Narrowed down from 12 pros to just a handful of the best, we’re so excited to see that Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ own Allen Genkin has advanced to the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro semifinals!
And this time, it wasn’t just about dancing well to get through.
It was about how well he could teach someone else to dance.
In our Dancing with the Stars The Next Pro Episode 6 recap, we’re looking at a challenge that struck at the heart of what it really means to be a professional dancer.
Episode 6, “But Can You Teach? Coaching Superfans with Witney Carson,” threw a curveball at the remaining contestants. Instead of simply learning choreography and performing it themselves, they had to take on a responsibility that professional dancers know very well: helping someone else succeed.
The task was simple in theory — but a whole lot harder in practice:
Take a complete beginner and get them up to speed in just two short days.
For Allen Genkin, it was an opportunity to put into practice something we see all the time here at Fred Astaire Dance Studios:
It’s not just about putting on great shows. True dance professionals help make great dancers.
And Allen delivered.
What Happened in Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Episode 6?
After weeks of challenges testing technique, choreography, chemistry and performance skills, the remaining contestants were presented with a whole new question:
Are you good at instructing?
That distinction matters.
The original Dancing with the Stars isn’t built around professionals dancing exclusively with other professionals. The show’s pros have to partner with celebrities who can arrive with wildly different levels of dance experience, confidence and physical ability.
That’s one reason Episode 6 felt so relevant to the actual job these contestants are trying to win.
The challenge paired the aspiring pros with Dancing with the Stars superfans who were ballroom newcomers. With Witney Carson joining judges Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas, the competitors were given just two days to prepare their new partners for a ballroom performance.
The episode’s challenge and its two-day turnaround were designed to test something we hadn’t seen to quite this degree before: Could these talented performers actually transfer what they know to someone else?
The pairs included:
- Nina Mayster and Jay Wyson – Foxtrot
- Adele Zaikman and Anthony Riccardo – Tango
- AJ Pritchard and Bailey McKnight – Viennese Waltz
- Selena Hamilton and Jeremy Urann – Quickstep
- Allen Genkin and Zaira Yzabelle – Waltz
Suddenly, it was about more than being the best dancer in the room.
These pros had to talk. Adapt. Encourage. Choreograph to the strengths of their students. And somehow transform a nervous beginner into a confident dance partner before time ran out.
Sound familiar?
For dance instructors, it certainly should.
Why Episode 6 Was So Different From the Rest of The Next Pro
Until this point, the competition had tested many of the things we naturally associate with a professional dancer.
Technique matters. Musicality matters. Choreography matters. Performance matters. The ability to connect with a partner matters.
But teaching introduces another layer entirely.
Knowing how to perform a movement and knowing how to explain that movement to somebody else aren’t necessarily the same skill.
A professional may understand exactly where their weight needs to be, how their frame should feel or how a movement connects to the music. A beginner doesn’t have years of training to draw from.
The teacher has to find another way in.
Maybe that means changing the explanation.
Maybe it means demonstrating the movement instead of describing it.
Maybe the student needs to understand the timing first and the footwork second. Someone else might need the exact opposite.
And sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t a dance step at all.
It’s convincing the person standing in front of you that they’re actually capable of doing it.
That made this challenge feel particularly close to home for us at Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Allen Genkin & Zaira Yzabelle Take on the Waltz
Allen’s challenge partner was Zaira Yzabelle, and they had the iconic Waltz to learn together in just a couple of days.
But this was more than simply teaching Zaira where to put her feet.
Allen had to build trust.
He had to learn how she learned things.
He had to give her enough technique to make her dance look convincing without overloading her with information.
And, more importantly, he had to convince her that she belonged on that ballroom floor.
That relationship became a huge part of the strength of their performance.
By the time Allen and Zaira were finally on the floor together, they were no longer simply a professional and a beginner trying to survive a routine.
They looked like partners.
And that’s an important distinction.
A Waltz can have beautiful steps, but ballroom dancing is about more than executing choreography in the right order. The movement between two people has to feel connected.
That requires communication.
For a professional working with a brand-new dancer, it also requires an enormous amount of trust.
Judges Recognize Allen’s Ability to Inspire Confidence
The judges had plenty to say about Allen and Zaira’s performance.
