Pic:Kyran O’Brien /kobpix
It was a night of soaring strings, standing ovations and sky-high stakes on Dancing with the Stars as Orchestra Night returned for the all-important quarter-final.
With the RTÉ Concert Orchestra providing the soundtrack, the six remaining couples gave it everything they had in a bid to secure their place in next week’s semi-final.
From powerful Contemporary Ballroom to high-energy Latin numbers, the standard was higher than ever as the competition edged closer to the finish line.
In addition to their individual routines, the celebrities also faced a brand-new challenge, the first-ever ‘Orchestra-thon’.
Pic:Kyran O’Brien /kobpix
The high-energy dance marathon saw all six couples take to the floor at the same time, dancing to Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry.
Yes, for the first time in the show’s history, six couples competed simultaneously, one more than the traditional five, meaning even more points were up for grabs.
Paudie and Laura were the first to be eliminated, followed by Tolü and Maciej, Katelyn and Leonardo, Philip and Daniela, and then Jordan and Rebecca, leaving Eric and Arianna as the last couple standing.
The marathon tested their stamina, showmanship and sheer determination, with those extra judges’ scores proving crucial on the leaderboard.
Pic:Kyran O’Brien /kobpix
After the public vote was combined with the judges’ scores, it was revealed that Philip and Daniela and Tolü and Maciej, had landed in the bottom two, forcing them to battle it out in the dreaded Dance-Off.
Both couples reprised their routines in a last-ditch effort to impress the judges and save their place in the competition.
But in the end, it was Philip and Daniela who were eliminated from the competition, just one step away from the semi-final.
Speaking out, Philip said: “I’m not easy to work with, but everyone has been incredible. I’ve had a blast, way more fun than I thought I would. It’s been fantastic.”
