The arrival of Julia Stiles to Dancing with the Stars raised a significant question: Would she incorporate Save The Last Dance into the ballroom?
The answer was affirmative, and it occurred in Week 5, with her former co-star joining Stiles for a heartfelt tribute to the 2001 movie.
During the live broadcast on Tuesday, themed Super Bowl night, Stiles and her partner, Ezra Sosa, delivered a hip-hop ballet fusion set to Jennifer Lopez’s Jenny from the Block.
This performance was a clear tribute to the 2001 classic, in which Stiles portrayed Sara Johnson, a ballet dancer aspiring to join Juilliard who fell for hip-hop dancer Derek Reynolds, played by Sean Patrick Thomas.
Here’s how it unfolded
Around the midpoint of the routine, Sosa stepped back to allow Stiles a solo opportunity to showcase her memorable choreography from the film.
As Stiles commanded the stage, the camera shifted to reveal Thomas on the sidelines, recreating another iconic moment from the movie: nodding to the performance while draping his jacket over his shoulder, alongside Sosa.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for 25 years,” Stiles shared with co-host Julianne Hough after the performance.
As anticipated, the audience erupted in applause.
In a rehearsal clip that aired prior to the performance, Sosa addressed the viewers, saying: “This one is for the millennials.”
“This is my opportunity for the do-over I’ve always desired, so I need to go out there and own it. There’s no other option,” Stiles remarked.
And the effort was worthwhile. The performance impressed the judges, who awarded the pair their first scores of 8s and 9s this season. They also secured their safety from elimination.
Sean Patrick Thomas and Sosa recreate a moment from the 2001 film Save the Last Dance on Dancing with the Stars, cheering on Stiles. (YouTube/Dancing with the Stars/Disney)
Social media has been abuzz with reactions from fans and fellow celebrities, including a comment from J.Lo herself.
“Crushed it!!” she commented on the show’s Instagram post, while Jersey Shore star Snooki added, “Anyone else cry????”
“I wouldn’t call this jazz… BUTTTTT IT WAS DEFINITELY AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE BY JULIA & EZRA!!!! This is Julia Stiles fully embracing the moment,” one fan expressed on X.
“She has such vibrant energy and determination. I’m falling for the Juilliard hype,” another fan chimed in.
However, some fans are voicing concerns about perceived favoritism towards Stiles and Sosa, pointing out that other competitors, such as Harry Shum Jr. and his partner, Jenna Johnson, faced harsher critiques from judges for blending styles or lacking conventional dance elements.
“It’s a bit surprising that the judges seem indifferent to the fact that it wasn’t a jazz routine…. They need to stop selectively critiquing,” another user commented on Instagram.
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