Good Monday, everyone — welcome to week two of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. After an energetic premiere that introduced the twelve hopefuls vying to become the show’s next professional dancer, the competition resumes with fresh challenges, new partnerships, and another chance to impress the judges and viewers alike.
Last week’s premiere featured intense mentoring from guest judge Derek Hough, and six contestants took the floor to showcase the technical lessons they’d learned. Two competitors, Briar Nolet and Jake Monreal, were eliminated after that opening night. Tonight’s episode brings a new guest mentor, Brandon Armstrong, who focuses the contestants on telling personal stories through movement. Five new routines—Rumba, Jive, and Viennese Waltz—are performed, and another elimination follows.
Robert Irwin returns as host, while Mark Ballas and ballroom legend Shirley Ballas serve as judges. Shirley stresses that the dancers must create a powerful impact, and Mark reminds the cast that every challenge resets the slate and presents a new set of demands. Brandon Armstrong performs a moving solo rooted in his own experience of being adopted into a white family, demonstrating why the episode centers on narrative-driven choreography. He tasks the contestants, working in pairs, to craft dances that clearly convey a personal story. The judges then assign the pairings.
Each pair chooses one personal story to portray and is responsible for the choreography. Stephani wants to tell a story of self-acceptance, and Tristen, who also struggled with embracing his individuality, agrees to dance Stephani’s narrative. Benji plans to honor Miami, while Nina intends to highlight perseverance—sticking with dance despite personal hardships—and they opt to present Nina’s story. Benji suggests choosing Nina’s story will make him appear “selfless.” Adele and Allen focus on Allen’s late mother: his mother had encouraged him to audition for Dancing with the Stars before she passed when he was fifteen, and since then dance has been his top priority. Adele wants their routine to emphasize Allen’s journey. Natalie and Erik decide to showcase how dance helped Natalie find her voice, and AJ and Selena choose AJ’s story of winning a dance championship; AJ’s competitive intensity shows in rehearsal.
Rehearsals reveal the strengths and tensions within the cast. Stephani and Tristen work well together, but Nina ends up doing much of the choreography while Benji feels overwhelmed and unheard. Allen is determined to perfect every movement, and Adele worries about some of the tricks in their routine. Back at the house, Benji and Nina air grievances publicly, and their lack of harmony becomes a clear concern.
On the second day of rehearsals, Benji attempts to make amends by bringing Nina a sandwich and apologizing for the earlier confrontation. Brandon Armstrong visits to evaluate progress and offers guidance: he urges AJ to clarify his story within the choreography, suggests Stephani and Tristen align their steps more closely with their narrative, praises Allen and Adele’s emotional depth, and helps Natalie and Erik strengthen their connection. Brandon senses a disconnect between Benji and Nina despite Nina’s compelling backstory. Robert Irwin stops by to offer Allen a supportive pep talk; Allen explains this dance will be the closest he feels to his mother since her passing.
Show night arrives and the couples take the stage:
Natalie & Erik (Viennese Waltz) – A surprising and welcome improvement from week one. Erik demonstrates solid partnering skills and Natalie regains momentum with a confident performance. While Natalie can still sharpen her storytelling, the pair complement each other and turn low expectations into an elegant routine. Shirley praises Natalie’s newfound confidence and calls Erik a Prince Charming; Brandon applauds the effort and Mark labels it top-notch.
Benji & Nina (Rumba) – A disappointing outing. Benji struggles with hip action and the partnership’s rehearsal friction shows on the floor. The routine falters from a lack of chemistry and communication; with more time, it could have been stronger. Brandon finds the piece disjointed, Mark questions their rehearsal process, and Shirley notes the most memorable moment was Benji’s back flip—hardly the kind of highlight the judges wanted to see.
Stephani & Tristen (Rumba) – A very good Rumba with excellent hip action and tight partnering. The duo’s connection was impressive, though the choreography felt more like a love story between partners than a clear depiction of embracing personal identity. Despite that ambiguity, the performance was well received: Mark called it beautiful, Shirley praised Tristen’s detail work, and Brandon was pleasantly surprised.
Selena & AJ (Jive) – Selena continues to stand out as a potential frontrunner, exploding on the dance floor with energy and charisma. AJ, however, felt overshadowed and less authentic; repeating a Jive with similar choreography raises questions about creativity. Shirley challenges AJ to bring more originality, while praising Selena. Mark thinks the routine lacked oomph, and Brandon found the story harder to relate to.
Allen & Adele (Rumba) – The night’s standout performance. Emotion and technique came together in a moving tribute to Allen’s mother. Adele embodied the role beautifully and the storytelling resonated deeply with judges and audience alike. Brandon congratulated the pair, Mark said he’d be proud to dance with them, and Shirley called it the best number of the evening.
When the results are announced, Mark places Benji and Nina in jeopardy. The judges emphasize communication and teamwork as the key issues. Ultimately, Shirley announces the eliminated dancer: Benji. Nina embraces him as he reflects on representing the Latino community and expresses pride in his journey. The remaining contestants offer their support.
Next week’s episode will feature group work with guest mentor Britt Stewart. The preview hints at rising tensions and perhaps an injury, so expect drama and high-stakes performances. Thanks for joining this week’s recap of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro — see you next Monday.