Julia Stiles made her debut on the show “Dancing with the Stars,” prompting speculation about whether she would revisit her role in “Save The Last Dance.” The answer was affirmative as she and her former co-star paid homage to the 2001 film in Week 5 of the competition.
During the Super Bowl-themed live show, Stiles and her partner, Ezra Sosa, delivered a hip-hop ballet routine set to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block.” The performance was reminiscent of Stiles’ character Sara Johnson, a ballet dancer who falls in love with a hip-hop dancer in the movie.
In a standout moment, Sosa stepped aside allowing Stiles to showcase her iconic choreography from the film. The camera captured her co-star, Sean Patrick Thomas, watching from the sidelines, recreating a classic scene from the movie with enthusiasm.
After the performance, Stiles expressed her excitement to host Julianne Hough, stating, “I’ve been wanting to do that for 25 years.” The audience cheered in response to the nostalgic performance.
The routine was well-received by the judges, earning the duo their highest scores of the season and securing their safety from elimination. Social media buzzed with reactions from fans and celebrities, including praise from Jennifer Lopez and other stars.
While many lauded Stiles and Sosa’s performance, some fans criticized the judges for perceived favoritism, pointing out inconsistencies in critiques given to other contestants. The debate on social media highlighted differing opinions on the judging criteria of the show.