**Jenna Dewan to Perform Viennese Waltz Amid Val Chmerkovskiy’s Suspension**
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In a surprising turn of events on the 35th season of *Dancing with the Stars* (DWTS), Jenna Dewan is set to grace the dance floor with pro dancer Alan Bersten on 20 October. This comes as her original partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, faces a one-week suspension due to an inappropriate social media post.
Dewan, known for her roles in *Step Up* and *The Rookie*, will perform a Viennese waltz dedicated to her mother, Nancy, during the show’s upcoming Dedication Night. Their performance will feature the classic tune “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, adding an emotional layer to the evening.
Chmerkovskiy, 37, recently found himself in hot water over a social media comment intended to defend his wife, fellow pro dancer Jenna Johnson. In a now-deleted Instagram post, he referenced Will Smith’s infamous slap of comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Academy Awards, seemingly in response to critiques made by judge Carrie Ann Inaba regarding Johnson’s previous performance. The post, which contained a meme-like reference, was deemed offensive by the show’s production team and led to Chmerkovskiy’s suspension.
Bersten, 32, will be stepping in for Chmerkovskiy this week. Earlier in the season, he and celebrity partner Giada de Laurentiis faced elimination, and this upcoming performance offers him a chance to showcase his skills alongside Dewan. This collaboration also marks a pivotal moment in DWTS history, as it is the first instance of a pro dancer being suspended.
Chmerkovskiy expressed regret over his actions in an Instagram Story on 17 October, stating that he had not intended for his words to impact Inaba or anyone else adversely. He acknowledged that his initial impulse was to defend his wife but recognised that he had made an error in judgment. “I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply,” he wrote.
In his message, Chmerkovskiy conveyed his desire not to distract from the show’s important themes and the hard work of his partner Dewan. He encouraged his followers to support Dewan, Inaba, and the entire DWTS family during this challenging week. “I’ll be watching and cheering everyone on,” he concluded with affection.
Earlier in the week, Chmerkovskiy had publicly apologised to Inaba, stating that he reached out directly to her. He acknowledged the wide-reaching impact of his words and emphasised the need for thoughtfulness in how he uses his platform: “I recognise that I am in a fortunate position to have a platform and to be a role model to some, and I need to treat that with more care.”
Dewan is no stranger to the DWTS stage, having showcased her dance talents in previous seasons. Her upcoming performance, however, bears a deeper significance as it will pay tribute to her mother, adding a heartfelt connection to the competition.
As the show gears up for Dedication Night, viewership becomes ever more crucial. The timing of Chmerkovskiy’s suspension and Dewan’s emotional performance is set against a backdrop of drama, demonstrating the complexities of celebrity life and the pressures of public scrutiny.
*Dancing with the Stars* airs weekly on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST/PST on ABC and is available for streaming on Disney+. Fans are anticipated to tune in to witness Dewan and Bersten’s performance as they navigate this unexpected shift in the competition and honour the familial bonds that inspire their dance.