DWTS’ Danielle Fishel Reveals Moment That Wasn’t Shown on TV

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Danielle Fishel didn’t leave everything on the dance floor. 

After Danielle was eliminated on the November 4th episode of Dancing With the Stars, she shared that a significant portion of the contemporary dance she and partner Pasha Pashkov had worked on – set to Aerosmith’s “Dream On” – didn’t make it into the broadcast.

In a recent episode of her podcast, Danielle With…, Danielle described contemporary dance as deeply personal, explaining that it’s typically driven by emotion and explores a specific theme or feeling.

The 44-year-old dancer said she hoped their performance would tell a story about the unrealistic expectations women face, both from society and their own self-criticism.

Danielle shared that Pasha was enthusiastic about the concept and collaborated with two close, trusted friends to develop the story behind the dance. Despite their extensive work on the narrative, however, none of it actually made it into the televised episode.

She remembered being on the dance floor and realizing none of what she had shared was included in the material they presented. ‘It was like they didn’t even acknowledge my experience,’ she said.

The podcaster explained that she and the other contestants had no say in what was shown in their video introductions. She was also surprised to learn that many important things she and Pasha wanted the audience to know weren’t actually shared in the videos.

This led her to question if she would have been cut from the show if any of that extra information had been included in the episode.

She wondered if she’d ever look back and think things could have turned out differently if certain choices had been made. However, she doesn’t have a single regret about the experience. She truly gave it her absolute best effort and stands by everything she did.

Danielle, who shares two sons – 6-year-old Adler and 4-year-old Keaton – with her husband Jensen Karp, discussed her feelings about being eliminated from Dancing with the Stars on her podcast, Pod Meets World. She said she experienced a lot of different emotions.

Honestly, things couldn’t have gone smoother! As I was telling everyone recently, I feel incredibly fortunate to have been paired with Pasha. He was the perfect partner, and I really feel like I lucked out!

Oh my gosh, she said she was so proud of everything we did together! And it wasn’t just a general thing, she actually said she cherishes every single week, like each one was this perfect, unforgettable little memory she’ll hold onto forever. It just… it gets me right here, honestly. Every. Single. Week!

For more behind the scenes facts about Dancing With the Stars, keep reading.

In 2019, Variety reported that contestants on Dancing With the Stars initially earn around $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks of the show, with payouts increasing weekly for those who continue. Sources indicated a potential maximum earning of $295,000.

However, Bobby Bones, who won season 27 with Sharna Burgess in 2018, claimed he earned significantly more.

On Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast in September 2025, Bones revealed the pay structure: no money for the first episode, $10,000 for the second, and increasing amounts—$10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000—potentially reaching $50,000 per episode if a contestant lasts. He also stated he received a base salary of around $110,000, ultimately earning nearly $400,000 from the show.

ABC has not officially confirmed these figures.

Details about how much the professional dancers earn aren’t widely available. However, like the celebrity contestants, it appears they make more money the further they progress in the competition.

Even if a pro is eliminated early on, they still receive payment.

“You’re guaranteed a salary for a certain number of weeks,” Jenna Johnson explained on the June 2025 episode of Kelly Stafford and Hank Winchester’s podcast, The Morning After. “But contracts vary, so I can’t say exactly what everyone earns.”

It seems professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars don’t earn extra money for winning the show, despite what many believe. While they don’t receive a large prize like a million-dollar payout, there’s still a financial benefit to reaching the finale. According to pro dancer Cheryl Burke, making it to the end means getting paid for the entire season and receiving a bonus. Winning the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy is more about the honor than a substantial financial reward; it’s a trophy to share with your celebrity partner.

That doesn’t seem to be true. In a 2022 episode of the podcast Trading Secrets, dancer Lindsay Arnold shared that her pay was reduced by more than half when she moved from being a professional dancer to a troupe member.

Professional dancers have very little say in who they’re paired with on shows like Dancing With the Stars. According to Lindsay, it’s simply, ‘Here’s your partner, make it work.’ Jenna explained that the pairings are usually kept secret until the last minute to capture a genuine reaction. They don’t even tell the dancers who else is on the show, though leaks often happen. Former showrunner Rob Wade revealed that the team considers height, body type, personality, and compatibility when making matches. They avoid pairing people who are likely to clash, as the experience is too intense for everyone involved – the celebrity, the show’s team, and the viewers. They’ve learned from past mistakes where incompatible pairings led to a miserable experience for all.

Dancing with the Stars requires a huge time commitment. Rylee Arnold, who partnered with Stephen Nedoroscik in season 33, explained on the Lightweights Podcast With Joe Vulpis that rehearsals typically last four hours, either from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. But the work doesn’t end there; she often spends additional time meeting with producers, working on choreography, or reviewing dance videos.

Arnold says her life is completely dedicated to the show, but she loves it and finds it fulfilling. It’s a job that demands constant effort, with rehearsals happening from Wednesday to Sunday after their Tuesday show. Mondays are for camera blocking, and then the cycle starts again with another show on Tuesday.

Emma Slater and Britt Stewart confirmed in a September 2025 Instagram video that they were mostly on board, but explained it was a joint effort with the show’s producers.

If you think the quickstep is fast-paced, you should see how quickly the costume department works! Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner explained to TV Insider that they collaborate with set, lighting, and dance teams to create a unique story for each contestant’s outfit. Then, they have just five days – sometimes only half a day per costume, before even adding rhinestones – to make everything. It’s a large operation, with around 20 people in the department plus an external tailor shop.

Steven Norman Lee, another costume designer, revealed that dancers often don’t try on their costumes until just hours before the show. While they might re-use pants for male contestants, most costumes are made from scratch each week.

Gschwendtner added that while they do re-use items for group performances or promotional shoots, they avoid re-using anything during the competition itself. The goal is to keep each contestant looking fresh and new every week to maintain the show’s excitement.

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2025-11-06 05:19