Anticipation is building for DWTS Junior Season 1, and we’re here to give you a sneak peek at what’s in store! Navigating the world of spoilers for a pre-taped show like Junior Dancing with the Stars is tricky. We understand the excitement of wanting to know everything, but we also believe in the magic of experiencing the show as it airs. So, if you’re searching for elimination spoilers, you might find those elsewhere on social media. However, here, we’re focusing on the exciting moments and performances you can look forward to when the season premieres in October. Consider this your guide to the good stuff – the highlights, the surprises, and the unforgettable dances that junior dancing with the stars is set to deliver. We’ll be updating this regularly with insights from sources and audience members who attended the tapings, so stay tuned! For cast and mentor spoilers, check this link, and for details on scoring and voting, visit this page. Now, let’s dive into the spoiler-filled preview!
Week 1 Highlights:
- Taped: July 28, 2018
- Airing: October 7, 2018
- Top Performances: Mandla & Brightyn, Ariana & Aryton impressed the judges, becoming the first teams to earn scores of 8 or higher, the highest paddles used that night.
- First Eliminations: Two couples departed in the first week, leaving 10 couples to continue in the competition. One of the eliminated couples was Tripp & Hailey, as reported by Radar Online.
- Must-See Moments: Viewers are in for a treat with Alana, who sources at the taping described as a “pleasant surprise.” Prepare to be charmed by Akash & Kamri, who are rumored to be incredibly adorable and potential fan favorites in this season of junior dancing with the stars.
Week 2 Teasers:
- Taped: August 2, 2018
- Airing: October 14, 2018
- High Scores: Week 2 saw a three-way tie at the top with outstanding performances from Ariana & Artyon, Kenzie & Sage, and Miles & Rylee.
- Another Elimination: One more couple was eliminated, narrowing the field to 9 couples.
- Theme Alert: Get ready for a nostalgic trip! The couples danced to songs from the year each celebrity was born. Alana’s performance to “Don’t Cha” by the Pussycat Dolls is one to watch. This week’s elimination is said to be a shocker, reminding us that in junior dancing with the stars, anything can happen. Don’t assume a low leaderboard position means elimination!
Week 3: Disney Night Magic:
- Taped: August 3, 2018
- Airing: October 21, 2019
- Leading the Pack: Miles & Rylee and Kenzie & Sage continued to impress, topping the leaderboard, with Ariana & Artyon close behind.
- Farewell to One Couple: Another couple was eliminated, bringing the competition down to 8 couples.
- Disney Dreams Come True: Disney Night is always a fan favorite! Miles & Rylee danced to music from Aladdin, while Alana & Tristan took on Beauty & the Beast, with Alana as Belle. Elliana & Jason’s Toy Story routine, featuring Elliana as Jessie, is highly anticipated. Akash & Kamri tackled Hercules, and Sophia & Jake brought The Little Mermaid to life.
Miles and Rylee performing an Aladdin-themed dance on Disney Night of Junior Dancing with the Stars
Week 4: Halloween Spooktacular:
- Taped: August 10, 2018
- Airing: October 28, 2019
- Halloween High-Scorers: Miles & Rylee once again delivered a top-scoring performance on Halloween Night.
- Another Couple Bites the Dust: The competition tightened as another couple was eliminated, leaving 7 couples.
- Spooky Songs and Themes: Halloween Night promises chills and thrills with songs and themes from Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, “Witch Doctor,” and Descendants. Costumes and spooky routines are guaranteed! This elimination was reportedly emotionally challenging, adding to the drama of junior dancing with the stars.
Contestants in Halloween costumes for Halloween night on Junior Dancing with the Stars
Week 5: Junior’s Choice – Creative Freedom:
- Taped: August 11, 2018
- Airing: November 4, 2018
- Perfect Score Alert!: Ariana & Artyon earned the first “10” of the season with their Junior’s Choice performance!
- One More Gone: One couple was eliminated, leaving 6 couples in the running.
- Personalized Performances: “Junior’s Choice Night” allowed the young celebrities to select their songs and dance styles. Ariana & Artyon’s hip-hop routine to “Rolex” by Ayo & Teyo apparently blew everyone away. Judge Val Chmerkovskiy jokingly awarded them his own Rolex as a prize!
