Why Sadie Robertson is the perfect match for Dancing With the Stars
Surrounded by smoke, Sadie Robertson and Mark Ballas stepped to the sharp beat with eyes wide and arms at an angle. Dancers dressed as zombies swirled at Ms. Robertson鈥檚 feet, as .听
Monday night鈥檚 鈥�Dancing With The Stars鈥� graveyard routine was a far cry from Ms. Robertson鈥檚 daily life in West Monroe, La. But the 17-year-old 鈥�Duck Dynasty鈥� favorite has held her own in the 19th season of 鈥淒ancing With The Stars鈥� 鈥� attracting fan support over the season鈥檚 nine episodes.
The pasodoble dance earned 30 of 40 points from the show鈥檚 four judges, the couple鈥檚 worst score this season. Despite the critical response, fans enthusiastically cheered Robertson and Mr. Ballas 鈥� dubbed 鈥淭eam Quack Attack鈥� on Twitter.
Sadie Robertson聽comes to 鈥淒WTS鈥� from 鈥淒uck Dynasty,鈥� one of the most popular cable-TV shows ever. It chronicles the life of Robertson鈥檚 family members, who operate a company that manufactures duck-hunting merchandise in Louisiana. While widely watched, the show has been criticized by some for perpetuating stereotypes of the south. Others say that it glorifies the family鈥檚 conservative, evangelical 海角大神 politics.听聽
Eric Deggans, television and media critic for the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, says there are two types of audiences drawn to Duck Dynasty and other so-called "redneck" TV hits: one group that 鈥渇eels like they鈥檙e from that world, and another that likes to mock them.鈥�
Clearly DWTS producers are savvy enough to weave聽the popular world of 鈥淒uck Dynasty鈥� into the reality competition鈥檚 narrative. Some 13 million viewers watched Monday's episode, the biggest audience for any TV show that night, .听
During her numbers, the camera often cuts to her family in the audience, who smile as they watch her dance. Earlier this month, several family members joined her onstage for a , during which Ballas and Robertson flapped their hands to resemble a duck鈥檚 feathers.
鈥淒o it for the family 鈥� do it for the Robertsons,鈥� she said in a pre-dance clip before performing the samba.
Earlier this season, Robertson revealed that her father reviewed every outfit before she took the stage, making sure she showed 鈥渂asic modesty,鈥� ABC News reported.
鈥淥ut of respect, we ask my dad if it鈥檚 OK,鈥� she said.听
(鈥淭hose aren鈥檛 dresses, those are dishtowels,鈥� .) 聽
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Sadie Robertson can actually dance.听
In last week鈥檚 episode, the judges praised Robertson and Ballas for keeping their 鈥� instead of letting it veer raunchy. That round, the couple received 35 of 40 points from the judges.听
In the show鈥檚 11th and 15th seasons, Ballas partnered with Bristol Palin, who also spoke openly about her 海角大神 faith during and after her seasons on air.
鈥淚t is faith that brought me through this,鈥� after placing third in the 2010 season. 鈥淛ust praying on the time, just relying on God, and knowing that he is on our side and we鈥檒l get through this.鈥澛犅�
