Ally Brooke reigned supreme on the Disney-themed episode of Dancing With the Stars, as she and partner Sasha Farber received the season’s first high scores, earning three nines for their mesmerizing contemporary routine to the song "Beauty and the Beast." The show’s other celebrities contestants also entertained viewers with flashy performances set to recognizable melodies from Disney canon.
Prior to Monday’s episode, competing couples: Hannah Brown & Alan Bersten, Kel Mitchell & Witney Carson, Kate Flannery & Pasha Pashkov, Ally Brooke & Sasha Farber, Sean Spicer & Lindsay Arnold, Karamo & Jenna Johnson, Sailor Brinkley-Cook & Val Chmerkovskiy, and James Van Der Beek & Emma Slatertook a special trip to Disneyland. They all sought inspiration from the iconic park for their upcoming performances. While Ally and Sasha clearly had fun romping around the "Happiest place on earth," it wasn’t at the expense of their subsequent routine.
For judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba, the Disney influence was deeply felt in an emotional piece that was sincere and heartfelt. Bruno called Ally an "honest" and committed performer, while Len relented on the routine’s lifts, saying (via Us Weekly), "They were soft and beautiful and then there was a little bit of passion." Ally certainly picked the perfect song, revealing that she one day hoped to play the song "Beauty & the Beast" at her own wedding. The ex-Fifth Harmony singer admitted that she became emotional after spotting her mom at the end of the routine, saying, "This is my parents’ favorite Disney movie, and I gave my mom my gloves over all." Ally said, "Afterward, I looked at her and this is the most beautiful feeling because this is not just for me, but for them, for us all. This is so magical."
However, the pop star has major competition, as pair Kel and Witney also received nines as well, garnering two for their jazzy take on the High School Musical tune "We’re All in This Together." James and Emma also earned two nines and an eight for a powerful Paso Doble to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme. Hannah and Alan secured double nines for a foxtrot to Aladin's "A Whole New World" that Carrie said took her breath away. Luckily, in the spirit of the night’s theme, it was announced that there would be no elimination that night, leaving all the remaining contestants free to dance for another week.
Once considered the last gasp for "has-beens," Dancing With the Stars has actually attracted a decent number of popular celebrities over the years, and become a sort of launching pad for emerging entertainers. Ally’s decision to participate makes perfect sense when considering the success of another former contestant - her ex-Fifth Harmony groupmate, Normani Kordei Hamilton. In the two years since her involvement in the show, Normani’s career has blossomed, with two chart-topping songs and an upcoming collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj in the works. With a burgeoning solo career, it appears that Ally may be counting on the exposure of the weekly show to generate a similar outcome. For now, she's well on her way to receiving the coveted Mirrorball trophy.
Dancing With the Stars airs Mondays at 8pm EST on ABC.
Source: Us