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\"Between ballroom dance and violin playing as a middle schooler, this is my payback for all the bullying. I get to shine on 'Dancing with the Stars,'\" Chmerkovskiy said of playing the violin. \"It's my first passion and I really appreciate that the show and Xochitl allowed me to kind of display that in this piece.\"

\"Representation is really huge for me,\" Gomez said, noting that it was a \"huge priority\" for her to get the Latin aspects of ballroom \"accurate\" -- from the costumes to the design and even the background.

As for the inspiration for the set of their freestyle, the Marvel actress said it all came from her sharing her culture with Chmerkovskiy.

\"I took Val to his first Dia de los Muertos dinner and that's where he saw the ofrenda and he was inspired by that aesthetic and that look,\" she revealed.

\"PHOTO:
Eric Mccandless/Disney
PHOTO: Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy compete on "Dancing With The Stars."
>

Chmerkovskiy said what made him want to pursue that look for the freestyle was seeing Gomez's \"spirit of always paying homage to the folks that came before her,\" adding that it just \"felt right.\"

Gomez also shared a piece of advice for anyone wanting to try something out of their comfort zone.

\"I think the only thing that can truly get you to the place you want to be is your own determination and your own mindset,\" she said. \"And to not overthink, to have fun.\"

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