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Carrie Ann Inaba has laid bare an extremely personal and touching aspect of her artistic history, as she revealed a pitch for a TV show that was never aired back in 2011, which she stated was the killer for her when no network picked it up. The ‘Dancing with the Stars’ judge uploaded a clip of the project that offered a fictionalized viewpoint into the musings of a choreographer, asserting her 14-year-long waiting period to feel the urge to create in the domain again.
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Carrie Ann Inaba is disclosing the hidden side of her life that she has kept to herself for a long time, more than a decade. In a brave and remarkable move, the famous dancer and TV host decided to take a small part of an unbroadcasted 2011 television pilot and show it to the world. Collaborating with the writer Krista Vernoff, the project was a very personal effort for Inaba to let the audience see indirectly the thoughts of a choreographer—an issue very close to her heart.
The pilot, starring Eric Roberts and choreographed by the legendary Mia Michaels, was an Inaba’s dream project where she was the executive producer. She mentioned that the project was “four very strong women” directed, including Lesli Linka Glatter. The network, however, still decided against airing the show despite the company of a very powerful creative team. “It broke my heart,” Inaba disclosed in her long post. “But it wasn’t the right moment yet for this series.”
After these long fourteen years, Inaba finally let it be known that she is again working on writing and thinking of new ideas related to dance and movement. The shared clip was a portion of the unbroadcasted program’s ending where a ‘comeback’ of a defeated choreographer was shown. Inaba said the theme of the story was very much connected to her current path and also said that she liked how the character “brings to mind who he is.”
The emotional post was not only well received by the audience but also by the former collaborators. Fellow choreographer Mia Michaels—the one who was co-creator and the project was reflecting deep on her experience, “This project was by far one of my favorites of all time,” she remarked. “The fact that I was working with you, your passion and fire, and being a soul sister to me, created a stronghold that gave birth to so much creativity. It felt like nothing could stop us.” Michaels’ poignant words highlighted the intense creative rapport the group had, which made the cancellation of the project all the more painful.
Another artist who worked on the project, dancer Kayla Radomski, confirmed the extraordinary nature of the collaboration. “What a magical time and experience we had making this,” she said. “I have always been thankful for this project. It was very special.” Inaba’s answer to Radomski was just as moving as it reminded her of the dancer’s “ethereal quality” and “purity of movement” that impressed her deeply.
The response from the wider community was very positive and supportive. One person couldn’t believe the project wasn’t made, saying, “I can’t believe that was not picked up that was incredible.” Someone else pointed out that the work was “so good and ahead of its time.” Inaba’s willingness to share a professional disappointment and her subsequent creative resilience inspired many. “It’s amazing how you turned reflection into motivation,” someone commented. Another added, “You’re inspiring the next generation of dreamers.” The post seemed to resonate with everyone about the nature of being an artist—creation or rejection. A different comment said: “This reminds me why art matters.” “Thank you for being so authentic.”
The reveal also triggered curiosity, as one user simply stated, “Ugh I want to watch this!”—a feeling probably shared by many who saw the strong clip. The visible footage displayed the project’s fluid movements and intense feeling, making the audience wonder what had not been shown.
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This unveiling of a private heartbreak in public seems to Carrie Ann Inaba to be a step in her rediscovery of creativity that is cathartic. By making this “deeply personal project” public after so many years, she has not only paid tribute to the work itself but also shown incredible strength. Her narrative is a compelling example that the creative fire, even if it’s temporarily buried, doesn’t die—it’s just a matter of time until it comes out again, even fiercer and more determined than before. The judge has clearly gone through her past and is now ready to explore her next chapter, with the help of the past’s wisdom. Recently, she has also been open about her health, which has impacted her professional life. Her stunning visual presence continues to captivate audiences. Her judging decisions sometimes spark strong reactions from fans.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
