SEASON 35
LIVE COVERAGE NETWORK
RESULTS • ANALYSIS • VIDEO • CULTURE
WEEK 5 RESULT: GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ ELIMINATED. 10 COUPLES ADVANCE TO DEDICATION NIGHT.
LAST UPDATED Oct 14, 12:15 AM ET · STATUS UPDATING
NEXT EPISODEOctober 20, 2026 · 8 PM ET on ABC & Disney+
NEWS FLASH
DMM Viewing Guide · Season 35
Six scheduled broadcasts remain after October 13. Watch live on ABC and Disney+, catch up next day on Hulu, and vote only while the show is live.
Schedule reviewed Oct. 14, 2026 · times in Eastern · local time shown automatically
ABC and Disney+, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Disney+ carries the live show, which starts at 5 p.m. PT. In Canada, stream live on Disney+ at the same time.
Every episode lands on Hulu the next day. The show doesn't air in the U.K. or Australia.
Online: dwtsvote.abc.com (U.S., its territories and Canada).
Text: the couple's keyword to 21523 (participating U.S. carriers only). Up to 10 votes per couple per method.
Voting opens with the live show at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and closes shortly after the last dance. West Coast viewers: vote during the live window, not after your local ABC broadcast.
Schedule from DMM's verified Season 35 episode guide; Disney Night airs on a Monday. U.S. clocks fall back Nov. 1, but the show stays at 8 p.m. Eastern. Voting and streaming rules as reported for Season 35 by HollywoodLife and Tom's Guide; ABC can change voting rules week to week, and online votes were voided on premiere night, so check the on-screen instructions.
The score tells you who received points. DMM tracks what transferred, what ballroom exposed, and what the result still cannot prove.
Guillermo Rodriguez scored 10/30 and advanced; Conner Leavitt scored 12/30 and was eliminated. Night 1’s online-voting failure and the result are documented separately — not presented as proof of cause.
02 · TRANSFER TESTHarry Shum Jr. opened at 21/30 and Jenna Dewan at 19/30. Their performance experience showed immediately, while ballroom still demanded different weight placement, economy, frame and technical control.
03 · ATHLETIC ADAPTATIONEzra Frech’s power, focus and lead translated into a 20/30 tango. Amber Glenn’s skating lines and musicality translated into an 18/30 cha-cha while foot pressure and Latin weight transfer became the next test.
04 · NIGHT 2 SURPRISEA beginner tied the season lead at 21/30. The opening lesson is already clear: background matters, but control, timing, character and how quickly the body adapts matter too.
Season 35 stories with distinct dance, cultural or professional reporting value beyond the weekly result.
A professional dancer has the résumé. Ballroom is testing the habits. DMM follows what transfers — and what must be rebuilt.
READ THE DMM ANALYSIS →
A 25-year-old dance-film image meets a live floor with no editing suite. DMM separates the actor, the dancer and the memory.
READ THE DMM ANALYSIS →A true beginner led Night Two. DMM looks at what Ballas constructed around performance instinct — and what technique must come next.
READ THE DMM ANALYSIS →
She won the job, then lost her first celebrity partnership after one routine. The career story starts where recap coverage ends.
READ THE DMM ANALYSIS →DMM Dance Watch is an editorial selection, not a ranking.
Where DMM separates what is known from what is not. Nothing in this column is presented as settled unless the evidence settles it.
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson — Eliminated on Super Bowl Night after a salsa to "Tití Me Preguntó" scored 22/40 — his best score of the season.
KNOWN
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson scored 22/40 and were eliminated after Week 5. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess (30/40) were the other couple in the final group. Rodriguez and Carson had advanced from the final group in Weeks 3 and 4.
NOT ESTABLISHED
Vote totals are not disclosed, so DMM cannot say how close the final group was.
DMM ANALYSIS
Rodriguez went home on the night his dancing scored best. The judges tracked steady growth from a 10/30 cha-cha; the field around him rose faster, with seven couples at 33/40 or higher.
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson eliminated after a 22/40 salsa, his best score of the season. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess (30/40) were the other couple in the final group. Ten couples advance to Dedication Night on Oct. 20.
Final Week 5 scores (/40): Dewan/Chmerkovskiy 36, Frech/Karagach 36, Glenn/Pashkov 34, Higgins/Ballas 33, Shum/Johnson 33, Stiles/Sosa 33, Olson/Slater 31, Cameron/Burgess 30, Ali/Ravnik 29, Wood/Arnold 25, Rodriguez/Carson 22.
