Dancing With The Stars may have ended back in November, but we are still thinking about a personal favorite night from the season, DWTS 20th Birthday Celebration on Tuesday, November 11! The night even included the most special guest judge, the iconic DWTS host for 28 seasons, Tom Bergeron!
Actress Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten had the first dance of the night. They danced a Salsa to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock to honor past season 3 contestant, Mario Lopez’s, version of the dance. In her pre-recorded package Hendrix explained that she’s “full steam ahead” after getting “great scores” the previous week. After the routine, Tom Bergeron got out of his seat to congratulate his friend on her great dance. Judge Bruno Tonioli praised the routine saying, “that’s how you get the party started!” Derek Hough added that the dance was “incredible.” The couple earned themselves a 36 out of 40.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson then danced a Foxtrot to “Footprints in the Sand” by Leona Lewis, which was a song his sister Bindi danced and dedicated to their father on season 21. In his pre-recorded package, Bindi stopped by the rehearsal studio to watch her brother and Carson perfect the dance. The couple’s emotional dance even featured Bindi coming out at the end to join her brother for a surprise tribute video to their late father on the ballroom floor. Hough shared that he has felt “honored” to be “entangled” in the Irwin story. Carrie Ann Inaba added that the dance was “so powerful and profound.” The couple earned themselves the first official perfect score of the season!
Actor Andy Richter and his partner Emma Slater were next with a Quick Step to “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Robbie Williams, which paid homage to Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s version from season 25. Richter obviously could never dance on Fisher’s level, but he tried his best. Inaba shared that the actor is “turning into a dancer” and Bergeron added that the late Len Goodman would have “loved” his dance. As usual, Richter landed at the bottom of the leaderboard and earned himself only a 29 out of 40.
Reality TV star Dylan Efron and his partner Daniella Karagach had the next dance with an Argentine Tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, inspired by Milo Manheim and Witney Carson’s iconic freestyle to the song in 2018. In his pre-recorded package, Efron explained that he wanted to have his “breakthrough” this week, and he did just that! The judges praised the routine, Hough sharing, “That was your breakthrough moment by a long shot!” and Bergeron adding that the routine looked like “two pros” were dancing. A move Efron and Karagach did in the dance even ended up going viral on Tik Tok and had fans recreating it! The routine earned Efron a 36 out of 40.
Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles was next with her partner Ezra Sosa to a Cha-Cha to “Get Up” by Ciara featuring Chamillionaire, inspired by Wayne Brady and Witney Carson’s dance in season 31. Chiles shared during her pre-recorded package that this was her first Cha-Cha and that she wanted to do it “justice.” Chiles clearly had nothing to worry about because the judges loved the routine. Inaba did point out that Chiles’ shoulders were coming up as she was turning, but that it was still a “strong dance.” The couple scored a 37 out of 40.
Social media influencer Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy were next with a Foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain” by Matthew Morrison, inspired by Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson’s rendition from season 29. Earle and Chmerkovskiy’s version was just as good as Schulman and Johnson’s and the judges made sure to comment on that. Tonioli shared that he “entered ballroom heaven” and Hough added that the dance was “clean, classic, smooth, and flawless.” Earle earned herself a perfect score.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt and her partner Mark Ballas were next with an Argentine Tango to “Cell Block Tango” from “Chicago The Musical” which was inspired by Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy’s freestyle from season 31. Leavitt shared in her pre-recorded package that she needed to “find that passion that Gabby had.” After the dance, Inaba said it was “incredibly passionate and precise.” Hough said it was “dripping” in “elegance and control,” and Tonioli called her the “best dancer tonight.” The couple earned themselves a perfect score.
It was then time for one of the most interesting rounds of competition this whole season, the dance relays – but this season there was a twist! For the first time in DWTS history, the stars didn’t dance with their pros for the relay, they danced with a past DWTS mirrorball champion! This was sure to shake things up and bring the competition to a new level. Due to having the highest scores on last week’s leaderboard, Leavitt and Ballas were exempt from the relay dance round.
The first relay was Chiles and season 4 winner, Apolo Ohno, versus Hendrix and season 24 winner, Rashad Jennings. The couples danced a Quick Step to “I Get a Kick Out of You” by Michael Bublé. In the end, the judges declared Chiles and Ohno as the winners.
The next relay was Efron and season 20 winner, Rumer Willis, versus Richter and season 29 winner, Kaitlyn Bristowe. The couples danced a Viennese Waltz to “Earned It” by The Weeknd. Efron and Willis danced a great Viennese Waltz with incredible chemistry, and Richter can’t dance no matter who his partner is. Efron and Willis easily won their relay round.
The final relay dance of the night was Earle and last season’s winner, Joey Graziadei, versus Irwin and season 32 winner, Xochitl Gomez. The couples danced a Jive to “Dance with Me Tonight” by Olly Murs. This relay was very competitive, especially since Chmerkovskiy was coaching Earle and Graziadei to outdance Gomez, who he won the mirrorball with in 2023. After a close call, Irwin and Gomez were declared the winners.
It was then time for the night’s elimination. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced which couples were safe, which left Chiles and Sosa, Richter and Slater, and Hendrix and Bersten as the bottom three couples. It was then announced that Richter and Slater were finally going home.
Episode ten was the DWTS Semi Finals, and it premiered on Tuesday, November 18.