Dancing With the Stars Disney Night Elimination Recap

 

DAMAKORONKOWA - Attention all fans, the following breakdown contains major spoilers from the dazzling Disney Night episode of Dancing with the Stars. It is hard to fathom, but the remaining contestants for Season 35 are officially entering the final stretch of the grueling competition. Week 8 has finally arrived, bringing not only the beloved Disney Night magic to the ballroom floor, but also the highly anticipated team dances.

The eight remaining celebrity and pro couples are ready to captivate audiences by performing to a wonderful selection of Disney Broadway hits, featuring both classic favorites and newer tunes from productions like Hercules, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Hamilton, and Aida. To their immense credit, every single couple is tackling two full routines this week, despite facing a compressed schedule with one less day of rehearsal. Because the live show shifted to Monday night to avoid overlapping with Election Day, the pressure has never been higher.

Adding to the excitement, the ballroom welcomed a very special guest judge for the evening: Broadway veteran Cynthia Erivo, who stepped in to offer expert commentary and professional insights. The remaining couples were divided into two powerhouse groups for the team showdowns: Team Slaytopia and Team Wildcats.

The Team Lineups

• Team Slaytopia: Featuring Alfonso Ribeiro, team captain Tatyana Ali paired with Jan Ravnik, Maura Higgins paired with Mark Ballas, Amber Glenn paired with Pasha Pashkov, and Julia Stiles paired with Ezra Sosa. This fierce group took to the floor to dance an energetic routine to "Zoo" from Zootopia 2.
• Team Wildcats: Featuring Julianne Hough, team captain Connor Wood paired with Rylee Arnold, Ezra Frech paired with Daniella Karagach, Jenna Dewan paired with Val Chmerkovskiy, and Harry Shum Jr. paired with Jenna Johnson. This spirited ensemble delivered an unforgettable performance to "We're All in This Together" from High School Musical.

Individual Performances Breakdown

Olympian Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov

The talented Olympic figure skater and her professional partner opened the competitive evening with a vibrant quickstep set to “A Star Is Born” from Hercules. Having scored all 9s during the previous week's Horror Movie Night, Amber set her sights high, desperately wanting to secure at least one elusive 10 from the judges. To maximize their impact, the choreography required both dancers to portray the titular hero, with Pasha strategically passing the lead over to Amber during key moments of the routine.

• Judge Feedback: Bruno Tonioli enthusiastically praised the routine, though he could not resist pointing out a tiny, momentary misstep that caught his eye.
• Score: 34 out of 40

Reality Star Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas

Riding a wave of confidence following a strong showing the week prior, this dynamic duo aimed to elevate their game even further with a lively jive to "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" from Peter Pan. The whimsical song choice perfectly suited the reality star, whose popular catchphrase is "I tink!" However, the rapid tempo of the jive proved challenging, and Maura admitted to feeling the intense weight of the competition during rehearsals. Despite a few minor missteps under the bright lights, she successfully channeled that classic Tinkerbell energy, bringing the live studio audience cheering to their feet.

• Judge Feedback: Carrie Ann Inaba offered gentle advice regarding the execution, noting that the energy fluctuated throughout the routine and reminding everyone of the importance of self-care during such a demanding journey.
• Score: 32 out of 40

Actress Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik

The beloved Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alumna and her talented partner entered Week 8 hoping to bounce back from a disappointing scoring week on Horror Movie Night, which included a tough four from guest judge Shirley Ballas. Tatyana expressed genuine gratitude for surviving another elimination and aimed to prove her rightful place in the competition with an emotional contemporary routine to “Easy as Life” from Aida. Recognizing that the judges would demand profound emotional depth and an undeniable intimate connection, Jan pushed her hard during rehearsals to tap into those vulnerable feelings. The intense preparation clearly resonated, though the judges collectively agreed that she needed to focus on extending her lines.

• Judge Feedback: Derek Hough commended her performance, highlighting the wonderful and divine feminine energy she brought to the stage.
• Score: 33 out of 40

Actor Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson

Having made history earlier in the season as the first couple to earn a coveted perfect score, this powerhouse pair arrived with immense momentum and high expectations. They chose a whimsical jazz routine set to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins. Harry channeled the legendary physical comedy and charm of Dick Van Dyke, injecting pure theatrical magic into the ballroom. The gamble paid off spectacularly, highlighted by Harry's remarkably impressive toe touches and intricate choreography.

