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Dancing with the Stars season 33 showcased talented dancing duos and how they performed according to the respective theme nights. During the newly released October 22 episode, the couples had to "celebrate the magic of Disney" by doing acts, which were inspired by the studio's iconic films and characters.
One of the pairs this season, pro rugby player Ilona Maher and her dancing partner Alan Bersten performed a jazz act on Surface Pressure from Disney’s 2021 movie Encanto. Maher dressed up as Luisa Madrigal, the movie character known for her strength.
Referring to the scene in Encanto, Alan had disguised himself as a donkey and Ilona had lifted him up. The judges were impressed by both the cast members and their strong stage presence. The duo received a total of 25 points out of 30, which meant their position in the dance competition series had already been secured for the next round.
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Alan took to his official Instagram account to praise his dance partner. The October 24, 2024 post was captioned as:
"I am so proud of you! You inspire so many people around the world and I know so many people look up to you, just like me. I am so happy to be your partner !!”
Dancing with the Stars season 33 episode 6 titled Disney Night was released exclusively on ABC on October 22, 2024. The episode synopsis read:
"The eight remaining couples celebrate the magic of Disney through performances inspired by beloved films and characters."
Alan Bersten pens down a heartfelt message for Dancing with the Stars partner Ilona Maher
Dancing with the Stars cast member Alan appreciated Ilona for her incredible performance and how she portrayed Luisa's character. In his Instagram caption, Alan mentioned that Ilona is an inspiration for him and many other people. He continued:
“Some moments exceed everything you thought it would be. Last night was absolutely magical! @ilonamaher embodied and portrayed Luisa’s character perfectly. "
Before performing on stage, Ilona took to her Instagram account to share her childhood pictures with Disney characters. In the October 23 post, she shared that her childhood self would have "absolutely loved Luisa." The caption further read:
"In honor of Disney Night, here are some pics of me having the time of my life at Disney World. I’m doing this dance for this little girl who would have absolutely loved Luisa. Last pic is me not enjoying someone disrupting my brekky."
She also posted an Instagram reel encouraging her fans and the ABC show viewers to vote for her and Alan's act and save them from elimination. She appreciated the audience for supporting her on Dancing with the Stars.
Ilona wrote:
"Voting is live. It’s only open for 2 hours so make sure to vote as soon as you can! We really appreciate all the love and support and can’t wait to dance for you all!!!!"
The upcoming Dancing with the Stars season 33 episode 7 will be Halloween-themed night. It will be released exclusively on ABC and Disney Plus on October 29, 2024.
