Top 20 Greatest Dancing with the Stars Routines of All Time

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Top 20 Greatest Dancing with the Stars Routines of All Time


Welcome to MsMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the most ten-worthy performances on “Dancing with the Stars.”

#20: “Gasolina” (2014)
James Maslow & Peta Murgatroyd


During the show’s Latin-themed music night in 2014, “Big Time Rush”’s James Maslow and his partner Peta Murgatroyd danced a scorching Samba that’s still giving off heat a decade later! In fact, the chemistry between the two was so strong that some couldn’t help but wonder if there was real-life tension between the pair. The very in-shape season 18 favorite duo already looked amazing at the beginning of the performance. But when Murgatroyd, dressed in striking red lingerie, removed Maslow’s tanktop, it was easily cemented as one of the show’s sexiest ever. “That was filthy and dirty and I love it,” said judge Bruno Tonioli following the routine. So did we — but we promise we’re not just thirsting!

#19: "Discombobulate" (2013)
Zendaya & Val Chmerkovskiy w/ Maskim Chmerkovisky & Anna Trebunskya


Back in Zendaya’s Disney days, she appeared on “Dancing with the Stars”’s sixteenth season with partner Val Chmerkovskiy as the youngest contestant in the history of the show at the time. This made her great performances all the more impressive, especially this Week Five Argentine tango to Hans Zimmer’s “Discombobulate” from the “Sherlock Holmes” soundtrack. Performed alongside pro dancers Maskim Chmerkovisky and Anna Trebunskya, it was an act that told a story — as Bruno Tonioli put it, "a tale of entrapment, deceit and desire.” It would be exciting enough to earn the first tens of the season regardless — but it’s the side-by-side comparison at play here that earns it a spot on the list. It left us discombobulated!

#18: “The Simpsons Theme” (2022)
Charli D’Amelio & Mark Ballas


TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and her partner Mark Ballas became Marge and Homer Simpson during “Dancing with the Stars”’ “Disney+ night” in an incredible tribute to the cartoon family. And before you ask, yes — they were painted yellow for the act. Talk about commitment! And that’s before we even mention D’Amelio’s mountain of blue hair, which she said was kept in place due to “about 300 bobby pins.” “Mark my words, that is about to go viral,” remarked judge Derek Hough following the “animated” routine that saw the duo dance through Springfield to the show’s theme song. Sure enough, it was a hit!

#17: “Can’t Keep My Hands to Myself” (2016)
Jana Kramer & Gleb Savchenko


We didn’t think this routine could have possibly been any steamier — after all, the performance, which began with the dancing partners in bed, literally ended with them in the shower. So we were surprised to learn that the original plan went even further. “The original idea was I wanted you to start with two other guys [in the bed] and then I come in,” Savchenko revealed on a podcast with Kramer, reflecting on their time on the show. “[ABC] did not approve of that,” he continued. The two had a hot and cold relationship while on the show and would sometimes clash — but this performance definitely lands on the sizzling end of that spectrum.

#16: "Santa Maria (del buen Ayre)" (2021)
JoJo Siwa & Jenna Johnson


JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson broke new ground on “Dancing with the Stars” as the first-ever same-sex dance partners to compete on the show. The pair made it all the way to the finale, but it’s this routine from the semi-finals that ranks as our favorite. During this redemption performance, the pressure was on to deliver, and they certainly didn’t disappoint, with the number earning a perfect score. “Tonight, I’m going to leave EVERYTHING I have in the ballroom,” Siwa had shared on Instagram leading up to the performance. She wasn’t lying!

#15: "I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)" (2021)
Iman Shumpert & Daniella Karagach


It may have been Horror Night on “Dancing with the Stars”, but Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach’s contemporary number was anything but horrific. The routine, inspired by Jordan Peele’s horror film “Us,” was called a “masterpiece” by Bruno Tonioli. He and the other judges all awarded the performance a ten of ten, earning the pair their first and only perfect score of the season. It was quite the comeback after being the lowest on the scoreboard just a week prior! Shumpert and Karagach would ride that high all the way to the finale, where they would take home the season’s Mirror Ball trophy.

