Some of the most memorable Dancing with the Stars dances have been because of the chemistry between a pro and their celebrity. Pairings that stand out off the top of my head are Jana Kramer & Gleb Savchenko, Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Daniel Durant & Britt Stewart, and Rumer Willis & Val Chmerkovskiy. For a dance’s passion and story to be believable, so does the chemistry between the dancers. With that comes trust and vulnerability.
While those qualities can be encouraged and taught by example, they often have to be shared to be reciprocated. At the start of this week’s Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, guest judge and mentor Jenna Johnson describes chemistry’s importance: “When two people dance together, chemistry is critical. It’s one of my favorite things about dance. Sometimes it can be genuine. Sometimes it isn’t. But it’s our job to make the audience believe that it’s real.”
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After three episodes, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1, Episode 4, “Bring the Intensity: Chemistry with Jenna Johnson,” giving the dancers a chemistry test feels fitting. On the one hand, the episode marks the season’s midpoint. Chemistry is a different kind of challenge from executing technique, and it’s a spin on regular partner work. It elevates the temperature on the dance floor to see if they can thrive in the competition’s heat. The episode also comes with the added pressure that a couple will be eliminated in the end. That’s a switch-up from DWTS: The Next Pro’s usual formula, but the previous episode shows how stretching what’s expected can create entertaining results.
It still isn’t DWTS: The Next Pro’s strong suit to get to know the dancers. So, the dancing speed dating and the actual “dates” are beneficial for the pairings and the dancers. Some of the dates are noticeably shorter than others, but they still serve a purpose. They build a connection off the dance floor that helps the chemistry exist on it. Jenna even mentions that building a dynamic outside of dance helps foster the professional partnership.
By doing so, DWTS: The Next Pro differentiates the chemistry between Allen & Nina and Allen & Adele. Likewise, Selena & Erik have a supportive foundation. Meanwhile, Stephani & Tristen seem to struggle to reconnect after last week.
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All of that plays into rehearsals, where Jenna delivers constructive criticisms. It’s actually fascinating to see Jenna work and offer her expertise to make the dances better. It’s not just about being physically close to your partner; it’s about stoking a fire of connection. She speaks to AJ’s training and advises him not to let it get in the way of building chemistry with Adele. She helps Selena realize that she needs to do what feels natural. Jenna also tries to pull Nina out of her head so she can be in the moment with Allen.
The most moving parts of Jenna’s mentorship come between her and Stephani. The latter has been transparent about her history as a member of troupe on Dancing with the Stars, her desire to be a pro, and the pressure she feels amid all of that. It’s really impactful to see Jenna step to Stephani and say, “I hate seeing you hurt, but use that raw emotion.” The episode follows that thread to Stephani & Tristen’s final dance when Jenna tells Stephani, “You are so capable. Get out of your own way. You are so stunning, and I want you to own that.”
Ultimately, she and Tristen are eliminated. It’s a bit of a shock since Nina and Allen’s dance defies the brief. As a long-time DWTS fan, I expected Mark Ballas to see and support their decision to work outside the box. On the other hand, it’s understandable that Shirley Ballas questions whether they can follow rules as pros if they can’t stick to them in a challenge on this show.
All that said, Stephani & Tristen’s dance isn’t their best work. From a viewer’s perspective, it doesn’t do them many favors to come after a dance as strong as Selena & Erik’s. Regardless, though, Stephani & Tristen’s Rumba results in the show’s first couple elimination.
So, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1, Episode 4, “Bring the Intensity: Chemistry with Jenna Johnson,” is the closure of an era for Stephani. She ends her journey with this franchise by saying, “From here on out, I’m never going to let myself get in my head again. I’m never letting that fire dim.” Going into this competition, there was an assumption that Stephani may be a shoo-in to be the next pro because of her pre-existing relationship to DWTS.
This episode flips that theory on its head. As the dancers head into a week where Daniella Karagach will be the guest judge and mentor, Erik & Selena look like frontrunners. But Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro keeps proving that there are still more twists and turns left in this competition.
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