Last night was Music Video Night on “Dancing with the Stars,” and we got to see our beloved stars take on some of our fave music videos ever, with performances inspired by Shakira, Britney, Xtina, *NSYNC, and more. And even better, the ballroom was graced by the original music video icon, Paula Abdul, who served as a guest judge for the evening.
Music Video Night also brought a special competition, with all of the couples vying in team dances for the first time this season. The competition got heated, so if you didn’t catch last night’s episode, we’re here to fill you in on what you missed—from a wardrobe malfunction to a sprained ankle to a shocking elimination, plus all the best dancing of the night.
Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov: Cha Cha
We’re huge fans of Britney at Dance Spirit, so when we heard that reality star Ariana Madix would be performing a Britney-inspired dance, we were more than a little bit excited. And luckily, Ariana and partner Pasha Pashkov more than met our expectations, with the slinky, sultry cha-cha of our dreams, set to Britney’s iconic “I’m a Slave 4 U.”
Ariana has been a top contender in the competition for weeks, but this performance felt like the first time she really claimed the ballroom as her own. And it makes sense that a Britney Spears tribute is what inspired Ariana’s newfound confidence. She told host Julianne Hough “I’ve been practicing that choreography since 2001 in my bedroom.”
The judges raved about Ariana and Pasha’s performance, giving the pair three 9s and one 10, for a total 37 of 40 possible points.
Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach: Jazz
Star Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach had a tough week, with Daniella suffering a sprained ankle during rehearsals, causing her to rely on fellow pro Koko Iwasaki for help choreographing this week’s routine. But luckily, once the pair hit the ballroom, any and all struggles were forgotten.
Jason and Daniella performed a fun, upbeat jazz routine set to “Take On Me,” by ’80s icons a-ha. And after last week’s zombiefied Jason, we were happy to see that in this week’s performance, he was anything but stiff. In fact, he was light on his feet, with precise footwork and just the right amount of energy.
While we loved the performance, the judges were a bit all over the place with their scoring, giving the pair two 8s, one 9, and one 10, for a total 35 out of 40 points. Guess you can’t win ’em all!
Xochitl Gomez and Valentin Chmerkovskiy: Jazz
After last week’s mid-performance injury for Xochitl Gomez, we were worried that this week’s routine might suffer. Luckily, we didn’t need to worry. Xochitl, alongside pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy, turned out a totally fun jazz set to “Hollaback Girl,” by Gwen Stefani.
Xochitl brought her signature confidence and commitment to this performance, and we absolutely loved it. The only struggle came towards the end of the routine, when a slight wardrobe mishap with a jacket and hat seemed to throw the star a little off her game. Luckily, Xochitl and Val found their footing after just a moment and ended on a high note.
Unfortunately, the judges seemed to take note of the mishap, and it showed in Xochitl and Val’s scores. The pair received two 8s and two 9s, for a total 34 out of 40 possible points.
Next, it was time for the group dances: Team Young’n Style, dancing to “Gangnam Style” by PSY versus Team 4 Everybody, dancing to “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” by the Backstreet Boys. In the end, the youngsters scored the win and the first perfect score of the season.
With the scores from the team dances factored in, plus the votes from fans at home, it was revealed that stars Lele Pons, Charity Lawson, and Barry Williams were all in jeopardy. And despite the fact that her Music Video Night routines had landed her a top spot as third on the leaderboard, YouTube star Lele Pons was sent home.
