Dancing With the Stars Season 34: Prince Night and the Shock Elimination of Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
As Dancing With the Stars gears up for its highly anticipated finale, the show’s semi-finals delivered a night of emotion, shock, and, of course, spectacular dance moves. The highly-anticipated Prince Night brought the glamour and the rhythm of the iconic artist’s music to the ballroom, with couples honoring the late legend through performances set to his timeless hits.
Tuesday’s episode was pivotal, as contestants faced the challenge of performing two dances: one routine from a ballroom style they had already mastered on the show, and a second performance in a new dance style they had yet to try. Each number was set to a song by the beloved artist, making for a night of heartfelt tributes to Prince’s enduring musical legacy.
As the night unfolded, it was clear that the competition had reached its most intense point. However, one of the most shocking moments of the evening came when fan-favorites Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were eliminated, despite their consistently high scores throughout the season. Their departure marked a deeply emotional moment in the ballroom, especially as they had been praised for their standout performances.
The semi-finals left behind a star-studded lineup of competitors: social media sensation Alix Earle, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, The Traitors season three winner Dylan Efron (and brother of Zac Efron), actress Elaine Hendrix, conservationist Robert Irwin (son of Steve Irwin), and reality TV star Whitney. After Whitney’s unexpected exit, the remaining duos continue to vie for the coveted mirrorball trophy, with the finale set to crown the season’s champion on November 25th.
This season’s finale will be a three-hour event, where couples will perform three rounds of competition: the judge’s choice, instant dance, and the freestyle round, all pushing each duo to their limits. While the competition is fierce, the semi-finals confirmed that Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are a formidable pair, topping the leaderboard after the first round of Prince Night with a perfect 30/30 score. Their flawless performance had them at the top of the leaderboard, a position they held onto through both rounds of competition.
In the second round, three couples achieved perfect scores, including Alix and Val Chmerkovskiy, Elaine and Artem Chigvintsev, and Jordan and Ezra Sosa, with Jordan’s flawless score marking her first-ever perfect 10s on the DWTS stage. This achievement was a particularly significant moment for the Olympic gymnast, who reflected on the honor of receiving such a prestigious score. “I feel just a different light—I don’t even know how to explain it,” Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter. “When I got that score, I was just like, Wow. It’s like a next step, the next chapter that I’m gonna be able to create.”
Alix Earle, the breakout social media star, also received a nod of praise from her partner, Val, who admitted he was continually surprised by her growth on the dance floor. “I’ve had a whole spectrum of emotions throughout my time on the show,” Val said, “and I’ve had times where I was pleasantly surprised, and of course, I was confident—I have a superstar as my partner.”
With only five couples left in the running for the mirrorball, the stakes couldn’t be higher as we head into the finale. The remaining contestants will need every ounce of skill, charisma, and star power to make it to the finish line, but it’s clear that Dancing With the Stars has plenty of surprises left in store before the final curtain call.
Round 1
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: 27/30
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: 28/30
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: 29/30
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: 27/30
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: 27/30
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 30/30
Round 2
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: 30/30
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: 30/30
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: 28/30
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: 29/30
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: 30/30
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 29/30
Final Leaderboard
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 59
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: 58
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: 58 (ELIMINATED)
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: 57
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: 57
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: 55
