'Dancing With the Stars' brings funk, boogie and a bold backflip to the ballroom with 'Soul Train'-themed episode
Among the standout performances was actress Chandler Kinney and partner Brandon Armstrong’s cha-cha.
Beep beep! On Monday night, Dancing With the Stars paid tribute to a groundbreaking variety show that revolutionized music, dance and style for generations: Soul Train.
For over 35 years, Soul Train earned its place as one of the longest-running nationally syndicated TV shows in American history, catapulting R&B, soul and hip-hop into the mainstream.
At its peak, Soul Train was “the beating heart of Black culture,” choreographer Randy Connor told Yahoo Entertainment.
“Soul Train gave an in-depth look into American pop culture and gave us a realistic understanding of our roots,” said Connor, whose credits include the music videos for Salt n’ Pepa’s 1993 hits “None of Your Business” and “Whatta Man,” featuring En Vogue — as well as Britney Spears’s 1998 debut single, “…Baby One More Time.”
Created by Don Cornelius, Soul Train provided a stage for musicians, dancers and choreographers to shine. Its iconic “Soul Train” line — packed with popping, locking and grooving — became a cultural sensation at a time when few television shows celebrated Black artistry on a grand scale. Moves like the Funky Chicken, the Bump, the Snake Step and the Roger Rabbit, Connor explained, changed the landscape of American dance.
“Back then, hip-hop was just breaking into the mainstream,” said Connor. “Soul Train laid the foundation for where we are today in music, whether it’s pop, R&B or even Afrobeats.”
The spirit of Soul Train was evident in performances on Dancing With the Stars, where the pairs paid tribute to its legacy.
Among the standout moments was actress Chandler Kinney and partner Brandon Armstrong’s cha-cha to Run-DMC’s “It’s Tricky,” which earned them the highest score of the night — a stellar 36.
“Your musicality was there, your rhythm was there and your passion was there,” guest judge Rosie Perez said of Kinney’s performance. “The only critique that I want to say to you, young girl, is let your sexuality explode!”
Phaedra Parks and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy kicked off the night with a high-energy quickstep to Aretha Franklin’s “Think,” with Perez praising the Real Housewives of Atlanta star's talent.
“People can be taught how to dance, but people cannot be taught how to boogie, and you know how to boogie,” Perez said.
Meanwhile, Joey Graziadei impressed the judges with a dynamic jive to “Shout” by the Isley Brothers, wowing with a flawless backflip. Perez, particularly taken by his performance, said, “Your sex appeal is amazing,” as he and partner Jenna Johnson received the first nines of the season from both her and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Tied at 30, respectively, were Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, each showing off their athleticism with their routines. Maher’s foxtrot to “Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle with pro Alan Bersten earned praise from Inaba, who exclaimed, “Say goodbye to rugby, girl, because dancing is coming your way!”
Eric Roberts had a particularly heartfelt moment when he dedicated his foxtrot to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green to his wife, Eliza, bringing her on stage for a tender kiss at the end of the routine.
“I am so proud that I am still here for my wife,” he told the judges.
Sparks flew between model Brooks Nader and pro Gleb Savchenko during their steamy rumba to Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” Their chemistry was so hot that judge Derek Hough joked, “That dance made me pregnant,” to the audience's delight.
Of the Soul Train theme, Connor said that the show’s energy was exactly what he expected.
At its heart, Soul Train is “a celebration that frees both mind and body,” he said.
“It all starts with the music,” Connor explained, “and from there, the freedom to express yourself follows.”
The spirit of expression was seen in performances like Jenn Tran’s Viennese waltz to Alicia Keys’s “Fallin'” with partner Sasha Farber. Judge Bruno Tonioli said their rendition was “the raunchiest, sexiest, hottest Viennese waltz I've ever seen.”
Not all contestants had smooth performances, though.
Former NBA star Dwight Howard and partner Daniella Karagach found themselves in the bottom three after their under-rehearsed cha-cha to “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Inaba didn’t mince words, telling them, “That was hard to watch.” Tonioli added, “You gotta work on your technique.”
Danny Amendola and partner Witney Carson scored an admirable 30 for their foxtrot to “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5, while Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater received the night’s lowest score of 21 for their foxtrot to Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.” Despite the low score, Inaba praised VelJohnson’s spirit.
“There’s something so sweet and innocent when you dance,” she told the Die Hard actor. “I wish I could give you 10s and 10s just for getting out there and showing us that kind of beautiful joy.”
Connor, whose upcoming podcast The Real Life of Dance delves into the art and craft of choreography, told Yahoo Entertainment that the spirit of dance is about far more than hitting the lines perfectly — it's about embracing the joy, energy and freedom that Soul Train embodied for generations.
“Dance isn’t just about mastering the steps,” he explained. “You need to let the music move through you, to celebrate your individuality. Soul Train taught us that, and it’s a legacy that lives on every time someone steps onto the dance floor.”
Dancing With the Stars returns for its “Hair Metal” episode Tuesday on ABC at 8 p.m. ET, with two couples being sent home in a double elimination.
How Did the Stars Perform?
Judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, Rosie Perez (guest), Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli
Chandler Kinney and pro Brandon Armstrong
Dance: Cha-Cha
Song: “It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC
Score: Carrie Ann 9, Rosie 9, Derek 9, Bruno 9
Total: 36/40
Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson
Dance: Jive
Song: “Shout” by the Isley Brothers
Score: Carrie Ann 9, Rosie 9, Derek 8, Bruno 8
Total: 34/40
Jenn Tran and pro Sasha Farber
Dance: Viennese Waltz
Song: “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys
Score: Carrie Ann 8, Rosie 8, Derek 7, Bruno 8
Total: 31/40
Ilona Maher and pro Alan Bersten
Dance: Foxtrot
Song: “Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle
Score: Carrie Ann 8, Rosie 8, Derek 7, Bruno 7
Total: 30/40
Danny Amendola and pro Witney Carson
Dance: Foxtrot
Song: “Dancing Machine” by Jackson 5
Score: Carrie Ann 8, Rosie 8, Derek 7, Bruno 7
Total: 30/40
Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold
Dance: Quickstep
Song: Song: “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
Score: Carrie Ann 8, Rosie 8, Derek 7, Bruno 7
Total: 30/40
Phaedra Parks and pro Val Chmerkovskiy
Dance: Quickstep
Song: “Think” by Aretha Franklin
Score: Carrie Ann 8, Rosie 8, Derek 7, Bruno 7
Total: 30/40
Brooks Nader and pro Gleb Savchenko
Dance: Rumba
Song: “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
Score: Carrie Ann 7, Rosie 7, Derek 7, Bruno 7
Total: 28/40
Eric Roberts and pro Britt Stewart
Dance: Foxtrot
Song: “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
Score: Carrie Ann 7, Rosie 6, Derek 5, Bruno 6
Total: 24/40
Dwight Howard and pro Daniella Karagach
Dance: Cha-Cha
Song: “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire
Score: Carrie Ann 6, Rosie 6, Derek 5, Bruno 6
Total: 23/40
Reginald VelJohnson and pro Emma Slater
Dance: Foxtrot
Song: “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash
Score: Carrie Ann 6, Rosie 5, Derek 5, Bruno 5
Total: 21/40