Aug 25, 2026 · 1h 21m
Semifinal pressure exposes the next generation of dance pros
SOT: Dancing in the Third Person (DWTS: The Next Pro 107)
The semifinal tests whether contestants can turn technical skill, creative control, and partner chemistry into professional-level performances.
- 1The semifinals reveal how partner assignments and rehearsal dynamics shape contestants’ artistic decisions and confidence.
- 2The hosts distinguish ballroom technique from the entertainment demands of Dancing with the Stars performances.
- 3Alan’s elimination follows uneven semifinal results, leaving Adele, AJ, and Selena to compete in the finale.
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Danielle and Val agree that Alan’s elimination was justified after weighing his semifinal performances against the remaining contenders.
The brief
Danielle and Val examine the pressure of becoming a professional dancer, from first meetings and promotional duties to contestants carrying the creative burden in rehearsal.
The discussion turns to encouragement: Riley’s concern about affirmation becomes a broader argument that feedback style can shape celebrity contestants’ confidence and performance.
Round one pits ballroom technique against television entertainment, with the hosts assessing Alan and Whitney’s jive, Selena and Jan’s salsa, Adele and Gleb’s samba, and AJ and Riley’s cha-cha.
In the second round, quickstep and foxtrot performances expose differences in choreography, stage presence, strengths, and weaknesses, while also revealing who might become a professional.
Danielle and Val agree Alan’s elimination was justified and preview a finale led by Adele, AJ, and Selena, whose remaining challenge is to combine polish with presence.