Dancing With the Stars Week 10 Recap: Zac Efron Appears, Whitney Leavitt Eliminated, and Perfect Scores Shake Up the Semifinals

The Dancing With the Stars semifinals on November 18 delivered one of the most emotional and unpredictable nights of Season 34. With Prince Night powering the ballroom, all six couples performed two routines each before a shocking elimination sent a leaderboard leader home. The night also included a surprise appearance from Zac Efron, emotional skybox moments, and multiple perfect scores. This full recap breaks down every performance, every score, and how Whitney Leavitt was ultimately eliminated despite one of her strongest nights of the season.

The semifinals featured two rounds: one dance style the couples had not performed before, and one repeat style to measure improvement. Viewer votes were combined with judges’ scores to determine who reached next week’s finale. According to the hosts, this episode received the highest number of votes in the show’s history.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas

DWTS Semifinals Recap: Full Breakdown and Scores Before Elimination

The night opened with an electrifying troupe performance to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” The six semifinal couples then began their final push for the Season 34 finale. Each pair delivered emotional backstories, technical growth, and standout moments—including two perfect scores in Round 1 and three more in Round 2.

Below is the complete performance-by-performance recap with scores.

Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten

Foxtrot (“I Wanna Be Your Lover”): 27/30
Carrie Ann praised Elaine’s ease on the floor but asked her to push harder for her second dance.

Paso Doble (“When Doves Cry”): 30/30
Elaine earned her first perfect score. Judges praised the power and authenticity of her performance.

Total: 57/60

Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy

Argentine Tango (“Little Red Corvette”): 29/30
Alix showed sharp improvement, though Carrie Ann critiqued her shoulders.

Viennese Waltz (“Purple Rain”): 30/30
Alix cried tears of joy as judges called it “stunning” and “historic.”

Total: 59/60

Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas

Cha Cha (“1999”): 29/30
Judges praised Whitney’s lines and technique. Derek called it “literal perfection.”

Viennese Waltz (“Slow Love”): 29/30
An emotional Whitney cried on air, shared that dance “brought her soul back,” and accidentally cursed live on TV.

Total: 58/60

Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach

Tango (“I Would Die 4 U”): 27/30
The ballroom erupted when cameras showed his brother Zac Efron cheering from the audience.

Cha Cha (“Kiss”): 28/30
Judges noted major improvement in Dylan’s hip action and technique.

Total: 55/60

Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa

Jive (“Raspberry Beret”): 27/30
Judges saw high energy but noted a brief loss of pace.

Argentine Tango (“U Got the Look”): 30/30
Jordan earned her first perfect score and broke down in tears.

Total: 57/60

Robert Irwin & Witney Carson

Jive (“Baby I’m a Star”): 30/30
Robert’s explosive jive earned the first perfect score of the night. Judges called it “superstar” quality.

Viennese Waltz (“WOW”): 29/30
Robert emotionally reflected on creating his “own legacy” beyond his family’s fame.

Total: 59/60

Elimination Shock: Whitney Leavitt Goes Home Despite Top Scores

The final leaderboard was exceptionally tight, with just four points separating all couples. After combining live viewer votes and judges’ scores, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough announced the four couples safe: Elaine and Alan, Alix and Val, Robert and Witney, and Dylan and Daniella.

This left Jordan and Ezra standing beside Whitney and Mark in the bottom two. In a moment that stunned viewers, the hosts revealed that Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were eliminated, despite scoring 58 out of 60—one of the highest totals of the night.

Whitney thanked fans through tears. “I already feel like a winner. This show has changed my life,” she said.

Jordan and Ezra advanced to the finale.

The elimination reshaped the finale lineup and highlighted how crucial viewer votes are during semifinals, even for top-scoring couples.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who was eliminated from Dancing With the Stars tonight?

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were eliminated in the semifinals despite scoring 58 out of 60.

Q2: Which couples earned perfect scores?

Robert Irwin, Jordan Chiles, Elaine Hendrix, and Alix Earle all earned perfect scores during the semifinals.

Q3: Did Zac Efron appear in the audience?

Yes. Zac Efron attended the show to support his younger brother Dylan Efron during the semifinals.

Q4: Who topped the leaderboard?

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson tied with Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy at 59 out of 60.

Q5: How many couples remain for the finals?

Five couples will compete in the Season 34 finale next week.