Top 10 Most Emotional Dances on Dancing With the Stars

For the season 17 semi-finals, the couples had to perform two dances to two versions of the same song. After a lively jazz routine, this duo had us mesmerized with a breathtaking Viennese Waltz to a hauntingly stunning version of Bruno Mars’ “Locked out of Heaven.” Ahead of their performance, Riley shared how she’d fought to overcome body critics during her rise to fame. She channeled her struggles into the dance and released them through every beautifully placed step and graceful movement. Carrie Ann Inaba confessed that she almost brought her to tears, and needless to say, the scores were well-deserved. As for her critics? Well, they lost out on an outstanding talent.

#9: Amy Purdy & Derek Hough’s Contemporary

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This dance honors Purdy’s rehabilitation journey after contracting bacterial meningitis and losing both legs and kidneys. Through a contemporary routine to Christina Perri’s “Human,” this duo shares an inspiring and relatable narrative about overcoming obstacles, no matter how big or small. The Paralympian was often praised for her footwork and frame, but her sensitivity and rawness in this number left us awestruck. You can feel the emotion and intent behind the storytelling through every single step. Not only does she dance it so beautifully, but it never fails to hit us right in the feels. Even the judges had a tough time choking back their tears, and who could blame them?

Ahead of their dance to Ed Sheeran’s “Make It Rain,” the actress confided that she’d battled a six-year-long eating disorder. She shared that it began after a movie producer commented on her weight when she was just a kid. Her partner turned this confession into a devastatingly stunning routine where he personifies her affliction, and she dances with her demons. Ballas showed sensitivity and understanding while crafting the choreography, but watching the pain etched on PenaVega’s face as she pours her heart out on the dance floor is heartbreaking. Ultimately it’s about strength and resilience, and if that’s something you can relate to — and we imagine most people can — this routine will break your heart.

During season 24’s “Most Memorable Year” week, both Simone Biles and Rashad Jennings chose to pay odes to their parents. The NFL star delivered a touching contemporary number for his father, with whom he’d shared a tricky relationship. Meanwhile, Simone Biles tugged at our heartstrings with a breathtaking Viennese Waltz in honor of her adoptive parents, one of whom is also her biological grandfather. Biles executes the elegant choreography so exquisitely, but she admitted that she had to rely on muscle memory since she was so emotional. We struggled to fight back our tears throughout her performance. But the moment she ran over to hug her parents, we couldn’t hold back any longer.

The "Full House" star was five years into her recovery from a substance use disorder when she appeared on "Dancing with the Stars." However, when the call came to revisit Stephanie on the show's revival, she finally felt like she gotten her light back. With that in mind, Sweetin performed an elegant Foxtrot celebrating strength, growth, and second chances. Sweetin's a stunning dancer who makes every move look incredibly graceful and heartfelt. Dancing to Andra Day's "Rise Up," the actress wears her heart on her sleeve so vividly that we almost feel like we're going on this journey with her. It's pure, it's stirring, and it's magnificent — can someone pass us the tissues, please?

#5: Noah Galloway & Sharna Burgess’ Freestyle

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The army vet used his Freestyle dance to tell the story of how he rebuilt his life after losing his left arm and leg during deployment. Joined by an ensemble of dancers, Galloway gave a rousing performance to a mash-up of Sia’s “Titanium” and Coldplay’s “Fix You.” Despite being surrounded by professional dancers, it’s impossible to tear your eyes away from the man at its center. He doesn’t just go through the moves but really puts his heart and soul into recounting this story, complete with facial expressions that show how raw it all still is. Also, those lifts? Wow! It’s impossible not to be moved by practically every part of the performance.

#4: James Hinchcliffe & Sharna Burgess’ Argentine Tango

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This was an emotional week all around. Hinchcliffe and Burgess finally reunited after the latter recovered from an injury while the former called back to his near-fatal racing accident. To prove that they were back and stronger than ever, the duo performed an Argentine Tango while the professional dancer was blindfolded the entire time. It certainly added an extra daringness to the dance, which was already utterly hypnotic. Just the fact that she has so much trust in her partner was enough to hit us in the feels. Add their touching reunion and heart wrenching inspiration, and how could anyone not be a blubbering mess? This dance was as heartfelt as it was intense.

#3: Amanda Kloots & Alan Bersten’s Contemporary

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This TV personality broke our hearts with a moving tribute to her husband, Nick Cordero, who she’d lost to COVID-19 in 2020. The couple’s fans would often play Cordero’s “Live Your Life” in support of the actor during his battle with the virus. It was also the song she played after saying her final goodbyes, so it meant a great deal to her. Kloots shared her devastating story with her dance partner, who translated it into the most beautiful choreography. She dances her heart out and bares it all on the dance floor, receiving a much-deserved perfect score. Her pain is unimaginable, but the way she narrates it through the dance is unforgettable.

You can bet there were tears throughout the studio and across the country when the actress and her partner made their dancing debut. Blair, who’d been diagnosed with MS in 2018, shared that she’d lost precision in her mobility, but she wanted to prove that her disability doesn’t define her. Indeed, that’s exactly what she did with this gorgeous Viennese Waltz. She’s so elegant and graceful and really shows that she understands musicality. From the moment she lets go of her cane, we’re already struggling to hold it together. By the end of the dance, we could only see blurs behind our tear-filled eyes. Her dance took our breath away, and her attitude is truly inspiring. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Nastia Liukin & Derek Hough's Viennese Waltz A Stunning Tribute to Len Goodman’s Dancing Days Alek Skarlatos & Lindsay Arnold’s Waltz A National Hero Honored with an Old American Classic Bethany Mota & Derek Hough’s Rumba Hough Helped His Partner Dance Away Her Insecurities Alexis Ren & Alan Bersten’s Contemporary A Heartbreakingly Beautiful Routine in Memory of Her Late Mom Kel Mitchell & Witney Carson’s Contemporary The Duo Remembered Mitchell’s Loved Ones Who Were Lost to Gun Violence

If you’re not bawling yet, hang tight. Derek Hough choreographed the most mesmerizing and gut wrenching routine in tribute to his partner’s late father, Steve Irwin. As always, the young conservationist tackled the choreography with such beauty and grace that it seemed inevitable that the mirrorball was practically within reach. Irwin channels all her good memories with her dad and the pain of losing him so young into dance, breaking our hearts with every step. We could also see just how close she’d become to her dance partner, who apparently surprised her with the photo that appears at the end. We can barely think about this performance without welling up, and we need a mirrorball filled with tissues just to get through it.