On Dancing with the Stars’ Wicked Night, fan favorites Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy delivered a memorable jazz routine. Post-performance, Earle revealed the humorous difficulty Chmerkovskiy had with a key lyric during rehearsals and confirmed that a dramatic ending “drop” was a planned creative choice, not a mistake, much to the relief and amusement of their dedicated fanbase.
The Dancing with the Stars ballroom was transformed into the Land of Oz on October 21 for Wicked Night, where celebrity contestants embraced the magic and music of the beloved Broadway musical. Among the standout performances was social media sensation Alix Earle and her professional partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, who captivated audiences with an energetic jazz routine to “What Is This Feeling?” from the iconic show.
While their performance appeared seamless to viewers, Earle later pulled back the curtain on some amusing behind-the-scenes struggles. Speaking with People after the show, Earle shared a particular challenge that her pro partner faced during rehearsals.
The Battle of the ‘Loathing’ Lyric
One of the more humorous revelations from Alix Earle concerned a specific lyric in “What Is This Feeling?” The song, famously sung by Glinda and Elphaba, expresses their mutual disdain with the word “loathing.” Earle recounted how Chmerkovskiy, despite his best efforts, struggled to get this particular word right during practice.
“My favorite part from practice this week was day one or day two when we realized we wanted to mouth the words at parts of this song and the dance,” Earle playfully explained. “Val just could not for the life of him get these lyrics down.” She revealed that instead of mouthing “loathing,” Chmerkovskiy consistently reverted to “lonely.” To this, Val, who was born in Odessa, Ukraine, offered a lighthearted defense, quipping, “English is my second language!” This candid moment offered fans a charming glimpse into the fun and challenges of their partnership.
The Truth Behind the ‘Drop’ That Had Fans Talking
Beyond the lyric mishaps, another moment from their performance garnered significant attention and speculation among fans: a dramatic ending move where it appeared Chmerkovskiy might have accidentally dropped Earle after a lift. However, Earle quickly set the record straight in a post-show interview with Us Weekly, confirming that the move was entirely intentional and a carefully planned creative choice.
Earle clarified the artistic decision: “I was like, ‘Well, it would be really fun,’ because the actual ‘What Is This Feeling’ song ends with a scream and Elphaba thunder… so I was like, ‘You should drop me, and then I should, like, come back in front of you and pose.'” She added that this unique element was a last-minute addition, incorporated just a few days before their live performance. Chmerkovskiy himself praised Earle’s significant choreographic contributions to their partnership, stating, “She is calling the shots. She’s the muse for a lot of our creative juice.”
A Partnership Forged in Sarcasm and Trust
The chemistry between Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy has been a subject of much discussion among DWTS viewers. Earle addressed early fan speculation about their dynamic, joking that many initially thought they “hated each other” due to their sarcastic personalities. However, she emphasized their deep similarities, attributing it to their shared “Northeast, the Jersey, and New York” roots.
Their bond deepened during the previous Dedication Night, where they performed to Coldplay’s “Sparks” alongside Earle’s younger sister, Izabel. Earle credited Chmerkovskiy for creating a safe space for her to be vulnerable, a quality she rarely shares publicly. “I give Val so much credit because I think if we hadn’t gotten as close as we had as partners, it would’ve been probably a little bit more difficult for me to open up in that way because it’s a little bit more of a vulnerable side for me and something I don’t really share often,” she told People.
Scores and Survival in the Competition
Despite the rehearsal hurdles and fan speculation, Earle and Chmerkovskiy’s jazz routine earned them an impressive 35 out of 40 points from the judges, including regular panelists Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and special guest judge Jon M. Chu, director of the upcoming ‘Wicked’ film adaptations. While they performed strongly, the stakes were high, as Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying and pro Rylee Arnold were eliminated at the end of Wicked Night.
Following their performance, Alix Earle took to Instagram to express her gratitude. She thanked Valentin Chmerkovskiy for helping her “live my Glinda dreams” and for crafting an “amazing piece” for them. She also extended her thanks to her fans for their continuous support and votes, reiterating her excitement to “keep pushing myself in this competition.” With Halloween Night set as the next theme, a holiday Earle is known for embracing enthusiastically, fans eagerly anticipate what dazzling performance the duo will bring to the ballroom next.
