Dance Spirit

Every football game has its share of hustles, flags, fumbles, and touchdowns. On Super Bowl Night, “Dancing with the Stars” delivered each of those in true fashion. The night, themed around iconic Super Bowl halftime performances, included some notable appearances by former NFL-player “DWTS” alumni, as well as by guest judge and sportscaster Joe Buck.

How can I tell if my pointe shoes are dead? I started pointe last fall and have only had one pair, so I don’t know what to look for. —Maya Hi, Maya, This is a familiar conundrum! I remember wondering the same thing when I was a first-time pointe student. It’s hard to know what to look for when you’re still getting used to the sensation of dancing in the shoes.

Let’s face it: Dance can be expensive. In some cases, an hour of work at the U.S. median wage rate may barely cover a single class, let alone the costume fees, shoes, travel, and other costs that serious training demands. That price of admission shuts out many talented and passionate students from chasing their dreams. Addressing that problem might sound like a job for adults with deep pockets and years of industry experience.

Is it okay if we’re a little diva-ish today? Mariah Carey Night brought all the vocals and glitter to last night’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars”—plus some drama around scoring. The night began with a sweet fantasy of an opening number choreographed by Luam “LUAM” Keflezgy, in which all the pro men donned sparkly jeans that would have made Limited Too and dELiA’s jealous.

If you, like me, are part of the Venn diagram overlap of “dancer” and “person likely to watch a superhero movie,” you probably realized before the credits rolled on Spider-Man: Brand New Day what the blockbuster’s secret weapon was: choreography, and a lot of dancers. But unlike in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 3, there isn’t a standalone dance scene (even though we know Tom Holland and Zendaya would have crushed one).

It’s that time of year: You’ve gotten into the thick of school, with more homework and exams piling up each week, and rehearsals are appearing on top of your regular dance schedule. You’re waking up early, it’s getting darker sooner, and—gosh, you’re exhausted! If you’ve ever had to suppress more than the occasional yawn during technique class, you’re not alone. Dancers work hard, both mentally and physically, and busy periods can make tiredness feel like the new normal.

“Yacht Rock Night”? Yep, you heard that right. This week’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars” featured an abundance of foxtrots and smooth, classic hits from musicians and groups like The Doobie Brothers, Toto, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Plus, plenty of costumes with bright, tropical florals and nautical accents. Oh, and mocktails in the skybox. While last night hit some exciting high notes, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Whether you’re a world-famous pop star or a concertgoer, Jasmine “JB” Badie is on a mission to make you feel. Originally from Atlanta, the Los Angeles–based choreographer has worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Pharrell and Megan Thee Stallion. Most recently, she was the lead choreographer on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour.

When choreographer Joya Kazi was tasked with bringing collegiate Bollywood-fusion dance to the screen in Netflix’s Best of the Best, she found herself drawing from real-life experience. “It is cutthroat, it is dramatic, there’s relationships, there’s rivalry,” she says with a laugh over Zoom, reflecting on her time with the Hindi Film Dance club she started at the University of California, Davis.

Just one word for this week’s episode: Intense. Welcome back to Dance Spirit’s weekly “Dancing with the Stars” recaps! This week, all 14 pairs shared the ballroom in one jam-packed night themed around viral hits. It was so jam-packed that, like last season’s Episode 2, the third judge to critique each round was only allowed one word. (Of course, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough took some liberties with that rule.) Boy, did the emotions peak and valley this week.