DWTS’ Chandler Kinney fears she’s “shooting in the dark” after judges fail to offer criticism

When speaking with TooFab Current contestant and dance partner Brandon Armstrong exclusively reported that Carrie Ann Inaba gave the couple a 9 after receiving 10 points each from fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.

The score drew some criticism from live audiences during the former professional’s performance Cheryl Burke On her podcast, she expressed her opinion that Inaba should have offered some constructive criticism alongside the 9 – and said that Kinney was “begging” for more feedback.

“I definitely shared some of that frustration because as someone new to this field and learning something new every week, I really rely on the professionals to help show me what to focus on and what I can improve.” Kinney told TooFab.

“If you’re docked on a point and you don’t get a clear explanation for it, I think it just confuses you a little bit,” she continued. “So I’m definitely going to go through that this week and try to figure out what to focus on because we only have a limited amount of time in this rehearsal room and we have to allocate that time wisely. It’s definitely a bit of a challenge.” Brandon and I are trying to figure out what we should focus on most.

The actress added: “I think at this point in the competition the competition is so tough. And so you really hone in on those tiny details and the tiny subtleties of every single moment that you’re on that stage.”

While the pretty Little Liars Alum feels confident, adding that without advice on what to work on, she’s “a little in the dark, but fingers crossed.”

Inaba has previously admitted that Kinney is held to a higher standard due to her short dance experience. Despite this recognition, the participation of celebrities with previous dance experience on the show is an ongoing debate, with some claiming it is somewhat unfair.

“I don’t even really know if I can talk about it because I didn’t cast myself on the show,” Kinney told TooFab. “I just picked up the phone and said, ‘Yes.’ I’m just grateful to be here. I think it’s a show that’s really fun and gives people the opportunity to grow and improve.

“I think people are brought to the show for a million different reasons,” she added. “I think it makes for a great two hours of television. I’m just grateful, for whatever reason, that I was chosen to be on this show. I don’t ask questions.”

The duo will hit the ballroom tonight to celebrate the series’ 500th episode, a milestone they are both grateful to be a part of.

“It’s surreal for me. I mean, as someone who’s been a long-time fan of the series, it’s crazy to be a part of a milestone for something that’s just so iconic and has left such a legacy,” Kinney shared.

“I’m still pinching myself about it. I feel so lucky. It all just happened, the timing was somehow right. I’m really excited. “It’s going to be a wonderful evening,” she said.

In addition to celebrating a milestone, dancers must participate in an “instant dance” round in which they must come up with choreography for a song they heard just twenty minutes before the performance.

“I think the hardest part is the preparation because you don’t know what you’re preparing for. So you kind of have to be prepared for…absolutely anything,” Kinney said. “I think our first strategy is to review the fundamentals of possible styles so that those are at the forefront.”

“I think the hardest thing about this is the fact that I think people misunderstand how long a minute is when you dance,” Armstrong added. “Chandler can attest to this now, a minute of dancing takes forever. It feels like an eternity out there, even when you’re prepared. If you’re not prepared, one minute will seem like a million times.”

Armstrong has been a professional dancer on the competition series since Season 24 and feels like the show has been “reborn” recently with the increase in fans.

“I don’t think I went into the show with the same kind of excitement, enthusiasm and fire that surrounds it. “It feels like she’s reborn, remade, she’s had a facelift,” he told TooFab. “And it’s cool to be able to sit from both sides of the fence and see it and now be able to enjoy it on social media and with the fans and also be able to enjoy it on the dance floor. It feels like there’s something new. “The energy that surrounds it every night just makes it a million times better that obviously I have a great partner and we’re having a great season.

Of course, it’s not always positive feedback – fans often disagree with the jury’s assessment and make it very public online.

“I think you have to take the highs with the lows. The fact that they have a clear opinion, not only about us as a couple, but also about the jury, professionals, choreo, music, costumes and whatever, I find exciting,” he told Armstrong. “I think it helps hold judges accountable. It helps me hold Chandler accountable because there are so many more eyes and vocal opinions that it’s interesting to see it from a different perspective.”

“Chandler and I only get the opinion, the comments or the criticism from three, maybe four people every week that we dance. And we put a lot of time and effort into it,” he continued. “As much as we value these three or, if there’s a guest judge, four people’s opinions, it’s nice to see the millions of other opinions that are out there so we can see how people take them. Because at the end of the day, we’re dancing it for the people at home.”

Dancing with the stars airs Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT on ABC.