It's times like this we're glad Disney owns "Dancing with the Stars." Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the routines that sprinkled some of that classic Disney magic over the “Dancing with the Stars” ballroom!
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the routines that sprinkled
00:10some of that classic Disney magic over the Dancing with the Stars ballroom.
00:22Number 20.
00:23Waltz to So This is Love from Cinderella.
00:25Amy Purdy and Derek Hough.
00:27Cinderella gets her night at the ball, where she meets her Prince Charming.
00:31And charming, indeed, is what we'd call this dance.
00:34Purdy glides all aglow like a true Disney princess, while Hough plays the role of the
00:38dashing supporting gentleman to perfection.
00:52They may have struggled with the technical details during rehearsals, but you never know
00:56it from the final performance.
00:57It's so smooth and graceful, you can't help but get caught up in their story.
01:14We really feel like we're watching a real-life fairy tale unfold.
01:18They put the ball in ballroom, and really make us believe that this is love.
01:34Number 19.
01:35Jazz to Mother Knows Best from Tangled.
01:38Melora Harden and Artem Chigvintsev.
01:40Can we just say that Harden would be perfect as Mother Gothel in a live-action Tangled?
01:45We know she's got the voice, and now we know she's got the moves, too.
02:00She totally channels Gothel's energy, bringing the character to life with every moment.
02:04The choreography strikes the perfect balance of theatricality, elegance, and whimsy.
02:09And Harden's expressions are just the cherry on top.
02:22She blends technical precision with playful charisma, making it impossible to look away
02:26from her even for a second.
02:28Just as Gothel steals the scene in the movie, Harden owns every second of that dance.
02:33And we're so here for it.
02:43Number 18.
02:44Foxtrot to Evermore from Beauty and the Beast.
02:47Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater.
02:49We loved Rashad's ability to connect to a character.
02:52So when Disney Night came around, we knew we were in for something special.
03:16Admittedly, the tempo is a bit different than your average Foxtrot tune, but that doesn't
03:21stop him from putting on quite the show with Emma.
03:24It's elegant, emotive, and we just can't tear our eyes away from them.
03:37Even though we totally loved this routine, they ended up near the bottom of the leaderboard.
03:42Nevertheless, they still managed to dance their way to the final and ultimately the
03:46mirror ball.
04:03Number 17.
04:04Foxtrot to A Whole New World from Aladdin.
04:07Hannah Brown and Alan Burstyn.
04:08Yes, this dance is absolutely beautiful, but what really grabs us is Brown's smile from
04:13start to finish.
04:22You can see just how much she loves this whole new world of dance, and how Burstyn has opened
04:26her eyes to the magic of the ballroom.
04:28The gentle, flowing movements perfectly match the romantic tenderness of the song.
04:36Meanwhile, Hannah floats effortlessly around the dance floor, while Alan's strong lead
04:46provides the perfect frame to let her shine.
04:48Together, they create a moment that's nothing short of enchanting.
04:52What can we say?
04:53This dance is truly shining, shimmering, splendid.
05:07Number 16.
05:08Quick Step to Incredits 2 from Incredibles 2.
05:11Milo Manheim and Whitney Carson.
05:14This duo delivered incredible routines practically every week, so it only seemed fitting that
05:19they reminded us just how, well, incredible they are with this perfectly themed quick
05:23step.
05:29The choreography lets them tell their superhero story without losing much of that technique
05:34the judges are watching for.
05:35Those costumes don't hide a thing.
05:38Like true superheroes, they're quick on their feet, and their stamina is unreal.
05:46Also, pulling off a quick step while fighting crime is no small feat.
05:53Honestly, we're not even sure the actual Incredibles family could do it.
05:57Although if there was ever a third movie, we'd love to see them try.
06:09Number 15.
06:10Viennese Waltz to A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella.
06:14Jojo Siwa and Jenna Johnson.
06:16Much like the song they're dancing to, this routine is a classic.
06:29The choreography captures the grace and sophistication of the style, while adding modern tweaks that
06:34make it a Viennese Waltz for the modern age.
06:36If the 1950 film were set now, we could see the ballroom scene looking like this.
06:49Jojo was apparently thrilled to step into the prince role, doubling down on her message
06:54that gender should never stand in the way of someone's dreams.
06:57Still, what truly makes this performance special is the undeniable connection between the partners,
07:02and how their bond shapes the dance.
07:04It's what dreams are made of.
07:17Number 14.
07:18Jazz to Love is an Open Door from Frozen.
07:21Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough.
07:23Love is an Open Door is a delightful blend of youthful optimism and romantic fantasy,
07:28with a touch of naivete and idealism.
07:39Derek's choreography captures that perfectly, yet he still manages to make the popular scene
07:44feel fresh, new, and basically Broadway-ready.
07:47Although not everyone was a fan, we loved the extra lip-syncing touch.
07:52It really drew us into the entire production.
