Reality TV show Dancing with the Stars aired its first-ever Hanukkah-themed dance in its most recent holiday special.
Viewers tuning in to ABC or watching on Disney+ could see Alan Bersten and Valentin Chmerkovskiy, both Jewish, dancing to “Miracle” by Matisyahu, along with Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, Onye Stevenson, and Hailey Bills.
The dance featured many direct nods to Hanukkah, most prominently the three large dreidel props featured onstage alongside the dancers. Several of the dance moves were references to the holiday and to broader Jewish culture, including moves from Fiddler on the Roof, a sit-spin to imitate a dreidel, and the hora.
'A special performance to celebrate Hanukkah'
Dancing with the Stars has had many Jewish competitors, including Alec Mazo, the winner of the first season. This holiday special’s Hanukkah dance marks the first time a participant’s Jewish heritage has explicitly flavored the choreography and theme of a performance.
The dance was choreographed by Bersten, who has previously posted about his celebration of Jewish holidays and about the dangers of antisemitism.
In his introduction before the dance number, Bersten said that it was important for him to see Hanukkah representation as a Jewish child growing up:
“Everyone celebrates holidays in a different way. Growing up Jewish, you don’t really see a lot of Hanukkah representation, so tonight we’re doing a special performance to celebrate Hanukkah,” he said. “Hopefully a Jewish kid’s watching this, and they feel seen, and they feel proud.”
The Center for Jewish History congratulated Bernsten on the Hanukkah themed dance, saying that it was "a milestone 34 seasons in the making."
The Center went on to thank Bernsten, as well as Dancing with the Stars itself.
Hen Mazzig, Jewish writer and influencer, also responded to the Dancing with the Stars segment, in a post later shared by Bernsten.
"An early Happy Hanukkah to all," the writer wished in his response.