Jenna Dewan Feels Extra Scrutiny On DWTS After Low Score With Val Chmerkovskiy

Jenna Dewan is feeling the heat on the ballroom floor, but she is far from backing down. The actress and performer recently shared her thoughts on her current run on *Dancing With the Stars*, revealing that she believes the judges might be scrutinizing her routines much more intensely than those of her fellow competitors. The conversation around her scoring comes right after a tough night in the ballroom with her professional dance partner, Val Chmerkovskiy. On the September 29 episode of the long-running reality competition, the pair earned a score of 21 out of 30 from the judging table. While the total was enough to keep them moving forward in the competition, it left plenty of room for growth on the leaderboard.

Watch

Clips tied to this story.

▶Watch on YouTube

▶Watch on YouTube

▶Watch on YouTube

Dewan acknowledged that high expectations come with the territory, especially given her public history as a trained dancer. Because viewers and judges know what she is capable of on stage, the bar is naturally set higher for every single routine she delivers. However, adapting to the strict discipline of ballroom dancing requires learning entirely new techniques that differ significantly from other styles. Reports indicate that Dewan does not need the panel to remind her when a performance falls short. Instead of dwelling on the lower marks, she remains determined to channel the strict feedback into her upcoming rehearsals alongside Chmerkovskiy as they prepare for their next turn on the dance floor.

BUZZBEAT

During the September 29 broadcast, Dewan and Chmerkovskiy secured a 21 out of 30, placing them squarely in the middle of the pack for that episode. The critique served as a wake-up call of sorts, prompting the duo to double down on technical precision and performance quality for their future routines. With the stakes rising every week, fans are watching closely to see how the couple responds to the pressure. Dewan remains eager to prove herself on the floor, using the judges' rigid evaluations as motivation to elevate her performance level as the season progresses.