“Dancing With the Stars ”judge Carrie Ann Inaba says Brooks Nader 'didn't reach full potential as a dancer'
"I do think she really improved," Inaba notes of the model's journey this season.
Each week during Dancing With the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba will answer our burning questions about the season 33 contestants and their race to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Here, Carrie Ann shares her thoughts via email about "Dedication Night," a season mid-point that saw former New England Patriot Danny Amendola emerge as a frontrunner, Pretty Little Liars star Chandler Kinney grapple with some feedback, and model Brooks Nader face elimination.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Chandler said she thought she did dig deep, but you’re looking for more. How would you advise she get to giving what you’re looking for?
CARRIE ANN INABA: That moment hurt my heart. I could hear the confusion in her voice and the hurt. I would like to start by saying that sometimes, words alone cannot describe effectively what is missing in a performance. What makes a performance good can sometimes be ambiguous — and it’s in that space, just beyond words, where artistry and passion lies. This is part of the beauty of dance. Chandler is a technically sound dancer, her lyricism is really at an almost professional level. The area where she could work on is allowing herself to show up in the dance and putting her life experience into the interpretation of the movements. What I’m looking for is something that stands out. And it’s different for each person. For Chandler, I’d like to see her have different levels of attack for different moves. A performance needs accents, and highs and lows — like a paragraph needs punctuation to give it meaning.
Were you surprised to see Chandler and Brandon in the bottom three?
I’ve seen many surprising things happen over these past 33 seasons, so it didn’t completely surprise me. But, I was sad to see them standing up there. Especially since her mom was there. I hope Chandler will not be discouraged and will come back stronger next week. Something to remember: The fans vote for people that really stand out and they want to help you to win. The audience isn’t passionate about just doing the steps well, they want to know what you are about, and they want to help you succeed.
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Gene Simmons generated a lot of controversy. What did you think of Derek’s throwing that five scoring card away?
No comment.
As a gymnast, Stephen has to really focus on balance, so what do you think is making him wobbly as a dancer?
It felt like we were at the Olympics last night, with the Women’s Rugby team in attendance and Stephen’s amazing performance on the pommel horse. It was magical to watch! And I will admit that I was in awe at his brilliance up there. I imagine it was quite the shift to go from what is basically dancing on his hands to dancing on his feet. It’s a huge shift is his center of gravity, and he didn’t make the transition completely seamless. This is something he’s been struggling with. But if he is able to articulate and use his legs, ankles and feet the way he uses his shoulders, wrists and hands, I think there will be even more growth.
Were you surprised that Danny really went there in the way you coached him to?
I was truly proud of Danny! His dedication to his mentor, Coach Mike Leach was both powerful and heartfelt, and you could feel that passion in his performance. He’s not only a strong athlete but also an incredibly hard worker. I enjoyed working the studio time with Witney and Danny. First, I had him feel the music and really connect energetically with Witney in silence with their eyes closed, to tap into that unseen emotional energy. Then, we focused on the intention of the movements and of the whole performance. We aimed to connect intention with movement, letting the emotion fuel the performance. Witney’s choreography gave him the perfect space to express himself and tell his story through every movement. I think he really "lived the dance to its fullest". And as Coach Mike Leach would have said, “He swung his sword!” I’m sure Coach would have been so proud of him. I know I was!
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We said goodbye to Gleb and Brooks — was that shocking at all? Do you think she reached her full potential as a dancer on the show?
I don’t think Brooks reached her full potential as a dancer. But I do think she really improved. I noticed in her performance after her sisters cleared the floor, she tapped into something new. Not everyone gets to win the Mirrorball trophy, but they get to walk away with a magical experience. And I have to say that her and her sister’s performance was something I’m sure they will remember fondly for a long time to come.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+. Read EW's full recap of Dedication Night.
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