Dancing With The Stars 34 Recap: 2025 Dedication Night Week 5 Live Blog
Good Tuesday Everyone :)
Welcome to week five of season thirty-four of Dancing with the Stars. Get those tissues ready because tonight is going to be emotional. Each celebrity will dedicate their respective dance to someone special in their lives. And that person will join them in the ballroom as part of the routine in a Dancing with the Stars first!
We will also welcome back former two-time champion Kym Johnson as a guest judge, so tonight’s scores will be out of forty. We are just about halfway through the season and the competition is getting fierce. Last week’s Disney night continued to separate this year’s contenders from the pretenders. That being said, there’s room for some of the middle of the pack couples to move on up.
At the top in scores were Whitney Leavitt & Mark, who earned the first “9” of the season. Once again at the bottom were the pairing of Andy Richter & Emma. Andy’s fans saved him yet again, resulting in the elimination of Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb. Will he will be able to skate by for another week? And as the finale draws closer, can you predict which couples will be competing for the championship?
Your votes will be combined with the judges scores to determine which couple will have danced for the last time. Remember, VOTING begins at the top of the show and concludes after the final dance of the evening.
Alfonso and Julianne are out right at the start. No opening routine this evening so I guess we will get some extra troupe dancing later. That, or we will be pressed for time. Kym Johnson is introduced as a guest judge and she is looking forward to all the feelings and the technique. And away we go…
Andy Richter & Emma – Salsa – with special guest Cornelia Richter, Andy’s daughter
Aww. Andy’s daughter is adorable. Andy’s dancing…is not. Emma did a lot of work here in terms of making the routine look like something resembling a salsa. Andy did a lot of his usual moving about without doing much in the way of dancing. However, he was beaming out there and when Cornelia came out, you could tell he was so happy. It is what it is in terms of Andy’s abilities on this show.
Kym found it joyful. She is excited to see Andy each week. She talks about her past partner Jerry Springer and how Andy reminds her of him. Bruno called it sweet and light. He says the steps weren’t always on time. Carrie Ann says she saw some improvement but he was off in the musicality. Derek calls it playful and full of love.
Carrie Ann- 6, Derek- 6, Kym- 6, Bruno- 6 = 24/40
VOTE for Andy & Emma at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ANDY to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Robert Irwin & Witney – Contemporary – with special guest Terri Irwin, Robert’s mother
Well, how can you not be emotional after that? Witney is a great choreographer of contemporary dance. Remember, she came to us from So You Think You Can Dance? and learned from the best. She filled this routine with longing and emotion and Robert kept up at every step. And you could tell just how important the dance was to Robert. His mom only came out for the final few seconds but it was enough to get the message. A very heartfelt routine danced beautifully.
Bruno (who is crying) says Robert gave all his heart and soul and was the true expression of everlasting love. Carrie Ann notes she never had kids but if she did, she would want one like Robert. She loves how Robert is always connecting with the audience. Derek (who is crying) is so proud and he loves the Irwin family. Kym (who is crying) compliments Terri and is then cut off and cannot finish her critique.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 9, Kym- 9, Bruno- 9 = 35/40
VOTE for Robert & Witney at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ROBERT to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Elaine Hendrix & Alan – Foxtrot – with special guest Lisa Ann Walter, Elaine’s best friend and former co-star
Wow! Was this Lisa’s audition to be on the show next season? She was really good. And she was pivotal to the dance. Elaine continues to be a star on this show. She brings such good performance quality to every dance and I loved her in this. So elegant with great posture and an ease as she glided in the ballroom with Alan. But seriously, I think Lisa should sign up for next season.
Carrie Ann calls it amazing. She loved the joy and compliments Alan’s choreography. Derek calls Elaine a joy but cautions her on the shoulders. He wants them back and down. Kym says it made her heart happy. She gets up and Derek joins her and they give a demonstration of what Derek was saying regarding the shoulders. Bruno says Elaine always gets exactly where it’s at- pure glamour.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 7, Kym- 7, Bruno- 8 = 30/40
Those 7’s are a bit of ridiculous in my opinion. Should have been straight 8’s across the board. Because again, was this dance only one point better than what Andy did earlier? Hmm.
VOTE for Elaine & Alan at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ELAINE to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Whitney Leavitt & Mark – Contemporary – with special guest Conner Leavitt, Whitney’s husband
How sweet. Lovely to see such Whitney’s husband so engaged in the dance. I really felt that emotion and the push and pull that Mark was going for with the choreography. When they danced side by side, I do have to say that they weren’t exactly in-sync. Whitney remained just a hair ahead of Mark and it was noticeable. However, the performance quality here was top notch and the essence of the dance definitely came through.