#14: "Livin' La Vida Loca" (2022)
Gabby Windey & Val Chmerkovskiy


Season 31 runner-ups Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy consistently brought it during their run on “Dancing with the Stars,” becoming a mainstay at the top of the leaderboard. The strong bond between the two of them shone through in most of their routines — but their greatest performance of all was this 90s night samba set to Ricky Martin’s "Livin' La Vida Loca." The upbeat number saw Chmerkovskiy rip his shirt off in a move so inspiring to the judges that Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli had to remove theirs as well!

#13: “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” (2006)
Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke


“Dancing with the Stars” has delivered us a ton of great freestyle routines over the years — but this performance was the first to really wow us, and we’ll never forget it. In those days, the sight of denim and cowboy hats inside the ballroom was still enough to make an impression. But on top of that, this was a genuinely fun and creative routine that serves as an early example of the gems we tune in every week for! The duo ended up winning the Mirror Ball trophy, setting a high standard for all the competitors to come.

#12: “Living on Video” (2009)
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough


With an inspired music choice in “Living on Video” by one-hit wonder Canadian synth-pop band Trans-X, Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough looked to the future with their memorable Paso Doble. But nothing was robotic about how they moved, giving us what still stands out as one of the show’s most memorable fusions! With its hifi, yet retro aesthetic, the performance served us some serious 80s vibes. And the creative costumes and robots involved remind us of our dream Lady Gaga and Daft Punk collaboration! It’s no wonder that in season 15, Bristol
Palin and Mark Ballas would opt to dance the Paso Doble to the same track.

#11: “Toxic” (2018)
Milo Manheim & Witney Carson


When we say this performance was “Toxic,” we’re not trying to imply Disney Channel star Milo Manheim and his dance partner Witney Carson should be canceled. We literally just mean the duo danced to the remixed track during this spooktacular freestyle routine on “Dancing with the Stars”’ Halloween night! It was a ten from Len — and the rest of the judges — with the pair earning a perfect score! Goodman, in particular, called the act “spellbinding” and we’re inclined to agree — in fact, this routine will keep us spellbound for years to come.

#10: “You Don’t Own Me” (2016)
James Hinchcliffe & Jenna Johnson


During week 8, James Hinchcliffe’s regular partner for season 23, Sharna Burgess, was recovering from a knee injury, meaning he was paired with ballroom dancer Jenna Johnson. This didn’t throw him off his rhythm, however, delivering a graceful Viennese Waltz — all while dressed as Batman’s arch nemesis, the Joker, alongside Johnson’s Harley Quinn. 2016 was when “Suicide Squad” was released, so it’s safe to say they absolutely nailed the Halloween costume of the year! Despite their clownish appearance, it’s clear the villainous pair were deadly serious about giving us an incredible performance.

#9: “Assassin's Tango” (2009)
Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke


There have been a few pairings on “Dancing with the Stars” over the years where the chemistry between a pairing has been so noticeable that eyebrows are inevitably raised. Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke are one of those pairings. "Nothing has ever happened physically between us," insisted Burke on an episode of her “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast. But for one night in 2009, Marini and Burke were a married couple, becoming “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” for an impressive routine set to the “Assassin's Tango” from the film. But while Burke admitted on the same podcast that the pair went through “ups and downs,” we doubt they ever tried to kill each other. Another memorable performance from Marini and Burke this season was their super-spicy Salsa!

#8: “Cell Block Tango” (2016)
Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy


When Olympic gold medalist gymnast Laurie Hernandez joined “Dancing with the Stars” during season 23, we had no reason to doubt that she had the moves. After all, she’s somewhat known to be flexible! During “Showstoppers Night,” Hernandez and her dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy brought the hit Broadway musical “Chicago” to the ballroom with a sensational “Cell Block Tango.” “You’re guilty — of killing that tango!” remarked Bruno Tonioli following the performance. And you’re guilty of a terrible joke, Bruno — but then again, who are we to talk? Lock us up!