Super Bowl Night interim scores: Amber Glenn/Pasha Pashkov 34/40 (samba), Maura Higgins/Mark Ballas 33/40 (tango; reported rehearsal neck discomfort), Jackson Olson/Emma Slater 31/40 (salsa), Tyler Cameron/Sharna Burgess 30/40 (jazz), Connor Wood/Rylee Arnold 25/40 (samba). Four judges score out of 40. Episode still live; elimination unconfirmed. DMM watching samba bounce, timing, lifts and neck/posture safety.
Britt Stewart discusses her Week 3 elimination with Taylor Hanson, the Justice for Britt campaign, and the teaching and representation work behind a professional DWTS partnership in an October 13 Glamour interview. No new elimination or casting change; DMM has prepared an in-depth analysis.
Rylee Arnold shares a playful rehearsal video with Connor Wood and Season 34 finalist Dylan Efron demonstrating a three-person samba roll. ABC still lists Wood and Arnold for tonight's samba to Hips Don't Lie; Efron is not a new competitor. Watch the original clip on Arnold's Instagram.
Brandon Armstrong tells People that Ciara Miller's unperformed Dedication Night concept would have honored nurses with a Florence Nightingale light motif and possible nurse performers. It was never finalized or performed; no new elimination or scoring change.
Ezra Frech tells People that preparing DWTS routines involves trial and error with his walking prosthesis and running blade. Daniella Karagach has explained the rebound and balance trade-offs. Their October 13 salsa assignment and existing scores are unchanged.
Brian Austin Green tells Us Weekly that childcare logistics and studio attendance restrictions he described have limited some DWTS audience visits while Sharna Burgess returns as a pro. ABC has not announced a new attendance policy; Burgess and Tyler Cameron remain scheduled for Oct. 13 jazz.
Sharna Burgess says she is okay after a rehearsal turning stunt with Tyler Cameron went wrong in footage posted Oct. 9. The Oct. 12 report does not establish a current injury; their Oct. 13 jazz assignment remains unchanged.
Val Chmerkovskiy tells RadarOnline he would welcome a future male celebrity partner as a creative challenge. This is an interview statement, not an ABC casting announcement; his Jenna Dewan partnership and Oct. 13 paso doble remain unchanged.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson say future DWTS dances may include more Glee references. Their Sept. 29 jive used a Mike Chang visual cue; no new routine is confirmed.
Emma Slater says a questioned foot position during her Week 4 waltz with Jackson Olson was intended to prevent an unplanned lift penalty. No actual deduction is established; the pair scored 21/30.
Post-event reporting confirms DWTS cast members at the first Banana Bowl (Oct. 10, Nationals Park). Jackson Olson performed with the Savannah Bananas; individual pro and choreography credits are not yet verified.
Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov caution fans against copying their viral inverted split. Their Oct. 13 samba to "Mi Gente" will add extra dancers.
Maura Higgins laughs off a rumor that the season is fixed for her. Her 25/30 waltz and hard-won double turn are the dance record; no source shows scores or votes were manipulated.
The official DWTS podcast says all four returning NFL alumni will dance on Super Bowl Night; Val Chmerkovskiy previews extra dancers in Jenna Dewan's paso doble.
Carrie Ann Inaba responds to favoritism claims as Witney Carson defends Guillermo Rodriguez's character choice — characterization versus technique.
ABC News confirms all 11 Super Bowl Night assignments and names ESPN's Joe Buck as guest judge.
DWTS: Live! 2027 tour dates released: 60 shows from Jan. 21 to Apr. 11, 2027, directed by Mandy Moore.
Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong eliminated after a season-best 21/30 jazz; Rodriguez and Carson advance on the night's low score, 13/30.
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas post 25/30 for their waltz — the season's first 9, from Carrie Ann Inaba.
ABC/Disney releases the Mariah Carey Night songs and dance styles.
Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart eliminated on Yacht Rock Night after an 18/30 foxtrot.
Amber Glenn and Harry Shum Jr. share the Week 3 high score at 24/30.
Carrie Ann Inaba expands on the feedback she could not give Giada De Laurentiis under Viral Hits Night's one-word critique format.
ABC/Disney confirms all 13 Yacht Rock Night songs and dance styles for September 29.
