Danielle Fishel believes in the healing power of dance.
The Boy Meets World star proved she isn’t just a “tiny little woman,” as Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba remarked during critique last week. Her moving contemporary routine to Aerosmith’s “Dream On” on Tuesday’s new episode stirred up major emotions, and led to a competitive cumulative score.
“I am a tiny little woman, but she’s big on the inside she’s powerful, so I need to unleash her,” Fishel joked during rehearsals. The star known to legions of fans as Topanga explained why this week’s music choice was meaningful: “This song really inspires me to live out my dreams, because as my cancer diagnosis showed me last year, you never know when your time could be up.”
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov dance a contemporary routine on ‘Dancing With the Stars’.
ABC
“That’s the outlook I have in life, anyway. I have remained incredibly positive since my diagnosis. I’m feeling really proud, and I don’t often feel that way,” she said, dissolving into tears in conversation with pro partner Pasha Pashkov. “I want to show the benefit of being able to take hardship and being able to rise above.”
Fishel noted that “after having cancer last year and wanting to accomplish more of my dreams, this contemporary feels like a big gift.”
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
The judges largely agreed. Guest judge Flavor Flav remarked that Fishel and Pashkov were “on point.” Bruno Tonioli, meanwhile, leveled with Fishel. “Darling listen, we’re all with you. Life can be a b—- sometimes, but you don’t give up. You stay resilient, keep a positive attitude, and it’s not over.”
Tonioli did catch “a tiny mishap,” but reassured Fishel that she “should be proud of yourself.”
Inaba went straight for the heart, addressing whatever elephant may have been lingering in the room after her “tiny” comment. “I would like to apologize for my words if they hurt at all, I didn’t mean that at all,” she said. “You are small and you do pack a punch — that’s why I can say that, because I believe in you.”
Fishel revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last August.
“It is very, very, very early. It’s technically stage 0,” she told her Pod Meets World cohosts Will Friedle and Rider Strong. “The only reason I caught this cancer when it is still stage zero is because the day I got my text message that my yearly mammogram had come up, I made the appointment.”
Fishel encouraged listeners to “get in there” and get checked, and reassured her fans, “I’m gonna be fine.”
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov compete on season 34 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’.
ABC
After she performed, Fishel acknowledged to DWTS cohost Julianne Hough that week 8 had been “a difficult week. Pasha had to push through a lot of resistance, and I ended up apologizing to him, because I did feel bad. But this dance was bringing up a lot of stuff for me. It was like therapy.”
The actress ultimately received a total score of 34, from two 9s (Inaba and Flav) and two 8s (Derek Hough and Tonioli) — but it wasn’t enough to keep her in the competition. After captaining Team Chicago in the group dances and receiving 10s from all four judges in that round, it was Fishel who was cut on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night.
Following her elimination, Fishel told the co-hosts that her experience on the show had been “life-changing.”
“Every single moment, including this one, has been joyous,” she said.
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu.