These performances were anything but routine. Welcome to MsMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the most ten-worthy performances on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00It's not unusual to be sad with anyone.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most 10 worthy performances
00:11on Dancing with the Stars.
00:12Dance with strength, cut to wake up, perfect fit, style, puttin' on the wrist.
00:19Number 20.
00:20Gasolina, James Maslow and Peeta Murgatroyd.
00:23During the show's Latin-themed music night in 2014, Big Time Rush's James Maslow and
00:28his partner Peeta Murgatroyd danced a scorching samba that's still giving off heat a decade
00:33later.
00:43In fact, the chemistry between the two was so strong that some couldn't help but wonder
00:46if there was real-life tension between the pair.
00:49The very in-shape Season 18 favorite duo already looked amazing at the beginning of
00:54the performance, but when Murgatroyd, dressed in striking red lingerie, removed Maslow's
01:08tank top, it was easily cemented as one of the show's sexiest ever.
01:12Quote,
01:13"'That was filthy and dirty and I love it,' said judge Bruno Tonioli following the routine.
01:18So did we.
01:19But we promise we're not just thirsting."
01:21Number 19.
01:33Discombobulate, Zendaya and Val Shmierkowski with Maxim Shmierkowski and Anna Trebunskaya.
01:39Back in Zendaya's Disney days, she appeared on Dancing with the Stars' 16th season with
01:43partner Val Shmierkowski as the youngest contestant in the history of the show at the time.
01:48This made her great performances all the more impressive, especially this Week 5 Argentine
02:01tango to Hans Zimmer's Discombobulate from the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack.
02:13Performed alongside pro dancers Maxim Shmierkowski and Anna Trebunskaya, it was an act that
02:19told a story.
02:20As Bruno Tonioli put it, quote,
02:21"'A tale of entrapment, deceit, and desire.'
02:24It would be exciting enough to earn the first tens of the season regardless, but it's the
02:28side-by-side comparison at play here that earns it a spot on the list.
02:32It left us discombobulated."
02:44Number 18.
02:45The Simpsons theme, Charli D'Amelio and Mark Ballas.
02:48TikTok star Charli D'Amelio and her partner Mark Ballas became Marge and Homer Simpson
02:53during Dancing with the Stars' Disney Plus night, in an incredible tribute to the cartoon
02:57family.
03:09And before you ask, yes, they were painted yellow for the act, talk about commitment.
03:14And that's before we even mention D'Amelio's mountain of blue hair, which she said was
03:18kept in place due to about 300 bobby pins.
03:26Quote,
03:29"'Mark my words, that is about to go viral,' remarked Judge Derek Hough following the animated
03:38routine that saw the duo dance through Springfield to the show's theme song.
03:43Sure enough, it was a hit."
03:53Number 17.
03:54Can't Keep My Hands to Myself, Jana Kramer and Gleb Savchenko.
03:58We didn't think this routine could have possibly been any steamier.
04:02After all, the performance, which began with the dancing partners in bed, literally ended
04:06with them in the shower.
04:18So we were surprised to learn that the original plan went even further.
04:22Quote,
04:23"'The original idea was I wanted you to start with two other guys in the bed and then I
04:26come in,' Savchenko revealed on a podcast with Kramer, reflecting on their time on the
04:31show."
04:33Quote,
04:34"'ABC did not approve of that,' he continued.
04:43The two had a hot and cold relationship while on the show and would sometimes clash, but
04:48this performance definitely lands on the sizzling end of that spectrum."
04:51Number 16.
05:04Santa Maria del Buen Aire, Jojo Siwa and Jenna Johnson.
05:08Jojo Siwa and Jenna Johnson broke new ground on Dancing with the Stars as the first-ever
05:12same-sex dance partners to compete on the show.
05:22The pair made it all the way to the finale, but it's this routine from the semifinals
05:27that ranks as our favorite.
05:28During this redemption performance, the pressure was on to deliver, and they certainly didn't
05:33disappoint, with the number earning a perfect score.
05:39Quote,
05:41"'Tonight I'm going to leave everything I have in the ballroom,' Siwa had shared on
05:48Instagram leading up to the performance.
05:50She was not lying.'"
06:03Number 15.
06:04I Got Five On It, Tethered Mix, Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagosh.
06:08It may have been horror night on Dancing with the Stars, but Iman Shumpert and Daniella
06:11Karagosh's contemporary number was anything but horrific.
06:25The routine, inspired by Jordan Peele's horror film Us, was called a masterpiece by Bruno
06:30Tonioli.
06:31In the end, the other judges all awarded the performance a 10 of 10, earning the pair their
06:36first and only perfect score of the season.
06:47It was quite the comeback after being the lowest on the scoreboard just a week prior.
06:51Shumpert and Karagosh would ride that high all the way to the finale, where they would
06:55take home the season's Mirabal Trophy.
07:07Number 14.
07:08Livin' La Vida Loca, Gabby Windy and Val Shmierkowski.
07:11Season 31 runners-up Gabby Windy and Val Shmierkowski consistently brought it during their run on
07:16Dancing with the Stars, becoming a mainstay at the top of the leaderboard.
07:29The strong bond between the two of them shone through in most of their routines, but their
07:33greatest performance of all was this 90s night samba set to Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida
07:38Loca.
07:47The upbeat number saw Shmierkowski rip his shirt off in a move so inspiring to the judges
07:52that Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli had to remove theirs as well.
08:02Number 13.
08:04Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy, Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke.
08:08Dancing with the Stars has delivered us a ton of great freestyle routines over the years,
08:12but this performance was the first to really wow us, and we'll never forget it.
08:24In those days, the sight of denim and cowboy hats inside the ballroom was still enough
08:28to make an impression.
08:38But on top of that, this was a genuinely fun and creative routine that serves as an early
08:43example of the gems we tune in every week for.
08:46The duo ended up winning the Mirrorball Trophy, setting a high standard for all the competitors
08:51to come.
09:00Number 12.
09:01Living on Video, Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough.
09:05With an inspired music choice in Living on Video by one-hit-wonder Canadian synth-pop
09:09band TransAx, Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough looked to the future with their memorable
09:14Paso Doble.
09:21Nothing was robotic about how they moved, giving us what still stands out as one of
09:24the show's most memorable fusions.
09:27With its hi-fi yet retro aesthetic, the performance served us some serious 80s vibes.
09:42And the creative costumes and robots involved remind us of our dream Lady Gaga and Daft
09:46Punk collaboration.
10:00It's no wonder that in Season 15, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas would opt to dance the
10:05Paso Doble to the same track.
10:13Number 11.
10:14Toxic, Milo Manheim and Whitney Carson.
10:17When we say this performance was toxic, we're not trying to imply Disney Channel star Milo
10:21Manheim and his dance partner Whitney Carson should be canceled.
10:36We literally just mean the duo danced to the remixed track during this spooktacular freestyle
10:40routine on Dancing with the Stars Halloween night.
10:43It was a 10 from Len and the rest of the judges, with the pair earning a perfect score.
10:57Goodman in particular called the act spellbinding, and we're inclined to agree.
11:01In fact, this routine will keep us spellbound for years to come.
11:17Number 10.
11:18You Don't Own Me, James Hinchcliffe and Jenna Johnson.
11:21During Week 8, James Hinchcliffe's regular partner for Season 23, Sharna Burgess, was
11:25recovering from a knee injury, meaning he was paired with ballroom dancer Jenna Johnson.
11:31This didn't throw him off his rhythm, however, delivering a graceful Viennese waltz, all
11:46while dressed as Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker, alongside Johnson's Harley Quinn.
11:542016 was when Suicide Squad was released, so it's safe to say they absolutely nailed
12:03the Halloween costume of the year.
12:05Despite their clownish appearance, it's clear the villainous pair were deadly serious about
12:09giving us an incredible performance.
12:22Number 9.
12:24Assassins Tango, Gilles Marini and Sheryl Burke.
12:27There have been a few pairings on Dancing with the Stars over the years where the chemistry
12:30between a pairing has been so noticeable that eyebrows are inevitably raised.
12:42Gilles Marini and Sheryl Burke are one of those pairings.
12:45Quote,
12:46"'Nothing has ever happened physically between us,' insisted Burke on an episode of her Sex,
12:49Lies, and Spray Tans podcast.
12:51But for one night in 2009, Marini and Burke were a married couple, becoming Mr. and Mrs.
12:57Smith for an impressive routine set to the Assassins Tango from the film.
13:04But while Burke admitted on the same podcast that the pair went through, quote,
13:07"'ups and downs,' we doubt they ever tried to kill each other."
13:10Another memorable performance from Marini and Burke this season was their super spicy
13:15salsa.
13:16Number 8.
13:22Cell Block Tango, Laurie Hernandez and Val Shmierkowski.
13:25When Olympic gold medalist gymnast Laurie Hernandez joined Dancing with the Stars during
13:29season 23, we had no reason to doubt that she had the moves.
13:44After all, she's somewhat known to be flexible.
13:46During Showstopper's night, Hernandez and her dance partner Val Shmierkowski brought
13:50the hit Broadway musical Chicago to the ballroom with a sensational cell block tango.
13:59Quote,
14:03"'You're guilty of killing that tango,' remarked Bruno Tonioli following the performance.
14:11And you're guilty of a terrible joke, Bruno.
14:15But then again, who are we to talk?
14:16Lock us up."
14:17Number 7.
14:26Paige Van Zandt and Alan Burstyn.
14:38UFC strawweight Paige Van Zandt rolled with the punches during one evening of her run
14:41on Dancing with the Stars.
14:43And her partner Mark Ballas suffered a back injury while rehearsing.
