Disney brought its magic to Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) in a special way last night. The show was full of energy, excitement, and childhood memories as the dancers performed routines inspired by classic Disney films.
From The Little Mermaid to Tarzan, the ballroom was transformed into a magical wonderland where dreams came true, and beloved characters came to life through dance.
It was a night where the stars became princesses, heroes, and even villains, creating an unforgettable evening for viewers. But, in the end, one contestant had to leave the competition, bringing a bittersweet close to a night filled with joy.
The dance performances were centered around iconic Disney characters, with both the celebrities and their professional partners dressed in full costume, wigs, and all. The audience cheered and smiled as they watched Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber deliver a swooning rumba to “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid.
The room filled with fun when Danny Amendola and Whitney Carson performed a jazz routine to NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” paying tribute to the popular Deadpool and Wolverine characters.
The night was packed with vibrant energy as the couples embraced their roles, whether they were stepping into the shoes of Disney princesses or portraying classic villains. But as always, one dancer’s journey came to an end, reminding everyone of the fierce competition.
A Magical Start with Aladdin-Inspired Dance and Broadway Talent
The night began with a lively, Aladdin-themed opening number that set the tone for the rest of the show. The professional dancers took to the floor alongside the show’s hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, both of whom joined the performance.
Broadway star Michael James Scott, known for playing Genie on stage, joined the cast dressed in full Genie attire, bringing extra excitement to the stage. Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mandy Moore was behind the stunning opening routine, and the ballroom erupted with applause as the dancers completed the energetic number.
The choreography was precise, colorful, and perfectly matched the Disney theme, creating a magical start to the show. As the opening number ended, the audience knew they were in for a night filled with surprises. There was a buzz in the air, and it felt like everyone was waiting to see what magical moments would happen next.
New Soundtrack Release from Moana 2
One of the evening’s biggest surprises came in the form of new music. Fans were treated to a sneak peek of a brand-new track from the upcoming Moana 2 soundtrack, a moment that delighted viewers.
The song added to the night’s magic and excitement, with many fans eager to hear more from the highly anticipated sequel to Moana. It was a special moment that only added to the Disney magic swirling through the ballroom.
The stars and their professional partners continued to dazzle as they took turns performing their Disney-inspired routines. Each couple worked hard to bring the spirit of Disney to the dance floor, but the competition remained fierce throughout the night.
The First Dances of the Night
The first pair to step onto the ballroom floor were Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold. They performed a lively Charleston to “A Star is Born” from Hercules. Their performance was fun and energetic, but it wasn’t as polished as their previous week’s routine.
Despite this, the judges were impressed enough to give them 8s across the board. Stephen and Rylee’s dance had all the elements of a fun Disney number, but it was clear they would need to work on their precision moving forward if they wanted to stay in the competition.
Throughout the night, the scoring remained consistent, with many couples receiving similar scores. However, some routines received more positive comments than others, even when the scores didn’t fully reflect the feedback.
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber’s classy rumba to “Kiss the Girl” earned praise from the judges, but like Stephen and Rylee, they received 8s. Their graceful and flowing routine perfectly captured the romantic nature of The Little Mermaid, but it was clear that the competition was stiff.
Phaedra Parks and Dwight Howard faced similar challenges with their performance. Their routine had moments of joy and excitement, but there were issues with timing and synchronization with their professional partners. Despite these issues, they too earned 8s, keeping them on the same level as many other contestants that night.
Ilona Maher Leads Team Goofs with Confidence
One of the highlights of the night came during the team dance portion of the competition. This season’s team dances featured two groups: Team Goofs and Team Roar. Ilona Maher led Team Goofs, and under her leadership, the group delivered a tight, synchronized performance that impressed both the judges and the audience.
Ilona, who was dressed as Louisa from Encanto, truly embraced her role, delivering a strong performance. Although the rugby player is known for her strength and power on the field, she used these qualities to her advantage on the dance floor, showing the judges and the audience that muscular women can be graceful, powerful, and inspiring.
Her performance, inspired by Louisa’s strength and determination, earned her a 9, her highest score of the season so far.
As the captain of Team Goofs, Ilona helped her group — which included Jenn Tran, Joey Graziadei, and Chandler Kinney — create a performance that was filled with many moving parts but still looked seamless and well-rehearsed. The group maintained their synchronization and confidence throughout their number, a sharp contrast to the performance of Team Roar.
Team Roar, which was led by Stephen Nedoroscik and featured Phaedra Parks, Danny Amendola, and Dwight Howard, struggled to stay in sync.
Their routine lacked the cohesion and precision of Team Goofs, making it clear that Team Goofs had the upper hand. Although both teams delivered fun performances, it was Team Goofs that came out on top, thanks to Ilona’s leadership and the group’s strong teamwork.
