SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from this week’s episode of Dancing with the Stars.
It’s Dedication Night in the ballroom, so grab your tissues.
Tuesday night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars featured the remaining 10 celebrity contestants and their pro partners perform routines dedicated to someone important in the former’s life. There are a lot of parents and siblings among the mix, as is typical, as well as a few curveballs. Maura Higgins is dedicating her dance to the entire nation of Ireland. Tatyana Ali and Julia Stiles have both chosen to honor former co-stars who have died.
All of the night’s performances also featured special appearances, either by the person being honored or someone else close to them.
Also, can anyone believe it’s already Week 6? We are officially at the halfway mark of the season, and it appears the competition is just kicking up. No one has scored above a 9 yet, and last week marked the first instance of straight 9s.
Not to mention, there’s some internal tension this week after pro Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended for a week because of remarks he made online in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s criticism of his wife, Jenna Johnson, during Super Bowl Night. Alan Bersten is filling in for Val this week with Jenna Dewan.
Also, former pro Kym Johnson is a guest judge this week. Anyway, let’s get into the dances.
Paralympian Ezra Frech with Daniella Karagach. The athlete is dedicating a contemporary to “Bloodline” by Mon Rovia to his mom. He gets emotional telling Daniella about his mom’s support throughout his life as he navigated growing up with a disability. His mom opens the dance with him before turning the reins over to his pro partner for a tribute that left the judges both touched and impressed. “The dancing, by the way, that was brilliant!” Bruno said. SCORE: 37 out of 40 (and the first 10 of the season courtesy of Kym)
Actress Tatyana Ali with Jan Ravnik. After “popping [her] booty” last week, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star is slowing things down with a viennese waltz to “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” by Nancy Wilson dedicated to her late Fresh Prince costar James Avery, featuring her other former costar and DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro. She also chose to record the track to sing for the performance. Naturally, the performance was overflowing with emotion. “It was like watching an old Hollywood film come to life,” Carrie Ann Inaba said through tears. SCORE: 32 out of 40
Reality star Maura Higgins with Mark Ballas. Even though her home nation can’t vote for her, the TV personality wants to dedicate her paso doble to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys in honor of Ireland. They also get a little help from Irish step dancer Lochlan “Lucky” Howard to help them nail the ode to the country. “Oh my days, Maura! Could you be anymore Irish?! That was fantastic!” Derek Hough told her. SCORE: 35 out of 40
Savannah Bananas midfielder Jackson Olson with Emma Slater. The Banana baller has finally found his confidence, just in time to take on a Quickstep to “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole, which he has dedicated to his mom. He says his mom has a knack for finding the extraordinary in every kid, including him, and he wants to exemplify that in his dance. Seems like it resonated. “I see where you get this confidence from and your joy,” Carrie Ann tells him. SCORE: 32 out of 40
Olympian Amber Glenn with Pasha Pashkov. Although she says they weren’t the closest growing up, Amber wants to dedicate a contemporary to “Breathe Me” by Sia to her sister Brooke. She remembers growing closer to her sister as she got older, during a mental health crisis, and that’s the story she wants to tell with the performance. “The raw emotion in that, the athleticism, the vulnerability…sometimes in life you just need someone to lift you up, and what a beautiful way to say thank you to your sister,” Kym tells her. SCORE: 38 out of 40
Actress Jenna Dewan with Alan Bersten. She’s not letting the pro shakeup break her stride this week as she honors her mom with a viennese waltz to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers. Alan is determined to make the dance special for both of them and exemplifies the grace that Jenna says her mom instilled in her. Mission accomplished! “Oh my god, I love it when you get lyrical!” Bruno exclaims. “That was fantastic!” SCORE: 37 out of 40
Actor Harry Shum Jr. with Jenna Johnson. After earning his first 9 last week, he’s dedicating a foxtrot to “Stop This Train” by John Mayer to his wife this week. The Grey’s Anatomy actor says that no one has uplifted him more, so who better to honor in a dance? It was a family affair, also featuring his parents and his daughter. “And they can all dance!” Alfonso says. The judges agree. “What a beautiful way to tell your story to the world,” Carrie Ann tells him. She also compliments Jenna’s choreography. SCORE: 36 out of 40
Comedian and podcaster Connor Wood with Rylee Arnold. This funny guy is getting serious on Dedication Night with a viennese waltz to “Piano Man” by Billy Joel for his dad. He was at the bottom of the leaderboard last week, so he wants to improve, and he also wants to do justice to his dad’s legacy. “You have come a very long way. You should be proud,” Derek tells him. Carrie Ann gives him the most improved award! SCORE: 32 out of 40
Reality star Tyler Cameron with Sharna Burgess. Carrie Ann told him last week he was “actually becoming a dancer,” so now it’s time to get out from the bottom of the leaderboard. This week, he’s dedicating a contemporary to “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran to his late mother and mothers everywhere, featuring a special appearance from his fiancée. And guest what?! He’s gonna be a girl dad! SCORE: 32 out of 40
Actress Julia Stiles with Ezra Sosa. These close out the night with a contemporary to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli dedicated to her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star Heath Ledger. This is the second week in a row where Julia will be referencing one of her old films in a dance, but this one is much more emotionally charged. She cries in practice talking about working with him and says she wants to recreate his “lust” for life. The end of the performance also featured the cast of 10 Things I Hate About You reuniting on the ballroom floor, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Susan May Pratt, and Andrew Keegan. “Watching you, it just makes me want to open my heart,” Carrie Ann says. SCORE: 36 out of 40
Who goes home?
It’s a little sad someone has to go home on Dedication Night…so they sent home no one! Next week, in honor of Halloween, is Horror Movie Night.