#7: “Danza Kuduro” (2016)
Paige VanZant & Alan Bersten


UFC strawweight Paige VanZant rolled with the punches during one evening of her run on “Dancing with the Stars” when her partner, Mark Ballas, suffered a back injury while rehearsing. During the episode’s intro, Paige VanZant shrugged and performed a brief solo routine. What can you do? But for her main event of the night, VanZant was paired with backup dancer Alan Bersten, who had only two hours of prep time. So it’s remarkable that the unexpected duo could pull off what head judge Len Goodman called the best dance of the season so far with this impeccable salsa!

#6: “Toxic” (2015)
Rumer Willis & Val Chmerkovskiy


As if it wasn’t impressive enough that they could dance! Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy delivered an incredible freestyle routine set to a cover of Britney Spears’s “Toxic.. But it wasn’t just any cover — it was one performed by the dance partners themselves! The “sexy, cool” arrangement of the pop classic was produced by music legend Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes fame and featured Willis on vocals and Chmerkovskiy on the violin. We knew that Rumer Willis could act as well as dance — makes sense, given that her parents are Bruce Willis and Demi Moore! But we were blown away to find out she’s a triple threat.

#5: “Footprints in the Sand” (2015)
Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough


Along with her dance partner Derek Hough, Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father, Steve Irwin, known to audiences worldwide as “The Crocodile Hunter,” with this moving freestyle. Scoring a perfect 30, we think it’s safe to say she did him justice. At the end of the performance, Hough surprised Irwin with a photo of her with her father, moving her to tears. She wasn’t alone, as there was hardly a dry eye in the house between her, the judges, and the audience. We may have misted up a little rewatching it just now.

#4: "It's Not Unusual” (2014)
Alfonso Ribeiro & Witney Carson


Honestly, there was never any chance of this routine being a flop. I mean, come on — the dance was already named after Alfonso Ribeiro before he even appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.” Or rather, it was named after Carlton Banks, the character he most famously portrayed on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”! Fans had been chomping at the bit to see Ribeiro do “The Carlton” and he finally delivered and then some in an episode themed around the stars' most memorable years. Donning a cardigan and khakis, he showed us that he’s still got the moves!

#3: "Puttin' on the Ritz 2017 (Jazzy Radio Mix)" (2017)
Jordan Fisher & Lindsay Arnold


“Hamilton” star Jordan Fisher and his dance partner Lindsay Arnold consistently put in great work during their time on “Dancing with the Stars.” From their sensual cha-cha and sensational samba to their salsa with Corbin Bleu, the two were never not on fire. But in our opinion, they somehow saved the best for the finale with this ritzy freestyle — call it a slightly early victory lap for the recipients of the Mirror Ball for season 25! “I want his freestyle to be a showstopper,” said Arnold before the routine. And it definitely stopped the show! …at least until season 26.

#2: “The Sound of Silence” (2016)
Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd


The emotion dial was cranked all the way to 11 for this finale routine from Nyle DiMarco & Peta Murgatroyd. The dance was a contemporary-freestyle set to a cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” by the heavy metal band Disturbed, a song that resonated with DiMarco as a deaf person. “My interpretation of the song is that for hundreds of years my Deaf community has suffered oppression, marginalization, and language deprivation,” he explained on social media. “It is time for our soundless message to be heard, hence the Sound of Silence… It is our time.” The performance was one of the most moving to ever grace the ballroom. In fact, Carrie Ann Inaba declared it the best she had ever seen!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Spanish Guitar” (2010)
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough

"Human" (2014)
Amy Purdy & Derek Hough

"Can You Do This" (2023)
Amber Riley & Derek Hough

"Free Your Mind” (2007)
Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

“Gaston” (2018)
Juan Pablo Di Pace & Cheryl Burke

#1: “Latch” (2014)
Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy


The word “chemistry” has a tendency to come up frequently when we’re discussing “Dancing with the Stars”’ greatest ever routines. And that’s because when the spark between two dancers is just right, it can boost a ten-worthy performance to one we’d give an eleven if we could! But we might even give a twelve to this all-timer. Never before has the passion between two dancers on the show seemed so believable, resulting in a near-kiss that we really thought would go all the way after a season packed with tension!

How important is the celebrity partner in the success of a DWTS routine? Let us know in the comments!

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