Carrie Ann Inaba praises Harry Jowsey for stepping 'outside his comfort zone' on “DWTS”

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba breaks down the high and low notes of Taylor Swift night in the ballroom.

Each week during Dancing With the Stars, judge Carrie Ann Inaba will answer a few questions about the season 32 contestants and their race to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Today, Carrie Ann shares her thoughts via email about why she admired Harry Jowsey's journey on the show so much, what made the Jason-Charity relay round the "most competitive," and more.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You praised Harry for being vulnerable throughout the competition, saying it "does something for me as a judge." What did you mean by that? Might it change how you look at things going forward?

CARRIE ANN INABA: I think Harry did a great job for someone who had zero performance background. Everyone else who’s left has had some sort of performing arts experience, whether it’s acting, singing, or dancing. I appreciate when someone tries to do something completely outside their comfort zone. I love when anyone on the show is willing to make themselves vulnerable in front of millions of people in an effort to learn how to dance. Because, even if they don’t win the Mirrorball, they walk away empowered with grace, body awareness, and the gift of being able to dance.

You're still looking for that extra oomph from Charity Lawson. What do you think it's going to take to pull it out of her? It seems mostly to be an acting challenge.

Charity performs Artem [Chigvintsev]’s choreography with outstanding precision and control. I believe this comes from her cheerleading background. But precision and control don’t ignite an audience the way passion, commitment, or personality does. As we’ve seen by our audience reactions, and I know by experience, that she needs that extra oompf if she wants to win.

I wouldn’t call it acting. Although the best actors are never acting, they are just fully engaged and free in the moment. And that’s what I’m looking for. When I watch Charity perform, she is doing “steps” and “choreography,” but she’s not always connected personally to the movements, to Artem, or to the audience. You see, dance is not only something you watch, it is something you feel and connect to, like music. I have faith that she can do it. So I’m going to keep encouraging her as I did last season with Charli D’Amelio.

You told Xochitl Gomez, "You are the most animated and enthusiastic performer we have ever had." Why do you think that is? Merely youth? Or something else?

Xochitl has a unique quality to her performances. There’s a youthful enthusiasm to her performances that is so refreshing! What’s remarkable about Xochitl is that she is also quite mature in the quality of movement. She makes it look effortless, but it’s not. It takes hard work, and lots of it, to do what she’s doing.

What made the Jason Mraz/Daniella Karagach and Charity/Artem relay the most competitive of the night for you?

First of all, congratulations to Jason for making such a wonderful comeback with his Argentine Tango last night. WOW! It was such a powerful moment in the ballroom. He had flair and nuance and he stepped into his true power as a performer. It took courage and lots of practice and the right choreography for that moment to happen, so bravo to Daniella and Jason for their brilliant performance and first perfect score! Between Jason, who had the momentum, and Charity, who is a fierce competitor, it was the closest and most exciting of the dance relays.

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