ABC News highlights the Week 2 athlete pairings: Ezra Frech/Daniella Karagach and Amber Glenn/Pasha Pashkov both share the 21/30 lead.
ABC/Disney updates premiere ratings: Night 2 at 6.44M viewers; revised Night 1 at 6.77M; two-night premiere is the show's most-watched in six years.
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten eliminated after a 12/30 salsa; 13 couples advance.
Jenna Dewan, Ezra Frech and Amber Glenn share the Week 2 high score at 21/30.
Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills eliminated after a 14/30 jive.
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman eliminated from Season 35 after a 12/30 salsa.
Which Super Bowl Night dance was your favorite?
Reader poll. Results are a snapshot of this page's visitors, not a measure of the show's vote or of public opinion. DMM reports it as reaction, never as evidence.
Every pairing, their status in the competition, and the running score record as the season moves.
VERIFIED29/40LATEST
VERIFIED30/40LATEST
ELIMINATED12/30LATEST
VERIFIED36/40LATESTVERIFIED36/40LATEST
VERIFIED34/40LATEST
ELIMINATED18/30LATESTVERIFIED33/40LATESTELIMINATED12/30LATESTELIMINATED21/30LATEST
ELIMINATED14/30LATEST
VERIFIED31/40LATEST
ELIMINATED22/40LATESTVERIFIED33/40LATESTVERIFIED33/40LATEST
VERIFIED25/40LATEST| # | Couple | Latest dance | Score run | Total | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Salsa — Hot in Herre | 122 | 24.4 | |
| 2 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Paso doble — Bad Romance | 121 | 24.2 | |
| 3T | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Samba — Mi Gente | 120 | 24.0 | |
| 3T | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Samba — Yeah! | 120 | 24.0 | |
| 3T | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Tango — Only Girl (In the World) | 120 | 24.0 | |
| 6 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Jazz — Jenny from the Block (Track Masters Remix) | 107 | 21.4 | |
| 7 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Salsa — Uptown Funk | 103 | 20.6 | |
| 8 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Jazz — The Time (Dirty Bit) | 101 | 20.2 | |
| 9 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Salsa — squabble up | 100 | 20.0 | |
| 10 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Samba — Hips Don't Lie | 95 | 19.0 | |
| 11T | Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong · ELIMINATED EP 5 | Jazz — Emotions | 72 | 18.0 | |
| 11T | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson · ELIMINATED EP 6 | Salsa — Tití Me Preguntó | 72 | 14.4 | |
| 13 | Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart · ELIMINATED EP 4 | Foxtrot — What a Fool Believes | 49 | 16.3 | |
| 14 | Giada De Laurentiiswith Alan Bersten · ELIMINATED EP 3 | Salsa — Bella Ciao | 28 | 14.0 | |
| 15 | Sarah Jane Naderwith Hailey Bills · ELIMINATED EP 2 | Jive — Sk8er Boi | 14 | 14.0 | |
| 16 | Conner Leavittwith Adele Zaikman · ELIMINATED EP 1 | Salsa — Whoomp! (There It Is) | 12 | 12.0 |
Every partnership carries a technical correction forward. After the next routine, DMM can record whether it improved, stayed the same, or revealed a different problem.
How to read this: “Week 1 correction” is DMM’s technical observation from the premiere. “Next check” is the movement question DMM will revisit. This is analysis, not an official judging score.
