Olivia Jade and Val Chmerkovskiy may not have made it to the finale of Olivia entered the competition after her parents were embroiled in the college issions scandal, but she said that participating in the show was not meant to be her redemption story, and she was hesitant about ing the show in the first place. Olivia often acknowledged that she knew that fans might not vote for her because of her past, but she surprised and impressed Val, the judges, viewers, and even herself, as she proved to be a hard worker and a talented dancer.
Olivia and Val received much praise from the judges and even earned 9’s from Len Goodman, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli for both of their Week 4 Disney-themed dances. However, the very next week they were in the Bottom 2 alongside Melanie C. and Gleb Savchenko despite earning 9’s from all four judges. The judges saved them, and they remained in the competition, receiving their first 10’s in Week 7 from Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek, and Bruno for their quickstep during Queen Night. They also earned all 4 judges’ bonus points during the foxtrot relay. Unfortunately, they were eliminated on Janet Jackson Night during Week 8, placing last during a double elimination, leaving them ineligible for the Judges’ Save.
Some of the most anticipated moments of the season are when the couples have the opportunity to dance a freestyle routine on the finale, with no rules or restrictions on what they may include in their dances. Olivia and Val never had the chance to perform their freestyle, until now. They released a video on YouTube showcasing their 1970’s-style freestyle to “You Should Be Dancing.” The video features Olivia and Val dancing in a bar, complete with 70’s costumes and dance moves. They exude pure joy as they dance with each other. Fans of the show will notice that Val’s sister-in-law and former Dancing With The Stars pro, Peta Murgatroyd, has a cameo as the DJ.
In an Instagram post, gave a special shoutout to Val, saying, “of course big thanks to my partnaaa @valentin u r incredibly fun to work and create with and I’m glad the universe forced us to hang out. love u long time.” In the comments, Val responded with “We crushed it," and posted the video on his own Instagram with the caption, “Got a chance to direct a little something with the help of my friends. Go check it out.”
Olivia and Val’s freestyle video was a sweet surprise for fans who missed them on the finale. It was a treat to see what they could have done if they had stayed in the competition. Although they didn’t win, their desire to share their talents with the world shows that Olivia cared deeply about the artform of dance. Val helped her transform into a talented dancer and really showcased her strengths. Olivia and Val should be proud of everything they achieved on Dancing With The Stars this season.
Source: Olivia Jade/Instagram, Val Chmerkovskiy/Instagram, YouTube