‘DWTS’ Season 34 Recap: No One Sent Home on Emotional Dedication Night

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 34 delivered one of its most heartfelt episodes yet on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as celebrities performed deeply personal routines for Dedication Night. The show brought together emotion, family, and powerful storytelling — and in a rare twist, no one was eliminated at the end of the night.

The special episode saw the 10 remaining contestants honor loved ones by bringing them onto the ballroom floor, creating some of the most memorable performances of the season. Former DWTS pro and two-time champion Kym Johnson returned as a guest judge, joining Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli on the panel.

‘DWTS’ Season 34 Scores and Highlights from Dedication Night

Dedication Night featured a wide range of dance styles — from contemporary to salsa — and plenty of emotional moments. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach topped the leaderboard with a near-perfect 36 out of 40 for their contemporary routine to “Rewrite the Stars,” dedicated to Dylan’s younger sister, Olivia. It marked the first time this season Dylan earned 9s across the board, with judges praising his growth and the complexity of the choreography.

Robert Irwin also brought viewers — and judges — to tears with his contemporary performance of “You’ll Be In My Heart” dedicated to his mother, Terri. Tonioli called it a “true expression of everlasting love,” and Derek Hough said, “The world needs the Irwin family.” Robert earned 35 out of 40, his highest score of the season.

Alix Earle matched Robert’s score with an elegant contemporary routine to Coldplay’s “Sparks,” dedicated to her younger sister, Izabel. Bruno praised the performance’s technical difficulty and natural flow, while Derek applauded Val Chmerkovskiy’s choreography.

Other standout performances included Whitney Leavitt’s contemporary tribute to her husband Connor (33/40), and Jordan Chiles’ touching Viennese Waltz dedicated to her father (32/40). Elaine Hendrix, Scott Hoying, Jen Affleck, and Danielle Fishel all delivered strong routines as well, while comedian Andy Richter finished at the bottom with 24/40 for his joyful salsa honoring his daughter, Cornelia.

No Elimination Shocks Fans — Scores Roll Over to Next Week

In a surprise twist, co-host Alfonso Ribeiro announced that no couples would be eliminated on Dedication Night. “We couldn’t send anyone home after such special performances,” he told the audience. Co-host Julianne Hough added that the scores and viewer votes from Week 5 will carry over into next week’s show.

The decision means Richter and Emma Slater, who were last on the leaderboard, will return for another chance to improve their scores. It also raises the stakes for next week’s highly anticipated “Wicked Night,” which will feature themed dances inspired by the iconic Broadway musical.

The emotional weight of Dedication Night, combined with heartfelt performances and family appearances, made the episode one of the most powerful of the season. From Robert Irwin’s tribute to his late father’s memory to Dylan Efron’s family-centered dance, the night highlighted the personal stories behind each star’s journey.

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 34 continues next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu and ABC.com.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Was anyone eliminated on ‘DWTS’ Dedication Night?

No. In a rare twist, all 10 couples were declared safe. Scores and votes will carry over to next week’s Wicked Night.

Q2: Who topped the leaderboard on Dedication Night?

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach finished in first place with 36/40 for their contemporary routine.

Q3: What was the most emotional performance?

Robert Irwin’s tribute to his mother, Terri, brought judges and viewers to tears and earned 35/40.

Q4: Which couple finished at the bottom?

Andy Richter and Emma Slater placed last with 24/40 for their salsa dedicated to Andy’s daughter, Cornelia.

Q5: What’s next on ‘DWTS’ Season 34?

Next week’s episode will be the show’s first-ever “Wicked Night,” with themed routines and higher stakes.