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Elaine Hendrix’s health update came out and it was positive, besides, she was sick and couldn’t participate in the last episode of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ The actress not only acknowledged the support she received but also thanked the fans for their patience and mentioned the intricate costume and concept which the public missed on the dancing floor.
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In a very touching letter to her fans, Elaine Hendrix calmed down her audience concerning her health, but she also expressed how disappointed she was for not being able to perform. ‘The most difficult part of yesterday was that you were not able to see just how awesome our piece was going to be!,’ Hendrix said. She had the discussion of the costume, hair, and all the original ideas that inspired the planned routine, which had never been publicly displayed, while she praised the DWTS creative team for their endeavors by calling them ‘THE BEST’.
The news acted like an instant wave of relief and support not only from the contestants but also from the audience. One of the contestants, Xochitl Gomez, left a supportive comment where she referred to the contest as a ‘marathon’ and admired Hendrix’s capacity to suffer through the situation. Other comments said that it was very hard to be in the shoes of the dancer and the dancer’s partner in the case of not performing.
One user commented that it was clear from the episode that Bersten was the most upset one. ‘He looked so defeated the whole episode!! Like he was ready to go home,’ the user remarked, noting the strong connection between the partnership and their mutual disappointment.
The fans were very supportive and their support was a clear sign of how over the usual competition excitement the viewers have connected to the actress’s journey and not just through. An anonymous woman declared that Hendricks has been a personal heroine, as she is defeating age barriers. ‘I’m 51 and you are my inspiration that life doesn’t end at 50! I have already registered for a dance class because – why not?’ This comment certainly conveys that the cutting off of the fifty-fifty age limit is not just entertaining but it represents a change and a possibility for women of fifty.
A friend of the couple told how much it hurt to see them separated during the show. ‘Alan was there alone and I hoped you would get a chance to dance again,’ the comment read, and thus the viewer’s concern was shown who were already attached to the couple’s success and were rooting for them.
The comments were mostly about one thing – the viewers were anxious for Hendrix’s return and for him to be back on the dance floor next week. A lot of users mentioned that they had voted for the couple even though they were not present, which was a sign of strong fan loyalty. One very energetic fan went, ‘The whole thing is going to be great, you are going to win the entire thing because I never wanted to see either you or Alan Bersten have such a sad face ever again!’
Hendrix’s messages illustrated the feeling of loss of a performance not done while trying to be positive about her health and return. Her acknowledgment of gratitude—her thanking of the supporters for ‘every message, vote, and word of encouragement’—is the proof of her being aware of the nature of the show as the one with collaboration between performers and their audience.
The situation exposes the physical constraints of the reality competitions like Dancing With the Stars, where even a brief period of illness or injury can wipe out all the rehearsals and preparations done for the performance. One can see the effort being done behind the scenes for each show as Hendrix has been open about the situation and at the same time she is looking forward to dancing routine that wasn’t.
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As the competition progresses, Hendrix and Bersten are now forced to pay the price for their absence by putting in extra work to maintain their position on the competitive ladder. Given the massive support that followed her medical update, the couple seems to have built a solid base of viewer goodwill which should carry them over the next weeks. The couple’s plans to return big next week also suggest that this setback can only be their determination to deliver even more thrilling acts as the season draws to a close. The resilience of Hendrix in handling such unpredictable changes is truly a tribute to her commitment not only to the contest but also to her partnership with Bersten. Fans are also excited to see Lisa Ann Walter in the audience again soon.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
