Sharna Burgess believes 'DWTS' lift rules need clarification
17 october 2026 в 03:28
Sharna Burgess spoke about the lift rules in the show «Dancing with the Stars», - noting that they need to be clearer for all participants. In a comment on TikTok on October 15, she supported her colleague Jenna Johnson, who faced criticism from judge Carrie Ann Inaba for using an illegal lift in her Super Bowl-themed dance.
Burgess emphasized that she does not have a personal stance in this discussion but agreed that the rules indeed need clarification. She explained that in traditional ballroom and Latin dances, lifts are allowed only in a limited number of routines, while in most cases, such as waltz, tango, and foxtrot, they are strictly prohibited.
Inaba’s criticism was triggered by the fact that in Johnson’s dance with Harry Shum Jr., two group members helped him perform a flip, which led to confusion. Johnson later acknowledged that she was unaware that other dancers were assisting Shum and expressed respect for the judge.
Burgess also clarified that in dances where lifts are allowed, such as jazz and contemporary, performers try to avoid accidental lifts by keeping at least one foot on the floor. She added that the rules regarding lifts can be confusing, especially when some movements are classified as assistance.
While Johnson and Inaba seem to have resolved the misunderstanding, Johnson’s husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, expressed support for his wife on social media, which led to his public apology. «Dancing with the Stars» airs on ABC on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
Burgess emphasized that she does not have a personal stance in this discussion but agreed that the rules indeed need clarification. She explained that in traditional ballroom and Latin dances, lifts are allowed only in a limited number of routines, while in most cases, such as waltz, tango, and foxtrot, they are strictly prohibited.
Inaba’s criticism was triggered by the fact that in Johnson’s dance with Harry Shum Jr., two group members helped him perform a flip, which led to confusion. Johnson later acknowledged that she was unaware that other dancers were assisting Shum and expressed respect for the judge.
Burgess also clarified that in dances where lifts are allowed, such as jazz and contemporary, performers try to avoid accidental lifts by keeping at least one foot on the floor. She added that the rules regarding lifts can be confusing, especially when some movements are classified as assistance.
While Johnson and Inaba seem to have resolved the misunderstanding, Johnson’s husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, expressed support for his wife on social media, which led to his public apology. «Dancing with the Stars» airs on ABC on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
© Puhova Marina
