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Welcome back to The Ballroom Dance Diaries! In this episode, Carole and Kim dig into the fallout from Dancing with the Stars Season 35, Week 6, and finally go there. Everyone is talking about Val Chmerkovskiy's one-week suspension, so we're giving you our honest, dancer-to-dancer take.

We talk about the social media pressure on the pros, how Jenna Dewan held it together on Dedication Night with Alan Bersten stepping in for Val (including that 10 from Carrie Ann), and whether the no-elimination twist was planned. Then we look ahead to Week 7. Shirley Ballas, the Queen of Latin, is guest judging Horror Movie Night with a double elimination on the line. What happens when Mark's mom sits at the judges' table, and who in the middle of the pack should be worried? ✨

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WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:

• Val's Suspension: A top pro and Mirrorball champ sitting out a week. It's never happened before, and we share what we think really went on.
• The Social Media Pressure: Why posting is a full-time job on top of rehearsals for the pros.
• Was It Planned? Dedication Night had no elimination, and we dig into how often the show has done that before.
• Jenna Dewan Steps Up: How she performed with Alan Bersten under all that pressure, and our reaction to Carrie Ann's 10.
• The Lift Debate: Why we'd rather enjoy the show than stare at someone's toe, and why the judges get to make that call.
• Did This Make It a Competition Again? With the front-runners shaken up, the race just got interesting.
• Stuck in the Middle: Tyler, Connor, Tatyana, and Julia Stiles sitting on straight 8s, and why the math says something has to give.
• Shirley Ballas Is Coming: The tiny shoes, the syllabus, and why week seven means no more excuses.
• Can Shirley Judge Her Own Son? Mark Ballas, objectivity, and why she'll get criticized no matter what she scores.
• Is DWTS Testing Shirley for America? Our theory on what her guest spot could mean for the future.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Do you think Val's suspension was fair? Was the no-elimination week planned, or just good timing? And with Shirley Ballas at the judges' table for Week 7, which two couples did you think were going home? Drop

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Welcome back to The Ballroom Dance Diaries! In this episode, Carole and Kim break down all the action, costumes, and controversies from Week 5: Super Bowl Night on Dancing with the Stars Season 35.

We are diving head-first into the sports crossover theme, why guest judge Joe Buck threw a wrench in the leaderboard, and the fierce tie at the top between Jenna & Val and Ezra & Daniela. Plus, we are taking a passionate stand on the great footwear debate—explaining why we think sneakers completely strip away ballroom elegance. From middle-pack struggles with Jackson & Emma and Sharna & Tyler to Whitney's emotional departure, we cover it all. Tune in for the laughs, critiques, and predictions as the race to the finals heats up!

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Welcome & Intro

01:15 - The Sneaker Controversy

03:45 - The Guest Judge Factor

05:10 - Top of the Leaderboard

10:20 - Middle-Pack Madness

14:30 - The Struggles Continue

18:50 - Bottom Two & Elimination

21:40 - Predictions & Closing Thoughts

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Are you with us on the footwear debate, or do you love the theme-night sneakers? Do you think Joe Buck's guest scores threw off the leaderboard, and who are you rooting for as the race to the finals heats up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇

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Welcome back to The Ballroom Dance Diaries! In this episode, Carole and Kim break down all the drama, standout artistry, and backstage politics of Dancing with the Stars, Season 35, Week 4.

From breathtaking Waltzes to heavily scrutinized Rumbas, we look at the leaderboard through the trained eye of competitive Pro-Am dancers:

The Dance Whisperer Returns: Mark Ballas and Maura take the top spot—was it the float choreography, pure teaching mastery, or a well-deserved 9 from Carrie Ann?

The Rumba Breakdown: Val & Jenna’s deep connection vs. the ballet foundation advantage—why are they stuck in Latin dances, and are they being set up for an upset?

Shocking Elimination: Sierra and Brandon get voted out after an ill-fated Jazz routine. Was production setting them up to fail at the top of the hour?

Costume & Frame Disasters: Tyler & Sharna’s confusing "Rumba-dress" Foxtrot and Jackson & Emma’s missed catch and frame struggles.

The "Ick" Factor: Why Connor and Rylee’s overly suggestive Rumba completely missed the mark.

Standout Moments: Daniela & Ezra blowing minds by interchanging Leader and Follower roles, and Harry & Jenna quietly dominating the night's only Tango.

Judge Influence & Mariah Carey Night: Are the judges planting loaded words to sway America's votes?

Timestamps:
0:00 Welcome to Week 4 & Mariah Carey Night
1:15 Mark Ballas & Maura: The Artistry Breakdown
4:40 Val & Jenna's Rumba: Ballet Advantage vs. Latin Fatigue
8:20 Body Types in Ballroom: Arm Length & Pro Inspiration
11:55 Sierra & Brandon's Shock Elimination: Was Jazz a Setup?
16:10 Tyler & Sharna: Costuming Confusion & Pro Survival Tactics
20:45 Jackson & Emma: The Missed Catch & Frame Issues
23:30 Connor & Rylee's Rumba: Breaking Down the "Ick" Factor
26:40 Daniela & Ezra: Flipping Leader and Follower Roles
28:45 Julia Stiles & Ezra: The Breakthrough Viennese Waltz
30:10 Amber's Figure Skating Habits & Footwork Problems
33:15 Guillermo & Whitney: Why Samba While 7 Months Pregnant?
37:30 Harry & Jenna: The Underrated Tango
40:50 Are the Judges Planting Doubt in America's Mind?
43:10 What to Expect for Week 5


👉 Join the Conversation: What did you think of the leaderboard shake-up? Was Sierra’s elimination fair or a production casualty? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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Join us because in the world of The Dance Diaries, every dance step is a chance to write a new page in your dance diary!