Original subtitles

Previously on The Next Bride... It's Brandon Armstrong!

I want you guys to tell a story from your life that is meaningful.

When I was 15, I lost my mom.

My story is about perseverance.

How do you show it? Your eyes.

I need to move.

No!

AJ, you had jive last week. You need to come here with some creativity.

It will not wash in the United States. Nina, I would have liked you to have

listened a little bit. Benji...

Today I just kind of got away from you.

Tonight was the last dance for Benji.

Hi, guys.

There they are.

Say hi to our judges, Shirley and Mark Ballard.

Lovely to see you both. Looking marvellous as always. Thank you.

Danfu, you have been training together. You've been living together, but you've

also been competing against each other.

Just how tough has this experience been for you?

Had its moments.

Had its moments.

Benji's gone, and it's because of the lack of communication that we had.

I feel extremely guilty and I don't want that to happen this week.

Mark, what's the tip you would give him to make it as a pro? The key is to get

the most out of your star that you have been partnered with.

Sometimes you have to be selfless to look better as a couple. You'll shine

more by showing off less.

I want to see a dancer make it impossible to turn them down. I want to

witness a star being born.

Rounding out our judging panel is our guest judge.

She has been a pro on Dancing with the Stars since 2020.

And she is one of the show's most creative choreographers and remarkable

performers. The incredible Britt Stewart.

I am absolutely obsessed with Britt. She's my favorite pro.

Wow. In ballroom, it's hard to find Black representation.

So it just makes this dream to be the next pro of Dancing with the Stars feel

even more possible.

I'm alive.

Amazing. Thank you, Robert.

Wow. Great.

Well, before judging our dancers, you have set a challenge for them.

One of the most popular elements of Dancing with the Stars are the times we

dance as a group.

For example, the massive opening numbers.

Often, they include non-ballroom dance styles and really give the show.

spectacle, and scale. It is such a vital part of becoming a pro. So this week's

challenge, dancing as a group.

That's right. This week, your challenge is to recreate the very choreography

that you just saw Britt do.

You need to show us that you can work in perfect unison.

Group work is tough because it can get messy very quickly. My focus was on

competitive dancing, so group dancing is very new to me.

It's time to shine as part of a collective.

Good luck.

Thank you.

This is going to be a big week for them. It's going to be amazing.

I'm so excited.

I would love to be doing a ballroom dance. But we're all together. Yes.

Let's stretch it out.

How are we doing?

Great. Fantastic.

This is going to be a big week.

Group numbers really give you an opportunity to step out of the norms of

ballroom, to not be so traditional, play around, break the rules.

I'm looking forward to seeing how each one of you take my choreography, pick it

up quickly, and how you can come forward as individuals, but as a collective.

Are you guys up for it? Absolutely.

So spread out. I'm going to move very quickly, okay? So let's hit it. We go

one, two, three, four.

Group performance is difficult because synchronicity is so important. You have

to be together with the other dancers.

One more time. You have to be aware of your space.

So these dancers have a lot of work cut out for them this week. For traditional

Latin and ballroom dancers, this group dance challenge could be a little bit

more difficult.

If you're unaware, it'll be messy, there will be collisions, and it will not come

together.

I feel like I put an image that I can do whatever, I'm strong, I'm a powerful

dancer, but it is hard because we have to work everything out with so many

people, in fast music, with all the things, and I'm doubting myself.

I'm huge on details and dynamics.

Right? So smooth into each other. One question. Is it a three-step turn or

just a one turn? Yes. So one, close, press.

Thank you. I'm really, really excited to be able to do a group dance. And one,

two. I love taking talented dancers and making this incredible number together,

learning very fast-paced choreography.

It just makes me really excited to dance.

Good job, dancers.

Amazing first session together.

You can take this time to continue to practice, help each other, support each

other. All right?

Okay, guys.

I excel in a group dance. It's what we do in the commercial world. It's what

I'm best at. So I feel like this is going to be my strong suit for sure.

Five and six, seven and eight.

One, two. The turn was on two.

We're prepping on one, we're turning on two, we're stepping on three.

