Dancing With The Stars. Vinny, and his partner Koko Iwasaki were sent home during DWTS' '90s Night episode. They performed a Tango to "What Is Love" by Haddaway, which earned them a score of 29 out of 40. They also competed in a relay dance battle against Trevor Donovan and Emma Slater, though Vinny and Koko lost, giving Trevor and Emma five bonus points. After being at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard for the sixth time in DWTS season 31, Vinny and Koko could not survive the night's double elimination, going home in seventh place.
Despite earning low scores and harsh criticism from the DWTS judges, Vinny also said that he came into DWTS having "never learned a real dance step in my life" and is proud of his progress across the season. Vinny was always praised for his positive spirit during his time on DWTS, and during the season, he "had to keep reminding myself that the only failure in life is not to try."
Vinny & Koko Had Strong Bond During DWTS Season 31
Vinny and Koko were consistently praised for their partnership and formed a strong bond across DWTS season 31. Vinny paid tribute to his partner on Instagram, calling Koko a "beast" and saying he "can’t wait to see what you do for years to come in the dance world." Vinny expressed gratitude for Koko, saying she is an "amazing teacher and human." Vinny also explained that she "taught me complex ballroom dances (sometimes 2 dances) in 5 days for me to perform live in front of millions of people up until the quarter finals."
Although Vinny was not the best dancer in DWTS season 31, he truly exemplified what the show is all about. Having never danced before, Vinny was starting from scratch every week with these intricate ballroom styles, and he made noticeable progress over the weeks of competition. Koko also deserves praise for teaching Vinny every week and creating routines for him at a high level during her first season as a pro. Vinny and Koko had great chemistry, and their charm will be missed on the DWTS dance floor.
Only six couples remain in the competition, as the DWTS season 31 semifinals are just around the corner. DWTS host Tyra Banks announced on '90s Night that there is another double elimination coming in the semifinals, which means it's critical for every couple left in the competition to perform at their very best. Vinny and Koko brought a lot of entertainment to DWTS, but the remaining couples have been performing at a higher dance quality all season long. Although he finished in seventh place, Vinny is one of the most memorable contestants from DWTS season 31.
Dancing With The Stars season 31 streams Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Disney+.
Source: Vinny Guadagnino/Instagram