Stephen Nedoroscik is making waves on and off with his partner Rylee Arnold. Well, on 22nd October, he wowed the audience on “Dancing with the Stars” with their lively Charleston to “A Star is Born” from Disney’s “Hercules.” Stephen, a two-time bronze medalist, really got into character, even sporting a spray tan for the routine.

Nedoroscik joked, “Hercules, you got nothing on me,” as he embraced the performance. The judges—Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli—all gave them eights for their fun team dance to “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” from “The Lion King,” which added up to a score of 24 out of 30. That kind of praise really gave their confidence a nice boost!

Combining their scores, Stephen ended up with a total of 48 out of 60 for Disney Night, placing sixth for the evening, tying with Dwight Howard and Phaedra Parks. After the show, Stephen chatted with Access Online, and when the host asked him about being lifted by Dwight while playing Simba, he enthusiastically shared, “I think I got a view that no one has ever gotten of this place. It was so cool. It means we worked so hard just to trust one another with that lift, so it meant a lot to nail it in that performance.” It was clear that the experience meant a lot to him.

The conversation turned fun when the host brought up the daring moment of jumping over Dwight. Stephen confidently replied, “I’ve been landing for years, so I’ve got good landing muscles.” Rylee jumped in, a bit nervous, saying, “Scary though; I was nervous when.” To lighten the mood, Stephen teased, “She was freaking out. Don’t worry yourself.” Their playful banter showed just how well they work together, both on and off the dance floor. However, even as they step up their performances, they can’t shake the feeling that they’re still trailing behind the competition.

The competition heats up for Stephen Nedoroscik as the season progresses

Last week, Stephen Nedoroscik delivered a thrilling performance to “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes, earning an impressive score of 33 out of 40 and landing him in second place on the leaderboard. However, the tide turned this week as he found himself tied for the bottom following the individual round of competition. Despite this setback, making it past the halfway mark feels surreal for Nedoroscik, who refers to himself as the “pommel horse guy.” 

Stephen remains optimistic about his chances, expressing that he believes he can make it all the way to the finale. His latest routine showcased a series of impressive tricks and fast footwork, culminating in a dramatic flex atop the judges’ table. While his energy and athleticism shone through, the judges noted that he struggled with timing, an issue he has faced throughout the competition.

In contrast, Danny Amendola and his partner Witney Carson delivered a standout jazz routine to “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC, which regained popularity due to this summer’s blockbuster “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Dressed as the titular Marvel heroes, they earned 27 out of 30 points, with the judges awarding them nines across the board. Amendola shared his enthusiasm for the performance, saying, “It was a fun one to get out there and show emotion; that mattered a lot to me.” He emphasized the importance of leaning into his strengths, acknowledging that, as they topped the leaderboard, they needed to maintain their momentum.

Meanwhile, Maher also impressed with her jazz routine to “Surface Pressure” from “Encanto,” performing alongside partner Alan Bersten, who humorously dressed as a donkey—a nod to the film’s character Luisa. Earning 25 out of 30 points and receiving her first nine from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. As the competition heats up, it’s clear that the stakes are rising, and every performance counts in this high-stakes game, where one misstep could send them home.