The quickstep by Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas greatly appealed to the Dancing With the Stars panel, resulting in the first 10s awarded this season.
“I’m very appreciative, though [it] also registers as a major payoff,” Leavitt, 32, revealed to Us Weekly following the live performance on Tuesday, October 21. “Mark and I put in a lot of effort for that dance.
During Tuesday’s episode, Leavitt and Ballas, 39, performed a quickstep to “Popular” from the show Wicked, and the judges gave them 39 out of 40 — including three 10s and a single 9.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives personality told Us that, “That was the most daunting dance I’ve taken on so far. It was, like, I could finally relax once we struck that last pose.”
Similarly, Ballas felt great that his work in choreography led to the night’s highest score.
Ballas told Us, “I felt quite satisfied. It took a lot of effort. A great deal of work [and] attention to detail went into it. I tend to say, ‘The goal is to finish, feel good, and know that you did your best.’ It’s the worst to finish and think, ‘I could have performed better.’”
After Leavitt and Ballas concluded their performance, the judges spoke highly of their routine. Derek Hough went as far as to declare that the reality TV star is without a doubt a true star.
She stated on Tuesday that, “That really resonated with me. I feel like I’ve pictured this [version] of Whitney, and I feel like she’s displaying it on this platform. And so, hearing that was deeply meaningful. [It was] wonderful.”
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas dance the quickstep on the ‘DWTS’ Wicked Night. Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images
Whitney also has the complete backing of her husband, Conner Leavitt, 31, who caused a stir in the ballroom by painting his entire face in Elphaba-like green. (Conner, who danced alongside his wife on Dedication Night earlier in October, has attended each week in his own costume to celebrate the different theme nights.)
Whitney recalled, “He asked, ‘What should I do for Wicked?’ and I replied, ‘Wouldn’t it be hilarious if you painted yourself green?’ He initially refused, but tonight, he showed up green. It’s wonderful [and] I appreciate the dedication.”
She added, “It’s amusing because he phoned me and said, ‘I have a surprise,’ leading me to expect a gift or something.”
Now that Wicked Night has passed, Whitney and Ballas are getting ready for Halloween Night on Tuesday, October 28. All of the couples will perform a spooky routine in addition to participating in the “Monster Night Monster-thon” dance relay.
Ballas hinted to Us that “Next week might feature some more green,” implying that his Halloween strategy might reflect the Wicked colors.
Dancing With the Stars is broadcast on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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