Derek calls dancing healing and he felt it was so special to watch them. He calls Conner a dancer and says he was amazing. He mentions that they were out of sync in the side by side. Kym loves that Mark had Conner dancing. Bruno is breathless. He says it was like The White Lotus but with a happy ending. Carrie Ann (who is crying) says dancing can be a way to cope with emotions and she calls it amazing and gives kudos to Mark and Conner.
Carrie Ann- 9, Derek- 8, Kym- 8, Bruno- 8 = 33/40
VOTE for Whitney & Mark at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting WHITNEY to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Jen Affleck & Jan – Viennese Waltz – with special guest Maria, Jen’s mother
That was a really solid routine. How elegant and beautiful Jen was here. She and Jan looked so pretty just dancing as though they were in a royal court. It really felt cinematic in that way. Maria added such a loving touch when she joined them and she handled it well too. I loved seeing the connection between mother and daughter here and how strong that bond is. Very nice.
Kym says she could feel the love between Jen and Maria. She wants to see some more grounding in Jen’s dancing. Bruno says it is getting better but he wants the fluidity to be better. Carrie Ann tells Jen it was her most passionate dance. She saw freedom when she danced with her mom and found it profound. Derek calls it graceful and that it is a moment for the two of them.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 7, Kym- 7, Bruno- 7 = 29/40
Again, those 7’s are making me roll my eyes. That should have been straight 8’s.
VOTE for Jen & Jan at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting JEN to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Dylan Efron & Daniella – Contemporary – with special guest Olivia Efron, Dylan’s younger sister
Aww. I cannot with the cuteness that is Olivia. She looks like Dylan and Zac together. So adorable. This had a lot of raw emotion and fierce choreography. Daniella really went for it and used Dylan’s strength. I loved the lifts and the side by side. It was a very strong routine that was not only choreographed well but danced well too. Again, Olivia is just precious. I love that Dylan is a great older brother.
Bruno calls it a fantastic number and compliments the lift. He says Dylan is getting better. Carrie Ann felt the story to the bottom of her soul. She loved the message in the dance. Derek tells Dylan he hates him- great guy, in shape, can dance, and a great brother. He calls Dylan a dancer. Kym says Daniella has been incredible and Dylan is improving and becoming a great dancer.
Carrie Ann- 9, Derek- 9, Kym- 9, Bruno- 9 = 36/40
VOTE for Dylan & Daniella at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting DYLAN to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Out of the break, we get a special routine featuring Julianne. She comes out to dance with some of the female pros including Jenna and Britt (they both choreographed the dance). How nice to see Julianne dancing.
Jordan Chiles & Ezra – Viennese Waltz – with special guest Timothy Chiles, Jordan’s father
How sweet. That was mostly a dance with Jordan and her father. Ezra took a back seat here and allowed this beautiful connection to shine. Of course Timothy isn’t a dancer but he looked really solid doing this with Jordan and she looked so elegant and gorgeous throughout. Again, I appreciate that Ezra made this dance for his partner to shine with her dad and gave them the space and the steps to do it.
Carrie Ann says the reverence was profound. She was touched by that and says Jordan is blossoming. Derek is excited to have that moment with his own child. He loved the tenderness and care. Kym says it doesn’t get better than a father/daughter dance. She loved seeing Jordan leading the dance. Bruno is proud because Jordan gets better weekly, especially her musicality.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 8, Kym- 8, Bruno- 8 = 32/40
VOTE for Jordan & Ezra at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting JORDAN to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Scott Hoying & Rylee – Foxtrot – with special guest Mark Hoying, Scott’s husband
Scott started the routine singing, which was sweet. His husband didn’t really have anything to do here, which I thought was a missed opportunity. I did enjoy the foxtrot and Scott is getting better with his dancing and had a nice frame that should be complimented. I just thought Rylee should have given Scott and Mark a little something to do together to really make it special.
Derek congratulates the pair- they are having a baby soon. He saw the effort and the commitment. He loved the song too. Kym saw improvement. Her tip is to watch his head and to get more gliding action. Bruno called it a true love foxtrot. He saw Scott being much more at ease. He doesn’t want Scott to lean forward so much. Carrie Ann loves their love but she felt the dance was disjointed. She wants Rylee to watch the lines in rehearsal.
