Season 32 of Dancing with the Stars returned for Latin Night this week. Opening with a speedy opening number routine dressed in red and sparkles, the pros showed off their footwork and tricks. The opening number was choreographed by Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov.
The Highlights:
- Ezra Sosa swapped in to be Charity’s partner after Artem tested positive for COVID.
- Xochitl and Val conquer Xochitl’s fear of heights for a fun salsa.
- The set is full of palm trees and fringe for Latin Night.
Lele and Brandon
Lele and Brandon got compliments for their Latin dance last week. This week they continued to tap into those skills for their samba to “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee. Their fringe-filled party dance earned them compliments from the judges. Derek loved her flare, and Bruno cheered before recommending she work on the details of her dancing to bring it all together.
Score: 21/30
Tyson and Jenna
Tyson and Jenna brought the salsa to the ballroom floor last night for a routine that Jenna hoped would take advantage of Tyson’s muscles.”What is going on here?” Bruno asked Tyson this week, excited about the effort and improvement he saw. Carrie Ann called this routine a “dance glow-up,” and Derek also noticed a major change in Tyson’s skills.
Score: 18/30
Barry and Peta
Moving onto their next style, Barry celebrated his birthday during cha cha rehearsals, hoping for a high score as a birthday present. Barry and Peta left their Brady Bunch nostalgia behind for more convincing moves. Carrie Ann saw some conflict in Barry’s arm and leg movements. Derek agreed, advising Barry to watch out for slipping across the floor.
Score: 15/30
Adrian and Britt
Hello, Samba! Derek wanted to see Adrian loosen up more, complimenting his side-by-side work but needing more from his footwork. Bruno agreed, “It’s hard, but you’ve got it in you to get better.”
Score: 15/30
Mira and Gleb
Going in with her excitement from the judges’ feedback last week and salsa lessons from a close friend years ago, Mira jumped into a salsa with Gleb this week. “You delivered all the ingredients,” Bruno told her after they performed, but he wanted her to “turn up the spice.” Carrie Ann also wanted to see more consistent confidence in her performances.
Score: 18/30
Xochitl and Val
Did you know Xochitl is afraid of heights? She and Val joined the group of couples doing the salsa this week, and to make it really pop, they added some jumps that required them to conquer this superhero’s fears. Carrie Ann called salsa Xochitl’s superpower!
Score: 24/30
Ariana and Pasha
This duo went in wondering if the samba would be too much for Ariana after they amped up the choreography to stand out from the competition. Derek was impressed with Ariana’s samba rolls but was still looking for more refinement. Carrie Ann also wanted to see her finishing her moves a little more fully.
Score: 20/30
Mauricio and Emma
After surviving the Bottom Two last week, Mauricio needed a confidence boost to tackle Latin Night. To make their salsa stand out, they went from something more traditional, but that doesn’t mean they skipped the tricks. There were a lot of mistakes in their performance this week, but the judges still hyped Mauricio up and encouraged him to make a comeback next week.
Score: 12/30
Alyson and Sasha
Leaving week one behind, Alyson and Sasha wanted to take the judges’ feedback and amp up Alyson’s ballroom presence for a serious tango. Carrie Ann had plenty of compliments to give after seeing the work that Alyson had done. Derek was also proud of the changes in her footwork and character.
Score: 19/30
Charity and Ezra
Cha cha cha! Facing Latin Night with the additional challenge of a partner change, Charity worked to continue improving her moves. This was also Ezra’s first dance as a DWTS pro! Derek said that Charity is a “naturally-gifted dancer,” but he wants to see more connection with her partner on the floor.
Score: 21/30
Harry and Rylee
The judges wanted to see Harry stepping more into the dance last week, so for this week’s salsa, it was all about energy and footwork. Bruno saw more effort this week as Harry tackled more steps and opened up a bit. Carrie Ann reminded Harry that “it’s okay to be a beginner” and encouraged him to be even more confident.
Score: 15/30
Jamie Lynn and Alan
Jamie Lynn and Alan shimmied their way into Latin Night with a cha cha that they hoped would show off Jamie Lynn’s confidence. Timing issues and missteps happened, and the judges had feedback, but all three were excited to see Jamie Lynn coming out of her shell.
Score: 16/30
Jason and Daniella
Jason surprised himself with his dancing and the judges’ feedback last week. To continue that, he and Daniella moved on to a slowed down rumba that pushed Jason to work harder. Lucky for Jason, they continued to impress this week. “That was a beautiful rumba!” Derek said to this star. Carrie Ann also loved the way the dance, music, and story all came together.
Score: 24/30
The Results
At the end of the night, Jason and Daniella tied with Xochitl and Val on the leaderboard with 24 points! Mauricio and Emma were hanging on at just 12 points, but when the votes came back, Mauricio and Emma were safe! Jamie Lynn and Alan and Adrian and Britt were the Bottom Two. The final votes decided that Jamie Lynn and Artem left the ballroom.
Next week, we’re back in the ballroom with guest judge Michael Strahan and a night of dancing Motown-style live Tuesday on Disney+ and ABC at 8:00 PM ET.