Olympian Ilona Maher Transforms Into ‘Encanto’s’ Luisa on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
DANCING WITH THE STARS – “Disney Night” – It’s an enchanting night in the ballroom as the eight remaining couples celebrate the magic of Disney through vibrant performances inspired by beloved films and characters. TUESDAY, OCT. 22 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Eric McCandless) ILONA MAHER
Fans had been asking for it and Ilona Maher delivered. During Disney Night on Dancing with the Stars Season 33 Maher and partner Alan Bersten performed a routine set to Encanto’s “Surface Pressure,” with Maher as Luisa Madrigal and Bersten as one of her donkeys.
The routine earned the pair their first 9 of the season, from Carrie Ann Inaba.
The other two judges, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough gave her scores of 8, for a total of 25.
During the routine Maher didn’t just dance, she also “kicked over rocks,” and lifted Bersten multiple times, similar to what Luisa does with her donkeys in the movie.
Maher talked about how much Luisa meant to her during her rehearsal video. “I really resonate with Luisa,” she said. “I too grew up as a bigger female. She is big and broad but she is so beautiful. She doesn’t ever try to shrink herself for the world. I’m so happy I’m sharing that with people now. Just like Luisa, I might bend, but I’ll never break.”
Before her performance, Maher posted a photo of herself as a child with Snow White at one of the Disney parks. The caption read: “Doing this dance tonight for this little girl (me) who would have loved Luisa.”
Since the duo also performed on Team Goofs in the night’s team dance face-off, which earned straight nines across the board, that meant 27 points were added to their total. Maher and Bersten ended the night in second place with 52 points, tied with Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson.
Original Luisa actor Jessica Darrow recently performed the song live last year at the Hollywood Bowl.
Dancing with the Stars airs on ABC.