I think it would look meaner though if we selected to go here.

No. So prep one, turn two, step three.

Whatever you want.

I was trying to be involved and it just tend to get shut down a lot. Isn't it

five into a flow?

Five. Yes, but it's still like five, seven, eight. I think simplicity is key.

Can we consider it like a body sway?

You're going like.

really fast there's no time to be like okay listen to me then we can dip it

down just a little little moment right we're hitting back corner though right

yeah okay what happened no okay i don't know if it's that she doesn't believe

that i can do it but she doesn't want to listen you're so quiet then you make me

scared i can't oh no i'm fine five six seven eight

One, two, keep that direction.

What's happening?

Three and four, promenade. I love dancing in a group. It's kind of what

I'm used to.

I wasn't a ballroom dancer when I started. I was on this underground hip

-hop dance team.

But Brit's choreography, it's probably the most challenging group number I've

done. I generally have no idea what's going on.

It's just a lot of moving parts.

I'm, like, a little dumbfounded.

Okay, do you need help with your feet?

I have no idea what I'm doing.

Okay. Here it's fine, here it's fine. There's a swivel, but then there's that.

No, it was after that.

Okay, that's a telespin.

Telespin? Telespin. And I'm seeing Tristan struggle with spacing and

picking up the choreography quick enough. Land here.

Land there. Yeah, you're going too far out. Got it. You actually have the

easiest track. Yes. And I'm seeing Nina struggle with musicality and timing.

They need to step it up.

I keep screwing up the turn.

Steph, you come forward to three, four.

Yeah, so you just come straight forward. Okay. Okay.

Group stuff is definitely something that I am very comfortable with doing because

I grew up a commercial dancer.

I did Dancing with the Stars, season 33, Truth. So I'm excited to show my

powerful side and just how fast I can pick up choreography.

I'm definitely in my element and I'm feeling really good. One, three, four,

five, and six, seven, eight, oh.

Oh, are you okay?

Oh, no.

You okay?

What happened?

I think she got hit in the face.

Can you look at me really quick?

It's like a black eye. I don't know what happened.

The dance was moving so quickly and Natalie got hit in the face.

Was it with the nail or with the hair?

My hands are getting really tingly.

I just hate being the one that caused that. Like, I just feel horrible. I know

she's worked really hard to be here, and I hope she's okay.

It hurts really bad.

We're going to go get you checked out, all right?

Sorry,

I just care.

Paramedics up there? I can't breathe through my nose.

Just try and slow your breathing down.

They're going to give you some pain relief, okay?

I'm really feeling for Natalie. She is part of this group challenge.

This incident really showcases why dancing as a unit, being aware of your

space, is so important when you're doing group dance work.

If these dancers want to be a pro on Dancing with the Stars, group numbers

are so important.

So this week, the challenge is to create my group's choreography.

These dancers don't know it yet, but I have a surprise for them.

Everything within this group dance challenge is difficult.

Just all the little steps.

I'm a showman. I like to stand out, feel special, but I have to keep myself in

line so I'm not distracting from.

The group.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Okay, one more time for Nina this

beginning.

There's a lot. There's a lot of content in the routine.

Sorry, guys. Ever since getting those comments from week one, timing is

definitely something I've been working really hard on.

It's a lot of pressure, and I don't want to let anybody down, including myself.

Dancers, I have a surprise for you.

It's time to perform.

You have had three hours to learn the choreography, and that is the same time

that pros on Dancing with the Stars have to learn opening numbers and be camera

ready. I am very excited to see you perform, so please help me welcome my

fellow judges.

Oh, my God. You have Shirley and Mark coming into the door. I've never learned

a dance, especially a group dance, this quick before.

Now the pressure's really on. I don't know what's going on.

This is the most stressful day for me. Not just because of the judges, but

because I don't want to disappoint myself, and I know I'm not 100% ready.

I'm scared.

Shirley and Mark, Natalie, unfortunately, was injured.

Still awaiting updates, but she's okay.

Yeah. Okay, dancers, we would like you to show us exactly what you've got, and

I only hope it's spectacular.

