Top 10 Dancing with the Stars Halloween & Villains Night Performances
#10: Viennese Waltz to “I Put a Spell on You”
James Van Der Beek & Emma Slater
In season 28, this devilish duo had us, and the judges, mesmerized with their hauntingly stunning Viennese Waltz. While this style is typically viewed as a romantic dance, the duo managed to add something sinister to their performance, joined by guest star Keo Motsepe. James plays a demon hellbent on stealing Emma away from Keo. From the choreography to his technique and the characterization, everything came together so seamlessly. Until a small slip-up turned his dreams of scoring tens into a nightmare, that is - although he did still score nines! If only he’d managed to cast the same magic over the judges as he had his partner.
#9: Viennese Waltz to “Creep”
Johnny Weir & Britt Stewart
You don’t often expect an emotional performance during Halloween Week, but that’s exactly what we got. Britt reinterpreted her partner’s ice dancing routine to “Creep” for the ballroom and gave it a vampire theme -it was still Halloween after all. They go from elegant and graceful to intense and passionate so flawlessly that we can’t take our eyes off of them for a moment. It was dramatic, spellbinding, and simply fang-tastic. After their frightful salsa the week before, Johnny and Britt were determined to get back on top. And with this dance, there was no way they’d be back in the bottom two again.
#8: Jive to “Dead Man's Party”
Juan Pablo Di Pace & Cheryl Burke
Just as we thought that they may have peaked too soon, Juan and Cheryl came back with a bang. Dancing an Ancient Egyptian-themed Jive, the pair proved once more why they were the frontrunners of the season. Bringing all the energy, and the jive requires a lot, but Juan had no problem keeping up with the pros. His timing and synchronization with Cheryl, as well as the way he hits certain beats so perfectly, are mind blowing. Carrie Ann called it “sheer perfection” and Len said that he saw nothing that he didn’t like. They received full marks, putting them right back on top of the pyramid.
#7: Viennese Waltz to “Pure Imagination”
Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy
The only thing sweeter than dancing in a chocolate factory is Laurie’s performance in this number. This Olympian dances so beautifully and elegantly and doesn’t miss a single step. If we didn’t know any better, we’d struggle to tell the celebrity apart from the professional. TheViennese Waltz emphasized what a close bond these two had developed, and their chemistry is evident throughout the dance. Val clearly choreographed to her strengths and she delivers on every count from technique to characterization. And of course, they scored a perfect 30. Who would have thought that a Halloween-inspired routine could leave us smiling from ear to ear?
#6: Contemporary to “Every Breath You Take”
Frankie Muniz & Witney Carson
Top 10 Best Contemporary Dances on Dancing with the Stars
When it comes to spooky dances, Witney is the Hallow-Queen. So she was the perfect person to turn the “Malcolm in the Middle” star into a villain for the night. Like an actual horror film, it was creepy, chilling, enthralling, and utterly captivating. Witney’s ingenious choreography really shows the power battle between the two characters as well and it’s only made more spectacular by their hair-raising lifts. We were left in awe over how perfectly Frankie embodied the role and how impeccably he performed this dramatic and tension-filled dance. If they hadn’t achieved a perfect score, now that would be the real horror story.
#5: Argentine Tango to “Cry Little Sister”
Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough
For Halloween Week, the sweet young Bindi Irwin we’d come to know and love disappeared and a fierce Evil Queen vampiress took her place. Paying tribute to the 1987 vampire flick, “The Lost Boys”, Bindi amazed us with her spine-tingling Argentine Tango. Not only did she channel her dark side, but she also used it to drive the dance. Every movement was so sharp and each step was delivered with such incredible attack, it was simply unparalleled. Julianne commended them on taking their performance to another level, while Bruno called it a masterclass in Argentine Tango. She rightfully earned a perfect score after slaying that routine.
#4: Paso Doble to “Animals”
Jordan Fisher & Lindsay Arnold
Top 10 Best Paso Doble Dances on Dancing with the Stars
Playing the Big Bad Wolf to Lindsay’s Little Red Riding Hood, this dance was yet another reminder as to why these two were the favorites to win. This dance, which gave us slight Michael Jackson “Thriller” vibes, has to be one of the best we’ve seen on the show. Not only did the Paso Doble totally suit Jordan, but also his ability to play the part and still be indistinguishable from the other pros was breathtaking. Lindsay didn’t make the dance easy either, but with each powerful move and strong line, you can see why Little Red would fall straight into his claws. It was fur-nomenal.
#3: Paso Doble to “Swan Lake Remix”
Nev Schulman & Jenna Johnson
Self-professed “Swan Lake” superfan, Nev, really spread his wings for this Villains' Night Paso Doble. Taking inspiration from the famous ballet, they certainly set the bar high when it came to our expectations. Jenna threw everything into the choreography and Nev executed every step as if it was no trouble at all. It was so beautiful, exciting, and stirring, and it exceeded everything that we might have hoped for. They got the first perfect score of the season and even reprised the dance again in the finals for another full 30.
#2: Viennese Waltz to “You Don’t Own Me”
James Hinchcliffe & Jenna Johnson
With Sharna unable to dance due to injury, Jenna stepped in as the Harley Quinn to James’ Joker - and clearly, the chemistry was there. Embodying the DC characters, this Viennese Waltz really played with the power dynamics between the comic book couple. Their acting skills and facial expressions really capture their complicated and messy relationship as well. There’s almost no superlative strong enough to describe just how amazing they were. The dance has since garnered more than 31 million views on YouTube and it quickly became the most talked-about dance of the night.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Jive to “Time Warp”, Kel Mitchell & Witney Carson
Witney Said She Wanted Something Weird & That’s Exactly What We Got
Tango to “The Addams Family Theme,” Joey Lawrence & Edyta Śliwińska
It Was Creepy & Kooky, Mysterious & Spooky & Altogether Ooky…
Tango to “Take Me to Church”, Justina Machado & Sasha Farber
After This “Carrie”-Inspired Routine, It’s Clear That Dancing Is in Her Blood
Quickstep to “Dr. Bones”, Calvin Johnson Jr. & Lindsay Arnold
Is There a Higher Compliment Than Being Compared to a Former Winner?
Tango to “Disturbia”, Evanna Lynch & Keo Motsepe
A Spellbinding Routine from the “Harry Potter” Actress
#1: Contemporary to “Toxic”
Milo Manheim & Witney Carson
No one does contemporary quite like Witney Carson. Pair that with a creepy Halloween theme and you’re on to a surefire winner. Dancing to a cover of Britney Spears’s “Toxic”, this dance had all the tricks and treats to cement itself as an instant fan favorite. Witney didn’t hold back when it came to filling the music to the brim with electrifying content, exhilarating lifts, and plenty of heightened drama. Audiences were living for the intensity, inspired choreography, and their unbelievable synchronization. After this chilling and thrilling number, it was no surprise that they topped the leaderboard again. Everything about it was eerie-sistible.
