Paralympian Ezra Frech has opened up about a frightening moment during rehearsals for Dancing With the Stars, revealing how a challenging lift nearly went wrong when his prosthetic leg began coming loose while professional partner Daniella Karagach was standing on it.

The 21-year-old athlete and Karagach successfully performed the visually striking move during the show’s Dedication Night episode on October 20, 2026. However, Frech revealed that the routine required extensive practice and included a rehearsal incident that forced him to act quickly to prevent a potential injury.

“I mean, it took some practice, and even there are still moments where we’d be in the air and be like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’” Frech told Us Weekly after the episode.

He then described the moment he realized something was wrong.

“One time when she was standing on [my prosthetic leg], I didn’t have it put on properly, and it was starting to come off as I was in the air,” he recalled.

Recognizing the danger, Frech repeatedly urged Karagach to step down before the situation became more serious.

“I was like, ‘Wait, get off. Wait, get off. Wait, get off. Get off, get off, get off,’” he said.

Why the Challenging Lift Required Careful Preparation

The move required both dancers to maintain their balance while Karagach placed significant force against Frech’s prosthetic leg. As the pair leaned forward, the positioning and stability of the prosthetic became especially important.

“When she stands on my prosthetic, she’s having to put a lot of force back into it in order to stay in that position as we lean forward,” Frech explained.

He acknowledged that the equipment had not been secured properly during the rehearsal, prompting his urgent warning.

“I didn’t put it on properly, and I was like, ‘Wait, it’s coming off! Wait, don’t hurt yourself. Step off real quick,’” he added.

Despite the scare, the pair continued working on the choreography and ultimately performed the move during the live show. Their successful execution demonstrated the preparation required to bring such a technically demanding element to the ballroom.

Ezra Frech Dedicates Emotional Performance to His Mother

The challenging lift became part of an especially meaningful performance for Frech and Karagach during Dedication Night.

The pair performed a contemporary routine to “Bloodline” by Mon Rovia, dedicating the dance to Frech’s mother, Bahar Soomekh, who joined them onstage.

After watching the performance, Soomekh praised the moment when Karagach balanced on her son’s prosthetic leg.

“Can I say, I loved when they did that move,” she told Us Weekly. “She was on top of him like an angel. She looked like she was floating over him.”

Frech also credited his professional partner for making the choreography visually effective. He explained that the technical ability to perform the lift was only part of what made it work.

The performance earned a combined score of 37 out of 40 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, along with guest judge Kym Johnson. It also featured the first perfect 10 awarded during Season 35.

Frech and Karagach were subsequently declared safe from elimination.

How His Mother Helped Shape His Confidence

Beyond the choreography, the performance gave Frech an opportunity to recognize the role his mother has played in his life.

Born without most of his left leg and hand, the Paralympian has spoken about developing confidence in himself and embracing the ways he is different. He credited Soomekh with helping him build that sense of security.

“The confidence and the security in myself and in the fact that I’m different, it comes from her,” Frech said.

Sharing the ballroom with his mother was particularly meaningful as he continues to grow more comfortable with the competition.

He described himself as increasingly passionate about dancing and grateful for the opportunity to share that experience with the person who helped him reach this point.

For Frech, the performance was about more than a successful lift or a strong judges’ score. It was a chance to celebrate his mother’s influence while creating a memory they could carry with them long after the competition ends.

Source: Compiled from various sources