genkin, Adele Zaikman, and Nina Mayster shine alongside him.
Read on for our recap of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1, Episode 4, titled “Bring on the Intensity: Chemistry with Jenna Johnson,” which aired Aug. 3 on ABC, with episodes available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
“Connect with your partner, and build a performance so intimate it will send pulses racing.” — Jenna Johnson
Jenna opened the show by demonstrating strong chemistry with her partner in a steamy number. “One of the hard skills is making that chemistry feel real with anyone,” host Robert Irwin pointed out, since of course Jenna wasn’t dancing with her real-life husband, fellow DWTS pro Val Chmerkovskiy. Added judge Mark Ballas, “I want to see a dance so intimate that I’m not even sure I should be watching it, especially with my mom.” The dancers would either perform a romantic rumba or an intense Argentine tango, two of the sexiest styles on DWTS.
First, though, Jenna wanted to see who had the most natural chemistry with each other. She instructed them to pair up more or less at random and then switch partners like “The Next Pro‘s version of speed dating,” though there were no same-sex partnerships even considered despite Jenna herself having made the DWTS finals with JoJo Siwa. After passing the boys around, Adele marveled, “Oh my God, I have chemistry with everyone!” Tristen felt he and Stephani were especially well suited to each other, while Stephani said it just wasn’t happening with her and AJ. It was a highlight of the entire competition for Erik, who felt locked in with Selena.
This time the dancers had the benefit of choosing their own partners, but in practice it was diabolical. The women would select the male dancers of their choice, and if more than one woman picked the same man, then the man would decide who his partner would be. Unfortunately for Tristen, who can’t catch a break, not a single woman picked him at first, while Selena selected Erik, Adele opted for AJ, and both Nina and Stephani wanted a piece of Allen. “It is embarrassing that I wasn’t picked,” Tristen admitted. “I definitely feel like all the girls view me as the weakest link.” Allen ultimately selected Nina as his partner given their more established history together, but it definitely wasn’t a good way to start a chemistry challenge for Stephani and her backup option Tristen. Oof!
“It makes me rethink how I view me and Stephani’s relationship. I thought we were close.” — Tristen Sanders
Tristen and Stephani randomly drew the rumba as their assigned dance for the challenge, as did AJ and Adele. That meant the Argentine tangos would be performed by Allen and Nina along with Erik and Selena. But Stephani noticed Tristen got his feelings hurt when she didn’t pick him, so she immediately told him, “You gotta change the attitude,” which didn’t go over well. But she wasn’t wrong. He would need to set aside his disappointment or else the routine wouldn’t work and they’d both be goners, since this was a double elimination challenge.
The couples were also given time together away from the rehearsal studio. Tristen and Stephani started to patch things up when Stephani opened up about how crushed she would be not to make the cut on DWTS where her brother Ezra Sosa is already a pro. Nina similarly got vulnerable with Allen about how she has been called “delusional” in her dance career and doesn’t want to drag Allen down after previously landing in the bottom two. Erik and Selena bonded on a boat, and AJ admitted to Adele that he tried to join DWTS multiple times and pushed back his wedding for The Next Pro, showing the overconfident young man in a different light.
With one day to go, Jenna counseled the couples, explaining what she wanted to see (intimate moments, body contact) and what she didn’t want to see (overly dramatic emoting, playing to the camera instead of to their partner). Later that evening Allen admitted that he personally would have chosen Adele for his partner instead of Nina given Nina’s previous struggles with timing. But there was no way around it. He would need to make it work with the partner he had. Which brought us to the couples’ final performances on show night.
“I would have liked to see you rip open your shirt.” — Shirley Ballas
Adele and AJ (Rumba): Adele was a “superstar,” according to judge Shirley Ballas, and her chemistry skills were off the charts, but AJ needed to dig a little deeper. Jenna appreciated that the dancers listened to her feedback. Mark thought the beginning was “bumpy,” with “wobbly” entrances and exits, but the rumba portions of the routine were great.
Selena and Erik (Argentine Tango): “I am speechless!” an ecstatic Jenna told the two competitors. Erik showed a brand new side of himself, and it made Jenna want to dance with him. Mark thought it was a “redemption” for Selena, while Erik proved he was ready for DWTS. Shirley gave them a standing ovation for their performance. “That number could be on Dancing With the Stars tomorrow. That’s how good it was.” Shirley even thought Erik might be a “new frontrunner.”
Stephani and Tristen (Rumba): Mark thought both dancers interpreted the lyrics well, but he wanted more moments of stillness, and he was not fully convinced by their chemistry. Shirley noticed that there was enough choreography for two rumbas, which impressed her, but she didn’t quite feel the chemistry either. Jenna called Stephani a “gorgeous dancer,” but there was “a slight fire missing.” Tristen also performed with heart, but Jenna wanted to see more moments of the dancers connecting with each other.
Allen and Nina (Argentine Tango): Jenna loved Nina’s connection to her partner. Shirley was confused by the choreography, because she was expecting an Argentine tango but saw a lot of rumba and samba steps as well. On the plus side, Nina was on time this time! Mark thought it was Nina’s best dance despite the choreographic liberties they took with the dance style. Shirley objected to that, leading to a slight mother-son squabble about the integrity of the Argentine tango.
“We love each other on a personal level. But neither one of us want to go home.” — Nina Mayster
“Unfortunately, one couple has failed to pass their chemistry test,” said Robert. Mark announced the first of the two couples in jeopardy: Stephani and Tristen for going in and out of chemistry and appearing frantic. Shirley announced the second problematic couple: Allen and Nina for not following the rules closely enough. Unfortunately, tonight was the last dance for Stephani and Tristen, not a surprise given the judges’ comments and Tristen’s struggle throughout the competition.
“I am proud of myself. My journey was cut too short, but I feel like I have to close a chapter from Dancing With the Stars. From here on out, I’m never going to let myself get in my head again,” said Stephani in her exit interview. “I’m never letting that fire dim.” Shirley encouraged her not to give up on her dancing dream because the esteemed judge truly believed Stephani is a star.
“For me, in my eyes, you are the company that you keep, and right now I’m in the company of champions, industry dancers, legends, legends-to-be. I want to thank all of y’all,” Tristen told Robert.
With that, the field has been cut in half. Six dancers remain.