Carrie Ann- 7, Derek- 8, Kym- 7, Bruno- 8 = 30/40
All of that very special critiquing by Carrie Ann just to label the dance a 7 is really funny. You’d think she hated it by what she was saying and was planning on giving it a very low score. These judges sometimes have me raging. Sorry.
VOTE for Scott & Rylee at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting SCOTT to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Some dancing as we return from the break featuring Brandon, Gleb, Britt, and Jenna. Brandon is responsible for the choregraphy.
Emma, who is a co-host on the upcoming tour announces that more shows have been added because tickets are selling fast. Go to dwtstour.com if you want to get your tickets to the show.
Danielle Fishel & Pasha – Jive – with special guest William Daniels, Danielle’s former co-star
That was…oddly sloppy. It was a nice throwback to have them dancing to the theme song from Boy Meets World and having William Daniels there. But some of that was very messy. Danielle went out of sync and in parts, her footwork was very subpar for a jive. I’m not sure if she messed up and then couldn’t get it together due to nerves or if this just needed more rehearsing. Some better kicks and flicks and more musicality was needed here.
Kym loved the nostalgia in that. She wanted to see more attack and extensions. Bruno loved the storyline. He wants her to sharpen the edges. Carrie Ann agrees it was so nostalgic. But she is feeling like she is watching the same dances over and over. She wants Danielle to give more variety. She notes that the critique is for Pasha as well. Derek says it was a proper jive and loves how Danielle honored a mentor.
Carrie Ann- 7, Derek- 7, Kym- 7, Bruno- 8 = 29/40
VOTE for Danielle & Pasha at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting Danielle to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Alix Earle & Val – Contemporary – with special guest Izabel Earle, Alix’s younger half-sister
This dance was a wonderful way to close a very strong show. A lot of emotion and strong dancing from Alx here. She handles that flailing about contemporary very well. And that’s not a knock by me. I’ve just seen more than enough contemporary tonight. But this was sweet, endearing, and when Izabel joined them, it felt really special. Val did a good job incorporating Izabel in that.
Bruno says the routine was technically difficult but Alix made it look easy. Carrie Ann appreciates the story that was told. She tells her to watch her arms on the turns. Just a tiny note she says. Derek compliments the maturity of Alix’s dancing. He gives props to Val’s choreography. He says tonight had a lot of weird energy and negativity but tonight is all about love. HUH? Kym saw confidence and thinks Alix is the surprise of the season.
Carrie Ann- 8, Derek- 9, Kym- 9, Bruno- 9 = 35/40
What an odd comment by Derek. It hasn’t been a negative night. Nor has the energy been weird. I mean, not to me as a viewer. Perhaps something is going on in the ballroom we are not seeing. I don’t know but that comment was really strange.
VOTE for Alix & Val at dwtsvote.abc.com and/or via texting ALIX to 21523. Note- only US residents can vote using text method.
Judges Scores For Week 5 (Out Of 40)
Dylan & Daniella – 36
Alix & Val – 35
Robert & Witney – 35
Jordan & Ezra – 32
Whitney & Mark – 33
Elaine & Alan – 30
Scott & Rylee – 30
Danielle & Pasha – 29
Jen & Jan – 29
Andy & Emma – 24
ELIMINATION TIME!
Are they really going to eliminate someone tonight after all that emotional and loving dedications? Seems like a perfect night for a non-elimination (and a double next week if they must). But alas…… here we go…….
……………..and I was right. NO ONE is getting eliminated. I win a prize, which is nothing. The scores and audience votes will be added to next week. I knew they weren’t going to eliminate anyone on a night like this. It would be too cruel.
Next week is WICKED night. And the director of the Wicked films, John M. Chu will be on hand as a guest judge. One of the stars of the film, Cynthia Erivo was a guest judge on the British version of the show. Why couldn’t they get her to come next week? I hear Defying Gravity in my head already. If you aren’t a fan of Wicked or feel it has been overexposed, next week might test your patience. Please come wearing green or pink. :)
I very much enjoyed tonight’s competition. Dedication night brought out some of the strongest dancing of the season and really gave all the contestants a reason to put in all the effort. It was a success but I am over being hit on the head with emotions and all. It served a purpose but I think that could have been what Derek was referring to. Maybe the rehearsal packages and tributes were a bit on the negative side and he was over it too. One can only take so much of the sob stories and tears. Thanks for joining me and I’ll see y’all in a weeks time.