Jenna Dewan revisits Step Up as her DWTS samba scores 21

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy have recreated Step Up’s nightclub dance on TikTok, Extra reported on September 30, as the pair discussed their latest Dancing with the Stars result. The film throwback is separate from their September 29 television samba, which earned 21 out of 30 and prompted Dewan to discuss the expectations attached to her dance background.

For Dewan, the film routine remains a favourite. “I will take any opportunity ever to do that dance… When I was in ‘Step Up,’ it was my favorite dance in the movie. It’s still my favorite,” she told Extra. Chmerkovskiy described recreating it as “So fun.”

Which Step Up dance did Jenna Dewan recreate?

Extra identifies the TikTok recreation as the nightclub-scene dance from the 2006 film. Its September 30 interview report does not establish when the clip was uploaded or how many people watched it, so the report’s publication date should not be read as the TikTok posting date.

The throwback follows a promise Dewan made before the competition began. Asked on Good Morning America on September 2 whether she would include Step Up references, she replied: “Yes, we have to, right? We have to. For sure.” She also pointed to the film’s twentieth anniversary.

What happened in Dewan’s 21-point DWTS samba?

The competition performance was a samba to Toto’s “Africa” during Yacht Rock Night. E! News dates that performance to September 29 and reports the score as 21 out of 30; Extra separately reports the same 21-point total. That score belongs to the television routine, not the Step Up recreation.

Speaking to Extra after the show, Dewan said she wanted the samba to communicate how happy she felt to be dancing. “I do feel a lot of joy and a lot of happiness to be dancing,” she said, adding that she wanted to channel those feelings into the performance and felt happy with that.

She also described the physical and emotional demands of a dance competition as an opportunity to connect with viewers. Someone watching might recognise the feelings a contestant is experiencing, she told Extra, and being able to move that person was what she most wanted from taking part.

What Dewan said about judges’ expectations

In a separate post-show interview with E! News, Dewan said the judges “probably innately” hold her to a higher standard because of her dance experience. That was her interpretation of their expectations; the interview does not establish that the scoring was unfair.

“There’s a certain sense of expectation of somebody who has a dance background coming onto the show,” she said. She suggested there might be something the judges still wanted the partners to provide, or something they wanted less of, before adding: “I don’t know.”

Dewan acknowledged that she did not understand how all the scoring worked. Her emphasis was on the partners showing up each week, doing their best and communicating their enjoyment and connection. Chmerkovskiy’s response to E! was direct: “I respect the judges.” He added: “We just got to get better.”

He also described the desire for validation after investing so much work, while saying the pair could validate themselves. In his Extra interview, he acknowledged disappointment: “You know, it is frustrating not to have the acclaim that we were hoping for this week, but we get another chance.”

Why ballroom is a new challenge for Dewan

Dewan had already discussed pressure and expectations in her September 2 ABC interviews. Despite her professional experience, she described ballroom as unfamiliar territory: “It’s totally different,” she said. “It’s a whole different style for me. It’s a little bit of almost unlearning.”

Her dance résumé extends beyond Step Up. ABC’s background report lists work as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott and Christina Aguilera, followed by hosting World of Dance and appearing as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

For Dewan, 45, returning to dance has also been personally significant. She told E! that she had felt surprised that dance was finding her again at this stage of her life and continuing to make her grow. “It’s the most fun I’ve had maybe in the last 30 years,” she said.

What Chmerkovskiy said about Mariah Carey Week

Chmerkovskiy told Extra that the partners had been advised to slow things down, and previewed a rumba for Mariah Carey Week. “We have a slower song. We have a slower dance,” he said. Extra’s report did not identify the song.