The 10 Best Dances of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 (So Far), Ranked

Dylan Efron’s Argentine tango to Milo Manheim’s freestyle version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” was a showstopper during the Nov. 11 episode. Celebrating DWTS’ 20th Birthday Party, the number was certainly The Traitors winner’s best dance of season 34, though most of the eyes were on his pro partner Daniella Karagach, whose talent as a coach and dancer were on full display in the number. 

The routine sparked an online conversation about the varying demands expected of women and men in ballroom dance. Derek Hough himself referred to Karagach as a “Ferrari” earlier in the season, and if that’s the case, her Argentine tango with Efron exemplified just how far a top-of-the-line car can carry its passenger. Still, this routine will be one that stands out among the pack of dances from the season, but it’s ranked at No. 10 because there’s no way around the fact that Karagach was the star of this number.

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy have been towards the top of the leaderboard all season, and their Halloween Night tango was a shining moment for the couple. Blending the horror elements that the themed night demands, the duo had a breakthrough during the ballroom’s spookiest night where they were only one point away from earning the first perfect score of the season. 

Plus, who doesn’t love watching a tango set to a Billie Eilish song? It was a nice contrast to the always put-together, shiny persona the TikTok personality typically depicts. And on Halloweem Night, she showcased exactly what’s been missing throughout majority of her run on DWTS — a sense of rawness and vulnerability.

Dancing to the song performed by his elder sister and DWTS champion Bindi Irwin during her freestyle number from season 21, Robert Irwin’s 20th Birthday Party foxtrot was always going to be a standout. Dedicated to Robert’s late father Steve Irwin, the number choreographed by Witney Carson paid homage to Bindi’s earlier dance while making it Robert’s own. 

In a reference back to Bindi’s freestyle, at the end of the dance, a montage of videos of Robert and his family were portrayed across the ballroom floor, ensuring there’d be no dry eye in sight upon viewing. Together, Robert and Carson earned the first perfect solo score of season 34 with their foxtrot, but the dance will be long reminisced as a beautiful remembrance of Robert’s father and the light of the Irwin family. 

A mini-callback to when Carrie Ann Inaba compared the Olympian to Tina Turner during the second week of the competition, Jordan Chiles embodied the essence of Tina Turner during Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. The jazz routine allowed her to showcase all of her incredible tricks while still delivering such a fun, upbeat number that made the audience want to dance along with Chiles and Ezra Sosa with every step. There’s no replicating Chiles’ charisma, and this number solidified that.

On Wicked Night, Elaine Hendrix had the tall task of performing to “Defying Gravity” — and it proved to be a breakthrough moment for the actress. The Parent Trap star previously opened up about a car accident that forced her to stop dancing, using her time on season 34 to prove that she could overcome any obstacles in her path. 

This song was simply meant for Hendrix and Bersten to dance to, highlighting how she defied the odds and, quite literally, gravity when she reenacted the scene from Wicked where Elphaba soars in the sky and pronounces that nothing “is ever gonna bring me down.”

Reflecting on the moment in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Hendrix said Wicked Night “was a real pivotal moment,” also because she performed “lifts and tricks” that she hadn’t done before, with added concern over her former injury. 

“I dug deep. I fought hard,” she said. “Oh, and man, was it worth it.” 

Mark Ballas is a legend of the DWTS world, and his unique choreography made for the perfect foxtrot to Hamilton’s “The Room Where It Happens.” When thinking of the songs and potential projects that would be honored on Disney Night, Hamilton doesn’t stand out as an obvious choice, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it returns as a recurring reference point thanks to this foxtrot. 

Paired with Whitney Leavitt’s outstanding dance ability, the reality star and Ballas are a one-in-a-lifetime DWTS coupling, one that doesn’t come around on the show very often. Just when it’s safe to say the highlight of the number is Ballas’ choreography, Leavitt steps in with a dynamic, undeniable performance that — whether you’re a fan or hers or not — can’t go unrecognized.

Chiles and Sosa have had a few standout moments during season 34, but their Wicked Night rumba is one (of a few) that pop out among the rest. Dancing to the beloved track from the upcoming second film, Wicked: For Good, the power of their friendship was on full display in this piece. 

An Olympic gymnast by trade, viewers knew Chiles would excel in the ballroom long before she stepped foot onto the show, but this number harnessed all of her strengths into a beautiful performance that will be looked back upon as a remembrance of the true bond and friendship she developed with her partner Sosa.

Another callback to Gabby Windey’s season 31 freestyle, Leavitt and Ballas made Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango” their own with this Argentine tango. Truly, the performance was so stunning it prompted fans to speculate that Whitney will be taking on the role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical sometime soon. (Chicago’s official Instagram account posted the number and captioned it, “Whitney Leavitt as Roxie when???”)

Nearing the end of the competition, if the audience wasn’t keen on which performer was the pro and which was the celebrity, Leavitt might have been mistaken for the former. Also, it was so satisfying seeing The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star dance and lip-sync to the portion of the song about Mormons. True perfection. 

While Robert Irwin paid tribute to his father later in season 34, his Dedication Night performance in honor of his mother is one of the best moments of DWTS this year. Contemporary numbers are often the most emotional on the show, and Carson’s choreography combined with Irwin’s raw emotion made for a perfect blend of authenticity and performance. 

Irwin’s story was so beautifully portrayed through his movements, marking one of the most touching moments of the show’s 34th installment. It appeared as though the youngest Irwin sibling was telling his story through dance, naturally letting the passion of his story engulf him through each movement. That’s not even mentioning the heart-tugging ending of the number where his mother, Terri Irwin, came into frame and finished off the performance with him.

Whether or not Robert Irwin wins DWTS, his legacy combined with that of his older sister, Bindi, has left an everlasting mark on the competitive ballroom series. The show may never again see two competitors as willing to open up about their story to the world through dance. 

One of Leavitt’s earliest dances on DWTS, no other number has even come close to replicating the lightning-like energy she and Ballas showcased in their TikTok Night samba. Truly, the themed night of competition could have been made for the reality star — not because she’s an influencer herself but because of her constant ability to demand virality and entice an audience.

Has Ballas ever had his star quality matched by a celebrity as profoundly as Leavitt? Watch their TikTok samba and decide for yourself. It’s by far the best number of season 34 so far, though it could (possibly) be topped by a number coming from Prince Night and the finale. 

Leavitt has faced the brunt of virtual hate throughout her run on DWTS, partly due to her dance background coming into the competition. But what some fans may have forgotten to acknowledge is that is not a reason to exclude someone from the celebrity cast.

DWTS has seen boy band and girl group members, former Broadway stars, a cast member from Dance Moms and plenty of celebrities whose jobs are to quite literally perform on the show. No matter the negative discourse thrown Whitney’s way, there’s no denying that she is an incredible dancer and has been throughout the course of season 34. 

Only time will tell who will reign supreme as the crowned winner of DWTS season 34, but there’s a strong chance the champion will have performed one of these numbers.