| Couple | Premiere baseline | Week 1 correction | Next check | Tracker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | EP 2 · Jive · 12/30 | Keep the jive rhythm underneath the performance from the first count. | Lighter footwork + steadier bounce | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | EP 1 · Tango · 17/30 | Organize power through frame and standing leg rather than muscling the shape. | Frame + grounded travel | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Giada De Laurentiiswith Alan Bersten | EP 2 · Tango · 16/30 | Turn readable shapes into continuous, committed movement. | ELIMINATED · ARC CLOSED AFTER WEEK 2 | CLOSED |
| Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | EP 2 · Tango · 19/30 | Reduce unnecessary upper-body force while keeping the tango alive. | Economy + frame | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | EP 1 · Tango · 20/30 | Convert athletic power into continuous travel instead of isolated effort. | Glide + continuous lead | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | EP 2 · Cha-cha · 18/30 | Trade some skating glide for more decisive Latin weight transfer. | Foot pressure + partner connection | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart | EP 1 · Quickstep · 16/30 | Let musicianship support the feet instead of carrying the whole performance. | ELIMINATED · ARC CLOSED AFTER WEEK 3 | CLOSED |
| Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | EP 2 · Foxtrot · 21/30 | Keep the softness while making the foot action and rise-and-fall more specific. | Foot action + continuity | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Conner Leavittwith Adele Zaikman | EP 1 · Salsa · 12/30 | Eliminated after one routine; development arc ended before a correction week. | PRO CAREER WATCH | CLOSED |
| Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | EP 2 · Foxtrot · 15/30 | Connect the emotional performance to continuous body flight. | ELIMINATED · ARC CLOSED AFTER WEEK 4 (season-best 21/30) | CLOSED |
| Sarah Jane Naderwith Hailey Bills | EP 2 · Jive · 14/30 | Eliminated after one routine; no Week 2 correction sample. | ELIMINATED | CLOSED |
| Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | EP 1 · Cha-cha · 15/30 | Put the energy inside the rhythm instead of on top of it. | Timing + leg action | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | EP 1 · Cha-cha · 10/30 | Replace walking mechanics with deliberate Latin weight changes. | ELIMINATED · ARC CLOSED AFTER WEEK 5 (season-best 22/40) | CLOSED |
| Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | EP 1 · Cha-cha · 21/30 | Become more economical without becoming less alive. | Axis + weight + Latin action | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | EP 2 · Quickstep · 18/30 | Build live ballroom specificity independent of the movie memory. | Frame + quickstep footwork | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
| Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | EP 1 · Cha-cha · 16/30 | Make the basic rhythm as readable as the personality. | Weight changes + Latin timing | WEEK 5 SCORED · DMM CHECK PENDING |
Instead of asking only whether a celebrity danced well, DMM asks what problem the professional dancer is solving — what the routine protects, exposes, simplifies or demands.
Editing an expert. Preserve musical instinct while redirecting familiar commercial habits toward more specific Latin mechanics.
Building from instinct. Use character and musical intention as scaffolding, then keep layering foot action, continuity and frame underneath it.
Translating an athlete. Keep the power while changing how that power travels — less vertical/explosive, more continuous through a shared frame.
Subtracting without flattening. Leave room for intensity while discouraging movement that is too large for tango mechanics.
Tuesday, October 20 · 8 PM ET on ABC & Disney+. Ten couples remain after Super Bowl Night. ABC has not yet announced the Week 6 songs and dance styles; DMM lists them here only once they are official, and adds scores only after the broadcast is verified.
| Couple | Style | Song | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignments not yet announcedDMM adds them when ABC confirms | |||
Schedule: ABC Support season schedule. Week 5 results: DMM Week 5 results.
Every routine of the season: style, song, score, and what DMM saw in the technique.
| Ep | Couple | Style | Song | Score | DMM read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP 6 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Paso doble | Bad RomanceLady Gaga | 36/40 | — |
| EP 6 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Salsa | Hot in HerreNelly | 36/40 | — |
| EP 6 | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Samba | Mi GenteJ Balvin & Willy William | 34/40 | Judges singled out the scarf section set against traditional samba rolls. |
| EP 6 | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Tango | Only Girl (In the World)Rihanna | 33/40 | Performed through rehearsal neck pain; no diagnosis released. Inaba and Hough asked for more attack. |
| EP 6 | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Samba | Yeah!Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris | 33/40 | — |
| EP 6 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Jazz | Jenny from the Block (Track Masters Remix)Jennifer Lopez feat. Jadakiss & Styles P | 33/40 | A Save the Last Dance callback with a hip-hop and ballet solo; Tonioli called it her best dance. |
| EP 6 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Salsa | Uptown FunkMark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars | 31/40 | Hough called it his best dance of the competition. |
