If Dancing with the Stars viewers weren’t already impressed by the dancing skills of Marvel actress Xochitl Gomez during the first three weeks of the reality series competition, they likely are now.
On Tuesday (October 17), Gomez and her dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy recorded the top score of the night during the show’s celebration of Walt Disney’s 100th anniversary. For their performance, Gomez and Chmerkovskiy danced a Paso doble to the song “Un Poco Loco” from the 2017 Academy Award-winning animated film Coco.
For their dance, the duo earned a score of nine from each of the three judges for a total score of 27, the highest of the evening. It was also the first time this season that a team scored triple-nines.
Dressed in a long, yellow skirt with a colorful hem, an aqua-blue top with oversized sleeves, and a flower crown, Gomez took the floor with sharp movements and plenty of spirit. She matched Chmerkovskiy’s steps and turns with precision and swayed her skirt with so much energy, that she could’ve fit naturally into a Baile folklórico troupe.
All three judges were floored by Gomez’s performance. Bruno Tonioli said Gomez and Chmerkovskiy captured “the vibrancy of Mexico” and “retained a pure Paso doble” at twice the speed it usually is. Carrie Ann Inaba said Gomez used her power “in a beautifully animated and light way.” Derek Hough called Gomez an “artist” on the dance floor.
In contrast to Gomez’s great night, social media personality Lele Pons and her partner Brandon Armstrong ended up in the Bottom 3. Although their rumba to the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, dropped them near the bottom of the rankings, they managed to escape elimination and will return for the next episode.
Without a doubt, Xochitl Gomez is improving with each week that passes. Here hoping she continues to be a sensation as the competition gets more intense.
And if you enjoyed this dance number to a Latine classic from Disney, make sure to check out the opening for Dancing with the Stars which includes the hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto.