Ilona Maher reveals the magic behind the scenes of her Disney DWTS appearance

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors

Ilona Maher is ready to conquer the ballroom with her Disney-inspired performance.

The 28-year-old Olympic athlete shared a behind-the-scenes look at her and Alan Bersten's jazz routine to “Surface Pressure.” Encanto via Instagram.

Maher stands on stage holding a ball depicting the world in snapshot while her pro, 30, stands below her.

“We give people what they want,” Bersten explained in an interview. “They want her to be Luisa Encanto. She will be Luisa, I will be a donkey. This is the most excited I've ever been for a dance.

“I literally skipped my dance to see yours,” commented fellow contestant Jenn Tran. The former Bachelorette will perform a rumba to “Kiss the Girl” from “The Little Mermaid.”

She later gave a look behind the scenes of her childhood with a carousel of pictures from trips to Disney World.

Maher captioned the montage: “In honor of Disney Night, here are a few pictures of me having the time of my life at Disney World. I’m doing this dance for this little girl who Luisa would have absolutely loved.”

The dance floor duo was a fan favorite this season as they tackled cha-cha, salsa and foxtrot, among other things. Maher dedicated her recent rumba set, “My Way” by Yseult, to the USA Eagles, her women’s rugby team that took home a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.

She made a mistake during her dance to Quiet Riot's hit “Cum On Feel the Noize” during Hair Metal night, with judge Carrie Ann Inaba telling her she was out of sync. Maher was emotional afterward, and her response to Inaba — “Been better Carrie Ann” — went viral on TikTok.

“Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.