Dancing with the stars‘ the most beloved professional dancers returned to the ballroom on Tuesday night to pay a moving tribute to the late head judge Len Goodman.
Alumni Maks Chmerkovski, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Louis van Amstel and Mark Ballas were joined by current professionals in a dance tribute to Goodman, who died aged 78 in April 2023. four month. after announcing his retirement from the ABC dance competition.
The emotional mid-show segment began with a pre-recorded package with all the pros, including judge Derek Hough and co-host Julianne Hough, talking about their favorite Goodman memories. From how “charming” he was to his constructive — and loving — criticism, pro dancers had nothing but good things to say about the late judge and his impact on the show.
“It was never easy being criticized by Len, but getting that ten made it all worth it,” said Max.
The pros also talked about Goodman’s off-camera life, which fans didn’t get a chance to see, including the moments they spent together and how he adored his family and wife.
“One of the things I’m most grateful for is being able to referee alongside Len,” Derek said through tears. “I was able to spend a little more time with him and I’m really grateful for that.”
In a final tip-off to Goodman, the pros then performed a line — choreographed by Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy — to the Henry Mancini classic, “Moon River,” a song and dance style they said Goodman loved.
The performance ended with spotlights on Leno’s former chair at the judges’ table as the audience rose to their feet and applauded, and the other professionals and judges burst into tears.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ honors late judge Len Goodman by renaming the Mirrorball Trophy
Ahead of the show, Vala’s older brother Maks, as well as Johnson-Herjavec, Dovolani and Smirnoff exclusively opened up to PEOPLE about how they created a “really touching moment” for DWTS fans and their decision to return to the ballroom.
Smirnoff, 45, promised the tribute would be a “love letter” to the late chief justice.
“To go back and read that love letter or dance that love letter with him, saying thank you for his contribution to our world, I don’t think makes sense,” she said of her decision to return to performing. “We are all excited and grateful to have this opportunity and that the show was able to give us that.”
Maks, 43, said it was an honor to return to the ballroom because “I don’t exist without Lena”, adding: “And that’s the reality. So whenever there’s an opportunity to pay tribute, I think I’d like to be a part of it.”
Len Goodman.
DWTS OGs prepare ‘love letter’ to Len Goodman as they remember the ‘gleam’ in the head judge’s eye (Exclusive)
Johnson-Herjavec, 47, and Dovolani, 50, shared that the accolade would be fitting for Goodman, as Dovolani explained: “It’s a classical dance that really requires a lot of, as Len would say, the right amount of zazz so he loved classical dances and that’s exactly what we’re going to do for him.”
Johnson-Herjavec added: “He didn’t like tricks. He loved live dancing and I’m pretty sure it will be very beautiful, very classical – like Len, really.”
However, one alum from the show was noticeably absent from the tribute. Last week, former pro Cheryl Burke claimed she was not asked to return to the ballroom for a special performance. (Repeats on DWTS did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
“For those of you asking if I will be part of the Len Goodman tribute next week DWTS, unfortunately, I’m not invited, but I’ll be there in spirit and I can’t wait to cheer on my former colleagues!” she wrote on Threads. “Sending love and light to everyone. 🤍🙏🏼 #riplen”
On Tuesday, Burke, 39, instead paid tribute to Goodman on Instagram, sharing in part, “Mr. Len Goodman. Thank you for being the face of ballroom dancing and for always standing up for what is right, no matter what. You are such a big part of the reason why Dancing with the stars is a huge hit because the premise is about teaching celebrities how to ballroom dance, and the word ‘balkan ballroom’ before the word ‘dance’ was all because of your decades worth of knowledge and experience.”
She went on to praise his “tough love and no-BS approach” and shared that Goodman’s “respect for the art and sport of ballroom dance showed me and millions of people how much you really care.”
Alfonso Ribeiro promises ‘DWTS’ season 32 will honor Len Goodman’s legacy: ‘There won’t be a dry eye’
During DWTSAt the season premiere last month, co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced that the show would feature “a spectacular tribute to Leno from our dancers that you won’t want to miss.”
They also revealed that the Mirrorball Trophy will now be called the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in his honour.
“Len will always go forward with us,” Hough said, and Ribeiro added, “As a tribute to him, we’ve redesigned and renamed our ultimate award.”
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Dancing with the stars airs Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC and Disney+.
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