The first-ever Dancing with the Stars holiday special aired on December 2, 2025, delivering an hour of festive performances. While the special featured returning celebrities and many joyful routines, one performance stood out for its personal significance and powerful message. Alan Bersten, a beloved professional dancer on the show, choreographed and performed a Hanukkah-themed dance that became the most talked-about moment of the night, earning widespread praise from viewers for its meaningful representation.
The Meaning Behind the Hanukkah Dance
For Alan Bersten, the dance was more than just a holiday performance. In a video package that aired before the routine, Bersten shared a personal motivation. He explained that growing up as a Jewish child, he rarely saw his own holidays represented in mainstream television’s seasonal celebrations. This special was his opportunity to change that narrative for himself and for other viewers.
Alan Bersten noted that since he was a child, he hadn’t seen more Jewish representation on television. Hence, he wanted to do that for himself and for everyone.
The resulting performance was set to “Miracle” by Matisyahu, a song that perfectly complements the celebration of Hanukkah. Bersten did not perform alone; he was joined by fellow pro dancers Val Chmerkovskiy, Gleb Savchenko, Onye Stevenson, Hailey Bills, and Emma Slater. Together, they presented a dance that was celebrated for being both entertaining and deeply meaningful.
Fan Reactions Celebrate the Representation
Immediately after the special aired, fans took to social media to express their admiration for Bersten’s work. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the importance of the inclusive gesture.
“Thank you to Alan Bersten and DWTS for including a Hanukkah celebration dance in their Holiday special!!! This is so cool!!” one fan wrote on X.
Another viewer commented, “That Hanukkah dance choreographed by alan was so beautiful and special!! he did such an incredible job tonight.”. The appreciation extended beyond just enjoying the dance, touching on its cultural significance. One fan stated, “Give Alan an Emmy too as that dance showed different faith’s too,” while another simply expressed, “THANK YOU ALAN for the HANUKKAH DANCE and celebrating/representing the JEWISH COMMUNITY!! LOVED IT!”.
The choreography itself also received specific praise for its creativity. A fan noted, “He did such a great job choreographing that number! So many fun moments and really specific moves that were very creative!”.
A Look at the Full Holiday Special Lineup
The “Dancing with the Holidays” special was announced during the Season 34 finale on November 25 and was designed as a one-night festive event. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, the hour-long show aimed to transform the ballroom into a winter wonderland.
The special featured a mix of brand-new routines and memorable dances from past seasons. Other notable moments included pro dancers Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson performing a sweet routine with their young son, Rome. Emma Slater brought humor to the ballroom by dancing with two of her former celebrity partners, Andy Richter (Season 34) and Reginald VelJohnson (Season 33), in a routine to “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”.
Viewers also saw a hauntingly beautiful contemporary number choreographed by Mark Ballas for Julianne Hough, Jenna Johnson, and Daniella Karagach, set to “We Three Kings”. The special concluded with a live musical performance by Pentatonix, whose member Scott Hoying competed on Season 34.
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Criticism and Production Context
While Bersten’s Hanukkah dance was a clear highlight, the special as a whole received mixed reactions from dedicated fans online. A common point of criticism focused on the production timeline. The special was filmed on November 9, 2025, while Season 34 of the competition was still actively airing. Many fans felt this schedule put unnecessary pressure on the professional dancers, who were simultaneously rehearsing for the main competition.
“I wish it was filmed after the season aired or even live tonight just to give the pros a few more days to rehearse without the stress of the season still airing,” one fan shared on Reddit.
Others expressed disappointment that a significant portion of the one-hour broadcast was filled with commercials and clips of older dances, leaving less time for new material. One viewer called the special “a hot mess,” noting visible mistakes in some performances that they attributed to a lack of rehearsal time. Despite these criticisms, the consensus was that the pros delivered their best under tight constraints, and Bersten’s heartfelt choreography emerged as the undeniable standout moment of the night.
The “Dancing with the Holidays” special is now available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
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