Top 20 Jenna Johnson Performances on Dancing with the Stars

#20: Cha-Cha-Cha to “Sissy That Walk” With Adam Rippon

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Top 10 Best Paso Doble Dances on Dancing with the Stars

During their dance debut, this pair proved that they were here to slay. The choreography was full of fun and sassy steps, including voguing and their own take on the iconic death drop at the end. Carrie Ann said that it was clear that Adam was “born to do this show.” For week one, they certainly set the bar high and cemented themselves as the ones to watch. You can see the blossoming friendship between this pair and their chemistry only makes the dance even more compelling. This routine was so fierce that we imagine that even Mama Ru would offer her highest “Condragulations.”

For season 27’s trio night, Jenna invited Joe Amabile’s fellow Bachelor alum Jordan Kimball to join in for a very memorable salsa. Though neither guy was a natural dancer, they performed with commitment, even while Jordan dealt with a wardrobe malfunction. The trio showed strong chemistry and great teamwork in this playful piece. Unfortunately, the judges weren’t exactly blown away. That said, both these bachelors had a great attitude about their dancing, and that’s what sold the number. Apparently everyone had fun. So much so that the performance would get an all-Bachelor encore for the finale.

Perhaps best known for his role in “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Jake hoped this would be an opportunity to show audiences another side of him. He dove straight into the deep end with this high-stamina, speedy, and incredibly energetic jive. Perhaps he struggles to keep up with his dance partner, but there’s no denying that they’re having a lot of fun. You have to commend him on his eagerness and determination too. He and Jenna are clearly a perfect match and we can only imagine the heights they could have reached together. Unfortunately, after just two dances, Jake and Jenna were eliminated from the competition.

If you thought Jake’s voice sounded familiar, you’ve probably seen this Nick Jr. show, in which he plays the title role. It also turns out that its theme song is perfect for a cha-cha-cha. This Latin style is challenging at the best of times and this dance, in particular, was especially lively and fast. In hindsight, Jake said that he probably should have opted for the slower dances in his first couple of weeks. Still, there’s no denying how much fun they’re both having throughout the number. Sadly, the audience decided that it really was time for “Diego” to go and they were eliminated.

Whilst these two were often considered the Season 27 underdogs, this was the week that everything changed. Dancing a Halloween-inspired Argentine Tango, the pair brought all the intensity and drama, making this their best dance yet. Sure, there might have been one tiny mishap but their performance was so spectacular that we’d be compelled to turn a blind eye. Even the judges agreed that this was a huge improvement from the previous weeks and sent them soaring up the leaderboard. Sometimes all it takes is embodying a character and becoming immersed in the story to turn a good performance into a great one.

Nev was surprised to learn that his partner didn’t know that Mark Wahlberg was the artist behind their song. But considering she wasn’t actually born yet when the song came out, we think she can probably be forgiven. Still, she manages to choreograph this epic feel-good throwback, hitting one classic jazz move after another. Whilst jazz routines on the show often rely on mindblowing lifts, this one instead focused on nailing the full-on and detailed choreography. It paid off too, as the judges loved their performance and scored them 26 out of 30. This performance never fails to put a smile on our faces.

They say always leave ‘em wanting more, which is exactly what we got with this spooktacular Paso Doble. Karamo felt the song strongly reflected his journey on the show so far and was ready to attack it like Beyoncé would. They definitely would have made Queen Bey proud with this powerful Paso, which they dance with the utmost conviction and ferocity. Unfortunately, as amazing as their performance was, the competition was so fierce that it wasn’t enough to save them that week. However, in an essay for “People”, Jenna said that she felt like they “went out with a bang” and we couldn’t agree more.

This phenomenal pair performed two spectacular Foxtrots during Season 29. However, we just have to mention their classy debut dance, which left us all utterly awestruck. They pulled out their inner Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for this elegant and glamorous dance that was very reminiscent of the golden era. Scoring a very respectable 20, this turned out to be their lowest score of the entire season. After refining Nev’s ballroom skills, this pair treated us to another beautiful Foxtrot to Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times.” After watching these stunning ballroom dances, we were left wondering if there’s anything that this couple couldn’t do.

#12: Contemporary to “Someone You Loved” With Karamo Brown

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Top 10 Best Contemporary Dances on Dancing with the Stars

Karamo dedicated this dance to his long-estranged father, who was in the audience that night. No one choreographs contemporary quite like Jenna, and this dance perfectly illustrates the story they were striving to tell. You can’t help but well up a little due to the strong emotions that radiate out of this pair through every heartfelt step. Every move is so fluid and lyrical, and their daring lifts simply reflect the tight bond they share too. It’s a beautiful and fitting way to honor Karamo’s fractured relationship with his father and their path to healing. And, without a doubt, this was their best dance yet.

This was another dance that had us reaching for the tissues. Dancing to the same song he skated to when he won bronze in the Olympics, Adam dedicated this dance to his mother who’s his biggest supporter. This has got to be one of the most challenging and intricate contemporary dances we’ve ever seen on the show. However, Jenna and Adam prove that they are a match made in heaven by dancing each step flawlessly. The judges piled on the praise over their control, emotion, artistry, and just the beauty of their performance. Bruno called it a masterpiece and Carrie Ann called it “pure perfection.”