I feel like people are... I'm not ready to be judged, let's say. Just a tad bit

more. A tad bit more. Knowing the judge is there, I think somebody's going to go

home now. So I have to pull it out of the bag.

Oh, my

God.

Hey, Shirley, in your opinion, who was the weakest dancer in this group

challenge?

Well, first of all, as a group, I just want to say it was pretty difficult, but

there was one person that was ahead by a whole bar of music in the telly spin,

and that person is Tristan.

Mark? For me, again, it was rushing music, slightly ahead, not fully being

spatially aware of your partner.

Unfortunately, it's going to be Nina.

Tristan and Nina, you're not on the chopping block just

yet. There will be a second challenge to prove what you have for the judges.

It feels like a blessing to be given another chance.

All I can do is listen to the judges' critique.

Keep it going.

Yeah, all good. Let it out.

Let it out. Let it out.

Come on, guys.

I'm so upset.

I just thought I had a handle on it, and I didn't. Hey, I'm right there with you.

I'm right there with you. Bro, you're not going anywhere, okay?

That's what matters, okay? I feel like I let myself down, and I've always had my

own back, so it was just pretty upsetting.

You got another opportunity tomorrow.

We do this because we love it. Yeah.

Yeah? So let's just keep it moving, bro, okay?

I'd like to rumble with you.

I

mean,

Bridge is beautiful, honestly.

Okay, you like her?

I mean, yeah.

You think she's hot?

I caught myself getting lost. I forgot what she was saying half the time.

Dang.

She's so, like, warm, too.

I think today was the hardest day for me for sure.

I just feel like that rehearsal went rough for me.

I came into this challenge excited that I have experience picking up choreo in

one hour and then performing it on stage.

Yeah.

And in rehearsals, it was a little like clash, clash because I feel like Nina.

I figured it was me. You don't have respect for me.

I got to a point in rehearsal where I just was like, I just have to give up

because I couldn't just keep doing a back and forth.

I'm so sorry that you felt that way.

I genuinely was just trying to understand because I'm not used to

working so quickly.

I was just trying to have a conversation. So it felt less like you

were trying to understand.

We're trying to kind of take over rehearsal.

Really?

Okay.

If I can be completely honest and just like speak my truth, any moments that I

felt that I did talk, I also did feel like I ended up pulling back. So it's

really, it's ironic to me to hear that it's again, I don't know how to work it

out. I'm trying to be as sensitive and as careful as possible, but it is group

work this week.

I have to bite the bullet.

then that's what it's going to have to be because you have to push past the

uncomfortable feelings and we have to work together. That's just my outlook on

it, but I don't even know what to say.

We're going for the high five. Hands out, hands out. Come on, come on.

How are we feeling?

Everybody doing okay?

We're feeling good.

Of course, Natalie isn't here. She's under medical supervision.

She's doing okay, and we'll keep you posted on her condition.

But for now, the show must go on.

Yesterday was, of course, your group performance, and today you will be

performing team dances.

That is your second challenge.

Form two teams and create an amazing...

Team dance.

Nina and Tristan, the judges singled you out in the group dance. Now you have a

chance to redeem yourself as team captains.

Bottom two to top dog.

It feels like I'm being rewarded for doing something wrong.

You need to make these dances pop for the audience at home.

Team dances are a Dancing with the Stars classic.

Your routines should have clever choreography.

The partnerships should be creative. You need to be in sync and dynamic. Just

because you're the team captain does not mean that you have to lead. Be smart

about who's on your team and play on everyone's strengths.

Nina and Tristan, taking it in turns, you will pick your team members.

Nice job.

Being team captain after feeling helpless the day before, I kind of felt

like I got to take my power back a little bit.

Nina, you got the first pick.

All right. I have to go with my brother from another mother, Alan.

Up and over.

Good start.

Good start. Good start.

Oh, no.

Stephanie, come here, boo.

Yeah. In your house? Yeah.

Actually, very strategic.

The next few picks.

AJ.

One, two, three.

Nobody wants us.

Selena.

We're so bad.

