Tatyana Ali Honors James Avery With DWTS Dedication Night Dance

A tribute to the late James Avery brought actors Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro together on the Dancing With the Stars ballroom floor on Oct. 20, when Ali and her professional partner, Jan Ravnik, performed an emotional Viennese waltz honoring their former television co-star. The routine celebrated Avery's lasting influence on the actors, who portrayed his children on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The performance, set to Nancy Wilson's song (You Don't Know) How Glad I Am, earned Ali and Ravnik 32 out of 40 points, their highest score of the evening, according to the episode's coverage by TODAY. Ribeiro, who won Season 19 of Dancing With the Stars, joined Ali during the routine for a special moment that brought the audience to an emotional response.

Ali began the dance seated on a couch in a peach-colored gown before Ravnik helped her rise and guided her across the floor. Ribeiro joined her midway through the performance. The routine ended with Ali and Ribeiro holding hands and embracing as Avery's photograph appeared on a screen behind them.

During rehearsals, Ali described Avery as a father figure and expressed her affection for the actor, who played Philip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons, from 1990 to 1996.

"I loved him a lot," Ali said.

Ali had also explained before Dedication Night that the performance would feature her own vocals, recorded in advance to accompany the dance. She selected Wilson's music because Avery loved jazz and counted Wilson among his favorite artists.

"We're dancing to a Nancy Wilson song that I'm going to sing. I'm going to pre-record it," Ali said.

She also shared her hopes for how the tribute would connect with viewers watching the performance.

"And I just hope ... you all feel how much that we love him," Ali said.

In a video discussing the tribute, Ali reflected on Avery's importance to the cast and his role in shaping her development as a performer. Avery played Philip Banks, the strict but loving father figure to Will Smith's character, Will, and the uncle of Ali's Ashley and Ribeiro's Carlton.

"James Avery played Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. He means a lot to fans of the show. He meant a lot to me. He was a mentor to me, a teacher to me," Ali said.

Ali also highlighted Avery's enthusiasm for the arts and the knowledge he shared with his younger co-stars throughout their time working together on the sitcom.

"He was the heart of our show in so many ways. He loved the arts, and he taught me about all of the artists he thought I needed to know," Ali said.

She explained that honoring Avery through the dance was a personal decision rooted in the influence he had on her life and career.

"I wouldn't be who I am today as a performer, as a woman, without him being in my life. And I want to honor him," Ali said.

Ribeiro's participation gave Ali an opportunity to pay tribute alongside another longtime friend from the sitcom, which followed Will as he moved from West Philadelphia to live with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air, California.

"I get to perform with Alfonso to honor James," Ali said.

The judges responded positively to the performance. Carrie Ann Inaba said she felt honored to witness the longtime friends dancing together, according to TODAY's coverage of the episode.

Avery, whose portrayal of Philip Banks made him a central figure in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, died in 2013 at age 68.