Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro has reached its semifinals. The competition’s ending coincides with more and more rumors about the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 cast. So, really, there are more expectations than ever on the shoulders of this reality competition show. All eyes are on it to find out who will be dancing alongside the pros who appear in this very episode – if they all come back for Season 35. (Right now, the only confirmed pros are Witney Carson and Sharna Burgess.) Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1, Episode 7, “Paired with the Pros: Semi-Finals with Kym Johnson,” features Witney Carson, Rylee Arnold, Jan Ravnik, and Gleb Savchenko alongside the incredible, three-time Mirrorball Champion Kym Johnson as guest judge.
This show has had a strange structure. Arguably, the most important quality of a DWTS pro isn’t tested until the final leg of the competition. The dancers only see if they can teach in the previous episode – right before the semifinals. Now, they must test their choreography and teaching skills (again) with the pros who could be their coworkers when DWTS returns in September.
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Therefore, the feedback that the pros give the dancers and the audience through the confessionals is pivotal information. In rehearsals for that first round, it’s interesting to hear Witney say how hard it is for her not to speak up about choreography because that art form is so second nature to her. It’s also constructive that she realizes Allen needs a confidence boost to be at his full potential. Likewise, it’s more than relevant for Rylee to notice that AJ could be too strict and easily lose his patience while teaching a celebrity.
Rylee doubles down on those critiques when the professional dancers meet with the judges’ panel ahead of the first round of dances. Jan and Gleb couldn’t speak more highly of Selena and Adele. The latter of whom Gleb admits needs to work on “wow moments,” which come back during her dances in this episode. Strangely, though, the biggest critique isn’t kept in mind.
Rylee voices AJ’s intensity. Mark Ballas is concerned by that, and Shirley Ballas notes that AJ could crack under pressure. However, because he shows up during the dances, those considerations are seemingly forgotten. But in the rehearsals with Adele, AJ’s intensity remains. Some of that can be chalked up to the pressure and stakes of this specific competition. However, having the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy on the line is also a lot of pressure and high stakes.
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The judges only see the final number, where AJ, to his credit, supports Rylee and Adele and lets them shine. The process of getting there, which the judges don’t see in a package like on DWTS, isn’t all that smooth-sailing. “Paired with the Pros: Semi-Finals with Kym Johnson” shows the audience that.
Therefore, it’s a mind-boggling choice for Allen to be the one sent home. For a second, it felt like DWTS: The Next Pro might pull a DWTS. It felt like no one would go home, and they’d all make it to the finals. That would have been more satisfying than Allen being sent home after more substantial concerns were raised about AJ’s teaching skills. Shirley says that Allen “ever so slightly underperformed.” Presumably, that should pale in comparison to his capability of teaching Witney. He may have lacked confidence. However, that’s something that can grow with time, as it has with all of the returning pros.
In defense of Selena and Adele, it never – for a second – felt like their spots in the finals were in jeopardy. The judges understandably loved Selena and Jan’s samba, and the judges always have heaps of compliments to pay to Adele. They’re both phenomenal for very different reasons that would make them both excellent DWTS pros. Selena’s commercial expertise and Adele’s Latin skill set make them stand out in every room and every routine, no matter their partner.
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There are moments – too brief ones, in my opinion – where Mark, Shirley, and Kym discuss the evolution of DWTS and the dance styles it features. Selena and Adele compliment that new era. This episode isn’t convincing that AJ does.
Therefore, Allen’s elimination may signal that one of them is the next pro on DWTS. From his earlier dance with Adele, which was a tribute to his mother, Allen felt like a front-runner. Watching him felt like watching a dancer improve their skill set. It felt like he would make it to the finals. Since he hasn’t, the frontrunner for the men shifts again, and AJ hasn’t really presented himself in that way. He hasn’t exceeded expectations like his competition, Adele and Selena, have. Assumedly, AJ’s difficulties with teaching will remain an issue going into the final. There, the dancers will partner with former DWTS contestants.
Either way, his history on the show doesn’t suggest that he will outshine his remaining competitors. It also feels like DWTS: The Next Pro can make Selena a runner-up by saying she is a fantastic commercial dancer but needs to hone her ballroom and Latin skills more. Therefore, the logical winner of this competition is Adele. There’s still a chance for DWTS: The Next Pro to pull a surprise ending. After this confounding and shocking elimination, that doesn’t seem likely.
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I get the hesitation with AJ’s teaching skills and yet… his dances in the semifinals are the only ones that I replayed because they were so good! If he gets that kind of a result with a celebrity then who are we to question his methods lol
And he can improve his intense attitude just like Allen could’ve improved his technique… I just don’t think anyone’s told AJ until now, not like they did with Nina