Week 6: Giving Thanks – Heartfelt Dedications:
- Taped: August 17, 2018
- Airing: November 11, 2018
- Foxtrot Excellence: Sky & JT received a near-perfect score of 29/30 for their Foxtrot.
- Emotional Farewell: Another couple was eliminated in what was described as a heartbreaking departure. Only 5 couples remained.
- Gratitude in Motion: Couples dedicated their dances to people and things they were thankful for. Stevie Wonder was in the audience to support Mandla’s foxtrot. Maddie Ziegler made a special appearance during her sister Kenzie’s samba. Akash & Kamri delivered a “super cute” jazz routine to “Jai Ho,” and Ariana & Artyon danced a salsa. Expect both joyful and tearful moments during this episode of junior dancing with the stars.
Week 7: 90s Night Time Machine – Quarterfinals:
- Taped: August 18, 2018
- Airing: November 18, 2018
- Leading the 90s Charge: Miles & Rylee were the only couple to receive a perfect 10 this week.
- Final Five Becomes Final Four: One couple was eliminated, setting the stage for the semifinals with just 4 couples.
- Throwback Tunes and Dances: The 90s Night theme brought a mix of styles. Kenzie’s jazz routine to “Call Me Maybe” (though technically not a 90s song) is mentioned. Other dance styles included paso doble, jive, quickstep, and Charleston.
Proceed with Caution: Semifinals and Finale Spoilers Ahead
A note of caution: Beyond this point, revealing “what to look forward to” becomes increasingly challenging without hinting at who remains in the competition. We’ll do our best, but be aware that proceeding may reveal potential clues about the finalists of junior dancing with the stars.
Week 8: Team Dance Night – Semifinals Showdown:
- Taped: August 24, 2018
- Airing: November 25, 2018
- Perfect Score Semifinals: Kenzie & Sage achieved a perfect score of 30, although no score was lower than a “9” across the board, highlighting the high level of competition.
- No Elimination – All to the Finals!: In a thrilling twist, no couple was eliminated! All 4 remaining couples advanced to the finals.
- Individual and Team Performances: Each couple performed an individual dance and a team dance (duet). Sources indicate exceptional performances from all finalists, suggesting any of the four could take home the trophy. The finalists included Kenzie/Sage/Gleb, two other female celebrity/male junior pro/male mentor teams, and one male celebrity/female junior pro/female mentor team. Scores and votes from this semifinal episode carried over to the finale. Duet pairings were Kenzie/Sage with one male celeb/junior pro team and the two other female celeb/junior pro teams paired together.
Week 9: The Grand Finale – Christmas Magic:
- Taped: August 25, 2018
- Airing: December 2, 2018
- Festive Finale Theme: The finale embraced a Christmas theme, a tradition similar to the regular Dancing with the Stars fall finales.
- Freestyles and Farewell Dances: Couples performed a freestyle, all Christmas-themed, and one other dance. Kenzie & Sage’s freestyle featured choreography by an outside choreographer, a notable detail.
- Winner Announced: Only the winner was revealed, with no announcement of runners-up or other placements. The champion was a female celebrity, mentored by a male pro, and partnered with a male junior dancer, crowning the first winner of junior dancing with the stars.
- Celebration Time: The young stars celebrated their journey with an after-party at the studio, complete with cake and pizza, before heading home. Many had juggled rehearsals with their first week of school, making their return home even more significant.
Brightyn Brems and Elliana Walmsley at the finale of Junior Dancing with the Stars
The Junior Dancing with the Stars trophy
That concludes our spoiler preview for DWTS Junior Season 1! This post will remain pinned for a while, but with Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars approaching, our focus will soon shift. We’ll keep you updated on Juniors, especially as we get closer to the celebrity cast announcement and the premiere on October 7th. Bookmark this page to revisit the exciting moments to come! We’re still planning our full coverage of Juniors, so your suggestions are welcome. Heidi will continue her “by the numbers” analysis, and we’re considering the best format for live blogs and power rankings. It’s going to be a busy few months, so thank you for your patience!