Harry Shum Jr. had plenty of reasons to celebrate after making his Dancing With the Stars debut, but the reaction that seemed to mean the most came from his young daughter, Xia. After watching her father perform for the first time, she gave him an unexpectedly honest compliment that immediately made the moment even more memorable.
Shum and professional partner Jenna Johnson opened their Season 35 journey with a disco-themed cha-cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove.” Their performance impressed the judges and earned 21 out of 30 points, giving the pair the highest score of the night during the premiere.
The actor’s family was in the audience to support him, including Xia, who was dressed up for the special occasion. After the performance, Shum was asked about the little girl viewers had spotted cheering from the crowd, leading him to share the story behind her presence.
Shum revealed that the performance marked the first time Xia had actually seen him dance. Although dancing has been an important part of his career for years, she had apparently never watched her father perform in this particular way before.
Her reaction was not what Shum expected. Instead of simply telling him that he had danced well, Xia made an observation about how different his movement looked compared with the dancing she normally associates with him.
According to Shum, Xia told him, “Wow, Dad. This is the first time you didn’t dance so hard.” She explained that she was accustomed to seeing him perform hip-hop, which she viewed as much more intense, while his ballroom routine appeared softer to her.
Xia then delivered the part that touched her father the most, telling him that he had “danced soft” and that she liked it. Shum described the comment as the “nicest note,” showing just how much her simple reaction meant to him after such an important performance.
The moment also offered a glimpse into Shum’s life away from the ballroom. He and his wife, actress Shelby Rabara, welcomed Xia in 2019, and his family has been supporting him as he takes on the new challenge of competing on Dancing With the Stars.
Shum’s strong debut has also placed him under a different kind of spotlight because of his extensive dance background. He began his entertainment career as a dancer and performer and has appeared in projects including Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D and Glee. He has argued that DWTS involves much more than simply knowing how to dance, emphasizing storytelling, personality and connection with the audience.
For Shum, however, the 21-point score was only part of what made his first night special. His daughter’s reaction gave him a personal memory he could take away from the ballroom, and her unexpected observation showed him that she saw something new in his performance. As he and Johnson prepare for the next round, Xia will have another chance to watch her father take on the ballroom—and perhaps offer another honest review.
Compiled with information from various sources.
