Despite not considering himself a dancer at first, Stephen Nedoroscik has really impressed on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS). The Olympic bronze medalist, who took home two medals from the Paris Olympics, was initially hesitant about his dancing skills, even admitting he was “a very cowardly and scared dancer.” But fast forward to Week 7 in DWTS, and Stephen has proven himself more than capable, alongside his partner, Rylee Arnold. Rylee, a professional Latin and ballroom dancer, has been guiding Stephen through the competition, and together they’ve already made it through seven weeks—just two more to go until the finale!

As Week 8 approaches, airing on November 12th, Rylee has teased an exciting upcoming performance. During a recent appearance on the “Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley & Tanya Rad” podcast, she shared a thrilling update titled “One Single Thread of Gold,” giving fans a sneak peek into what’s to come.

Rylee

revealed that she and Stephen Nedoroscik will be “recreating an iconic dance” in DWTS history—the Viennese Waltz from Season 31, originally performed by Charlie and Mark. Overflowing with excitement, Rylee described the dance as “so iconic, oh so amazing, truly one of the best dances I think Dancing with the Stars has ever had.” While acknowledging the pressure of living up to such a legendary performance, she and Stephen are ready for the challenge. As Rylee put it, “We’re not as good as Charlie and Mark were, and we kind of have that mentality, but we’re going to give it our all.”

Even though Charlie and Mark set the bar incredibly high, Rylee is confident in Stephen’s growth as a dancer. She acknowledged that while their version of the Viennese Waltz may not be as polished as the original, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight just how far Stephen has come. “I’ll be really proud of Stephen, ’cause it’s hard, but he really has become a dancer, and I want people to see that. He’s learned so much, and he’s just so special.” Rylee is hopeful that viewers will notice Stephen’s progress, and while it remains to be seen if he will make her proud, he certainly did in Week 7. Rylee was full of praise for Stephen Nedoroscik’s performance at that time.

Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold shock the judges with their first perfect score!

In Week 7, Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold earned their first perfect score of the season during the Halloween Nightmares-themed episode. They performed a contemporary dance to A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away),” with Stephen portraying a “nightmare character that lurks in the dark.” The performance earned high praise from the judges, with Carrie Ann Inaba awarding them a perfect 10, while Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each gave them 9s. Inaba called it the best performance of the night, and Hough lauded Stephen’s dedication to the role, saying it was incredible to see him embrace such a dramatic persona.

Both Stephen and Rylee were beyond proud of their performance. Stephen reflected on his growth, saying, “I locked in so much harder” this week and was especially proud of what they accomplished. He also credited Rylee for their positive partnership, explaining, “We’re both very positive-outlooking people, and I think our positivity bounced off one another and can create something beautiful on the dance floor.”

Rylee in return praised Stephen Nedoroscik, saying, “I feel so good. I am so proud of Stephen.” This milestone highlighted their progress as a duo and also hinted at the potential for success down the road!