Danielle Fishel doesn’t mind receiving constructive criticism from the Dancing With the Stars judges. In fact, she’s grateful for it.
“We’re going to continue to take the judge’s feedback. They’re really good at giving us very specific notes,” Fishel, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly after the Tuesday, October 7, live show. “Last week, Carrie Ann [Inaba] gave us the note about our body contact. This week, she noticed that it was significantly better.”
She added, “I’m gonna go home and watch the tape, and see if I can see what they’re talking about with the area where there was a bit of a mess-up in the lindy hop [section], and then I’m just gonna see what I can improve. I just want to get better every week. So every week, I’m like, ‘Whatever I need to do.’”
Fishel and pro partner Pasha Pashkov performed a quickstep to “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” from The Jungle Book during Tuesday’s Disney Night show. Inaba, 57, and fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli gave the pair 21 out of 30 points, offering feedback about style choices they can improve upon for next week.
Danielle Fishel Is Dedicating ‘DWTS’ Dance to Boy Meets World’s Mr. Feeny
“The schedule is so busy that there’s no time to dwell,” Fishel told Us about hearing the notes. “I know that I want to get every single bit of knowledge and experience I can out of this, and the only thing that can stop that is me and my overthinking and being too hard on myself. So, if I want to give myself a gift, the biggest gift I gave myself is grace and just saying, ‘That week’s over, I don’t have to think about that again. Let’s just go on to the next.’”
No matter what the judges thought, Fishel had the time of her life performing her Disney-themed routine.
“Every week, Pasha is so good at bringing out a different side of my personality and of our personalities,” Fishel added on Tuesday night. “This week is just the most playful. With all the other dances, there were times where I was like, ‘All right, keep the smile to a minimum, missy.’ And this time, it was just like, ‘You’re having the time of your life. Show it.’ It just fits so perfectly.”
Fishel and Pashkov, 39, narrowly survived elimination after being in the bottom three alongside Andy Richter and Emma Slater and Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko, the latter of whom were sent home.
Fishel and Pashkov are now gearing up for next week’s Dedication Night, in which the actress will honor former Boy Meets World costar William Daniels.
“Mr. Feeny himself is going to be on the ballroom floor with me,” Fishel said on the Wednesday, October 8, episode of her “Danielle With the Stars” podcast, referring to Daniels’ character. “[He] is going to be on the ballroom floor with us and he’s going to participate in the dance as well. Saying it out loud feels crazy, but yes, we get to dance to the Boy Meets World theme song.”
Danielle Fishel Says ‘Boy Meets World’ Cast Is Supporting Her on ‘DWTS’
Fishell further noted that the routine will be dedicated to Daniels, 98, and “the role he has played in [her] life.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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