Witney Carson is entering another week of Dancing With the Stars with plenty of motivation, but her partnership with Guillermo Rodriguez has become about much more than their scores on the ballroom floor.
The professional dancer, who is pregnant with her third child, has been balancing rehearsals and the demands of the competition while working alongside Guillermo, Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s longtime sidekick.
Their journey has not been the easiest one so far. Guillermo is a first-time dancer, and the pair have found themselves toward the lower end of the judges’ scores during the opening weeks of Season 35.
Despite that, Witney recently offered fans a glimpse of what has been happening behind the scenes — and it revealed just how seriously Guillermo is taking the competition.
In a video shared from their rehearsal studio, Guillermo could be seen continuing to practice his footwork while Witney took a moment to sit down.
“Anytime I sit down he keeps rehearsing,” Witney wrote over the video.
She later praised her partner even more, describing him as someone who is “truly working so hard” and saying she was proud and grateful to have such a kind partner.
The moment came after the pair survived elimination despite receiving a relatively low score for their paso doble during Viral Hits Night.
For Guillermo, the experience has been a major learning curve. He has openly acknowledged that memorizing the choreography has been one of the biggest challenges because he had never danced before joining the show.
Still, he has continued putting in the effort and appears increasingly comfortable on the ballroom floor.
Witney has also been adjusting her own rehearsal routine while expecting her third baby. She previously explained that pregnancy has meant having less stamina at times, particularly because she becomes more easily out of breath.
That has not changed her competitive mindset, however. After winning the Mirrorball Trophy with Robert Irwin last season, Witney has made it clear that she would love to win again.
Guillermo, meanwhile, has taken a slightly more relaxed approach. Witney recalled telling him that she wanted another victory, only for him to jokingly tell her not to be greedy and to focus on having fun.
Their different personalities have become part of the partnership, but both appear determined to keep improving.
Witney has also said that Guillermo was initially nervous about being paired with her, particularly after learning that she was pregnant. Over time, however, the two have developed a friendship and become more comfortable working together.
Now, with another performance ahead, the pressure remains on the pair to show the judges that their hard work is translating into progress on the dance floor.
Their scores may not yet reflect the amount of effort happening behind the scenes, but Guillermo’s continued rehearsals have given Witney another reason to believe their partnership can keep moving forward.