Shirley Ballas praised their partnership while also pushing Allen to continue working on some of the ballroom fundamentals.
Mark Ballas addressed Allen’s energy and what the pair had been able to accomplish within such a short deadline.
But one of the most interesting parts of the feedback centered on the confidence and trust Allen had managed to build with his partner.
And that’s the million-dollar question.
On Dancing with the Stars, a professional isn’t necessarily dancing with another professional.
They’re working with someone who might be entering the ballroom with an entirely different background.
So the professional has another job.
They have to help that person believe:
“You can totally do this.”
And that was at the heart of this challenge.
Professional Dance Is More Than Simply Performing
There’s a little bit of a lesson underneath Episode 6.
When you think of a career in dance, you probably think of flashing lights, fancy costumes and the rush of performing.
Competitions, travel, TV… the whole shebang.
But what people so often forget is that behind the performance there can be something much less glamorous — and arguably much more important.
Teaching.
Of course a dance instructor needs dance skill. Technique provides the foundation that allows a professional to understand movement and communicate it effectively. It’s one reason we continue to emphasize the importance of developing strong ballroom fundamentals throughout a dancer’s growth.
But instructors also need patience.
And communication skills.
They have to be able to inspire confidence in their students and understand that two students can process the exact same instruction in completely different ways.
Sometimes that means correcting a foot or two.
Sometimes it means changing the choreography.
Sometimes it means explaining the same idea three different ways until something finally clicks.
And sometimes it means taking someone who is pretty sure they can’t dance and showing them that maybe — just maybe — they can.
That’s where a dance career becomes more than just performance.
What Does It Actually Take to Teach Ballroom Dancing?
Ballroom dancing gives a teacher quite a few moving pieces to work with.
There are steps and timing, of course. But there is also posture, frame, connection, musicality, balance, lead and follow, direction and partnership.
Try dumping all of that onto a first-time dancer at once and you’ll probably get one very confused student.
So a good instructor learns how to prioritize.
What does this student need right now?
What can wait until later?
What explanation makes sense to this particular person?
That’s where teaching becomes its own skill.
A student may need to feel the rhythm before worrying about beautiful technique. Another might feel more comfortable understanding exactly where each foot goes. Someone who is nervous may simply need a few minutes to realize nobody expects perfection.
And then there’s choreography.
The most impressive routine isn’t necessarily the one containing the greatest number of difficult steps. Especially with a new dancer, smart choreography can showcase what the student does well while giving them room to become more comfortable on the floor.
Episode 6 put those decisions under a microscope — and gave the contestants very little time to make them.
It’s Something We See Every Day in Our Fred Astaire Dance Teachers
Versions of Allen’s challenge happen every single day across our Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Fortunately, most of our instructors have a little more than 48 hours to figure things out.
Someone enters a dance studio for the first time.
It’s possible they’ve never even been on a dance floor in their life.
Some are very excited.
Others are getting quite scared.
Some swear they have two left feet.
Some were dragged in by their spouse whether they wanted to go or not.
And then the music starts.
The professional instructor teaches one step, then another, and before you know it the student is starting to relax.
Things begin to fall into place.
The nerves start to disappear.
Confidence begins replacing that initial uncertainty.
And one of the absolute best moments is when someone who really thought they couldn’t dance suddenly realizes:
Wait a minute. I’m dancing.
And that, friends, is one of the most satisfying parts of being a dance instructor.
You’re teaching more than a few fancy moves.
You’re helping people discover a whole new dimension of themselves.
Allen Genkin Reaches the DWTS: The Next Pro Semifinals
After the performances, the judges had a tough decision to make.
Ultimately, Nina Mayster was eliminated from the competition.
That left the final four:
Adele Zaikman. AJ Pritchard. Selena Hamilton. Allen Genkin.
Allen is now one round away from the finale — and another step closer to the opportunity at the center of this entire competition.
According to Hulu’s official guide to the series, the winner of The Next Pro earns a professional dancer spot on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
So, yes.
This is kind of a big deal.
And it’s another reason for everyone across Fred Astaire Dance Studios who has been following Allen’s journey to celebrate.
But not so fast on those champagne corks…
There is still dancing to do.
Is This the Start of Your Dance Career With Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
The Next Pro might have you thinking about your own life and career.
