“Dancing With the Stars” celebrated its monumental 500th episode on November 12th with a night of nostalgia and high-stakes competition, but for one pair, the milestone episode marked the end of their journey. After a week off for election coverage, the ballroom was buzzing with energy, including a spectacular opening number featuring surprise appearances by Sharna Burgess and the Hough siblings, Derek and Julianne. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro also paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Len Goodman, reminding everyone of the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy still up for grabs.
Dancing With the Stars Season 33 Week 7 Opening Number
The six remaining celebrity and pro-dancer couples faced a unique challenge: performing routines inspired by the songs from the very first episode of “Dancing with the Stars” Season 1. Each couple put their own contemporary spin on these classic tunes, showcasing their growth and creativity throughout the season. Adding to the pressure, the dreaded Instant Dance Challenge returned, forcing couples to learn and perform a brand new routine with only five minutes of preparation. Let’s dive into the performances and the scores that led to a tearful goodbye.
Reimagining the Classics: Scores from the 500th Episode Performances
The first round saw each couple honor the history of DWTS by dancing to songs from the inaugural season. Here’s how they fared:
- Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson: Contemporary, inspired by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s Season 20 performance, dancing to “Work Song” by Hozier. Their emotional performance earned them a solid 28/30.
- Danny Amendola and Witney Carson: Quickstep, channeling Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s Season 5 performance, set to “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue. They impressed the judges, scoring 27/30.
- Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach: Argentine Tango, inspired by James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess’ Season 23 routine, danced to “Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)” by Gotan Project. Their passionate tango received 26/30.
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold: Viennese Waltz, taking inspiration from Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ Season 31 performance, to Joji’s “Glimpse of Us”. Their graceful waltz earned them 29/30.
- Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong: Argentine Tango, inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s iconic Season 16 performance, to “Para Te” by Appart. Chandler and Brandon wowed the judges, achieving a perfect 30/30.
- Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten: Quickstep, paying tribute to Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s Season 25 performance, dancing to “Chuck Berry” by Pharrell Williams. They secured a strong 28/30.
Instant Dance Challenge Shakes Things Up
The pressure intensified with the Instant Dance Challenge, a “DWTS” first that tested the couples’ adaptability and improvisation skills. Each celebrity randomly selected a dance style and received a song just minutes before performing live. Fans got a behind-the-scenes peek at their frantic preparations on the show’s TikTok channel.
Here’s how the Instant Dances unfolded:
- Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson: Rumba to “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish. They added another 27/30 to their score, totaling 55/60 for the night.
- Danny Amendola and Witney Carson: Jive to “Good Golly, Miss Molly” by Little Richard. They earned 24/30, bringing their total to 51/60.
- Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach: Paso Doble to “Victorious” by Panic! At The Disco. They scored 22/30, ending with a total of 48/60.
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold: Jive to “Love is Embarrassing” by Olivia Rodrigo. They impressed again with 25/30, totaling 54/60.
- Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong: Cha Cha to “Apple” by Charli XCX. They maintained their perfect streak, earning another 30/30 and a total of 60/60.
- Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten: Salsa to “Da’ Dip” by Freak Nasty. They received 24/30, bringing their total to 52/60.
The Elimination: Saying Goodbye to a Fan Favorite
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach Dancing With the Stars
Ultimately, combining judges’ scores with viewer votes, the couple eliminated on “Dancing With the Stars” last night, November 12th, was Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach.
Despite a spirited run and consistent effort, Dwight and Daniella’s journey came to an end. Dwight expressed his gratitude, calling Daniella “an amazing partner” and reflecting on his positive experience. Daniella proudly acknowledged their achievement, stating, “A lot of people said we couldn’t do it, and we did it. And for me, that’s a win.” Their positive attitude and growth throughout the competition made their departure a bittersweet moment.
The Race for the Mirrorball Trophy Continues
With Week 7 concluded, five couples remain in the competition, vying for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The remaining celebrities who will continue to dance are:
- Danny Amendola and Witney Carson
- Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
- Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
- Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
The competition is heating up as we head into the final weeks. Tune in next week to see who will shine and who will stumble on their path to becoming the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 33 champion!
