Top 20 Best Dancing with the Stars Disney Night Performances

Cinderella gets her night at the ball, where she meets her Prince Charming, and Charming indeed is what we’d call this dance. Purdy glides “all aglow” like a true Disney princess, while Hough plays the role of the dashing supporting gentleman to perfection. They may have struggled with the technical details during rehearsals, but you’d never know it from the final performance. It’s so smooth and graceful you can’t help but get caught up in their story. We really feel like we’re watching a real-life fairy tale unfold. They put the “ball” in “ballroom” and really make us believe that “this is love.”

Can we just say Hardin would be perfect as Mother Gothel in a live-action “Tangled”? We know she’s got the voice, and now we know she’s got the moves, too! She totally channels Gothel’s energy, bringing the character to life with every moment. The choreography strikes the perfect balance of theatricality, elegance, and whimsy, and Hardin’s expressions are just the cherry on top. She blends technical precision with playful charisma, making it impossible to look away from her for even a second. Just as Gothel steals the scene in the movie, Hardin owns every second of that dance—and we’re so here for it!

We loved Rashad’s ability to connect to a character, so when Disney Night came around, we knew we were in for something special. Admittedly, the tempo is a bit different than your average Foxtrot tune but that doesn’t stop him from putting on quite the show with Emma. It’s elegant, emotive and we just can’t tear our eyes away from them. Even though we totally love this routine, they ended up near the bottom of the leaderboard. Nevertheless, they still managed to dance their way to the final and ultimately the Mirrorball.

Yes, this dance is absolutely beautiful, but what really grabs us is Brown’s smile from start to finish. You can see just how much she loves this “Whole New World” of dance and how Bersten has “Open[ed] Her Eyes” to the magic of the ballroom. The gentle, flowing movements perfectly match the romantic tenderness of the song. Meanwhile, Hannah floats effortlessly around the dance floor while Alan’s strong lead provides the perfect frame to let her shine. Together, they create a moment that is nothing short of enchanting. What can we say? This dance is truly “shining, shimmering, splendid!”

This duo delivered incredible routines practically every week. So it only seemed fitting that they reminded us just how, well, incredible they are with this perfectly themed quickstep. The choreography lets them tell their superhero story without losing much of that technique the judges are watching for (those costumes don’t hide a thing!). Like true superheroes, they’re quick on their feet, and their stamina is unreal. Also, pulling off a quickstep while fighting crime is no small feat. Honestly, we’re not even sure the actual “Incredibles” family could do it. Although, if there were ever a third movie, we’d love to see ’em try.

Much like the song they’re dancing to, this routine is a classic. The choreography captures the grace and sophistication of the style while adding modern tweaks that make it a Viennese waltz for the modern age. If the 1950 film were set now, we could see the ballroom scene looking like this. JoJo was apparently thrilled to step into the prince role, doubling down on her message that gender should never stand in the way of someone’s dreams. Still, what truly makes this performance special is the undeniable connection between the partners and how their bond shapes the dance. It’s what dreams are made of!

“Love Is an Open Door” is a delightful blend of youthful optimism and romantic fantasy, with a touch of naivete and idealism. Derek’s choreography captures that perfectly, yet he still manages to make the popular scene feel fresh, new, and basically Broadway ready. Although not everyone was a fan, we loved the extra lip-syncing touch; it really drew us into the entire production. In her VT, Liukin mentioned she was excited to feel like a kid again, and that energy really came through. We felt just like kids watching “Frozen” for the first time, too! It’s so pure it could probably even melt Hans’ frozen heart.

Since this number literally takes place in a ballroom, it’s easy to see how the song fits traditional ballroom dances. That’s why it was so refreshing to see this duo give it a contemporary twist! Their take on the story is absolutely breathtaking, with movements that capture the classic tale’s heart. The choreography combines graceful fluidity with powerful dynamics, allowing Ally to showcase both her strength and vulnerability perfectly. They earned the highest score of the series so far, and it was so well deserved. It may have been one beast of a routine, but Brooke was a total Beauty on the dance floor.

Is it just us or does Ginger actually look a little like Belle? Either way, she certainly sells the character effortlessly. The Foxtrot is hardly the easiest ballroom dance at the best of times, but even a theme can’t throw off this dancer from nailing the choreography. We feel like we’re right there in Belle and Gaston’s quiet little village, but the story doesn’t outshine the impressive routine they deliver. Len calls it the best dance of the season and, if you ask us, Ginger truly is the Belle of the ball.

Both James and Peta chose this as their favorite dance and you only have to watch to see why. The contemporary choreography lends itself very well to storytelling and their lifts are spellbinding. Plus those stunning animations just add a little extra sparkle to the performance as a whole. It’s an emotional routine with Len saying that it could melt the coldest of hearts, even his, which he proves by scoring them a ten. This magical dance earned them a perfect score and the first full marks of the season.

Season 18 of “DWTS” brought us a truly magical Disney Night. Yet, if you ask us, Charlie White and his partner Sharna Burgess stole the show with their “Mary Poppins” inspired jazz. They pack more into that routine than Mary could fit in her seemingly bottomless bag! It’s so joyous that you can’t help but watch with the biggest grin. Despite the speed, intricate content, and all the prop work, White makes it look easy. Plus, his chemistry with Sharna could rival that of Mary and Bert. It was so “Super…califragilisticexpialidocious” that it earned Len’s first ten, and they even performed it again in the finals!