Chandler Kinney’s Redemption After Dedication Night
Chandler Kinney, one of the top performers of the night, had something to prove after a disappointing performance during Dedication Night. The judges had left her feeling discouraged after that week, but she came back with a renewed sense of determination.
Dressed in fangs and fur, Chandler reprised her role as Willa from Zombies 2 for her paso doble. Her performance was fierce, intense, and filled with passion, showing the judges that she had what it takes to stay in the competition.
The paso doble is a difficult dance that requires precise movements and strong emotion, but Chandler embraced the challenge. She moved with confidence, matching the intensity of the music and delivering one of the standout performances of the night. The judges were impressed by her ability to bounce back from the previous week and praised her for her dedication and hard work.
Chandler’s paso doble earned her high marks, and it was clear that she was a contender to watch moving forward. Her performance showed that she could handle the pressure of the competition and that she was determined to continue improving each week.
Danny Amendola’s Strong Jazz Performance
Danny Amendola, the former NFL player, also had a strong night, delivering one of the best performances of the evening. His jazz routine, set to NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” was a fun and energetic tribute to the Deadpool and Wolverine characters. Danny, along with his partner Whitney Carson, showed that he wasn’t just a football player — he was a serious competitor in the dance competition.
Danny’s performance had sharp movements, perfect timing, and plenty of personality. The judges praised him for his ability to bring both strength and playfulness to the dance floor, making it one of the most entertaining performances of the night.
Although he didn’t earn a perfect score, Danny and Whitney received the second-highest score of the night, showing that they were continuing to build on the momentum from previous weeks.
The Super Bowl champion had already impressed the judges with his contemporary tribute to his late coach during Dedication Night, and his jazz performance proved that he wasn’t just a one-hit wonder. He was committed to improving each week and pushing himself to new heights in the competition.
Joey Graziadei’s Colorful Samba
Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson took the audience on a colorful journey to the jungle with their vibrant samba. The couple’s performance was lively and fun, filled with bold moves and bright costumes. Joey’s natural charisma shone through as he embraced the playful energy of the dance.
Despite the fun and excitement of the performance, Joey and Jenna fell just short of their goal of earning a 10. Although the judges enjoyed the performance, they felt that it lacked the polish needed for a perfect score. They did, however, receive one 9 from Bruno Tonioli, showing that they were still strong contenders in the competition.
Joey and Jenna’s samba was a crowd-pleaser, but it was clear that they would need to work on refining their technique if they wanted to reach the top of the leaderboard in future weeks.
Phaedra Parks Embodies Cruella De Vil
Phaedra Parks, known for her bold personality on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, took on the role of a classic Disney villain for her routine.
She and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, performed a routine inspired by Cruella, with Phaedra fully embracing the villainous character. The performance was full of attitude and flair, with Phaedra showing off her theatrical side.
However, despite the fun of the routine, Phaedra struggled with the technical aspects of the dance. Her timing was off at several points, and she had trouble keeping up with the choreography during the team dance. These mistakes ultimately cost her, as she and Val were announced as the next couple to leave the competition.
Although it was a sad moment for Phaedra and her fans, it felt like the right decision. Her outspokenness and playful personality will be missed on the show, but the competition is only getting tougher, and there was little room for error.
The Road Ahead: Halloween Night and New Challenges
With Phaedra’s departure, only seven contestants remain in the competition, and the stakes are higher than ever. The next episode will bring even more challenges as the dancers take on the spooky excitement of Halloween Night.
Each couple will perform a new routine, but they will also have to face off against another celebrity in head-to-head challenges for bonus points. This added pressure could make or break some of the remaining contestants as they fight for a place at the top of the leaderboard.
Fans are eagerly awaiting Halloween Night, hoping that one of the remaining couples will deliver the first perfect score of the season. With the competition heating up, every point counts, and the dancers will need to bring their A-game if they want to stay in the race.
Last night, Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) brought the magic of Disney to the ballroom, featuring performances inspired by classic films like The Little Mermaid and Tarzan. The show opened with an Aladdin-themed dance, starring hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough alongside Broadway’s Michael James Scott as Genie.
The evening included memorable performances, such as Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber’s romantic rumba to “Kiss the Girl” and Danny Amendola’s energetic jazz routine to NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye.”
Highlights included Ilona Maher leading Team Goofs to a stunning performance, channeling her character from Encanto, while Phaedra Parks, portraying Cruella, was voted off after struggling with choreography. As the competition heats up, only seven contestants remain.
With Halloween Night approaching, the dancers face even more challenging routines and head-to-head face-offs for bonus points. The excitement continues as fans eagerly anticipate who will deliver the first perfect score of the season. DWTS airs on Tuesday nights on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.
Dancing With the Stars airs every Tuesday night on ABC and Disney+. For those who miss the live broadcast, episodes are available to stream on Hulu the next day.
