Just weeks before Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars premieres, the competition to crown a new professional dancer is becoming increasingly intense. Episode 4 of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro delivered the show’s first double elimination, cutting the field from eight contestants to six after a high-pressure chemistry challenge judged by Jenna Johnson, Shirley Ballas, and Mark Ballas.
With the competition now at its halfway stage, judges made it clear that expectations are rising, leaving little room for mistakes as the remaining contestants fight for a coveted place in the professional lineup.
Read more: While Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro is narrowing its field of aspiring professionals, other reality competitions are also reaching pivotal moments in their seasons. If you enjoy seeing how major eliminations influence the direction of a competition, our Big Brother Season 28 Levi Banks exit explained article explores another contestant departure that had a lasting impact on the remaining players.
A chemistry challenge pushed every contestant outside their comfort zone
After escaping elimination the previous week, the remaining eight contestants quickly learned that their relief would be short-lived.
Professional dancer Jenna Johnson entered the ballroom with what host Robert Irwin jokingly described as a “spicy” routine performed with someone other than her husband and fellow pro Val Chmerkovskiy before introducing the week’s challenge.
According to Johnson, every successful ballroom performance depends on believable chemistry between partners.
“When two people dance together, chemistry is critical.” — Jenna Johnson
She challenged the dancers to create performances that would convince audiences of a genuine romantic connection—even if they didn’t actually feel one themselves.
Contestants first participated in a speed-dating style dance session before selecting partners.
You may also enjoy: Chemistry played a central role in this week’s challenge, even though contestants were being judged on their dancing rather than personal relationships. If you’re curious how real connections become the focus in a different kind of reality competition, check out our Married at First Sight Season 20 Peacock guide, which looks at the latest season of the relationship experiment.
Official pairings
| Pair | Dance Style |
| Allen Genkin & Nina Mayster | Argentine Tango |
| Adele Zaikman & AJ Pritchard | Rumba |
| Stephani Sosa & Tristan Sanders | Rumba |
| Selena Hamilton & Erik Linder | Argentine Tango |
One early emotional moment came when Stephani Sosa selected Allen Genkin before eventually partnering with Tristan Sanders, leaving Tristan visibly disappointed. In his confessional, he admitted he believed they were close and was surprised not to be her first choice. Stephani later explained she simply wanted to dance with someone new after previously competing alongside Tristan.
You may also enjoy: Episode 4 showed that picking the right partner can have just as much impact as the performance itself, with several contestants making surprising decisions before rehearsals even began. That idea also drove one of the biggest turning points in Love Island USA, and our Love Island USA Season 8 Casa Amor recoupling results breakdown explains how the dramatic recoupling changed the course of the competition.
Performance timeline: Praise, criticism and standout moments
Contestants received two days to choreograph and rehearse before spending additional time together outside the studio to build authentic chemistry.
Episode 4 performance highlights
| Performance | Judges’ reaction |
| AJ Pritchard & Adele Zaikman | Shirley Ballas praised Adele as a “superstar”, though she felt AJ appeared too “formed.” Jenna appreciated how well they responded to rehearsal feedback, while Mark Ballas felt the opening of the routine was “bumpy.” |
| Selena Hamilton & Erik Linder | Widely regarded as the standout performance. Jenna excitedly screamed after the routine, while Shirley said she “needed a fan.” Jenna even told Erik she would love to dance with him someday. Mark praised Erik’s power and said Selena had redeemed herself after landing in the bottom two previously. |
| Stephani Sosa & Tristan Sanders | Mark praised their musical interpretation but felt the dance lacked stillness. Shirley believed there was enough choreography for “two rumbas.” Jenna complimented Stephani’s elegance but said she was missing “fire,” leaving Stephani emotional during critiques. |
| Allen Genkin & Nina Mayster | Jenna admired Nina’s dancing and chemistry with Allen, but Shirley criticized the routine for mixing Argentine tango with rumba and samba elements instead of staying true to the assigned style. Mark agreed more authentic tango content was needed but still called it Nina’s strongest performance. |
Catch our coverage: Episode 4 showed how emotional storytelling can elevate a performance beyond technical execution. While Love Island USA is a dating competition rather than a dance contest, our Love Island USA Season 8 finale explained article breaks down another finale where relationships and emotional decisions ultimately shaped the outcome.
Who landed in the bottom—and who was eliminated?
Following deliberations, the judges announced the two weakest couples based on the challenge requirements:
- Stephani Sosa & Tristan Sanders
- Allen Genkin & Nina Mayster
Mark Ballas said Tristan and Stephani moved “in and out of the chemistry of the dance” and that portions of the performance felt “frantic.”
Meanwhile, Shirley Ballas explained that Allen and Nina’s biggest issue was failing to fully understand the assignment, emphasizing that the next professional dancer must be able to teach an authentic Argentine tango.
After reviewing every performance, the judges delivered the night’s emotional verdict.
Stephani Sosa and Tristan Sanders became the first contestants eliminated in the competition’s double elimination.
Both dancers shared heartfelt farewells.
Stephani admitted she felt her journey had been “cut too short” but said she was ready to move forward and promised she would never get in her own way again.
Tristan thanked the show for allowing him to compete alongside ballroom legends and champions, saying he felt honored by the experience.
Continue reading: Eliminations are often the defining moments of any competition series, regardless of the format. If you’re interested in how a contestant’s exit can reshape an entirely different reality show, our Big Brother Season 28 Levi Banks exit explained story examines the fallout from one of the season’s most talked-about departures.
What’s next for DWTS: The Next Pro?
Only six contestants remain as the competition enters its second half.
The next episode will air Monday, August 10, featuring Dancing With the Stars champion Daniella Karagach as a guest judge.
Contestants will face another creative challenge, this time being asked to invent their own signature “wow moves.” The preview also suggests emotions—and pressure—will continue to build as another elimination approaches.
With critiques becoming increasingly demanding and every routine carrying greater consequences, the race to earn a professional spot on Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is entering its most competitive stage yet.
Looking for more reality TV updates? The Next Pro is now heading into another crucial week as the race for a professional spot continues. Meanwhile, another popular competition has already reached its conclusion, and our Love Island USA Season 8 winners Aniya & Carl article explains how the winning couple secured the title and why they stood out from the rest of the finalists.
Disclaimer
This article is based on thoroughly researched information from the official recap and reporting published by TODAY (NBCUniversal) regarding “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” Episode 4. All competition details, judges’ comments, contestant outcomes, and quoted statements are attributed to the original source.
Sources:
Image Credit:
- Vince Valitutti / Disney
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