Reality TV: A Deep Dive into Dedication Night

By
Sloan Starzyk
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Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars Season 33, aired on October 15, 2024, took the ballroom by storm with a special “Dedication Night” theme. This episode brought forth a range of emotions, as each celebrity dedicated their performance to someone meaningful in their life. It was a night filled with heartfelt stories, memorable dances, and one dramatic elimination that saw Sports Illustrated model Brooks Nader and her partner, Gleb Savchenko, leave the competition. Here’s a detailed look at the highlights from each dance, the special performances, and the atmosphere of Week 5.

The Dedication Theme and its Impact

“Dancing with the Stars” often shines when the show delves into deeply personal themes, and this week’s “Dedication Night” was no exception. The celebrities and their professional dance partners were tasked with performing dances dedicated to important figures in their lives—be they family members, loved ones, or people who played an impactful role in their journey. This theme allowed each dance to take on deeper significance, and the personal nature of the routines added to the overall emotional impact on both the judges and the audience.

Performances of the Night

1. Danny Amendola and Witney Carson – Contemporary to “Unsteady”

NFL star Danny Amendola danced a contemporary routine with partner Witney Carson, dedicated to his former coach, Mike Leach, who had supported him throughout his football career. The performance was emotional and showcased Danny’s athleticism and growing skill on the dance floor. His movements were crisp, and the chemistry between him and Witney was undeniable. The judges praised Danny for his emotional connection to the performance, which was a noticeable improvement over the previous weeks. This routine earned Danny one of the highest scores of the night, securing his position as one of the frontrunners of the competition. Carrie Ann Inaba commended Danny for his ability to translate his emotional connection into movement, while Derek Hough noted the increase in his technical proficiency.

2. Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson – Viennese Waltz to “Lose Control”

Former bachelor, Joey Graziadei continued to bring the heat to the ballroom with a Vinnese Waltz, dedicated to his fiancé Kelsey Anderson. Joey’s larger-than-life personality lit up the stage, as he danced with a joy and enthusiasm that made his routine one of the standout performances of the night. Joey did receive some constructive criticism regarding his timing, but his infectious energy and emotional dedication overshadowed any minor technical flaws.

3. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold – Argentine Tango to “Seven Nation Army”

Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik delivered a powerful Argentine Tango dedicated to his journey as an athlete and men’s gymnastics. Stephen took to heart the critiques from his judge’s visit this week and improved immensely from last week. We also got to see a little taste of pommel horse during this routine. His ability to show the intensity of this dance earned him high praise from all three judges. Carrie Ann Inaba noted that Stephen’s performance felt powerful and intense. At the same time, Derek Hough was impressed by his technical execution, stating that Stephen was finally finding his rhythm as a dancer. This performance solidified his place as one of the more technically proficient contestants.

4. Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko – Salsa to “Mi Gente”

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, Brooks Nader, and her partner Gleb Savchenko danced a fun salsa, dedicated to Brooks’ three younger sisters. Despite putting her heart into the performance, Brooks struggled with some of the technical aspects of the salsa, and felt a little lackluster, despite all the sparkle of the girls’ costumes. While the routine was emotionally charged, it lacked the polish to impress the judges. Carrie Ann acknowledged Brooks’ effort but pointed out that her movements were often stiff and lacked the smooth transitions necessary for the rumbaUltimately, their lower scores placed them at risk of elimination, and combined with audience votes, this led to Brooks and Gleb being eliminated at the end of the night.

5. Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten – Viennese Waltz

Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher dedicated her Viennese waltz to the USA women’s Rugby team. The waltz was graceful and fluid, showing a softer side to the normally tough and competitive Ilona. The judges were touched by the sincerity of her performance, with Carrie Ann Inaba noting that the emotion in Ilona’s movements was palpable, and Derek Hough commended her for her continued improvement in grace and posture. Ilona and Alan received solid scores, keeping them comfortably in the middle of the leaderboard.

6. Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong – Contemporary to “I Hope You Dance”

Chandler and Brandon opened the evening with a beautiful and heartfelt contemporary dance dedicated to Chandler’s mother. Chandler told viewers that if it wasn’t for her mother; she would not have the career she has today. Her ability to connect with the audience through her emotion and her skilled moves continues to push her to the front of the leaderboard. The judges encouraged her to continue digging deeper for more dramatic intensity and depth of emotion. Her lack of connection to her partner and the audience did not grab the audience as much as she wanted.

7. Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach – Rumba to “Shoot for the Stars”

NBA Allstar Dwight Howard danced a powerful Rumba Dedicated to his five children to a song he wrote for them. Dwight’s contagious personality infects the viewers, but his movements continue to need more work. Although his premiere night dance dazzled us, he has since lost some steam and fallen behind the rest of the pack. Guest judge Mark Ballas told Dwight he wants to see more hip action and Bruno Tonioli wants Dwight to finish his movements all the way through. He still has a lot of work to do to gain his top leaderboard spot back.

8. Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy – Rumba to “Because You Loved Me”

Real Housewife Phaedra Parks danced a beautiful Rumba dedicated to her mother for everything she has done for her. Although not my favorite dance of the night, Phaedra continues to improve each week taking the judges’ comments into practice and putting them into play. I credit much of her improvement to her partner Val and her hard work each week continues to pay off. The judges loved the real and raw emotions she showed and her immense growth throughout the past few weeks.

9. Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber – Foxtrot to “The Archer”

Former Bachelorette, Jenn Tran dedicated her foxy Foxtrot to Taylor Swift for getting her through the tough times she faced as a child and into her adult life. Jenn continues to put in the work and improves each week utilizing her technique and her ability to connect to her music and the audience. Even though she still has work to do, the judges praised her for her ability to take critiques and how much effort she puts into every dance. Jenn seemed to have gotten the harsher end of the judges’ comments this week but continues to work hard for her spot on the leaderboard.

Special Performances

In addition to the celebrity routines, Week 5 featured a touching tribute performance from Derek Hough and his wife Hayley, who has bounced back gracefully from her emergency craniectomy at the end of last year. After doctors told her she would never be the same, she proved all of them wrong. They delivered a heartfelt performance to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” and marked a significant return to the ballroom for Hayley, nearly a year after her serious health scare. The chemistry between the couple, both on and off the dance floor, shone through in every movement, captivating the audience and the judges alike. Their connection and fluid choreography made it a standout moment, leaving the audience in awe and adding a touching layer to the night’s tributes.

Judges’ Feedback and Scores

The judges—Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge and former pro, Mark Ballas—were particularly engaged during Week 5, offering thoughtful feedback that balanced emotion with technical critique. Here’s a brief look at the scores for the night:

Danny Amendola & Witney Carson: 36/40

Joey Graziadei & Jenna Johnson: 36/40

Stephen Nedoroscik & Rylee Arnold: 33/40

Brooks Nader & Gleb Savchenko: 32/40

Chandler Kinney & Brandon Armstrong: 32/40

Ilona Maher & Alan Bersten:  32/40

Phaedra Parks & Val Chmerkovskiy: 32/40

Jenn Tran & Sasha Farber: 32/40

Dwight Howard & Daniella Karagach: 29/40

Elimination: Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko

At the end of the night, it was time to say goodbye to one couple. Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko, despite their best efforts, were the ones eliminated. Brooks had shown promise in earlier weeks but struggled to keep up with the technical demands of the competition. Her departure, while disappointing for her fans, was not entirely unexpected given her lower scores and tough competition from stronger dancers. Brooks handled the elimination with grace, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and for what she had learned during her time on the show. She had previously mentioned that she joined the competition to challenge herself and grow, and though her journey ended earlier than she had hoped, she walked away with newfound confidence and experience.

The Road Ahead

With Brooks Nader gone, the competition continues to heat up as the remaining celebrities look ahead to Week 6. With front-runners like Danny Amendola and Joey Graziadei continuing to impress, and dark horses like Stephen Nedoroscik gaining momentum, the race for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy is still wide open. The elimination of Brooks Nader marked a bittersweet end to her journey, but as the competition continues, the stakes are only getting higher. As the season progresses, the pressure will only increase, and it will be fascinating to see how the remaining stars cope with the challenges ahead. Will Danny continue his upward trajectory? Can Joey maintain his infectious energy while improving his technical performance? And will we see more surprises as the competition moves forward?

Week 5 was an emotional rollercoaster filled with personal stories and captivating performances. From touching tributes to powerful dances, the episode encapsulated everything fans love about the show. Stay tuned for more drama, excitement, and extraordinary performances as Dancing with the Stars Season 33 rolls on!

To read more about last week’s episodes click HERE!

Xoxo,

Jaida, Sloan, and Sarah