Arielle Port is an entertainment writer and former TV producer with Netflix and Hallmark credits, now covering film and TV at Screen Rant.
Dancing with the Stars' Christmas special, “Dancing with the Holidays,” highlighted the skills of the pros without their stars, although a few — including the People’s Princess Andy Richter — made an appearance.
This was the show’s first full holiday special, though DWTS has done a lot of Christmas content before, with much of it disappointingly replayed in the new special. In addition to original choreography, the special featured replays of a dance previously filmed for ABC’s Pennsylvania affiliate and a clip of DWTS pro Rylee Arnold’s dance from her DWTS: Juniors days. However, the dance that’s getting the most online attention is not a Christmas song at all — it’s a celebration of Hanukkah, the first in DWTS’ 20-year history. Alan Bersten’s Choreo To Matisyahu Was DWTS’ First Tribute To Hanukkah In 20 Years Pro Alan Bersten’s intro package was surprisingly emotional. He shared that he’s Jewish but didn’t grow up seeing much representation, especially not in the insular world of competitive dance. Bersten said he wanted to create something that Jewish kids today could see themselves in. This carried extra weight because DWTS is fundamentally designed to highlight the stars, not the pros. Alan is usually in pure support mode, most recently playing up the fun with partners like actress Elaine Hendrix and rugby player Ilona Maher in DWTS season 33. That made the glimpses into Bersten’s life feel even more powerful. What really made the number pop, though, was his musical choice. Matisyahu is one of the most influential Jewish artists working today, and “Miracle” manages to feel joyful to a casual listener while offering deeply resonant lyrics for anyone familiar with its meaning. Bersten also broke down his choreography inspirations, including the hora, which added another layer of thoughtfulness. The men linking raised arms to form a menorah was clever and visually striking, and the sit-spin as a nod to a dreidel was both cute and technically impressive. Bersten didn’t call it out directly, but there’s a clear influence by Jewish folk dance, the same movement vocabulary that shows up in Fiddler on the Roof. DWTS is always at its most compelling when it folds other styles into traditional ballroom. The inclusion of pro Val Chmerkovskiy, whose father is Jewish, made the moment feel even more communal. Positive Representation Of Judaism Has Been On The Rise Across All Forms Of TV Thoughtful Jewish representation has been steadily gaining momentum across television, and Nobody Wants This is the clearest example of how far things have come. Nobody Wants This celebrates Judaism and even teaches viewers about traditions, language, and philosophy in a way that feels organic rather than didactic. But the trend extends well beyond explicitly Jewish shows. Characters’ Judaism in series like Doc and The Pitt serves as a source of comfort, cultural grounding, and moral clarity without becoming the central premise. It’s treated the way other identities often are: as a meaningful part of a person’s life rather than a plot device. DWTS adding a Hanukkah number and naming it as the show’s first, rather than burying that fact, fits squarely into this broader shift. It acknowledges that Jewish stories and traditions deserve space in mainstream entertainment, and that audiences want more than the same old “Dreidel” references. The choice of contemporary, celebratory music and thoughtful choreography reinforces that there’s a rich cultural palette to draw from. It’s a small moment within Dancing with the Stars' 20-year history, but it signals that Judaism can be both normalized and joyfully spotlighted across all corners of TV. 6.2/10 Dancing with the Stars 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-PG Reality Release Date June 1, 2005 Cast See All
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