| EP 6 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Jazz | The Time (Dirty Bit)Black Eyed Peas | 30/40 | A Dirty Dancing-inspired jazz that included the film's famous lift. Hough praised his improvement and Inaba his lifts; the couple was in the final group and advanced. |
| EP 6 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Salsa | squabble upKendrick Lamar | 29/40 | — |
| EP 6 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Samba | Hips Don't LieShakira feat. Wyclef Jean | 25/40 | Judges called his energy a 10 but said timing and weight transfer need significant work. |
| EP 6 | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Salsa | Tití Me PreguntóBad Bunny | 22/40 | His best score of the season, scored 6-5-6-5. Inaba said he had brought the joy back. Eliminated as the field rose around him. |
| EP 5 | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Waltz | If It's OverMariah Carey | 25/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Rumba | My AllMariah Carey | 24/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Rumba | Anytime You Need a FriendMariah Carey | 24/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Tango | It's Like ThatMariah Carey feat. Jermaine Dupri & Fatman Scoop | 24/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Rumba | HeroMariah Carey | 23/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Foxtrot | #BeautifulMariah Carey feat. Miguel | 21/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | Jazz | EmotionsMariah Carey | 21/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Waltz | Without YouMariah Carey | 21/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Viennese waltz | Vision of LoveMariah Carey | 21/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Jazz | FantasyMariah Carey | 20/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Rumba | Touch My BodyMariah Carey | 19/30 | — |
| EP 5 | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Samba | ObsessedMariah Carey | 13/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Foxtrot | Hold the LineToto | 24/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Jive | You Make My Dreams (Come True)Daryl Hall & John Oates | 24/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Quickstep | Turn Your Love AroundGeorge Benson | 22/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Quickstep | ManeaterDaryl Hall & John Oates | 21/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Samba | AfricaToto | 21/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Foxtrot | Just the Two of UsGrover Washington Jr. feat. Bill Withers | 21/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Foxtrot | EverywhereFleetwood Mac | 20/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Salsa | I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)Daryl Hall & John Oates | 19/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart | Foxtrot | What a Fool BelievesThe Doobie Brothers | 18/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | Cha-cha | Never Too MuchLuther Vandross | 18/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Paso doble | Easy LoverPhilip Bailey & Phil Collins | 18/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Jive | Still the OneOrleans | 17/30 | — |
| EP 4 | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Foxtrot | Escape (The Piña Colada Song)Rupert Holmes | 15/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Jive | AnimalKATSEYE | 21/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Cha-cha | LowFlo Rida | 21/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Tango | All the Things She SaidHarrison | 21/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Cha-cha | SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire | 19/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Foxtrot | What Was I Made For?Billie Eilish | 18/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | Tango | No Broke BoysDisco Lines & Tinashe | 18/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Foxtrot | That's So TrueGracie Abrams | 18/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Viennese waltz | IrisGoo Goo Dolls | 18/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Salsa | GirlsThe Kid LAROI | 16/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Tango | The DoorTeddy Swims | 16/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart | Cha-cha | Cake By the OceanDNCE | 15/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Tango | 12 to 12sombr | 15/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Giada De Laurentiiswith Alan Bersten | Salsa | Bella CiaoBecky G | 12/30 | — |
| EP 3 | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Paso doble | Where Have You BeenRihanna | 12/30 | — |
| EP 2 | Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Foxtrot | Black VelvetAlannah Myles | 21/30 | The premiere’s clearest reminder that ballroom quality is not a résumé contest. Character supported the movement instead of replacing it, and the foxtrot read smooth and continuous. |
| EP 2 | Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Tango | Call MeBlondie | 19/30 | The dance experience was obvious in attack and finish, but ballroom exposed a different requirement: economy. Refining the top line without losing intensity is the real transfer test. |
| EP 2 | Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Cha-cha | SmoothSantana feat. Rob Thomas | 18/30 | The skating background supplied lines and musical confidence immediately. Ballroom’s question is underneath: can the feet articulate the floor and can weight settle sharply enough for Latin action? |
