Dancing With The Stars features first same-sex dance routine (VIDEO)
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The routine featured genderfluid America’s Next Top Model winner Nyle DiMarco.
Dancing with the Stars treated viewers to same-sex ballroom dancing for the first time on the ABC reality show earlier this week.
The surprise twist happened during the show’s “Judges’ Team-Up Challenge” segment, in which two celebrities and their partners were coached by one of the show’s judges.
Bruno Tonioli – who also judges the UK version of the show – put America’s Next Top Model star Nyle DiMarco and his pro Peta Murgatroyd through a dramatic dance routine set to music from the opera Carmen.
They paired up with fellow contestants – actress “Full House” star Jodie Sweetin and her partner Keo Motsepe – before wowing the judges with a steamy Argentine Tango.
During the passionate performance, DiMarco swapped his dance partner for Motsepe, after Sweetin danced with Murgatroyd.
Fans saw DiMarco tango with Motsepe with the two men sharing ballroom hold together, all while shirtless.
Motsepe even lifted the model off the floor and whirled him around.
“This is a Dancing with the Stars first, having same-sex dancing,” DiMarco told the cameras.
When asked how it felt when Motsepe lifted him, DiMarco said, “Well, it’s a different experience. Usually I’m lifting Peta but …should it only be for a woman? Maybe Peta can lift me at some stage?”
The deaf model came out as sexually fluid last year during a casual chat with one of his Twitter followers.
Meanwhile, the UK version of the show – Strictly Come Dancing – courted controversy last year after it was claimed a gay contestant was replaced after he asked to be paired with a male dancer.
CJ de Mooi – who has starred in the Eggheads game show – said he was snubbed by the programme after he said he wanted a same-sex dance partner.