08:03In her VT, Liukin mentioned she was excited to feel like a kid again, and that energy
08:08really came through.
08:09We felt just like kids watching Frozen for the first time, too.
08:13so pure it could probably even melt Hans' frozen heart.
08:27Number 13.
08:28Contemporary to Beauty and the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, Ally Brooke and Sasha
08:32Farber.
08:33Since this number literally takes place in a ballroom, it's easy to see how the song
08:37fits traditional ballroom dances.
08:39That's why it was so refreshing to see this duo give it a contemporary twist.
08:52Their take on the story is absolutely breathtaking.
08:55With movements that capture the classic tale's heart, the choreography combines graceful
08:59fluidity with powerful dynamics, allowing Ally to showcase both her strength and vulnerability
09:05perfectly.
09:16They earned the highest score of the series so far, and it was so well-deserved.
09:20It may have been one beast of a routine, but Brooke was a total beauty on the dance floor.
09:32Number 12.
09:37Foxtrot to Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Ginger Zee and Val Shmierkowski.
09:41Is it just us, or does Ginger actually look a little like Belle?
09:45Either way, she certainly sells the character effortlessly.
09:56The foxtrot is hardly the easiest ballroom dance at the best of times, but even a theme
10:01can't throw off this dancer from nailing the choreography.
10:13We feel like we're right there in Belle and Gaston's quiet little village, but the story
10:17doesn't outshine the impressive routine they deliver.
10:20Len calls it the best dance of the season, and if you ask us, Ginger truly is the Belle
10:25of the ball.
10:38Number 11.
10:39Contemporary to Let It Go from Frozen, James Maslow and Peeta Murgatroyd.
10:44Both James and Peeta chose this as their favorite dance, and you only have to watch it to see
10:49why.
10:58The contemporary choreography lends itself very well to storytelling, and their lifts
11:02are spellbinding.
11:04Plus, those stunning animations just add a little extra sparkle to the performance as
11:08a whole.
11:24It's an emotional routine, with Len saying that it could melt the coldest of hearts,
11:29even his, which he proves by scoring them a 10.
11:32This magical dance earned them a perfect score, and the first full marks of the season.
11:57Number 10.
11:58Jazz to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins.
12:02Charlie White and Sharna Burgess.
12:04Season 18 of Dancing with the Stars brought us a truly magical Disney night.
12:18Yet if you ask us, Charlie White and his partner Sharna Burgess stole the show with their Mary
12:22Poppins-inspired jazz.
12:34They pack more into that routine than Mary could fit into her seemingly bottomless bag.
12:39It's so joyous that you can't help but watch with the biggest grin.
12:42Despite the speed, intricate content, and all the prop work, White makes it look easy.
12:52Plus, his chemistry with Sharna could rival that of Mary and Bert.
13:00It was so supercalifragilisticexpialidocious that it earned Len's first 10, and they even
13:06performed it again in the finals.
13:20Number 9.
13:22Samba to Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid.
13:25Rumor Willis and Val Shmierkowski.
13:27When we think of Poor Unfortunate Souls, Samba definitely doesn't spring to mind.
13:32At least, it didn't until we saw this dance.
13:45So it's a true testament to Val's creativity that he totally challenged our preconceptions
13:49of the party dance, turning it into a devilishly iconic routine.
13:53Hey, who says villains can't party?
13:56There's already so much to think about when it comes to the Samba.
13:59Intricate rhythms, footwork patterns, fluid hip movements, and very nuanced musicality.
14:17Rumor checks every box while giving 120% to the characterization.
14:21It all comes together so swimmingly, and we'll never look at Ursula the same way again.
14:39Number 8.
14:40Viennese Waltz to Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.
14:43Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke.
14:45Gaston can be quite the charmer, and this Viennese Waltz certainly charmed the judges
14:50and viewers.
15:02Tom Bergeron even goes as far as saying that out of 27 series, this has got to be one of
15:07his favorites.
15:17Their dance is full to the brim with varied content, good technique, and plenty of flair.
15:31Juan admits that he was just living his best life, and it shows.
15:36And before the judges get a chance to speak, we can read them like one of Belle's books,
15:40and boy are they happy.
15:51Number 7.
15:52Jazz to Friend Like Me from Aladdin, Antonio Brown, and Sharna Burgess.
15:57If you're going to dance to Friend Like Me, then you'd better be ready to pull every trick
16:01out of your hat.
16:03This duo certainly does just that.
16:14Antonio takes center stage for this dance from the start, and he really knows how to
16:18command the stage.
16:20As well as delivering a sharp and entertaining routine, his smile throughout is infectious,
16:25and it's clear that he's having a lot of fun.
16:36We loved watching Antonio improve week after week, but there's no doubt that this number
16:41with Sharna is his dance.
16:47Number 6.
16:49Jazz to For the First Time in Forever from Frozen, Heather Morris, and Alan Burstyn.
