Julia Stiles Dances to Parton’s ‘9 To 5’ on DWTS

Dancing With the Stars Returns

After much excitement, Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars has officially launched with a heartfelt two-night premiere. This season features a variety of new celebrity contestants, including actress Julia Stiles, who made her debut on Wednesday alongside her professional partner, Ezra Sosa.

Stiles’ Meaningful Performance

For her inaugural performance, Stiles chose the classic Dolly Parton hit “9 To 5,” a song that holds special significance for her. The show’s theme for premiere week was for each contestant to select a popular song from their birth year, and Stiles opted for the 1980 track from the beloved country star.

What made this performance even more poignant was Parton’s recent approval of the song for the show, which she granted just weeks before her passing in August. Stiles expressed her feelings about this honor, stating, “Tonight I am dancing to ‘9 To 5’ by Dolly Parton. It was only a couple weeks before Dolly passed that she approved this song specifically for me. We got to make this theatrical. I’m so honored to be dancing to her music and honoring her legacy and I want to make her proud.”

Julia Stiles Embraces the Competition

While Stiles has always been a fan of the competitive dance show, she clarified that she is not a trained dancer. Her only experience was portraying an aspiring ballerina in the 2001 film, Save the Last Dance. However, she brought a vibrant quickstep to the stage, with a backdrop illuminated in pink hues, and dazzled in champagne-colored costumes that matched the upbeat nature of her performance.

Stiles fully embraced her theatrical side, shining brightly as she danced with energy and a smile. She seemed to step out of her comfort zone, capturing the essence of Parton’s lively tune and delivering a captivating performance that thrilled both the audience and judges.

Judges’ Feedback

Once the performance concluded, the crowd erupted into applause, with some audience members visibly moved by the experience of hearing Parton’s iconic voice in the venue. Judge Derek Hough praised Stiles for her grace and beauty but encouraged her to infuse more energy into her quickstep. He noted, “For me, you have all that, but I want a little more gusto in the dances. So moving forward, I want to see more energy.”

Bruno Tonioli commended her for her character interpretation and dancing abilities, while Carrie Ann Inaba provided a mix of praise and constructive advice, highlighting areas for improvement in her performance.

Looking Ahead

Before receiving their scores, Stiles reiterated her honor in performing a song that Parton personally approved for her, recognizing the legacy the country icon has left behind. The couple scored three sixes from the judges, totaling 18 out of 30, which placed them at the top of the leaderboard for the evening. Fans were then able to vote for their favorites, helping Stiles and Sosa advance to the next round.

Next week, they will return to the ballroom, competing for a chance to continue in the quest for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. New episodes of Dancing With the Stars air weekly on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT on ABC or can be streamed on Disney+.

Source: countrynow.com