No, I wasn't.

Eric, you know I love you.

But we got to take that Rolls Royce for a spin. Let's go, Adele. Come on.

Let's go.

We have our team.

Let's see what dance style you got.

Paso Doble!

Tango!

I'm ecstatic.

As a ballroom champion, the tango is my wheelhouse. I feel so at home. Very

happy. Let's go.

Team, you have very little time for rehearsal.

It is crucial that you work together.

Absolutely.

Team Tango. One.

two please tell me our hair is down for this are we setting up on the shoulder

and then we're waiting for the music to start so we're gonna be sitting here

seven eight one two three something like that that's cool yeah do you like it

yeah i feel like we don't have to do it the same thing It can be like trading

off. You do something, we do something.

The dynamic that I've built with this team is I have a sprinkle of everything.

Everyone has lots of ideas. They're all bouncing off each other really well.

Would you want to do like, maybe it's the low Karina kick?

You gotta tell me what that is.

I like that you could do the up and I could do the down, yeah.

So I'm thinking the best way for me to handle this as a leader is to step back

and let them form their ideas.

I already know Mark's going to say he's going to want boom, boom, boom.

It should be more hard hitting.

OK, let's do that.

Yeah, I can't do that.

That's sick, though. I'm the only one who's not a commercial dancer on our

team. How are we trying to catch it?

Even here. And then maybe you can bring us up. Which I'm happy about because it

allows me to clean up things.

I like how you went around me from this, like this, and like, you know, like

really like keys it. I believe really is going to help us. Not even necessarily

at the moment because we'll have so many more opportunities to do the transition.

For me, it's always about creating the rotation through the choreography. So we

transfer around that block. We don't want to pull back anyway.

We want to extend.

I'm ecstatic to have the team that I have. I picked them for a reason. But

the judges said maybe sometimes you need to let go of the ring.

So, as team captain, I passed on a huge responsibility role to AJ.

Say we're lifting you, and you are... Maybe go, like, underneath. No.

I've been put on the chopping block already more than one time.

Hopefully it's not the thing that sends me home. No. Say you're just taking her

armpits off. To actually put this routine together, nobody else is better

than me.

Boom. Yeah. This is tango. I've done this a million times. I've strictly come

dancing. This is my wheelhouse. Mac. Oh, okay.

Into a circle before going into the...

argentinian gauchos etc oh that's cool i like it you see this method didn't mean

madness one two and three and okay one more time sorry and then

we need to do something else yeah I don't know where we're at. Here. Oh,

you're over here.

You're dancing with Selena.

When I did Troop, everybody in the room was, like, professional, top level, and

they were very used to having to choreograph under pressure.

And I think this group specifically, it was just kind of overwhelming because

some people weren't used to it, and, like, our ideas just weren't clicking.

Are you okay?

I'm very confused, but it's fine. My thought process is let y'all finish

this, and I'll catch up. Okay.

Tristan was... chosen as the captain role and i feel like as a team captain

you want to build people up but i feel like he's at a point in rehearsal now

where he's just shut down feel free to speak up like yeah i know it is a time

crunch but it's better for all and have a cohesive idea of what's happening than

you feeling like it's just three of us and then you yeah i just don't know how

to like contribute giving any two cents in is what we need right now Because

we're all under a bunch of stress.

And at the end of the day, you're the one who gets to make the ending

decision. Be like, actually, I don't like that.

You're a team captain. That's your role.

I know it's a team challenge.

But at the end of the day, I have to look out for myself.

Slowly, from five.

Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two.

No, no, no.

What did I do? What did I do? The team that Nina picked is perfect.

For her, right now the dynamic in the group is AJ is the brains of the

operation. It's very clear to me that I have to step back just a little bit and

become a team player in this specific equation because I want to make sure

that she stays safe and stays in the competition.

What's the time? 3-4. 3-4. And you step forward and you prepare on what count? 5

and 6. Beautiful. We do that slowly. Great.

When you get called out for not listening, you have to be able to take a

step back and letting AJ take the lead.

I feel like I'm on the right track.

Because I don't want to be the one to go home.

