'America's Next Top Model' Winner Nyle DiMarco Impresses Judges on "Dancing with the Stars" Performance
Winner of "America's Next Top Model" final season Nyle DiMarco won the hearts of the judges of "Dancing with the Stars" after a breathtaking performance during the premiere episode of the show's season 22. According to ABC News, the model/actor gained a score of 23 out of 30 points, which is a tie with "Good Morning America's" Ginger Zee and Boyz II Men singer Wanya Morris.
DiMarco danced with his partner Peta Murgatroyd who taught him how to dance in a different way as he is deaf. This also impressed the judges even more because DiMarco cannot hear the beat of the song while dancing to DNCE's "Cake By The Ocean."
"You could be America's Next Top Dancer. Unbelievable," Bruno Tonioli, the Italian choreographer and dancer who sits on the show's panel of judges, said after DiMarco's routine. Len Goodman, who is known to be a tough judge on the show, was also greatly impressed with the couple's performance calling it "terrific."
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DiMarco was asked through a sign language interpreter how he was able to dance without actually hearing the music or feeling the vibration. He revealed that he is just relying on his partner, Murgatroyd, to lead him through the whole routine. He said that while she is dancing to the music, he is following her with his eyes.
Murgatroyd also shared to Entertainment Weekly her method of teaching DiMarco. She said that she uses a series of cues to direct DiMarco on the dance floor. But the audience cannot see the cues because they are hidden.
"There were a few turning of waists, a little bit of tapping going on, and eye contact. That's a great thing to really focus on … that's a huge part of dancing and communication. I feel like we are winning in that area because of Nyle being deaf," said Murgatroyd.
DiMarco was born deaf. He got a degree in Mathematics at Gaullaudet University in Washington, which is a private institution for deaf students.
