Since joining Dancing With the Stars Season 34, Jordan Chiles has been navigating not just choreography, but strict ballroom rules that forbid many lifts. These are the moves that her gymnastics background would like to lean on. Historically, jive routines on DWTS must follow guidelines set by the NDCA, allowing flair but banning partnering lifts that defy the floor. But can we actually expect the duo to perform lifts in the next week? 

During an interview with Extra TV following their first week’s performance, the reporter claimed that Sosa and Chiles could have aced things with lifts. But Sosa cut through and said, “You know, the tricky thing about Jive is, like, we can’t really do lifts, but we might just have to. I don’t know.” This made him and Chiles reflect on the feedback they got from the judges. Derek Hough made it pretty clear that Sosa and Chiles had to keep the integrity of the original dance form while choreographing and blending styles. His complaint was, “I wish there was a little more content of salsa in there.”

Sosa continued, “I know, I know. I fear too, like, I know they said, like, to keep it, like, conventional in the ballroom, but, like… I know it’s really hard, but we’re going to try.” Even though they scored 10 out of 20, Jordan Chiles and her partner have the chance to rise up in the upcoming week. But they decided to keep things open. The Olympian stated, “We’re going to see what happens.” But the hype around the Olympian is still high. 

At the end of week 1 of the DWTS, Jordan Chiles and Erza Sosa rank at #9, while the top spot is taken by Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas, and Robert Irwin & Witney Carson. 

Interestingly, beyond gymnastics honing her dance skills with beam and floor choreography, Chiles also did ballet, tap, and hip-hop dance classes as a kid. In fact, she also revealed that this is actually her third time being asked to join the DWTS squad.

Jordan Chiles reveals her stance on dancing prior to her DWTS entry

Back in 2024, prior to her entry into the last season of DWTS, Chiles had an interview with USA Today. Therein, she said, “I mean, a lot of people say I have really good dance moves. I mean, I like dancing, like you know, being involved in like that area.” The 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist continued, “I told myself, you know, if I wasn’t an athlete, I would definitely be in the dance music area of things.” 

In fact, this year, UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald mentioned that the planning for the gymnast’s stint on DWTS began a month prior to the announcement of the show. And because, the filming of the show and rehearsals are set to take place in Los Angeles, it’d be easier for Chiles to balance between gymnastic pre-season and DWTS.

Her routine now includes: Training with UCLA during practice hours, attending her classes, rehearsing with Sosa outside of team training, and missing out on Tuesdays for the live shows.

This time around, Erza Sosa highlighted her strengths through an IG Story. He stated, “watching @jordanchiles balance her NCAA gymnastics training at UCLA, all while rehearsing every day at DWTS blows my mind. The discipline and artistry she brings into the studio is UNREAL!!! and it inspires me in so many ways, Getting to dance with her has been the absolute best. Go l’m so grateful.”

Now, the question is – Can Jordan Chiles and Erza Sosa rise up in the coming weeks with some jives? Or will they face elimination in week 2?