“Dedication Night” on Dancing with the Stars had every viewer in their feels, from inspiring stories to emotional performances.
A few couples rose to the top of the leaderboard, while five couples ended with the same score. It’s becoming trickier to score the teams because of all the hard work they’re doing, but I’m not convinced that five teams should’ve tied with a score of 32.
Former pro Mark Ballas joined our judges panel for a guest appearance. Ballas has been one of the most outstanding dancers to ever grace this show. His insight into the ballroom is like no other, despite having even Derek Hough on the stand.
His dedication to detail and constructive criticism is just what these teams needed. I can only hope they invite him back soon, if not for the entire season next year.
Here’s your recap of the top and bottom scores, as well as the top and bottom costumes. Refresh your memory on a recap of Week Three here.
Tune in tonight for Week Five, “Disney Night,” with guest star Michael James Scott, who currently features as the Genie in the hit Broadway musical, ‘Aladdin.’
Top Scores
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson (SCORE 36)
Graziadei took the world by storm on his season of ‘The Bachelor,’ and continues to do so on the dance floor. His beautiful waltz dedicated to his fiance, Kelsey Anderson, was very fine tuned yet extremely surprising. I was on the edge of my seat watching this flawless performance and how well he and Johnson work together. Their change of pace and movement across the floor throughout the song was so in-sync that they made it look easy.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson (SCORE 36)
Amendola and Carson seem to be creeping their way up week after week. I’m so proud of how much improvement we have seen from this football star. Song choice plays a large part of a performance, and “Unsteady (Erich Lee Gravity Remix)” by X Ambassadors was the perfect choice for this emotional dance that Amendola dedicated to his former football coach, the late Mike Leach. The way this couple could make a move look slow motion was incredibly remarkable. I am so glad to see this team at the top.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold (SCORE 33)
I absolutely loved to see Nedoroscik come out and do a short performance on the pommel horse. The routine leading straight into a tango, which was dedicated to his fellow gymnasts, was impressive and fun to watch. The commitment to the intensity of the style of dance along with Arnold’s facial expressions took you into the dance itself and proved just how close athleticism is to dancing.
Bottom Scores
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach (SCORE 29)
I truly am sad to see Howard and Karagach at the bottom. Their performances seemingly peaked right at the beginning of the season and aren’t improving much. Howard used his own song with his children’s voices in this performance to encourage him. The rumba is a hard dance because you have to move extra slow so that each and every move is being monitored; however, I think that it just emphasized the lack of fluidity in Howard’s movements.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong (SCORE 32)
Despite being in the bottom ranking, Kinney had a wonderful night, just one point shy of tying with Nedoroscik (along with four other couples). This contemporary that was dedicated to Kinney’s mother was so smooth and glided right over the floor. Armstrong brings such a fresh look on movement and blends so incredibly well with Kinney’s talent. This couple has proven so much already, and I cannot wait to see how they try and stand out from the other rising competition.
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy (SCORE 32)
Parks’ dance this week made me crave so much more. I felt like she didn’t have a lot of moves to show off in this rumba and left Chmerkovskiy to do the heavy lifting. The dance was beautiful and such a pure sentiment towards her mom, while the moves were a little sensual towards her partner. Parks does have the commitment to the show and art, but she will need more than just that in order to outshine the rest of the couples.
Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko (SCORE 32)
I was taken aback by Nader’s performance this week. I don’t mind having a little moment with your family on stage, much like other couples added at the end of theirs, but having his three sisters start off the dance was a lot. They weren’t in sync at all, and it was obvious. I really do think Nader is a talented dancer, but with the showmance with Savchenko mixed with a little attitude toward the judges and other teams, it wasn’t looking too good for her.
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber (SCORE 32)
Tran chose to dedicate her performance to Taylor Swift and danced to “The Archer” to show people how music can help in any moment in life. I have loved seeing Tran and Farber navigate this season together and find a connection through the art of dance. Tran has shown her dedication and love for this show, but now she needs to step it up and get out of her comfort zone.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten (SCORE 32)
Talk about redemption! Maher proved that emotions are a good thing and can only provide motivation to do better. After advice from the judges, Maher showed her femininity in her performance and wasn’t at all shy about it. Bersten does such a wonderful job of giving the spotlight to his star while backing her the entire way through.
Top Costumes
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
Maher posted a TikTok saying she asked for a costume with the most skin showing that she could wear on television without it being a problem. She is showing women everywhere to be comfortable in their skin and proud of who they are. The royal blue was stunning and really showed off her features in such a subtle way.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
The velvet suits seem to be a costume favorite this year, and I am here for it. I absolutely loved the dark violet we got for this couple. It was dramatic just like the dance. Johnson is always showing off her choreography skills, but she is bringing the sensuality into the dance.
Bottom Costumes
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy
I still loved this fit, but Chmerkovskiy seriously looked like he was wearing pajamas. Parks’ dress was beautiful, but I’m not sure it was better than other ones. I think the color is nice, but the one sleeve was an interesting choice. Honestly, it’s just Chmerkovskiy’s costume that is throwing me off.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
Now I think Arnold really stole this performance with her silver and blue costume, but Nedoroscik’s suit was just a little too shiny for me. It went well with a tango, but it just wasn’t my favorite. It’s getting harder and harder to pick least favorites!
ELIMINATED: Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko
I have to say, this was not a shock to me. This team was putting a little too much into the showmance and not enough into what the show is about. I am sad to see Nader go because I do think she was talented, but unfortunately this is why fan votes matter. Other couples were more appealing to the public, and that was their downfall.
After a perfect choice for a guest judge and a stunning performance from Hough and his wife, this week was one to remember. I don’t know how we will continue to vote couples out; it’s becoming too hard. But next week is much anticipated with the addition of Disney songs to support the performances.
Where to watch: Live on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CT and next day on Hulu.