| EP 2 | Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Quickstep | 9 to 5Dolly Parton | 18/30 | The quickstep matters because it separates screen memory from present-tense dancing. The opening showed composure and timing; the season test is whether ballroom mechanics become her current identity rather than a callback. |
| EP 2 | Giada De Laurentiiswith Alan Bersten | Tango | VenusShocking Blue | 16/30 | The encouraging part was clarity: even with visible nerves, the shapes stayed readable. The next gain is conviction — more drive through the floor and less hesitation between positions. |
| EP 2 | Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | Foxtrot | Exhale (Shoop Shoop)Whitney Houston | 15/30 | The performance intention was clear, but foxtrot needs continuity underneath the mood. The next step is to make the body travel as smoothly as the expression reads. |
| EP 2 | Sarah Jane Naderwith Hailey Bills | Jive | Sk8er BoiAvril Lavigne | 14/30 | The routine had commitment and character, but jive exposes timing and footwork quickly. The score and elimination ended the partnership before those mechanics could develop across weeks. |
| EP 2 | Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Jive | Knock on WoodAmii Stewart | 12/30 | The rough opening pulled the timing apart, but the routine improved once she settled. The next gain is lighter feet and a more consistent basic rhythm without losing the performance spark. |
| EP 1 | Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Cha-cha | Let's GrooveEarth, Wind & Fire | 21/30 | The résumé is the advantage; the habits are the assignment. His performance systems already work, so the test is whether axis, weight, foot pressure and partner connection become more specific. |
| EP 1 | Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Tango | Since U Been GoneKelly Clarkson | 20/30 | Adaptation was the story: he looked focused, controlled and like a partner who was leading rather than merely completing steps. The next step is more glide and continuity. |
| EP 1 | Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Tango | Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz | 17/30 | The athletic base gives him usable power and control, but tango rewards organization more than effort. The season test is whether strength becomes quieter, more connected movement. |
| EP 1 | Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart | Quickstep | Tell Her About ItBilly Joel | 16/30 | A Week 1 quickstep is a heavy technical assignment. His strongest signal was recovery: a mistake did not collapse the performance. The next level is cleaner frame and feet at speed. |
| EP 1 | Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Cha-cha | I Like It, I Love ItTim McGraw | 16/30 | The personality reads quickly, which is useful television. The development question is whether the technique can become equally legible: clearer weight changes, sharper rhythm and less dependence on charm to carry the phrase. |
| EP 1 | Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Cha-cha | WannabeSpice Girls | 15/30 | Energy makes the routine readable, but cha-cha asks whether that energy can be organized into precise weight changes. The next gain is less bouncing around the beat and more dancing through it. |
| EP 1 | Conner Leavittwith Adele Zaikman | Salsa | Whoomp! (There It Is)Tag Team | 12/30 | The first pair out, and the first Season 35 professional out after a single routine. The Night 1 online-voting outage is a separately tracked fact, not evidence of what caused the result. |
| EP 1 | Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Cha-cha | Mr. Big StuffJean Knight | 10/30 | The audience connection was real, but so was the technical gap. Heel leads, limited cha-cha action and inconsistent timing explain the 10/30; commitment gives Carson something usable to build around. |
A score tells you the judges’ number. This guide gives non-dancers a few movement clues to watch for so the critique makes sense.
DMM’s Dance Decoder is an editorial viewing guide, not a competition rulebook or substitute for instruction from a qualified ballroom teacher.
Weight changes create the dance. Watch whether weight settles clearly from foot to foot; whether the legs and feet produce the rhythm; and whether hip action grows out of the transfer instead of being added on top.
Premiere examples: Harry Shum Jr., Amber Glenn, Connor Wood, Jackson Olson, Guillermo Rodriguez.
Stillness and direction are part of the power. Look for a compact, stable frame; grounded travel; clear changes of direction; and a partnership that moves as one unit without unnecessary rise-and-fall.
Premiere examples: Ezra Frech, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Giada De Laurentiis.
Speed only works if the frame survives it. The feet move quickly, but the upper body cannot look frantic. Watch posture, closed-hold coordination, light travel and whether timing stays organized through fast patterns.
Premiere examples: Taylor Hanson, Julia Stiles.
Continuity is the headline. Look for sustained travel, a calm frame, swing and rise/fall that feel connected rather than assembled one figure at a time.
Premiere examples: Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller.
Compact mechanics create visible energy. Watch quick weight changes, light/compact footwork, bounce action and whether speed stays rhythmic instead of turning into running.
Premiere examples: Tatyana Ali, Sarah Jane Nader.
Timing and connection have to survive the party. Watch the timing of weight changes, how turns reconnect to the partner and whether the body keeps the rhythm beneath tricks and personality.
Premiere example: Conner Leavitt.
