BREAKING: ABC Sends Stern Warning To Two DWTS Stars Over Choreography
Two of the pros from DWTS are potentially facing cuts from the show (Image: ABC)
As Dancing With the Stars fans get ready for the show’s emotional Dedication Night, two of the pros are facing warnings that they need to improve if they don’t want to get cut from the show next season.
The ABC show often brings in new talent to the pool of pro dancers and the troupe of background performers every year. It has also promoted members and given gigs to other untested talent on its stage in efforts to attract new viewers.
However, after a lot of backlash for the show ahead of Season 34’s premiere when it came to casting decisions with the pro dancers, two of those who made the cut this time around have reportedly been given a heads up that they need to make some major improvements, or they could face the chopping block ahead of Season 35.
According to the US Sun, show execs feel that “a couple” of the pro dancers aren’t pulling their weight enough in terms of their choreography skills.
As a result, they are monitoring them closely and considering whether they should earn a spot next year.
Rylee Arnold is one of the pros the show is potentially considering cutting (Image: ABC)
“Next season’s cast won’t be determined until next year, so it’s way too early for final speculation on that,” a source told the publication. “But producers have active discussions throughout the season to prepare for the next year.”
“There are talks that Rylee [Arnold] and Jan [Ravnik] would be most on the chopping block for next season if they don’t start stepping it up,” they added.
The source indicated that with Rylee, in particular, they want to see her be a “better teacher” who “makes her partners learn the technique,” as they typically don’t improve “drastically” and make mistakes throughout the season.
She is currently participating in her third season of the show with Scott Hoying. She made her debut in Season 32 with Harry Jowsey, who placed sixth. She made it to the finals in Season 33 with Stephen Nedoroscik, who came in fourth.
Jan Ravnik has also allegedly been warned about his place on the show (Image: ABC)
As for Ravnik, who is on the show for the first time, he is also being warned about his choreography.
“While Jan has been called out for lacking proper technique himself and not having clean lines when he should be the teacher and the master of technique,” the source added. “He has also been told he can step it up with his choreography and challenge his partner more.”
The source also cautions that it doesn’t mean the two won’t be back next season, though it’s notable that of the current cast of pros, they are two of the newest ones in the ensemble–and two of the ones who did not get promoted from the show’s troupe.
Rylee was cast after originally competing on Dancing With the Stars Junior, and is notably the sister of Season 25 champ, Lindsay Arnold. Who left the show after Season 30.
Most of the show’s other pros notably started in the troupe before being cast (Image: ABC)
Jan, meanwhile, had no prior connection to the show but was cast after finding fame as a backup dancer on Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.
Other newer pros, like Ezra Sosa, previously danced in the show’s troupe before their eventual promotions. Daniella Karagach was also on the troupe for one season before being promoted, though her husband, Pasha Pashkov, was not.
The season’s other pros–Britt Stewart, Jenna Johnson, Brandon Armstrong, Gleb Savchenko, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson and Emma Slater–all had served on the show’s troupe prior to being cast as pros.
Besides Pasha, Rylee, and Jan, the only other pros who were not part of the troupe were Val Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas, though Mark was part of the show prior to its existence. Val joined one year after it was introduced. Both are also notably related to other dancers, with Val’s brother, Maks, serving as a pro in earlier seasons, while Mark is the son of ballroom legends Shirley and Corky Ballas.
Hailey Bills, a current troupe member, is related to Season 33 champ Jenna johnson (Image: ABC)
The show is no stranger to bringing relatives of the current pro roster into the troupe and later potentially casting them as pros themselves.
Stephani Sosa, Ezra’s sister, served on the troupe for Season 33, but was not asked back for Season 34. The current troupe also features Hailey Bills, Jenna Johnson’s niece.
