Julia Stiles, a new addition to the cast of “Dancing with the Stars,” raised the question of whether she would incorporate elements from the movie “Save The Last Dance” into her performances on the show. The answer came in Week 5 when she and a former co-star paid homage to the 2001 film.
During the live show themed Super Bowl night, Stiles and her partner, Ezra Sosa, delivered a hip-hop ballet routine set to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block.” The performance was a clear tribute to Stiles’ character in the movie, where she portrayed a ballet dancer who aspired to attend Juilliard and fell in love with a hip-hop dancer.
In a memorable moment during the routine, Sosa stepped aside to let Stiles showcase the iconic choreography from the film. The camera captured Stiles at the center stage, while her co-star from the movie, Sean Patrick Thomas, recreated a classic scene from the film on the sidelines, with both men cheering her on.
Following the performance, Stiles expressed her long-held desire to recreate that moment and received an enthusiastic response from the audience. The routine impressed the judges, earning the duo their highest scores of the season and securing their safety from elimination.
On social media, fans and celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, praised Stiles’ performance. However, some viewers raised concerns about perceived favoritism towards Stiles and Sosa compared to other contestants who faced stricter critiques for their routines on the show.
Overall, the recreation of “Save The Last Dance” on “Dancing with the Stars” resonated with fans and showcased Stiles’ passion for dance and performance.