DMM's running question for Season 35: which prior movement training carries into ballroom and Latin, and where does specialized technique expose its limits.
| Celebrity | Prior movement background | What should transfer | Where ballroom will test them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tatyana Aliwith Jan Ravnik | Broadway-trained actor and singer with decades of stage, television and live-music performance experience. | Stage presence, musical phrasing, memory under performance pressure and comfort projecting to a live audience. | Jive foot speed, bounce timing, weight placement and recovering choreography without losing the rhythm. |
| Tyler Cameronwith Sharna Burgess | Former college athlete and fitness-focused television personality; no formal dance training is established in the Season 35 record. | Athletic coordination, strength, coachability and comfort performing under pressure. | Tango posture, compact frame, grounded travel, musical precision and partner-led movement rather than athletic force. |
| Giada De Laurentiiswith Alan Bersten | Chef, television host and on-camera presenter; ABC’s bio does not establish formal dance training. | Camera composure, performance discipline and an experienced presenter’s ability to stay clear when nerves rise. | Tango commitment, stronger drive through the standing leg, frame and moving through figures without becoming careful. |
| Jenna Dewanwith Val Chmerkovskiy | Professional dance background before acting, including commercial performance work; later starred in Step Up and worked across dance television. | High-level musicality, fast choreography pickup, lines, performance projection and comfort changing dynamics on camera. | Ballroom frame, grounded tango mechanics and controlling commercial-dance amplitude so the upper body does not overpower the partnership. |
| Ezra Frechwith Daniella Karagach | Elite Paralympic sprinter and jumper — a two-time Paralympic gold medalist with world-level high-jump, sprint and long-jump experience. | Explosive power, balance, spatial awareness, competitive focus and an athlete’s ability to adapt mechanics deliberately. | Sustained ballroom frame, smooth travel, continuous lead and translating power into glide rather than vertical or sprint-based action. |
| Amber Glennwith Pasha Pashkov | Elite figure skater with high-level performance, edge control, rotation, musicality and competitive experience. | Lines, musical phrasing, balance, rotation awareness and comfort performing technical movement under scrutiny. | Latin foot pressure, grounded weight changes, hip action and partner connection without relying on skating-style glide. |
| Taylor Hansonwith Britt Stewart | Singer, musician and longtime live performer with extensive experience in rhythm, phrasing, touring and stage performance. | Musicianship, timing, phrasing, performance recovery and comfort staying present when something goes wrong. | Quickstep frame, foot speed, clean travel and maintaining body organization while the dance keeps moving. |
| Maura Higginswith Mark Ballas | Television personality with prior reality-competition performance experience, including Dancing on Ice; ABC’s Season 35 bio does not claim formal dance training. | Performance commitment, camera awareness, character work and experience learning movement for televised competition. | Foxtrot continuity, heel-toe action, rise and fall, sustained frame and preserving softness while traveling. |
| Conner Leavittwith Adele Zaikman | Social-media personality; the verified Season 35 record does not establish formal dance training. | Camera comfort, willingness to perform and familiarity with fast-paced content production. | Salsa timing, weight transfer, hip action, refinement and staying connected to a partner through quick changes. |
| Ciara Millerwith Brandon Armstrong | Television personality and model; the Season 35 record does not establish formal ballroom training. | Camera awareness, composure, presentation and the ability to sell an emotional idea on screen. | Foxtrot frame, continuity, leg and foot action, softness through travel and letting the partnership carry the picture. |
| Sarah Jane Naderwith Hailey Bills | Model and media personality; no formal dance training is established in the verified Season 35 record. | Presentation, camera confidence and willingness to commit to a bold performance idea. | Jive timing, compact footwork, weight changes, bounce action and maintaining control at speed. |
| Jackson Olsonwith Emma Slater | Digital creator and former collegiate athlete with performance experience but no established formal ballroom background. | Athletic coordination, energy, coachability and comfort engaging an audience. | Cha-cha timing, leg and foot action, controlled weight placement and sustaining rhythm beneath personality. |
| Guillermo Rodriguezwith Witney Carson | Longtime television personality and comic performer; ABC’s bio does not establish formal dance or athletic training. | Comic timing, audience connection and willingness to commit to a performance without self-protection. | Basic cha-cha timing, ball-of-foot action, hip movement, power and replacing heel-led walking mechanics with Latin weight changes. |
| Harry Shum Jr.with Jenna Johnson | Screen performer with extensive trained-dance and commercial choreography experience. | Musicality, performance confidence, learning speed, comfort in front of camera. | Latin action, hip and foot pressure, closed-hold frame under a judge's eye. |
| Julia Stileswith Ezra Sosa | Actor whose public dance association comes largely through Save the Last Dance; that film preparation is not the same as a continuing professional dance career. | Choreography familiarity, performance memory, character work and comfort telling a story through physical action. | Live quickstep timing, frame, fast footwork and sustaining technique without editing, multiple takes or a film narrative doing part of the work. |
| Connor Woodwith Rylee Arnold | Comedian and digital creator with performance experience; no formal dance training is established in the Season 35 record. | Timing, responsiveness, audience awareness and comfort committing to a bit or character in real time. | Cha-cha rhythm, foot pressure, hip action, clean weight changes and maintaining technique once the comedy/performance layer is stripped away. |
The Season 35 panel and hosts — and the dance background each one brings to the ballroom.
