Top 10 Dancing with the Stars Performances That Gave Us Chills

Season 25
Was there ever a week when Jordan and Lindsay didn’t give us chills? Everything from their emotional contemporary routine to their sizzling salsa with Corbin Bleu made our hairs stand on end. So, is it any surprise that they packed all those chills-inducing moments into one epic freestyle? This dance brought everything we loved about them from day one, plus ambitious lifts and tricks that solidified their incredible partnership. They delivered the Ritz, Glitz, and everything in between, making it a total showstopper. We really were spoiled with treats in the Season 25 finals, as Jordan and Lindsay weren’t the only duo whose freestyle still lives rent-free in our minds today!

Season 23
This dance was hot with a capital H! Sure, that gave us all the tingly feels, but that’s not the only reason we chose this routine. Sharna took a huge risk by letting her partner lead her around the floor while she was blindfolded! This cranked up the intensity and had us on the edge of our seats, holding our breath. Plus, this was Sharna’s first dance back after an injury, which makes the trust she had in her partner even more phenomenal. She definitely doesn’t play it safe with her choreography, and you can feel the fighting spirit in both dancers. If our chills are any sign, the payoff was totally worth it!

Season 31
Season 31 gave us routines that dug deep into our hearts and set up shop for life. One that really stood out was Charli D’Amelio’s contemporary routine. It showed us that even someone who seems super confident and happy on the surface might be battling some inner demons. Mark came up with this stunning routine where he personifies Charli’s anxiety, and it really captures that relatable struggle of dealing with mental health. The choreography is gorgeous, but it’s the emotion and intention behind each step that really pulls at our heartstrings. Charli dances with her heart on her sleeve, making us feel like we were right there with her through this experience.

Season 24
This dance was influenced by the singer’s experiences with cyber harassment and her journey of rediscovering herself through it all. We already knew Normani is an outstanding dancer, but like Charli before, she dances each step from the heart and the deepest depths of her soul. You can’t help but get lost in the story she’s telling. Normani has always expressed her close bond with dance, and you can really feel her passion for it. Val showed off his incredible connection with his partner by skillfully transforming her story into this unforgettable routine. Together, they took a painful memory and turned it into a powerful dance, and it’s just beautiful.

Season 16
Derek Hough might just be one of the most innovative pro dancers we’ve ever seen in “Dancing in the Stars” history. This proved incredibly true in season 16, where he decided that for his “Super Sized Freestyle” with country singer Kellie Pickler, he didn’t need any fancy gimmicks but a really good routine. During the VT, Derek told Kellie he’d incorporated moves he wouldn’t even try with a pro, showing his faith in their partnership. Their dance brought Carrie Ann Inaba to tears, and Len Goodman gave a standing ovation. It proved that a dance from the heart can speak far louder than one relying on tricks and glitz to deliver the wow factor.

Season 8
The chemistry between this pair was always absolute fire. Yet their Argentine Tango took it to the next level! They didn’t just nail the steps; they really put in the effort to tell a story that felt like a gripping tale full of intrigue, danger, and passion. The dance was the ultimate tease, playing with tempo and shadowing to keep the audience hooked on even the smallest steps. It left us feeling all kinds of emotions, and those tingles felt like they would never end! It was one of those routines that was so engrossing that we were almost caught off guard when it finally came to an end. What a performance!

Season 21
We’ll never tire of watching or talking about this dance or ugly crying just as hard every time! Bindi’s tribute to her late father, Steve Irwin, is incredibly moving—she truly does him proud. It’s amazing how Derek created a routine that allowed her to express all those emotions, especially since he’s only connected to the story through her memories. You can feel how she channeled years of grief and pain into every single step. Their heartfelt performance ends with them walking to the back of the stage, and phantom footprints appear between them. And if that doesn’t get you, Bindi had no idea Derek would show that photo of her dad at the end!

Season 22
The actor and model was the second deaf person to compete in the dance contest, and he quickly won over viewers with his spectacular sense of rhythm, sharp moves, and tight bond with his pro dancer, Peta. For their Freestyle, the pair danced to Disturbed’s version of the Simon & Garfunkel song “Sound of Silence.” Nyle personally reached out to the band for permission, feeling the song perfectly captured his community’s story and the obstacles they faced. While the dance is exceptional, we can’t help but watch DiMarco’s face, which almost tells the community’s difficult history through his eyes. This performance stands as a defining moment in “Dancing with the Stars” history. Representation truly does matter.

Season 31
Actress Selma Blair chose the year she was diagnosed with MS as her most memorable. Sadly, that week, she also learned she had to leave the competition due to the stress it was placing on her body. However, she and Sasha shared one last dance, and it was the perfect way to wrap up her time on the show. They couldn’t have picked a more fitting song, either! Selma showed us all that there’s just as much strength—if not more—in knowing your limits and respecting your body as there is in pushing through to the finish line. It’s definitely one of those moments that will be talked about for years to come.

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


Xochitl Gomez & Valentin Chmerkovskiy’s Freestyle, Season 32
Arguably One of the Best Freestyles We’ve Ever Seen on the Show! We Have Goosebumps Just Thinking About It


Amanda Kloots & Alan Bersten’s Contemporary, Season 30
Just the Most Beautiful Tribute to Her Late Husband, Actor Nick Cordero


Paige VanZant & Mark Ballas’ Jive, Season 22
Our Chills Need to Catch Their Breath After Watching That!


Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Paso Doble, Season 5
Now This Is How You Bring the Spice to the Dance Floor!


Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough’s Viennese Waltz, Season 11
A Dance That Would Have Made Johnny (& Patrick Swayze) Very Proud

Season 8
We can only imagine the pro dancers’ creativity going into overdrive when they’re paired with an Olympic gymnast. However, Shawn left her gold medals at the rehearsal room door, focusing instead on the skills she’d honed throughout the season. Sure, they tapped into Johnson’s gymnastics, but it isn’t the main focus; instead, it’s seamlessly integrated into the dance. What blows us away was just how much content they packed into this routine! It’s high-energy, high-speed, and totally non-stop. Honestly, it felt like it needed a “Do not try this at home” disclaimer. If we weren’t already on our feet, the chills we felt would’ve pushed us up for a standing ovation.




Which dance routine gave you fouetté-level chills? Let us know in the comments.