The landmark 500th episode of Dancing With The Stars aimed for a memorable celebration, but one particular experiment left us questioning its place in the future of the competition. While Dancing With The Stars is known for its surprises, the introduction of the Instant Dance Challenge felt more like a stumble than a dazzling step forward. Prior to the episode, even contestants like Chandler Kinney voiced concerns about the unpredictable nature of this new format, and unfortunately, those anxieties were largely realized. While the intent to inject fresh excitement into the long-running dancing with the stars contest is understandable, the execution ultimately fell short, diminishing the very element viewers tune in for: quality dancing.
Unpacking the Instant Dance Challenge in the Dancing With The Stars Contest
For those unfamiliar with this novel twist in the dancing with the stars contest format, the Instant Dance Challenge unfolded as follows: contestants were informed of their assigned dance style and music mere minutes before their live performance. The brief interlude between the song reveal and performance was a flurry of costume changes and hurried rehearsals. Dancers utilized the commercial break and pre-dance video package time to cram in last-minute practice and adjustments before stepping onto the ballroom floor for the challenge. This rapid-fire approach was designed to test the adaptability and raw talent of the contestants in a high-pressure scenario.
Compromised Dance Quality: A Disappointing Turn in the Dancing With The Stars Contest
The most immediate and significant drawback of the Instant Dance Challenge was the noticeable decline in dance quality. As anticipated, the rushed preparation time led to performances that were, in many cases, visibly sloppy. It’s crucial to remember that even the leading contenders in this dancing with the stars contest, Season 33, are relatively new to ballroom dancing, with only around two months of experience. Therefore, expecting polished and intricate routines under such duress was unrealistic.
Lacking the time to learn full choreography, contestants were forced to rely on basic steps and, at times, resorted to relying heavily on stunts to fill the gaps. While Stephen Nedoroscik thankfully refrained from incorporating his pommel horse expertise into the routine, the overall level of dancing suffered. Viewers tune into Dancing With The Stars to witness impressive dance routines, particularly as the dancing with the stars contest progresses to its later stages. The thrill of spontaneity was overshadowed by the disappointment of watching talented contestants like Ilona Maher, who had previously delivered outstanding performances, struggle and make significant errors in their impromptu dances. The essence of the dancing with the stars contest lies in showcasing the dancers’ growth and best efforts with proper preparation, something the Instant Dance Challenge actively undermined.
Questionable Judging: Were Standards Lowered in This Dancing With The Stars Contest Round?
Adding to the frustration, the judging panel’s scoring seemed lenient, as if acknowledging the inherent difficulty of the Instant Dance Challenge meant lowering their usual standards. The most glaring example of this was Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong receiving a perfect score for a performance they themselves admitted was under-choreographed. How can an incomplete routine warrant a perfect score in a dancing with the stars contest? The lowest score of the round was a 22 out of 30, a figure that feels inflated considering the visible mistakes and lack of polish in many of the dances. It begs the question: did the judges compromise their integrity in the dancing with the stars contest to accommodate the novelty challenge?
Despite the shortcomings of the Instant Dance Challenge, the elimination outcome aligned with viewer expectations. Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach’s journey in the dancing with the stars contest concluded in the 500th episode, a result many considered fair, especially after some viewers felt they should have been eliminated earlier. While the Instant Dance Challenge might be viewed as a well-intentioned attempt to innovate the dancing with the stars contest, it ultimately detracted from the core appeal of the show: showcasing dancers at their best. Hopefully, this experiment remains a one-time occurrence, and the focus will return to celebrating prepared and polished performances in future episodes of Dancing With The Stars.
Dancing With The Stars airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for ongoing coverage of Season 33.
