"DWTS" Exclusive: Normani Kordei Dances through the Pain

Last night Kordeiamp8217s foreign moviethemed Argentine tango earned her the nightamp8217s highest score and the seasonamp8217s second 4040 perfect score shown belowamp160along with immunity from elimination amp160But underneath her smiles the 20yearold was in excruciating pain having severely strained both her upper back and hip during last weekamp8217s rehearsal amp160While viewers couldnamp8217t have guessed from her flawless dance one wrong move could have sidelined her from the show completelyamp8220Iamp8217m just so happy that I got through itamp8221 Kordei told me after the show amp8220It was a really stressful week being in pain and debating whether or not we should take some lifts out and other moves but I didnamp8217t want it to affect my danceamp8221While the show did highlight Kordeiamp8217s injury and diagnosis in her predance video package listening to her explain the intricacies had me shuddering amp160amp8220I have a severe strain in my upper back and my hipamp8221 she revealed amp160amp8220It just so happened that it was in two places at the same time amp160The doctor said it was pretty severe He looked at it and said amp8216Youamp8217re not much of a complaineramp8217 which Iamp8217m not amp160I literally wouldnamp8217t say anything then he said I could potentially crack my hipamp8221It was Chmerkovskiy who insisted she get the injury checked outamp160 amp8220Sheamp8217s never complained about anythingamp8221 he told meamp160 amp8220When she complained about it again I suggested I get a guy that I work with who is very talented to come and see her I was expecting him to say amp8216Just take it easy tomorrowamp8217 but he was like amp8216She needs to get an MRI There is a severe strain and you have to be really careful because if she pulls that she could crack a vertebraeamp8217amp8221Chmerkovskiy was advised to also take a couple of days off and reconsider any dance moves that could irritate Kordeiamp8217s injury amp160The news came as a devastating blow to the couple amp160amp8220Were just picking up momentum and wanted to hold nothing back in the performanceamp8221 Chmerkovskiy said amp160He tweaked last nightamp8217s dance switching some risky physical moves for those with more of an emotional impact amp8211 and it workedamp8220Iamp8217m super proud of myselfamp8221 admitted Kordei of her perfect score amp160amp8220I think that was something I kind of had to prove amp160Itamp8217s kind of mind over matter and because of the physicality I really struggled and was in a constant battle with myself of being frustrated amp160I knew I could do the steps and I worked really hardamp8221With just three weeks of competition left Kordei is cautiously moving forward and taking one day at a time amp160amp8220Iamp8217m icing the strains and taking my medicationamp8221 she said amp160amp8220Iamp8217m on a ton of medsamp160 I hate to say that but itamp8217s all prescribed by my doctor I promiseamp160 Also therapy every single day amp160But it is super serious amp160He literally told me if I kept going at the rate I wasamp160I could crack my hip which I donamp8217t want amp160Having three weeks left in the competition itamp8217s so close yet so far but I have to play it smartamp8220Oh and on top of all that my band went to Orlandoamp8221 she continued amp160amp8220I have two shows on top of me rehearsing for this and I believe weamp8217re in Sacramento this week amp160It hurts to sit on a flight and for Fifth Harmonyamp8217s shows we like to amp8216drop it lowamp8217 for the majority of the concert amp160I literally need help amp160When I wake up in the morning my mom has to help me amp160Itamp8217s pretty tough as I havenamp8217t danced like this or used muscles in this way in the past four or five yearsamp160 Iamp8217m feeling oldamp8221Kordeiamp8217s Dancing with the Stars journey continues next Monday at 8 pm on ABCClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

APPLY FOR JOBS | SUBMIT YOUR RESUME | REGISTER FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT

"DWTS" Exclusive: Normani Kordei Dances through the Pain

Author

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

Steve Gidlow

APPLY FOR JOBS | SUBMIT YOUR RESUME | REGISTER FOR FREE MEDIAVILLAGE CONTENT

"DWTS" Exclusive: Normani Kordei Dances through the Pain

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

Steve Gidlow

Cookies