#10: Cha-Cha-Cha to “Dynamite” With Nev Schulman

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Top 10 Dancing with the Stars Halloween & Villains Night Performances

When Nev was announced for the Season 29 line-up, fans weren’t quite sure what to expect. But, by week two, this pair proved that they could nail the Latin as well as the Ballroom. Dancing this dynamite cha-cha to the BTS hit, the duo proved that they had what it takes to make it to the finals. Especially with their undeniable bond, fluidity, and that unbelievable hip action. Jenna’s choreography perfectly complements her partner’s skill set and it’s just a whole lot of fun. It’s not always easy to make the cha-cha look engaging but between Jenna’s choreo and Nev’s natural rhythm, they had us hooked.

For the second week in a row, this duo tied for a well-deserved top spot on the leaderboard. As you might guess from its name, the quickstep isn’t the easiest of dances. There’s a lot to think about from frame to footwork and staying in sync whilst also moving at a high pace. Adam and Jenna effortlessly tick every box, nailing this uptempo routine in such perfect unison that you’d think they’d been glued together. In the rehearsal package, Adam confessed to feeling nervous about this dance. However, you’d never know based on their huge smiles and the way that their dance evokes the utmost joy.

Channeling Gene Kelly for this dance, Jenna and Nev took one final shot at convincing audiences why they should be the season champions. There’s nothing they don’t throw into this dance from props, a costume change, dancing in the rain, and that stunning aerial lift at the end. The change of tempo in this song really allowed this pair to showcase everything they’ve got and it could not have gone better. In fact, Jenna said that dancing with Nev reignited her passion for dance. It was hardly surprising when they received a perfect score. After this dance, fans were sure that the mirrorball was theirs.

After she stepped in for Sharna earlier in the season, this duo invited Jenna to join them for trio week. They performed a lively and energetic race-car-themed jive that was totally exciting and thrilling to watch. The three of them maneuver through the choreography seamlessly without letting the energy falter for even a second. The way they transition so smoothly between themselves might have you fooled into believing that they’d been a trio this entire time. This unforgettable dance put Sharna and James straight in the fast lane to the finals. If only Jenna could join them for the rest of the ride.

This fabulous theatrical dance could have easily been extracted straight from the Broadway stage. It was their penultimate dance of the season and simply proved why they deserved the mirrorball. From their mini lip-sync battle at the start, to each perfectly performed step throughout, they certainly gave it their all. Not only is the choreography stunning but you can also see their friendship shine through the dance too. If you’re ever looking for a dance pick-up me to brighten your day, this is the one. Everything about it is so perfect and joyous and for that alone, they were already the winners for us.

#5: Dancing Contemporary to “Let It Go” With Artem Chigvintsev

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While we love rooting for our favorite celebrity dancers, we also love seeing the pros do their thing on the dance floor too. In season 22, when James Bay was the musical guest, Jenna and Artem performed a beautiful and steamy routine to his song. The fluidity of each step as well as their extraordinary lifts leave us awe-struck. Jenna and Artem create a very convincing narrative through their movements and each second leaves us utterly mesmerized. Jenna really is the queen of contemporary dance. If we had one criticism, though, it would simply be that this routine wasn’t long enough.

When your professional dance partner is a three-time National Contemporary champion, you just know that her choreography is going to be next level. Nothing proves that more than this routine, which gives us everything we could possibly want and more. They hit us straight in the feels with a dance that provides both emotional and dramatic moments. Jenna is also a stickler for good technique and it’s clearly paid off. The choreography is striking and their lifts are especially impressive. This dance sets the bar pretty high for all future contemporary dances on the show. Together, she and Nev simply took our breath away.

Since this wasn’t the first time “Angelica” would be featured on the show, it was important for this pair to distinguish their dance from previous routines. And, if you ask us, it could not have gone any better. Nev totally embodies Captain Jack Sparrow’s kookiness whilst still delivering a strong performance. Rather than hypnotize us with gravity-defying lifts, Jenna decided to focus on choreography and technique instead, and it didn’t go unnoticed. We can’t get enough of the drama, artistry, sultriness, and even humor behind this dance. If they were hoping to put their own mark on this song, X definitely marks the spot.

After Sharna Burgess sustained an injury and had to rest up for the week, Jenna stepped in to partner James instead. For their Halloween dance, they performed a “Suicide Squad” themed Viennese Waltz. Together they effortlessly and elegantly glide around the dance floor and the change in dynamics throughout the dance are utterly invigorating. They really capture the relationship between Harley Quinn and The Joker in a way that only elevates the performance. This dance is so spectacular that it has since garnered more than 30 million views on YouTube. If we didn’t know better, we’d struggle to differentiate between the celebrity and the professional.

Since we wouldn’t normally associate “Swan Lake” with a Paso Doble, we couldn’t wait to see what this duo had in store. Taking inspiration from Matthew Bourne’s contemporary ballet, Jenna extracted their music’s dark side for their “Black Swan” inspired performance. The expectations were certainly high but they delivered on every count. The dance has drama, attack, beautiful shaping, and was nothing short of perfection. They were awarded the first tens of the season and once again sat comfortably at the top of the leaderboard. This dance was truly something special and we were delighted when they performed it again in the finals.