Festival of Lights: Dancing With the Stars Airs First Ever Dedicated Hanukkah Routine | WATCH

For the first time in its history, the ballroom of "Dancing With the Stars," traditionally focused on Christmas celebrations during the holidays, was transformed to honor Hanukkah. The landmark routine was part of the franchise’s inaugural holiday special, "Dancing With the Holidays," which premiered on December 2 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Jewish professional dancer Alan Bersten, who choreographed and headlined the routine, set the performance to Matisyahu’s song "Miracle," delivering a moment of profound cultural visibility.

A Message to Jewish Kids

Bersten, 31, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants from Minnesota, opened the segment with a heartfelt message aimed directly at young Jewish viewers who rarely see their holidays reflected on mainstream television.

"Everyone celebrates holidays in a different way," he said. "Growing up Jewish, you don’t really see a lot of Hanukkah representation, so tonight we’re doing a special performance to celebrate Hanukkah. Hopefully a Jewish kid’s watching this, and they feel seen, and they feel proud."

As Bersten spoke, childhood photos of him celebrating the Festival of Lights in Minnesota flashed across the screen, including one of him holding a present next to a Hebrew alphabet poster and another showing him dressed as the shamash, or helper candle.

Choreography of Heritage

The ballroom was then bathed in bright blue and silver lights for the routine. Bersten was backed by fellow Jewish pro Val Chmerkovskiy and co-stars Hailey Bills, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, and Onye Stevenson. The choreography wove elements of Jewish culture directly into the performance. Formations on the floor echoed the shape of a menorah, complex spins mimicked the whirling of dreidels, and sections of the choreography drew directly from traditional Jewish folk dancing and the lively Hora.

The final number was praised as a full "DWTS" showstopper, featuring tight unison sections, large traveling runs, and intense partner work that built dynamically with the music. As the dancers linked arms in a Hora circle or shot their arms upward like candles, the choreography visually translated the themes of the "Miracle" song. They performed in shimmering blue and silver costumes, with oversized metallic dreidels spinning in the background and confetti cannons firing at the climax.

Host Alfonso Ribeiro summed up the performance perfectly, saying, "Beautifully done, and a wonderful reminder that the holiday season is for everyone."

Emotional Impact

Jewish viewers quickly took to social media to express the deep meaning of the moment. One fan wrote that getting this level of holiday representation "means so much," while another shared that the dance "made me teary to get to show my kids this." Many called the segment "a beautiful representation of Jewish joy."

The Center for Jewish History hailed the routine as a "milestone," specifically noting the choreography’s "nods to Jewish heritage," including the dreidel-like spins and classic folk-dance steps.

For Bersten, the achievement was personal and simple. "To be able to create a dance for Hanukkah on the biggest show on TV means the world to me," he wrote on Instagram, adding he was "so proud of this one" and grateful for the opportunity. On air, his ultimate goal was clear: "Hopefully, Jewish kids are watching this and they feel seen and they feel proud."

Season 34, which concluded just before the holiday special, featured a particularly visible Jewish presence, including pros Alan, Val, and Karagach, and celebrity contestants Dylan Efron and Corey Feldman.