Top 10 Hardest Dancing with the Stars Routines Ever
#10: “Gaston” Juan Pablo Di Pace & Cheryl Burke
It seems the rumors are true – no …. One’s …. SLICK as Gaston, no one’s QUICK as Gaston. And no one brings his bravado to the dancefloor quite like Juan Pablo Di Pace! During Disney Night on Season 27, the “Fuller House” actor and his partner Cheryl Burke pulled off a near perfect Viennese waltz to this “Beauty and the Beast” tune – but, with a couple of acrobatic twists. Their technique is light-footed and beautiful as they expertly pull off those steps atop a table. But Juan Pablo takes things to new heights when grabs the chandelier above his head and swings to freedom. His acting flourishes are also adorable, cementing this routine as one to remember.
#9: “Proud Mary” Mark Ballas & Paige VanZant
Everything We Know About The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder So Far
You’ve never seen a jive like this before! In week 7 of season 22, UFC fighter Paige VanZant and her dancing partner Mark Ballas took the judges by storm with an electric and difficult routine set to “Proud Mary.” Watching VanZant conquer the quick and precise steps of the jive while never losing her energy or poise is really a sight to behold. Her exuberance spread through the ballroom and captured the audience completely. VanZant and Ballas kept the crowd clapping along throughout the number and would receive three 10s from the judges afterwards. Big wheels keep on turning, indeed!
#8: “Para Los Rumberos” Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough
Shawn Johnson more than excelled during her not one, but two seasons on “Dancing with the Stars” – so much so, that this won’t be the last you see of her on this list (spoiler alert). But for now, let’s focus on this excellent mambo between her and Derek Hough during her Allstar season. Johnson not only shows off her quick feet and excellent form, but puts those gymnastics skills to use. She lands splits, twirls, and handstands seemingly without breaking a sweat. In one stellar moment, Hough jumps over Johnson, guiding her into a backbend in one of the most impressive feats of strength ever seen on the show. There’s a reason they call it all-stars!
#7: “Feel So Close” Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Top 10 '90s Shows That Feel Like a Fever Dream
On Season 18, ice dancer Meryl Davis and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy turned up the heat to ELEVEN every week – especially with this super fast tango in week six. Davis puts her ice dancing skills to work here, her face emotive and gorgeous throughout every step of the routine. The most impressive part of this dance is just how fast the tango has to move. Davis and Chmerokovskiy have impeccable form throughout, spinning and strutting with the best of them. Watching this routine compared to the rest of their work this season, it’s no wonder they were eventually crowned champions.
#6: “Free Your Mind” Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Mel B
Season 18 wasn’t Maks Chmerkovskiy’s only stellar run – he had another great partner in Mel B of the Spice Girls, all the way back in season 5. During week 7, the two pulled off a remarkable paso doble, a fast-paced ballroom dance based on Latin American marching styles. The juxtaposition of the funky music choice – “Free Your Mind” by En Vogue – and the diligence and precision of the steps is so much fun to watch. Mel B really kicks it into high gear with some of the straightest legs and cleanest fan kicks you’ve ever seen in your life. Between the cool attitude and the sharp moves, this one will live rent free in our brains for years to come.
#5: “You’re Welcome” Jordan Fisher & Lindsay Arnold
Top 20 Dancing with the Stars Couples of All Time
During Disney Night on Season 25, actor/singer Jordan Fisher and pro Lindsay Arnold danced their way into our hearts with a stunning foxtrot set to “You’re Welcome” from “Moana.” The foxtrot itself is a marvel to watch, with Fisher and Arnold expertly hitting their marks time and time again. Still, the best part of this routine has to be the breakdown. Fisher has such excellent rhythm, no doubt a holdover from his musical theater background, and that little modern flair in the middle of the routine gives this performance the extra oomph it needs to solidify its god-tier status. What can we say, except you’re welcome.
#4: “Adrenalina” Milo Manheim, Witney Carson, & Riker Lynch
What’s harder than dancing the salsa? Why, dancing the salsa with two partners, of course! Disney Channel star Milo Manheim and his partner Witney Carson slayed the dance floor all throughout season 27, but adding singer Riker Lynch into the mix gave them a boost. The group more than meets the challenge, executing this salsa trio with precision, grace, and style. Adding the third person into the dance heightens the difficulty, as each person has to be hyper aware of not one, but two other people’s movements. These three are perfectly in sync the whole time, though, even throwing some lifts in for good measure.
#3: “Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)” Jojo Siwa & Jenna Johnson
Top 10 Santa Clarita Diet Moments
YouTube personality Jojo Siwa made history on “Dancing with the Stars” when she became one half of the first same-sex couple to compete on the show. Along with her dance partner Jenna Johnson, Siwa tore up the stage all season with her killer moves and infectious personality. But, no dance was better or more on fire than this Argentine tango. Chemistry is one of the most important parts of the tango, and Siwa and Johnson have that in spades, but what’s most impressive is the way Siwa is able to perfectly execute extremely difficult footwork. If you get off beat in the tango, things can go really wrong really fast, but Siwa and Johnson stay perfectly in tune with each other the whole time.
#2: “Latch” Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
If you wanna talk about chemistry, we’ve got to go back to Meryl and Maks. During their amazing, championship-winning run on Season 18, the two performed a freestyle dance in the finale that left viewers stunned. Each dance move is more impressive than the one before it, showing off the long beautiful lines that both Davis and Chmerkovskiy are able to make with their bodies. The pair displayed incredible grace and strength as they lifted, swung, and twirled each other around the floor. Carrie Ann Inaba – who was brought to Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Hey Pachuco”, Hélio Castroneves & Julianne Hough They Quick Stepped Their Way Into Our Hearts! “Anything You Can Do,” Jenna Johnson & Adam Rippon There’s No One Who Can Do It Better “Dança Molengo,” Zendaya Coleman, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, & Gleb Savchenko Zendaya, Queen of Salsa “Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps,” Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy Let’s Get This Rumba Started! “Atlas,” Willow Shields & Mark Ballas All Praise the Mockingjay
#1: “Do Your Thing” Mark Ballas & Shawn Johnson
Top 10 Best Dancing with the Stars Freestyles Dances
And, we’re back to the queen of “Dancing with the Stars,” Shawn Johnson herself. This performance comes from Johnson’s first season, Season 8, where she and pro partner Mark Ballas wowed the judges consistently and ended up taking home the big prize. Their crowning achievement came in the finale when they unleashed this magnificent freestyle dance on the world. It has everything – humor, chemistry, costume changes, and of course, ridiculously challenging choreography. Everything about this routine is fast-paced and acrobatic, allowing Johnson to show off her strengths. Seriously, the amount of times she flips should go down in history!