I will come down to you.

I will bring you up. Nina is the team leader, but I'm happy to take all the

risk for this routine.

This can be my week to showcase what I can do because it could be my head on

the chopping board.

So you turn around, you're on one, two, three.

Yeah,

I

feel like a million bucks. How lucky are we to be able to do this?

I'm excited to see what they're going to do today. I'm so excited.

Welcome back to The Next Pro. We have seen our dancers perform an incredible

group number, but it's time to see what they have created for the judges.

Dancers, Natalie is not here.

We'll explain her absence a little later on. It is now time for your team

dancers. This is the second challenge to see your ability to work together as a

team. All right, first up... It's team Paso Doble.

Everybody, how did we find rehearsals?

Rehearsals were challenging, but in the best way.

Well, I'd like to know who took the lead on the choreography and the timing,

please. I will.

It's a combination, yeah. We worked as a team together.

Yeah. Okay, it's time. Let's do it, guys.

Let's go.

Are we doing it now?

Yeah. Oh, shoot.

Stressful change.

Stressful change.

I'm stressed for them.

I feel like really all I can do now is just show myself as a dancer and show

the judges what I can do with what I was given.

I'm feeling nervous.

I want to do my best.

I don't want to let my team down.

I like the ending.

The beginning was dynamic. It was powerful.

The guys' cape work, good.

And the girls coming forward, so strong. Really good job.

However, I felt like you were out there as individuals. You didn't necessarily

find that connection within each other, which is so important.

Tristan. You had a really tough time during the group dance, and I was hoping

that you would really step it up.

Unfortunately, you looked a bit lost.

Selena, I love watching you, but today I just felt like your spatial awareness

was lacking. I could see Stephanie really locking in with you and you kind

of not seeing her at times, so therefore cues were off.

There was a directness missing a little bit and peripheral vision.

Knee walks were off. The back kick was off. I did find, Stephanie, that you

were very, very aware.

I can tell you've been in groups before and Eric the same. Your peripheral was

not bad at all. So you said that you all had a part to play in this.

Sometimes it's better to have one person directing and one person cleaning.

Because when you look back at this, you're going to see quite a lot of arms

off, overturned.

Let me ask all of you guys, was this hard?

Yeah. Yes. It was hard.

Now, I want you to imagine what it would be like with a celebrity.

All of you would have a different celebrity, and they'd all be at

different levels.

But overall, it was fun. Thank you, guys.

Good job.

I loved how it opened. I was like locked down. It was strong and then it just

kind of fell apart.

I think because they over try, it no longer becomes teamwork.

Yeah. So it's finding that happy medium. I'm excited to see the other group.

Welcome back to The Next Pro. We are midway through the team dances and the

stakes are sky high.

Next. It is time for Team Tango.

Team, how did rehearsals go for you? It was such a breath of fresh air to work

with these amazing individuals. All egos were checked at the door. I couldn't be

happier with my team, honestly.

I'd like to know who was assigned the cleaning of this routine.

We decided to let AJ take the lead on the cleanliness and everything like

that. And the choreographer?

Everybody combined effort.

AJ gave us bits and pieces, and then we kind of made all the puzzle pieces fit.

Very positively delivered.

Well done.

Let's do it, guys.

Woo! Let's do it, guys. I think with AJ, it will always be in time.

Well, it's good to see him do ballroom, isn't it? I've seen him do two jobs now.

I'm anxious to see something else.

I am nervous going into the performance, but I hope that letting AJ take the

reins today helps me perform to the best of my ability and not be in the bottom

two. It's smart of Nina as a team captain to allow that, because then a

couple of challenges ago, she got in trouble for steamrolling.

So I like that. Okay.

Hey.

Get up.

One,

two, three, four, five, six.

shaped the end.

I keep going until the lights come on. I love it.

It doesn't matter.

I know, I know, I know.

It's okay.

He's really beating himself up over that. What are the judges going to say?

Alan, you fell.

There's a lot going on.

And sometimes we fall over.

He got up quick.

Didn't even notice. We've all fallen over.

Fine.

