After a week’s break, Dancing With the Stars returned with a bang to celebrate its monumental 500th episode. The night was filled with spectacular performances, nostalgic nods to past seasons, and the dreaded elimination just before the semi-finals. Fans were eager to know, Who Went Home Tonight From Dancing With The Stars? Let’s dive into a full recap of the dazzling 500th episode, including individual dance scores, the thrilling Instant Dance Challenge, and the emotional elimination.
The landmark episode kicked off with an electrifying opening number set to Beyoncé’s iconic “Crazy in Love,” the very song that launched DWTS back in 2005. This high-energy performance featured this season’s talented professional dancers, alongside judge Derek Hough, co-host Julianne Hough, and a special appearance from Season 27 champion Sharna Burgess, setting the stage for a night of unforgettable moments.
First, the six remaining celebrity and pro dancer couples showcased their individual routines, performing a variety of styles including Contemporary, Quickstep, Argentine Tango, and Viennese Waltz. Adding an extra layer of excitement, the return of the “Instant Dance Challenge” tested the couples’ adaptability, requiring them to learn and perform a new dance style with only five minutes of preparation. The scores from both rounds were combined to determine each couple’s total score for the night, intensifying the pressure before the elimination.
Keep reading to get all the scores from the Dancing With the Stars 500th Episode and discover which couple was eliminated from the competition in Week 8, just shy of the semi-finals.
Dancing With the Stars 500th Episode: Individual Dance Scores
Before the nail-biting elimination, each couple delivered performances inspired by iconic dances from past Dancing With the Stars seasons. Here’s a breakdown of their individual routines and scores:
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
Scores: 28 (9, 10, 9)
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson paid homage to Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s Season 20 performance with a Contemporary dance to Hozier’s soulful “Work Song.” The judges were captivated, with Bruno Tonioli praising the choreography and execution as “beautifully crafted and performed.” While Carrie Ann Inaba acknowledged the beauty, she suggested it lacked “a bit of rawness.” Derek Hough countered, highlighting Joey’s improved lifts compared to the previous week, ultimately awarding them a ten, alongside two nines from Carrie Ann and Bruno.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson
Scores: 27 (9, 9, 9)
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson brought the energy with a Quickstep inspired by Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s Season 5 routine to “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue. Carrie Ann described the performance as “fantastic” but noted a brief moment of being out of sync. Derek found their Quickstep “bubbly and refreshing,” while Bruno complimented Danny’s “light footwork,” despite mentioning a misstep at the beginning and some frame issues. The judges were in unison, awarding them straight nines.
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach
Scores: 26 (8, 9, 9)
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach delivered a dramatic Argentine Tango, drawing inspiration from James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess’s Season 23 performance to “Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)” by Gotan Project. Derek was “captivated” by their routine, appreciating the innovative use of a platform to navigate their height difference. Carrie Ann lauded them as the “most innovative couple so far,” though she expressed a desire to see more of the dynamic dancing Dwight displayed in earlier episodes. They received an eight from Carrie Ann and nines from Derek and Bruno.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
Scores: 29 (10, 10, 9)
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold performed a graceful Viennese Waltz, taking inspiration from Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ Season 31 dance to “Glimpse of Us” by Joji. Bruno encouraged Stephen to “be proud” of his routine, recognizing his newfound grasp of the lyrical aspects of dance. Carrie Ann declared that “the world needed their performance right now,” and Derek shared that it evoked “something truly beautiful.” Stephen and Rylee earned two perfect tens and a nine from Bruno.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong
Scores: 30 (10, 10, 10)
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong stunned with their Argentine Tango, inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s Season 16 performance to “Para Te” by Apparat. Derek admitted he preferred their rendition over his own original, praising their “accuracy and intensity.” Bruno was left “breathless” by their daring split drop, and Carrie Ann hailed Chandler as “the most powerful female dancer she’s ever seen” on the show. Chandler and Brandon received the first perfect score of the season, a unanimous 30.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
Scores: 28 (10, 9, 9)
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten brought the energy with a Quickstep inspired by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s Season 25 performance to “Chuck Berry” by Pharrell Williams. Carrie Ann was left “speechless,” simply stating, “That was it. That was yours,” and commending her “clean and beautiful lines.” Derek called the dance “fantastic,” noting her strong comeback from the previous week. Bruno celebrated how Ilona “led throughout the dance” and refined her footwork. Ilona and Alan earned a ten from Carrie Ann and nines from Derek and Bruno.