Judge
Dancer and choreographer with training in jazz, ballet and hula; an original Fly Girl on In Living Color. DMM watches how her comments address performance clarity, musicality and whether movement is fully finished.
Judge
Former dancer and veteran choreographer across film, music videos, concerts and television. His lens frequently emphasizes character, dynamics and whether the assigned style is recognizable in the body.
Judge
Six-time DWTS champion and Emmy-winning choreographer with direct competitive-ballroom and choreography-development experience. His comments often expose the mechanics beneath a polished performance.
Host
Award-winning dancer and Broadway performer who starred in The Tap Dance Kid and later won DWTS Season 19. He understands the competition from both the celebrity and host sides of the floor.
Host
Two-time DWTS champion, former judge and Emmy-winning dancer. Her career spans ballroom, stage, film and movement-based work, giving the hosting desk an insider’s relationship to the training process.
Rehearsal, wardrobe, hair and makeup, camera and crew — the work that happens before the floor lights up.
Official Season 35 video from ABC/Disney, plus DMM’s episode photography.
Video embedded from the official Dancing with the Stars YouTube channel (ABC/Disney Television). Dance Mogul Magazine does not host or claim ownership of this footage. Commentary and technical analysis are original DMM editorial.
Every night of Season 35, with results and what each episode changed.
| Ep | Title | Air date | Theme | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP 1 | Premiere — Night One | Sep 15, 2026 | No. 1 songs from the celebrities' birth years — male celebrities | Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 2 | Premiere — Night Two | Sep 16, 2026 | No. 1 songs from the celebrities' birth years — female celebrities | Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 3 | Viral Hits Night | Sep 22, 2026 | Viral Hits Night | Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 4 | Yacht Rock Night | Sep 29, 2026 | Yacht Rock Night | Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 5 | Mariah Carey Night | Oct 6, 2026 | Mariah Carey Night | Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 6 | Super Bowl Night | Oct 13, 2026 | Super Bowl halftime songs · guest judge Joe Buck | Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson eliminated | AIRED |
| EP 7 | Dedication Night | Oct 20, 2026 | Dedication Night | — | UPCOMING |
| EP 8 | Horror Movie Night | Oct 27, 2026 | Horror Movie Night | — | UPCOMING |
| EP 9 | Disney Night | Mon, Nov 2, 2026 | Disney Night (airs Monday) | — | UPCOMING |
| EP 10 | Grammy Night | Nov 10, 2026 | Grammy Night | — | UPCOMING |
| EP 11 | Semifinals | Nov 17, 2026 | Semifinals | — | UPCOMING |
| EP 12 | Finale | Nov 24, 2026 | Finale | — | UPCOMING |
A production this large exists because hundreds of people contribute their craft. Dance Mogul Magazine recognizes the dancers, choreographers, contestants, judges, hosts, photographers, camera crews, lighting teams, costume designers, hair and makeup artists, musicians, rehearsal teams, stage crews, producers, directors, editors, publicists and production professionals whose work brings Dancing with the Stars to audiences each week. DMM also recognizes ABC, Disney and the DWTS press and publicity teams for making official information and editorial media available to journalists covering the program.
Source priority for this coverage: ABC / Disney Television Press first, then official DWTS and ABC communications, then authoritative reporting for facts the primary sources do not carry. Social and community posts appear only as identified reaction. Photo credits are printed exactly as the source supplies them — where a credit is not supplied, the field stays empty rather than guessed. Where DMM is interpreting rather than reporting, the passage is marked DMM ANALYSIS.
Dance Mogul Magazine LLC · Independent editorial coverage. Dancing with the Stars is a production of ABC / Disney. DMM is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or speaking for ABC, Disney or the program. Official press material remains the property of its owners and is used for editorial reporting with attribution.
Dance Mogul Magazine · Season 35
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