When we think of “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” samba definitely doesn’t spring to mind. At least, it didn’t until we saw this dance! So, it’s a true testament to Val’s creativity that he totally challenged our preconceptions of the party dance, turning it into a devilishly iconic routine. Hey, who says villains can’t party? There’s already so much to think about when it comes to the samba —intricate rhythms, footwork patterns, fluid hip movements, and very nuanced musicality. But Rumer checks every box while giving 120% to the characterization. It all comes together so swimmingly, and we’ll never look at Ursula the same way again.

Gaston can be quite the charmer and this Viennese Waltz certainly charmed the judges and viewers. Tom Bergeron even goes as far as saying that out of 27 series, this has got to be one of his favorites. Their dance is full to the brim with varied content, good technique and plenty of flair. Juan admits that he was just living his best life and it shows. Even before the judges get a chance to speak, we can read them like one of Belle’s books and, boy, are they happy.

If you’re going to dance to “Friend Like Me,” then you had better be ready to pull every trick out of your hat - and this duo certainly does just that. Antonio takes center stage for this dance from the start and he really knows how to command the stage. As well as delivering a sharp and entertaining routine, his smile throughout is infectious and, it’s clear that he’s having a lot of fun. We loved watching Antonio improve week after week, but there’s no doubt that this number with Sharna is his dance.

Can we just say something crazy? Doesn’t Heather Morris make the perfect Anna? We already knew that this contestant could dance and act, but she magically transports the studio to Arendelle when she embodies this character. Understandably, the judges had exceptionally high expectations for this pair and aren’t quite as enchanted with the routine as the rest of us. Nevertheless, they still achieved a decent score of 34 for the dance. We love the energy and characterization and if you ask us, it looks like something out of a Broadway show.

Week after week, Nyle delivered incredible routines so Disney Night was just another opportunity to dazzle us. Everything about this performance is simply joyous and his costume certainly caught the judges’ attention. The samba can be a tricky dance, but Nyle makes it look effortless with his bounce action, fluidity, and incredible synchronization - plus, check out that back handspring! There’s great chemistry between Nyle and Peta, which really helps the partners deliver this outstanding routine. It’s obvious how much fun they’re having and we just want to be part of the party.

Is there a better week for Fisher to show off his Broadway leading man skills than Disney Night? And to top it all off, they danced to his version of that iconic song featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda! The way they paired the classic foxtrot with that upbeat, Polynesian-inspired tune was truly brilliant! At times, the dance flowed so smoothly, like the gentle rise and fall of the tide, and then it hit like a powerful wave crashing onto the shore, bursting with energy and excitement. It was an incredible celebration of both traditional and modern styles that left us wanting an encore.

Talk about a blockbuster. This dance is exciting from beginning to end. Who knew “Pirates of the Caribbean” would lend itself so well to a Paso? The choreography is sharp, fast and every movement hits the beat like cannon fire. It’s impossible not to get drawn in by the drama and fire of this dance and clearly, these two agree as they reprise it in the finals. This time, they not only score a standing ovation from Len but also the perfect score we all knew this dance deserved.

It’s such an iconic song and it made it even more amazing to have Donny Osmond singing it as they dance. This is a fierce, empowering routine, with Bruno even dubbing Normani an “all-conquering Paso princess.” She really gets the spirit of this dance style and gives it all the attack it deserves. Val choreographed combat-style movements into the routine, but it’s still very much a Paso at its core. Her precision, sharpness, and artistry are sensational and even props can’t break her focus. And to no one’s surprise, this duo topped the leaderboard.

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

Foxtrot to “Alice’s Theme” from “Alice in Wonderland”, Willow Shields & Mark Ballas
It’s Madder than a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party That This Didn’t Get Top Marks

Quickstep to “You've Got a Friend in Me” from “Toy Story”, Paige VanZant & Mark Ballas
We’ll Keep Enjoying This Dance “To Infinity & Beyond”

Jazz to “When Will My Life Begin” from “Tangled”, Evanna Lynch & Keo Motsepe
To Paraphrase Rapunzel: Best (“Tangled” Themed) Dance Ever!!!

Quickstep to “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast”, Danica McKellar & Val Chmerkovskiy
A Dance As Delicious As the Grey Stuff

Foxtrot to “When You Wish Upon a Star” from “Pinocchio”, Lindsey Stirling & Mark Ballas
Graceful, Elegant, Beautiful, Everything We Could Wish For

The choreography, the storytelling, the music, sung by Moana herself, Auli’i Cravalho all contribute to this unforgettable dance. Sasha expertly choreographed this acrobatic, gravity-defying, contemporary routine that showcases his partner’s talents. While we enjoy seeing Simone do what she does best, she is just as strong on the dancing side too. We love the energy in this performance and how well the movements work with the music. While we may not be dance experts, we think this routine deserved top marks, which it sadly did not receive - but at least it’s topping our list!

Which Disney dance whisked you off to the happiest place on earth? Let us know in the comments!