“Dancing With the Stars” - Season 31 Episode 4 Review

Story posted October 18, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Natalie Simone

The reality dance competition show, “Dancing With the Stars' ' which airs live on Disney+, directed by Phil Heyes, showed a spectacular premiere of couples dancing ballroom with a Disney+ themed night.

The 13 couples battled in the ballroom showing off a variety of different popular Disney+ tv shows and movies. Some included were “Hamilton,” “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Luca,” “The Muppets,” and eight others.

The hosts, Tyra Banks and Alfonso Riberio, were joined by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on the dance floor while each contestant showed a different style of the ballroom. The Samba, Charleston, Quickstep, and Jazz were danced by many couples, but Sam Champion and Cheryl Burke stepped out of their comfort zone and performed the Paso Doble and Heidi D’Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev danced the Viennese Waltz.

“Dancing With the Stars” is notorious for its impressive costuming, makeup and decorations around the dance floor to match the theme of the dance. This episode didn’t show any difference; the costumes of all dancers and backdrops are over the top.

Charli D’Amelio was covered head-to-toe with yellow body paint and a one-foot-tall wig when performing as Marge Simpson and Alan Bersten was completely unrecognizable with special effects makeup to transform into a zombie from “Hocus Pocus.”

Furthermore, some dancers used props to convey their theme. Heidi D’Amelio used an umbrella as Mary Poppins and Daniel Durant and Britt Swart danced around desks as if they were in high school again to channel their theme as “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”

In each episode, before a couple dances it shows a couple of minutes worth of their journey that week while learning a new type of ballroom dance. All the contestants are very transparent with the battles and challenges they face when learning a new two-minute routine.

Their feelings can get repetitive; most of them struggle with insecurities, Imposter Syndrome, or frustration when struggling to understand the new choreography. Even in the fourth episode, the negative mindsets they sometimes seem to fail to shake off are off-putting when watching as an audience member.

This is by far the most exciting and relatable episode of “Dancing With the Stars” this season. Each audience is at least familiar with one of the selected Disney+ tv shows or movies performed as an upbeat ballroom routine.

As the group of contestants becomes smaller and smaller it is sad to see talented and likable dancers go, but it gives an incentive to see what will happen next week. This week's episode, like most, didn't fail to keep the audience excited to see the next performance and watch their favorite Disney+ releases come to life by their favorite stars!

Rating: 5/5

Natalie Simone is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email nvs5790@psu.edu.