The Dancing With the Stars Season 34 semi-finals brought both royal celebrations and heartbreaking eliminations during an electrifying Prince Night that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. The competition reached its peak intensity as couples performed back-to-back routines set to the legendary music of Prince, proving that no one was safe from elimination, even at this advanced stage.
First Round Performances Set the Stage
The evening kicked off with Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten taking the floor with a foxtrot choreographed to I Wanna Be Your Lover. The judges appreciated their control and musicality, awarding them a solid 27 points, though they demanded more fighting spirit for the second performance.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy returned with an Argentine tango set to Little Red Corvette, building on their previous week's success. The panel recognized Alix as one of the season's most improved contestants, though technical aspects needed refinement, resulting in a 28-point score.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas followed with an energetic cha cha to 1999 that divided judge opinions. While some praised her attention to detail, others felt it wasn't among her sharpest performances, earning them 29 points.
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach presented a tango to I Would Die 4 U, showing noticeable growth despite some technical imperfections that held their score to 27 points.
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa brought high energy with their jive to Raspberry Beret, though a timing error prevented them from scoring higher, settling at 27 points.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson closed the first round spectacularly with a jive to Baby I'm a Star that became the first routine to completely win over the judges, earning a perfect score of 30.
Second Routines Intensify the Competition
The pressure mounted during the second round as couples returned with new dance styles. Elaine Hendrix delivered a powerful paso doble to When Doves Cry that earned her first perfect score of the season - 30 points.
Alix Earle's Viennese waltz to the iconic Purple Rain represented another significant leap forward, with judges openly predicting her appearance in the finals and rewarding her with another perfect 30.
Dylan Efron showcased his best Latin performance yet with a cha cha to Kiss that earned him 28 points, demonstrating his consistent improvement throughout the competition.
Whitney Leavitt's emotional Viennese waltz to Slow Love moved both the audience and judges, receiving heavy praise and 29 points for her heartfelt performance.
Jordan Chiles maintained strong contention with an Argentine tango to U Got the Look that secured another perfect score of 30.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson concluded the round with a Viennese waltz to WOW that maintained their earlier momentum, earning 29 points.
The Shocking Elimination Results
When the final scores were tallied, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson topped the leaderboard with the highest combined score, while Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach found themselves at the bottom position.
However, the evening's biggest surprise came during elimination announcements. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were unexpectedly eliminated, cutting short what had been one of their most impressive competition runs. This early exit significantly altered the finale landscape and left both judges and audience members stunned.
Week 10 concluded with five couples advancing to the next round, while one surprising departure reshaped the competition dynamics. With Prince Night now behind them, the remaining competitors prepare for the final stretch of Dancing With the Stars Season 34, where every step could mean the difference between victory and elimination.
