Julia Stiles made her debut on “Dancing with the Stars,” sparking speculation about a possible throwback to the movie “Save The Last Dance.” In Week 5, this anticipation was realized as Stiles and her former co-star recreated a scene from the 2001 film.
During the live show themed around the Super Bowl, Stiles and her partner, Ezra Sosa, delivered a hip-hop ballet routine set to Jennifer Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block.” The performance paid tribute to the iconic film where Stiles portrayed Sara Johnson, a ballet dancer with dreams of attending Juilliard, who falls in love with a hip-hop dancer played by Sean Patrick Thomas.
With a nod to nostalgia, Sosa stepped back during the routine, allowing Stiles to showcase her signature choreography from the movie. The camera captured Thomas on the sidelines, mirroring a classic scene as he watched the performance with Sosa.
After the dance, Stiles expressed her long-held desire to recreate that moment. The audience erupted in cheers, and the judges awarded the duo their highest scores of the season, ensuring their safety from elimination.
The recreation drew reactions from fans and celebrities on social media, with Jennifer Lopez praising the performance. However, some viewers criticized what they perceived as favoritism towards Stiles and Sosa, pointing out contrasting treatment towards other contestants for their dance styles and content mix-ups.