14:47During the episode's intro, Paige Van Zandt shrugged and performed a brief solo routine.
14:51What can you do?
14:52But for her main event of the night, Van Zandt was paired with backup dancer Alan Burstyn,
14:57who had only two hours of prep time.
15:07So it's remarkable that the unexpected duo could pull off what head judge Len Goodman
15:11called the best dance of the season so far with this impeccable salsa.
15:24Number 6.
15:25Toxic.
15:26Rumor Willis and Val Shmierkowski.
15:28As if it wasn't impressive enough that they could dance, Rumor Willis and Val Shmierkowski
15:32delivered an incredible freestyle routine set to a cover of Britney Spears' Toxic.
15:49But it wasn't just any cover.
15:51It was performed by the dance partners themselves.
15:54The sexy, cool arrangement of the pop classic was produced by music legend Linda Perry of
15:58Four Non Blondes fame and featured Willis on vocals and Shmierkowski on the violin.
16:12We know that Rumor Willis could act as well as dance.
16:14Makes sense given that her parents are Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, but we were blown away
16:19to find out that she's a triple threat.
16:30Number 5.
16:31Footprints in the Sand.
16:32Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough.
16:34Along with her dance partner Derek Hough, Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father
16:38Steve Irwin, known to audiences worldwide as the Crocodile Hunter, with this moving
16:43freestyle.
16:54Scoring a perfect 30, we think it's safe to say she did him justice.
17:08At the end of the performance, Hough surprised Irwin with a photo of her with her father.
17:13moving her to tears.
17:14She wasn't alone, as there was hardly a dry eye in the house between her, the judges,
17:18and the audience.
17:19We may have missed it up a little re-watching it just now.
17:32Number 4.
17:33It's Not Unusual.
17:34Alfonso Ribeiro and Whitney Carson.
17:36Honestly, there was never any chance of this routine being a flop.
17:40Come on!
17:41This routine was already named after Alfonso Ribeiro before he even appeared on Dancing
17:44with the Stars.
17:54Or rather, it was named after Carlton Banks, the character he most famously portrayed on
17:59The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
18:01Fans had been chomping at the bit to see Ribeiro do the Carlton, and he finally delivered and
18:05then some in an episode themed around the star's most memorable years.
18:17Donning a cardigan and khakis, he showed us that he's still got the moves.
18:27Number 3.
18:28Puttin' on the Ritz 2017 Jazzy Radio Mix.
18:32Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold.
18:34Hamilton star Jordan Fisher and his dance partner Lindsay Arnold consistently put in
18:38great work during their time on Dancing with the Stars.
18:51From their sensual cha-cha and sensational samba, to their salsa with Corbin Bleu, the
18:56two were never not on fire.
18:58But in our opinion, they somehow saved the best for the finale with this ritzy freestyle.
19:03They call it a slightly early victory lap for the recipients of the Mirror Ball for
19:06Season 25.
19:07Quote,
19:08"'I want his freestyle to be a showstopper,' said Arnold before the routine, and it definitely
19:27stopped the show, at least until Season 26."
19:41Number 2.
19:42The Sound of Silence.
19:44Niall DeMarco and Peeta Murgatroyd.
19:46The emotional dial was cranked all the way to 11 for this finale routine from Niall DeMarco
19:50and Peeta Murgatroyd.
20:02The dance was a contemporary freestyle set to a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound
20:07of Silence by the heavy metal band Disturbed, a song that resonated with DeMarco as a deaf
20:11person.
20:12Quote,
20:13"'My interpretation of the song is that for hundreds of years my deaf community has suffered
20:17oppression, marginalization, and language deprivation,' he explained on social media.
20:31It is time for our soundless message to be heard, hence the sound of silence.
20:35It is our time."
20:37The performance was one of the most moving to ever grace the ballroom.
20:40In fact, Carrie-Anne Inaba declared it the best she had ever seen.
20:56Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
21:00Spanish Guitar – Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough
21:03Human – Amy Purdy and Derek Hough
21:20Can You Do This – Amber Riley and Derek Hough
21:29Free Your Mind – Mel B and Maxim Shmierkowski
21:40Gaston – Juan Pablo DiPace and Sheryl Burke
21:54Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
21:58about our latest videos.
22:00You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
22:04If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
22:11Latch – Meryl Davis and Maxim Shmierkowski
22:13The word chemistry has a tendency to come up frequently when we're discussing dancing
22:17with the star's greatest ever routines.
22:28And that's because when the spark between two dancers is just right, it can boost a
22:3210-worthy performance to one we'd give an 11 if we could.
22:35But we might even give a 12 to this all-timer.
22:47Never before has the passion between two dancers on the show seemed so believable, resulting
22:52in a near-kiss that we really thought would go all the way after a season packed with
22:56attention.
23:09How important is the celebrity partner in the success of a Dancing with the Stars routine?
23:13Let us know in the comments.
23:21Do you agree with our picks?
23:22Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
23:25And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.