16:54Can we just say something crazy?
16:56Doesn't Heather Morris make the perfect Anna?
17:12We already knew that this contestant could dance and act, but she magically transports
17:17the studio to Arendelle when she embodies this character.
17:20Understandably, the judges had exceptionally high expectations for this pair, and aren't
17:25quite as enchanted with the routine as the rest of us.
17:37Nevertheless, they still achieved a decent score of 34 for the dance.
17:42We love the energy and characterization, and if you ask us, it looks like something out
17:47of a Broadway show.
17:56Number 5.
17:57Samba to Trash in the Camp from Tarzan, Niall DeMarco, and Peter Murgatroyd.
18:02Week after week, Niall delivered incredible routines so Disney Night was just another
18:06opportunity to dazzle us.
18:13Everything about this performance is simply joyous.
18:16His costume certainly caught the judges' attention.
18:19The samba can be a tricky dance, but Niall makes it look effortless with his bounce action,
18:23fluidity, and incredible synchronization.
18:26Plus, check out that back handspring.
18:28There's great chemistry between Niall and Peter, which really helps the partners deliver
18:33this outstanding routine.
18:39It's obvious how much fun they're having, and we just want to be part of the party.
18:59Number 4.
19:00Foxtrot to You're Welcome from Moana, Jordan Fisher, and Lindsay Arnold.
19:04Is there a better week for Fisher to show off his Broadway leading man skills than Disney
19:08Night?
19:19And to top it all off, they danced to his version of that iconic song featuring Lin-Manuel
19:24Miranda.
19:25The way they paired the classic Foxtrot with that upbeat, Polynesian-inspired tune was
19:29truly brilliant.
19:43At times, the dance flowed so smoothly, like the gentle rise and fall of the tide, and
19:48then it hit like a powerful wave crashing onto the shore, bursting with energy and excitement.
19:53It was an incredible celebration of both traditional and modern styles that left us wanting an
19:58encore.
20:18Number 3.
20:19Paso Doble to He's a Pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean, Riker Lynch, and Alison
20:23Holker.
20:24Talk about a blockbuster.
20:26This dance is exciting from beginning to end.
20:28Who knew Pirates of the Caribbean would lend itself so well to a paso?
20:38The choreography is sharp, fast, and every movement hits the beat like cannon fire.
20:44It's impossible not to get drawn in by the drama and fire of this dance.
20:48And clearly these two agree, as they reprise it in the finals.
20:59This time, they not only score a standing ovation from Len, but also the perfect score
21:04we all knew this dance deserved.
21:16Number 2.
21:17Paso Doble to I'll Make a Man Out of You from Mulan, Normani Corday, and Val Shmierkowski.
21:38This is such an iconic song, and it made it even more amazing to have Donny Osmond singing
21:43it as they dance.
21:45This is a fierce, empowering routine, with Bruno even dubbing Normani an all-conquering
21:50paso princess.
21:52She really gets the spirit of this dance style, and gives it all the attack it deserves.
21:57Val choreographed combat-style movements into the routine, but it's still very much a paso
22:02at its core.
22:03Her precision, sharpness, and artistry are sensational, and even props can't break
22:08her focus.
22:18And to no one's surprise, this duo topped the leaderboard.
22:32Well just because I can't in any way replicate these dances, doesn't mean I don't try.
22:37Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
22:40Foxtrot to Alice's Theme from Alice in Wonderland, Willow Shields and Mark Ballas.
22:46It's madder than a Mad Hatter's Tea Party that this didn't get top marks.
23:02Backstep to You've Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story, Paige Van Zandt and Mark Ballas.
23:07We'll keep enjoying this dance to infinity and beyond.
23:21Jazz to When Will My Life Begin from Tangled, Ivana Lynch and Keo Matsepe.
23:26To paraphrase Rapunzel, best Tangled-themed dance ever.
23:39Quick Step to Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast, Danica McKellar and Val Shmierkowski.
23:44A dance as delicious as the Grey Stuff.
23:56Foxtrot to When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio, Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas.
24:01Graceful, elegant, beautiful, everything we could wish for.
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24:33Contemporary to How Far I'll Go from Moana, Simone Biles and Sasha Farber.
24:39The choreography, the storytelling, the music, sung by Moana herself, Ali'i Cravalho, all
24:45contribute to this unforgettable dance.
24:59Sasha expertly choreographed this acrobatic, gravity-defying contemporary routine that
25:05showcases his partner's talents.
25:07While we enjoy seeing Simone do what she does best, she is just as strong on the dancing
25:12side too.
25:29We love the energy in this performance and how well the movements work with the music.
25:34While we may not be dance experts, we think this routine deserved top marks, which it
25:38sadly did not receive.
25:40But at least it's topping our list.
26:00Which Disney dance whisked you off to the happiest place on earth?
26:03Let us know in the comments.