It’s hardly surprising that Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov’s performance on Dancing With the Stars’ Music Video Night on Tuesday (Nov. 7) was primarily inspired by Britney Spears, one of the most significant music video artists in modern pop music with her hit song “Until the World Ends.”
Wearing a look reminiscent of Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video, which included damp blonde hair, a dark green miniskirt, and a skin-baring pink top with cutouts in the middle of the bus, the Vanderpump Rules star and her professional dance partner wowed the crowd with their cha-cha-cha. Even some of the choreography from Spears’ well-liked dance break in the music video was borrowed for the duo’s performance.
With the highest score of the evening, 37/40, which included a perfect 10 from guest judge Paula Abdul, Madix and Pashkov avoided elimination and advanced to the eighth week of the ballroom dance reality competition series. Apart from performing a freestyle routine to the song “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by Backstreet Boys, Madix and Pashkov also featured Alyson Hannigan and professional dancers Sasha Farber, Barry Williams and professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd, & Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach. With the four couples scoring 37/40 for their combined efforts, Madix and Pashkov tied for the highest total of the evening with Xochitl Gomez and pro Val Chmerkovskiy at 74/80. Madix and Pashkov are now tied for the highest score of the week for the second time this season.
For the “I’m a Slave 4 U” clip, Spears received three nominations for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards: best dance video, Best Choreography, and Best Female Video. After a span of nine years, the pop icon would emerge as the third female recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on the show. The Billboard Hot 100 peaked at No. 27 with the song “I’m a Slave 4 U.”
Since “I’m a Slave 4 U” is Madix’s favorite song and she is familiar with the choreography, she expressed her desire for a DWTS night with a Britney Spears theme while backstage in October to Tetris Kelly of Billboard.
Even though Madix’s scores are outstanding, she was reminded that winning points doesn’t guarantee a spot in the remaining Dancing with the Stars competition. Lele Pons, a singer and internet celebrity from Venezuela, was eliminated from the competition on Tuesday night’s episode even though her individual routine scored a respectable 33/40, far above the lowest of the evening. (Harry Jowsey and professional partner Rylee Arnold tied for the lowest score of the night with a combined 64.)