“Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 is winding down, and the semifinals took place Tuesday. The five remaining stars performed two dances with the hopes of making it to the finals.
The night opened up with a number to “Dance the Night Away” and excitement grew in the ballroom as the stars came out to the floor. For the semi-finals, each couple performed one Latin dance and one ballroom dance.
“Zombies 2” star Chandler Kinney started the night off strong with a salsa. Kinney and partner Brandon Armstrong have been consistent front runners throughout the show, and her artistry continued to shine. The pair earned a 9 from Derek Hough and two 10s.
Their second dance was a foxtrot to “Too Sweet.” Although stars admitted throughout the night that learning two dances was stressful, the stress did not impact Kinney’s performance; she danced a beautiful foxtrot. Hough and Bruno Tonioli commended her for her work, receiving two 10s. The judges even told the pair it was a number they would never forget.
However, Judge Carrie Ann Inaba did not have the same reaction and gave them a 9. Inaba has been getting extra hate from fans this season due to her harsh criticism and rude comments. Inaba commented that Kinney’s feet left the floor twice, meaning an illegal lift. The pair was shocked at this news and disagreed with Inaba, although during final interviews they clarified they had no hard feelings and appreciated her feedback.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson have captured the hearts of “DWTS” fans. The pair consistently placed high throughout the season, and Tuesday night was no different. Their firstroutine, a foxtrot, earned them their first perfect score from the judges. Unfortunately, their second dance the Pasodoble, was off-time and a bit messy. Although judges noted some mistakes, the overall dance displayed great effort from Graziadei and the pair earned two 9s and a 10 from Hough.
Although Kinney and Graziadei have been the frontrunners this season, the other contestants give them a run for their money. Olympian Ilona Maher performed a sharp and powerful Pasodoble with partner Alan Bersten. The pair earned two 9s and a 10.
Their second dance, a Viennese waltz, was one of Maher’s best performances. It was emotional and vulnerable, and Maher even teared up while hearing the judge's comments. She received two 10s and a 9 for her work.
Danny Amendola and partner Witney Carson’s Viennese waltz were not met with the same success. The two attempted to create a story with their dance, hoping to mirror the success of their powerful storytelling in their week 4 contemporary. However, the pair received three 9s for their Viennese waltz and for their second dance, a salsa to “I Like It.”
Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik also had low scores with his first dance. Nedoroscik and partner Rylee Arnold performed a cha-cha for their Latin dance, which the judges said got the better of him. The dance was off-time and sloppy, and the pair received two 8s and a 9. However, the pair was able to redeem themselves with their second dance, receiving a 10 and two 9s for their tango.
As Nedoroscik received his scores, host Julianne Hough talked about how she wished she could dance every week and how much she missed performing as a pro dancer. Then, to the shock of dancers and the audience, Hough handed her microphone to Nedoroscik and revealed she was wearing a dance costume.
Hough performed a fast-paced, incredible routine to the TikTok hit, “Man in Finance” with the male professional dancers. It was the night’s highlight as Hough reminded everyone of her dancing skills.
After the excitement of the night, the mood shifted as eliminations began. Couples excitedly jumped and hugged as names were announced for safety. Finally, it came down to Maher and Nedoroscik, but host Alfonso Ribeiro announced they were both safe. While it is joyous to see all-stars move on, it does feel like a participation trophy from the show that no one was eliminated heading into the finale.
Season 32 will wrap up next week as all five couples head into the three-hour finale Nov. 26. With just one episode of competition remaining, who will bring home the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy next Tuesday?
