What changed in Episode 4
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro aired its fourth episode on Aug. 3, marking the competition's halfway point with a double elimination that cut the remaining eight dancers to six, according to a recap of Episode 4. The episode, hosted by Robert Irwin, paired the contestants for the first time and tasked them with showcasing chemistry through either a rumba or an Argentine tango.
How the chemistry challenge worked
Dancing With the Stars pro Jenna Johnson arrived to brief the contestants on the episode's focus, with judges Shirley Ballas and Mark Ballas joining the evaluation. "When two people dance together, chemistry is critical," Johnson told the group, asking them to "build a performance so intimate it will send pulses racing." Pairings were settled through a speed-dating style exercise in which Nina Mayster and Stephani Sosa both picked Allen Genkin, leaving him with the final say. Johnson also told the contestants that in addition to rehearsals, the duos would get to spend time together outside the studio.
The elimination result
Before announcing the result, Johnson said she was impressed by all the couples and was heartbroken that two dancers had to leave. Ballas singled out Allen and Nina for bending the rules too far with their Argentine tango, saying she was unsure if they could teach the style properly. Mark Ballas echoed that all the performances were well done but said critiques would get harder at the competition's midpoint. Shirley ultimately revealed that Tristan and Stephani had danced for the last time. In her final confessional, Stephani said her journey was "cut too short" and that she needed to let go of the DWTS chapter of her life.
What is set for the next episode
The next episode of The Next Pro is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, and will feature guest judge and DWTS champion Daniella Karagach. The remaining six dancers will be challenged to create "their own unique, wow moves," with a teaser hinting that the pressure might get to some contestants ahead of another elimination.
Cast context
The Aug. 3 episode aired as part of the 12-dancer field introduced earlier in the season, with the spinoff building toward placing a new pro on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars in the fall.
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