Julia Stiles Revives Save the Last Dance Moves on DWTS
Dancing with the Stars' "Super Bowl Night" on Tuesday (10/13/2026) turned into a celebration of 2000s nostalgia. Actress Julia Stiles, 45, revived the iconic choreography from Save the Last Dance (2001) alongside her partner, Ezra Sosa.
The pair performed a hip-hop-inspired jazz routine set to Jennifer Lopez's "Jenny From the Block." The signature moves from the film that launched Stiles's stardom a quarter of a century ago were back on the dance floor — and became the most memorable moment of the night.
Sean Patrick Thomas Watches from the Audience
The moment felt even more emotional because Sean Patrick Thomas — Stiles's co-star and on-screen love interest in the film — was in the audience watching live. His presence mirrored the dynamics of the film's iconic final dance audition scene, in which his character watches Stiles perform.
"I am just over the moon to be here to watch Julia do her thing tonight," Thomas said, praising his former co-star for bringing the legendary moves to the DWTS stage more than two decades later.
33 Out of 40, Judges Impressed
The judges were impressed. Bruno Tonioli called it Stiles's best dance of the season, Derek Hough came over to hug her, while Carrie Ann Inaba praised the actress's newfound confidence on the dance floor.
Stiles and Sosa earned a combined score of 33 out of 40, including the assessment of guest judge Joe Buck, the Monday Night Football commentator. The nostalgic moment became the standout of the DWTS night and was warmly received by fans of the 2000s classic on social media.