• Judge Feedback: Guest judge Cynthia Erivo was utterly mesmerized, sharing that watching so many movement-based professionals combine comedy with such complex choreography completely blew her mind and left her flabbergasted.
• Score: 40 out of 40

Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach

After experiencing a slight dip in their scores during the previous episode, the talented Paralympic gold medalist and his pro partner were determined to make a definitive statement with a sizzling samba to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. Daniella revealed that they initially considered the samba completely off-limits due to Ezra's mobility limitations and his prosthetic leg, but ultimately decided his advanced mind-body connection was up to the challenge. Her instincts proved entirely correct as Ezra dominated the floor.

• Judge Feedback: Bruno Tonioli delivered a memorable review, declaring that the young athlete "looks like a prince and dances like a devil!"
• Score: 37 out of 40, which included a long-awaited 10 from judge Derek Hough.

Actress Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa

For this round, the acclaimed actress and her partner stepped away from paying homage to Stiles' iconic filmography, tackling a fierce paso doble set to “Satisfied” from Hamilton. With Broadway royalty Lin-Manuel Miranda publicly voicing his support on social media, Julia entered the ballroom with powerful wind in her sails. The primary obstacle remaining was mastering the ferocious intensity required for the style, all while managing a painful rib injury that had been flaring up consistently over the past few weeks.

And she certainly satisfied the judges with this performance. “I loved it. I thought it was great,” Carrie Ann told them.

Score Breakdown

• Total Score: 33 out of 40

Actress Jenna Dewan with Val Chmerkovskiy

The talented star is getting some pointers from her Tony-nominated fiancé Steven for her quickstep to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. Steve says it is more important for the performance to be truthful than “big,” even on Broadway. So, that’s the advice they’re using as the foundation of their routine this week. It’s a narrow needle to thread, since this is a pretty lively song, but they prove themselves yet again. “That’s what I love to see in a quickstep!” Derek proclaimed.

Score Breakdown

• Total Score: 40 out of 40 (their first perfect score of the season)

Comedian and Podcaster Connor Wood with Rylee Arnold

Sporting a goatee as his faux hair of choice this week, Connor must find his inner grace for a waltz to “I See The Light” from Tangled. They scored their first 10s last week, and they’re riding high, so it’s a big week for them. Of course, Connor has to call in his buddy Milo Manheim, a former Dancing with the Stars contestant and the Flynn Rider in the upcoming live-action film, for some extra inspiration. He’s hoping not to let his adrenaline get in the way, because this is definitely not the dance to unintentionally speed up. “The thing I was really taken by was the commitment to the storytelling,” Cynthia notes.

Score Breakdown

• Total Score: 32 out of 40

The Team Dances Heat Up

Team Slaytopia

They’re really leaning into the wild zoo atmosphere of Zootopia with this energetic number. This is genuinely the first time these celebrities will need to remain completely in sync and have to really block themselves carefully with other backup dancers. They’re in it to win it, though, and their competition should think twice about messing with the incredible girl power on this team. Watch out, Team Wildcats! “I had so much fun…that’s perfect. I love it. Thank you for that,” Cynthia raves.

Score Breakdown

• Total Score: 36 out of 40

Team Wildcats

It’s always tough to go last in the lineup, and this group has to follow up a dance that was pretty universally praised by the judging panel. However, the teams are remarkably well-balanced, which is somewhat surprising considering the team captains were the ones who ultimately decided who they’d compete alongside. This group is looking to bring a ton of electrifying energy to the ballroom floor and, of course, some classic High School Musical choreography that fans adore. Team Slaytopia had better not rest on their laurels. “I got, like, weirdly emotional watching that,” Derek admits candidly.

Score Breakdown

• Total Score: 40 out of 40

Who Goes Home?

The end of the competition is rapidly approaching, so unfortunately, another couple has to face elimination this week. When the dust settles, Julia and Ezra are sent packing from the ballroom.

Meanwhile, the highest-scoring couple from the first round secures crucial immunity for next week. Since both Jenna and Harry achieved perfect scores, the producers had to add up their cumulative totals from all eight weeks of competition. Harry won out by just a single point, meaning he is safely in the clear for the upcoming round!

Next week brings the magic of Grammy Night to the ballroom, and fans should not forget that the show is returning to its normal Tuesday evening timeslot.

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