Los Angeles – The eighth week of Dancing with the Stars aired on Monday, a night shifted to avoid the national Election Day broadcast. The Disney Night theme celebrated the “magic of Disney on Broadway” and featured a star‑studded lineup of Broadway talent, including Heather Headley, Sherri Shepherd, Michael James Scott, Rodney Ingram and Kyra Belle Johnson. Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo joined the regular judging panel as a guest judge.
Perfect Scores Light Up the Ballroom
Two couples achieved the coveted 40‑point total. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson dazzled with a jazzy rendition of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins. Derek Hough praised the duo, urging Broadway producers to take notice, while Cynthia Erivo called the routine “flabbergasting” and Carrie Ann Inaba highlighted its nuanced choreography.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy earned a perfect score for their quickstep set to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. Carrie Ann described Dewan as a “perfect princess,” and Bruno Tonioli called the performance “a feast” and the epitome of what DWTS should be.
Strong Showings and Near‑Misses
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach earned 37 points for a lively samba to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. Cynthia said the pair made the audience feel like they were “riding a wave,” and Derek noted Frech’s ability to “do anything” on the floor.
Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov received 34 points for a quickstep to “A Star Is Born” (Broadway’s Hercules). Cynthia praised the joy of the routine, while Bruno noted a minor misstep.
Other notable scores included Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik (33), Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa (33), Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas (32), and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold (32). Judges highlighted emotional depth, character work, and storytelling throughout the night.
Group Performances
Team Slay‑topia, featuring Amber, Julia, Maura and Tatyana, performed to “Zoo” from Zootopia, earning 36 points. Team Wildcats, with Connor, Harry, Ezra and Jenna, danced to “We’re All in This Together” from High School Musical, achieving a perfect 40.
Elimination
Despite a commendable effort, Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa were the couple sent home. Their Paso Doble to “Satisfied” from Hamilton received 33 points, with judges noting strong character work but a need for greater technical polish.
The episode underscored the show’s blend of Broadway flair and ballroom competition, delivering memorable moments for Disney fans and dance enthusiasts alike.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