The funny thing is, is when I fell over, I was trying to get back up quick, and I

kept falling over.

I was like, this is not happening right now. Well, you did. You got up great.

You carried on. It was really well saved. Nina.

Yes. So much improvement today.

Thank you. You're the team captain.

You made the right choice in letting some delegation happen over here.

You worked together as a team.

Something that I want you to continuously work on because you did

improve on it today. It's just a little bit of the timing. You guys did the

swivel side by side. They were completely locked in.

Super minor today.

Thank you. I have got a concern or two about the timing.

And when you went into the swivels, you were in the safe hands of AJ.

I'll be very curious to see you when you have to choreograph for a celebrity.

I do want to argue a little because, yeah, she had a great...

lead from AJ, but he's not physically picking her feet up off the floor.

They were in... I'm going to say... No, no, no, no, Mark. No, when they did

those swivels side by side, those feet were like this.

It was not a criticism.

It was an observation. And that was my observation. Yes, well, I'm just saying.

I'm just saying.

Family love.

Adele, you are a phenomenal lady dancer. You have a great musical ear.

You can follow when you need to follow, and you can assert when you need to

assert. But the star today for me was AJ.

In the first two weeks, you were a little bit self-absorbed. It is not

about you. It is about being very connected to your teammates.

And today, you were humble, you had humility, you worked as a team, and you

brought yourself down a peg or two.

I am so impressed with what I just saw.

Because you pushed the boundaries.

And I know that as traditional dancers, that was out of your comfort zone.

Good job.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good job, guys.

Guys. Do a show with your mom, they said. It'll be fun, they said.

It's just the delivery.

Welcome back to The Next Pro. We've seen Team Pasto and Team Tango Dance, but now

it's time to find out what the judges' decision is.

Britt, you have been their mentor through this process.

I am just wishing you all of the best on this journey. Good luck.

Thank you.

Shirley, which team dance impressed you the most, making them safe from

elimination?

The team that impressed us the most due to their synchronicity, their working

together, is Team Tango. Thank you.

Well done,

Team Tango. Good job.

That means you are safe from elimination.

Thank you.

Judges, after seeing both the group dance and team dances, which...

Two dancers didn't quite hit the mark.

The first dancer in Jeopardy is a fantastic solo dancer,

but inside the group didn't actually have the peripheral awareness.

So the first person for me in Jeopardy is...

Selena.

The second dancer in Jeopardy! actually started really strong, but throughout

the dance lost confidence and lost a little bit of steam.

So the dancer that is in Jeopardy! is

Tristan.

Shelly.

Who was going home tonight?

Tonight was the last dance for...

Neither of you.

Following Natalie's injury, she was not medically cleared to compete.

And so, she has been eliminated.

Oh, my God.

This means you will all live to dance.

Another day.

How you doing?

Group dances is what I do, so it was hard being bottom two.

How are you feeling for Natalie right now?

I feel so bad that she can't continue. I was off of an accident.

That's really harsh, though.

Why don't you join your fellow dancers?

Come on back.

What a blow to Natalie. But she is here to support everyone.

Okay, how are you feeling? Really sad and disappointed that I won't be able to

continue in this competition.

But the most important thing is just to take care of my body so then I can dance

again. Absolutely. You have to follow medical advice.

I love all of you so, so, so much, and I'm going to miss you all. Thank you so

much. Well done, Natalie.

Well done.

Eight dancers still remain, and they are all one step closer to that role of

a lifetime. As a pro on Dancing With The Stars, thank you, as always, to our

fabulous judges, Shirley, Mark, and, of course, our guest judge, Britt Stewart.

I'm Robert Irwin. Join us next week when our dancers face a fresh new challenge

here on The Next Pro.

Good night.

Next time on The Next Pro.

Jenna Johnson!

This week's theme is chemistry.

Girls, you're going to pick a guy.

I am petty, so I'm probably going to twist the knife a few more times.

I don't want to ruin our friendship.

I'm sorry. If I had a choice, you would have been my first pick.

I am speechless.

I'm not even sure I should be watching.

I need a fan.