But what if you were the teacher?
Maybe you’ve been dancing since you were a kid.
Maybe you were a competitive teen.
Maybe you’ve trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, ballroom or a little bit of everything.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to be a performer but never quite figured out how to turn that passion into a real career.
Or maybe you simply know that being stuck behind a desk from nine to five was never going to be your story.
You may be closer to a dance career than you think.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios offers opportunities for dance instructors along with training and professional development designed to help instructors continue growing as dancers and teachers.
And here’s something that may surprise you:
Previous teaching experience isn’t always necessary.
What matters is a desire to learn, an ability to connect with people and an interest in helping others discover the joy of dance.
Professional instructors can continue developing their own dancing while building the skills that help make them effective teachers — including choreography, communication, student relationships, performance and competition.
And for some people, teaching is only the beginning.
Our organization also offers professional growth opportunities that can lead into training, coaching, studio management and leadership.
Your first step doesn’t have to be onto a TV stage.
It can be through the doors of a dance studio.
Every Pro Starts Somewhere
The latest episode of The Next Pro brought something important back into focus.
The final performance is only one part of what makes a great professional.
Of course you have to be able to dance.
But you also have to be able to help someone else become a dancer.
That’s what Allen was asked to prove this week.
Now he’s through to the semifinals.
Perhaps watching Allen’s journey has you wondering where your own dance career could lead.
Maybe it’s time to stop wondering.
Take that first step toward a dance career with Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Explore dance instructor opportunities, professional training and career paths available throughout our studio network.
Every pro starts somewhere.
Your somewhere could be here.
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Episode 6 FAQ
What happened on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Episode 6?
Episode 6 challenged the remaining contestants to do something very different: teach ballroom dancing rather than simply perform it. Each professional was paired with a ballroom newcomer and given two days to prepare a routine. The challenge tested not only dance ability, but communication, choreography, patience and the ability to build confidence in a partner.
Did Allen Genkin make the semifinals of The Next Pro?
Yes. Allen Genkin advanced through Episode 6 and earned a place in the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro semifinals.
He joins Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard and Selena Hamilton in the final four.
Who did Allen Genkin dance with in Episode 6?
Allen was paired with Zaira Yzabelle for the Episode 6 teaching challenge.
Instead of preparing with another seasoned professional, Allen had to help his new partner learn a ballroom routine under a tight deadline.
What dance did Allen Genkin and Zaira Yzabelle perform?
Allen and Zaira performed the Waltz.
Their challenge required Allen to balance teaching technique with choreography while building enough trust and confidence for his partner to step onto the floor and perform.
What was the challenge in The Next Pro Episode 6?
Episode 6 was titled “But Can You Teach? Coaching Superfans with Witney Carson.”
The remaining professionals were challenged to teach ballroom novices and prepare them to perform in only two days. Witney Carson joined Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas for the episode.
Can You Become a Dance Instructor Without Teaching Experience?
Previous teaching experience isn’t always necessary to explore opportunities with Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
People come into professional dance careers from many different backgrounds. Training can help dancers develop the ballroom technique, communication skills and teaching tools they’ll need to work effectively with students.
The willingness to learn and the ability to connect with people can be every bit as important as knowing how to perform.
Let’s Root for Allen in the DWTS: The Next Pro Semifinals!
Now only four dancers remain.
There is one professional opening.
And Allen Genkin is very much in the running.
Come support Allen alongside the entire Fred Astaire Dance Studios family as he heads into the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro semifinals.
And don’t stop with the episode.
Follow @fred_astaire_dance_studios for performance reactions, behind-the-scenes fun, ballroom insights, exclusive content and plenty more as Allen’s journey continues.
Come on, #TeamAllen!
Want to learn more about the competition Allen is fighting to win? Hulu’s official Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro guide explains the competition format, contestants, and the ultimate prize: a professional dancer spot on Dancing with the Stars Season 35.
Read Hulu’s official DWTS: The Next Pro guide
Looking for more details from Episode 6? The Episode 6 listing for “But Can You Teach? Coaching Superfans with Witney Carson” includes the August 17 air date, guest judge Witney Carson, and additional episode information.
View the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Episode 6 listing
Take that first step toward a dance career with Fred Astaire Dance Studios