Dancing With the Stars Instant Dance Challenge Scores
Following their individual performances, the couples faced the pressure of the DWTS Instant Dance Challenge. Each couple randomly selected a dance style from those they had previously performed and had mere minutes to prepare a routine. Here’s how they fared:
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
Scores: 27 (9, 9, 9)
Total for both rounds: 55
Joey and Jenna drew a Rumba, dancing to “Birds of a Feather By Billie Eilish.” Bruno deemed their performance “steamy,” praising their excellent execution. Carrie Ann admired how Joey “embodied the music,” calling their instant routine “beautiful and lyrical.” Derek acknowledged Joey’s musicality but pointed out a few instances of heel leads. They maintained their consistency with another set of nines across the board.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson
Scores: 24 (8, 8, 8)
Total for both rounds: 51
Danny and Witney faced a Jive for their instant challenge, set to “Good Golly, Miss Molly” by Little Richard. Carrie Ann felt they started slowly, but Danny “began to shine” as the dance progressed. Derek recognized the Jive as “one of the hardest styles” and called their performance “so fun.” Bruno noted some timing issues but praised their consistent entertainment value. The judges awarded them straight eights.
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach
Scores: 22 (8, 7, 7)
Total for both rounds: 48
Dwight and Daniella drew a Paso Doble, dancing to “Victorious” by Panic! At The Disco. Derek found the dance “impressive” but felt it fell short due to timing issues. Bruno appreciated Dwight’s effort, acknowledging he “did well despite no rehearsal.” Carrie Ann expressed pride in Dwight, adding that it was a challenging dance, but he “carried himself like a champion.” They received an eight and two sevens.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
Scores: 25 (9, 8, 8)
Total for both rounds: 54
Stephen and Rylee were challenged with a Jive to “love is embarrassing” by Olivia Rodrigo. Bruno noted Stephen’s stylistic improvement, despite a mistake (which Rylee took responsibility for). Carrie Ann praised his growth and expressed satisfaction with the performance. Derek added that while there were timing issues, Stephen recovered quickly. The pair earned a nine and two eights.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong
Scores: 30 (10, 10, 10)
Total for both rounds: 60
Chandler and Brandon drew a Cha Cha, dancing to “Apple” by Charli XCX. Carrie Ann declared that Chandler was “owning the dance floor tonight.” Derek added that she “ate that routine and left no crumbs.” Bruno concluded that “her hips don’t lie” and called their instant dance “magnificent.” Chandler and Brandon achieved their second perfect score of the night, totaling a flawless 60 points.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
Scores: 24 (8, 8, 8)
Total for both rounds: 52
Ilona and Alan faced a Salsa for their instant dance, set to “Da’ Dip” by Freak Nasty. Derek found the dance “impressive and well done.” Bruno noted “crash landing ‘three times’,” but acknowledged the good aspects of their performance. Carrie Ann found it “clean,” although the lifts “didn’t quite work this time.” They received straight eights from the judges.
Who Was Eliminated On Dancing With The Stars This Week?
After a night of high scores and energetic performances, it was time for the results. Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach were eliminated during Week 8 of Dancing With the Stars. They received the lowest combined scores from the judges across both dance rounds and viewer votes from the 500th episode.
When Julianne Hough asked about his experience on the show, Dwight Howard expressed gratitude, “I had an amazing experience. Daniella is an amazing partner. I’m glad that she was here for me. The show meant so much.”
Daniella Karagach shared her admiration for her partner, stating, “You know, a lot of people said he couldn’t do it, and we did it. For me, that’s a win.”
Dancing With the Stars will continue with the semi-finals on Tuesday, Nov. 19, on ABC and Disney+. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on ABC.com and Hulu. Fans will be eager to see who makes it to the finals after next week’s competition.
