Sequins, sparkles and salsa dancing lit up the Boch Center’s Wang Theatre as the cast of the reality TV competition “Dancing with the Stars” took the stage Jan. 17, the third stop on its nationwide live tour.
“Dancing with the Stars: Live!” brought the magic of ballroom dance from the screen to the stage in a series of performances in various styles. The focus was primarily on the impressive and stylish dance skills which the cast is known for, but it also incorporated sketches, comedic banter, behind-the-scenes looks and even some audience participation.
In the television competition, the core cast of nine professional dancers are partnered up with a new celebrity guest each season to teach, choreograph and perform dances for a panel of judges. The live tour allowed the professionals to exhibit their style and athleticism in solo, partner and group dances.
However, the star of the night may have been the only non-dancer on stage: 2024 Olympic gymnast and season 33 competitor Stephen Nedoroscik. After becoming a crowd favorite during his time on the show, he began co-hosting the tour alongside professional Emma Slater.
Nedoroscik and Slater’s chemistry made for humorous banter between sets of dance performances, not to mention dances that highlighted Nedoroscik’s whimsical, goofy persona.
Many audience members seemed to be longtime fans of the show. There was uproarious laughter at comedic references to past seasons and enthusiastic cheers for particular dances, such as a recreation of the dance that earned Nedoroscik and his dance partner Rylee Arnold a spot in the season’s final round.
One such fan was Katie Gorman, who came to the show to celebrate her retirement from being a therapist at Life Care Center of West Bridgewater.
“I have been watching [‘Dancing with the Stars’] for a long time, and this is the first time I came to the show. I thought it was just fabulous,” Gorman said. “I loved everything about it. It was non-stop fun.”
Gorman brought two of her former coworkers with her, who said they bonded over their love of the show. One described how the three would meet at work on Wednesdays to discuss the previous night’s episode.
“We used to talk about it all the time,” Gorman said. “Who should win, who shouldn’t. It’s what brought us together. … We especially love Emma [Slater].”
The show also paid homage to individual cast members. At one point, a pommel horse was brought on stage and Nedoroscik, in a bedazzled leotard resembling his Team USA uniform, performed a sample of the gymnastics skills that brought him viral fame at the Olympics as “Pommel Horse Guy.”
A celebration for professional dancer Ezra Sosa followed, who debuted in the most recent season. The cast performed a routine acting out Sosa’s initiation into a fictional dance academy, listing the various rules of being a professional dancer on the show with some behind-the-scenes footage playing on the screen behind them.
The routine highlighted the close bond between the professional dancers and celebrity guests, such as supermodel and actress Brooks Nader, who featured as a celebrity guest on season 33. Nader took a break from the stage to enjoy the show in the audience. During the intermission, Nader commented on the unique spectacle of the live show.
“I love the show; I think the dancers look amazing, and I know they worked really hard on everything,” Nader said. “I can’t wait for you guys to see the rest of the show. The next number is my personal favorite.”
Nader’s favorite was the first in a series of Western-themed dances after the intermission. These dances were easily one of the most memorable parts of the show. While the female professionals performed on stage, the male professionals emerged from behind the theatre and danced down the aisles in cowboy attire, high-fiving fans and even bringing some on stage. The audience members on stage were then partnered with professionals and enjoyed a game in which they mimicked dance moves that Slater performed.
Tess Spofford was among the handful of audience members pulled up onto the stage. She said that as a longtime fan, it was a dream come true to meet the dancers.
“It was so fun to meet everybody. I can’t believe I got to meet [the cast] and shake everybody’s hands,” Spofford said. “The show was incredible. It was so much better than on TV.”
The show was exciting throughout but varied in tone: The dances ranged from silly and upbeat to emotional and sentimental. The professional dancers’ skills were impressive, but perhaps the most unique part of the show was the storytelling. Performances flowed between music genres and dance styles effortlessly, punctuated by breaks of comedic and nostalgic banter between cast members.
Lifelong fans of the show, lovers of dance and fans of Nedoroscik (including his family from Worcester, who cheered him on from the audience) all enjoyed a spectacular performance full of twists and turns. Thanks to the show’s impressive athletic feats, stylish outfits and detailed storytelling, every cast member became a star.
