‘Strange times’ on ‘DWTS’ as Cheryl Burke, Cody Rigsby perform remotely after contracting COVID
‘DWTS’: Cheryl Burke apologies to Cody Rigsby after COVID diagnosis
“Dancing with the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke will quarantine for 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. She broke the news on Instagram.
Entertain This!, USA TODAY
Nothing was going to stop Cody Rigsby from dancing to Britney Spears on “Dancing With the Stars.” Not even being quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Britney-loving Peloton instructor, who announced Thursday he had tested positive for COVID-19, and his professional dance partner Cheryl Burke, also in quarantine after testing positive, found a way to perform on Monday. It was Britney Week, after all.
As judge Len Goodman said after watching the never-seen-before spectacle of two contestants dancing alone, remotely, but together through technology: “Strange times throw out strange scenarios.”
To pile on to the “DWTS” COVID-19 drama, host Tyra Banks announced at the start of the show that judge Derek Hough had to sit out Monday night due to possible COVID exposure in “an abundance of caution.”
Here’s how the dance went down.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ COVID-19 drama: Judge Derek Hough sits out week 3 due to ‘potential COVID exposure’
Cheryl Burke and Cody Rigsby didn’t let COVID stop them from dancing remotely
Last week when Burke tested positive before Monday’s “DWTS,” the couple was forced to hand in their recorded rehearsal footage in place of their live dance to stay in the competition.
This week, both Rigsby and Burke were quarantined separately. They turned their homes into temporary dance studios, and performed their jazz routine to Spears’ “Gimme More” alone from their respective living rooms. The two were brought together on a split-screen, which was beamed directly to the judges and TV audience.
“I’m going to be performing from my home, Cheryl is going to be performing from her home,” said Rigsby in the taped introduction.
While the duo’s dance set-up was a bit awkward, their skilled moves were as clean and tight as possible. Rigsby, a former professional dancer, and Burke, even appeared to pass a hat to each other using a camera trick. Miracle moves, but it still wasn’t their best.
“Bravo to both of you for dancing with COVID,” said an applauding judge Carrie Ann Inaba afterward. “But it wasn’t as great as I know you can do.”
Judge Bruno Tonioli added, “I admire your commitment, but that is very difficult to judge.”
All the judges gave them 6 scores. The duo ended up with an 18 out of 30 for the night.
Burke and Rigsby also made it through another elimination and will return next week.
Olivia Jade: ‘I want people to like me for me’
Jade, who turned 22 on Sept. 28, received birthday pastries from dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy in their taped video intro. Referring to her involvement in the college admissions scandal, the young contestant also said she’s used to hearing negative things about her. “I want people to like me for me,” she said in the video.
There was plenty of love on the dance floor after her tango in a hot red gown. Old-school judge Goodman was nearly doing backflips. “Now that was a proper tango,” he declared.
“You are truly blossoming,” said Inaba, who called her “graceful and strong.”
The dance soared with straight 8’s from the judges for a total score of 24 out of 30.
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