Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars reached its semi-final on Tuesday with a full Prince-themed night that sent six remaining couples through two competitive routines each. Performing one ballroom style they had already learned and a second style they had not yet attempted, every dance was set to music by Prince. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson topped the leaderboard after Round 1 with the only perfect 30/30, and after two rounds the pair finished the evening leading the pack with a combined judges’ total of 59. The episode set the stage for a three-hour finale on Nov. 25, when the mirrorball champion will be decided.
Key Takeaways
- Episode: Season 34, Episode 10 (Prince Night) aired as the semi-final on Tuesday; the finale is scheduled for Nov. 25 (three-hour special).
- Format: Each couple performed two dances — one ballroom repeat and one previously unperformed style — both to Prince songs.
- Top score: Robert Irwin & Witney Carson recorded Round 1’s only perfect 30/30 and led the final leaderboard with 59 total points.
- Close race: Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy and Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas finished with 58 points each, separated from the leader by a single judges’ point.
- Elimination method: Judges’ scores combine with live viewer votes (East Coast voting window) to determine the couple eliminated each week.
- Notable attendance: Actor Zac Efron attended the live taping to support his brother Dylan Efron — his first live DWTS taping appearance.
- Last week: The prior episode (20th Birthday Party theme) featured guest judge Tom Bergeron and four solo perfect scores across the ballroom competitors.
Background
Dancing With the Stars, now in its 34th season, stages a semi-final each year to narrow finalists for the live finale. Producers often program themed nights in late-season episodes to test competitors’ versatility and to create memorable performances; this week’s Prince tribute is consistent with that approach. The show combines professional dance judging with a public vote mechanism, meaning strong technical marks alone often do not guarantee advancement without viewer support. Over the season, producers have mixed ballroom staples with contemporary and novelty numbers, pressing remaining celebrities to broaden their range as the competition tightens.
The semi-final field entering Prince Night included six pairs: Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas; Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy; Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa; Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach; Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten; and Robert Irwin & Witney Carson. Several cast members bring atypical résumés to the ballroom—Whitney Leavitt from a reality series, Alix Earle from social media, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, reality winner Dylan Efron, and Robert Irwin, who is also a wildlife conservationist and the son of Steve Irwin—contributing to a diverse skill set and fan bases that affect voting dynamics. With only two broadcast weeks left, the semi-final functions as the last major judges-only score window before viewer votes carry the finalists to the mirrorball.
Main Event
Prince Night required each couple to perform a repeat ballroom routine followed by a new style, both choreographed to Prince’s catalog. Judges scored each routine on the conventional 30-point scale per dance; the two scores were tallied to produce the evening’s judges’ leaderboard. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson earned a perfect 30 in Round 1 and added a 29 in Round 2 to finish on 59 points, the evening’s highest total. Their Round 1 perfection was the only 30/30 posted in the first half of the show.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy and Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas produced strong nights as well, finishing with 58 points each after Round 1 and Round 2 scores of 28/30 + 30/30 and 29/30 + 29/30, respectively. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten posted a 27/30 followed by a perfect 30/30 in Round 2 to land on 57. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa also finished with 57 after a 27/30 and a 30/30 split. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach trailed the group with a combined 55 points after a 27/30 and a 28/30.
The show reiterated live voting rules: viewers in the East Coast window can cast votes during the initial broadcast and voting closes shortly after the final performance; judges’ totals combine with viewer tallies to decide which couple leaves at the episode’s end. Producers signaled the next and final elimination will lead into the Nov. 25 three-hour finale, which will include judges’ choice, an instant dance, and the freestyle round to determine the mirrorball winner.
Analysis & Implications
Judges’ marks on Prince Night reinforced both technical precision and adaptability. Robert and Witney’s Round 1 30 indicated a polished, high-scoring ballroom routine that the judges rewarded; their slightly lower Round 2 score (29) suggests the untried style posed additional challenges, but not enough to undermine their lead. Judge scoring patterns late in the season tend to reward clean technique while expecting greater risk-taking in untested styles, so a 29 after a perfect 30 is still a strong statement of consistency to voters.
Contestants with broader public profiles—social stars and reality winners—may have an advantage when judges’ scores are tightly clustered. Alix Earle and Whitney Leavitt, both with significant external followings, sit on 58 points; that proximity to the top means viewer engagement over the next two weeks will likely decide which of those pairs joins Robert in the finale. Conversely, couples with lower judges’ totals, like Dylan and Daniella (55), face a steeper climb with only the public vote able to offset the scoring gap.
The upcoming three-hour finale on Nov. 25 places a premium on endurance and versatility: the inclusion of a judges’ choice, instant dance and freestyle tests both technical repertoire and improvisational readiness. For producers and ABC, a high-profile guest list, surprise returns, and a strong live-vote engagement strategy will be central to ratings objectives; for competitors, the ability to translate technical improvement into memorable, viral moments will be key to mobilizing votes. Internationally, the DWTS format continues to rely on the hybrid judge-public model, so late-season voting trends this year may inform casting and format choices in future seasons and global versions.
Comparison & Data
| Couple | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total (Judges) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Irwin & Witney Carson | 30/30 | 29/30 | 59 |
| Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy | 28/30 | 30/30 | 58 |
| Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas | 29/30 | 29/30 | 58 |
| Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa | 27/30 | 30/30 | 57 |
| Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten | 27/30 | 30/30 | 57 |
| Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach | 27/30 | 28/30 | 55 |
The table above shows judges’ totals for each dance and the combined evening score. Judges’ points are a direct, visible measure of technical reception; however, historical DWTS results show that public voting can and does overturn judges’ rankings. With scores in a narrow band (55–59), final placement will likely be decided by which couples successfully mobilize viewers before the final voting window closes.
Reactions & Quotes
Producers and network promotional materials framed the semi-final as both a tribute to Prince and a technical test for the finalists. The show reiterated its finale schedule and competitive structure in on-air and press materials ahead of the episode.
The winner of DWTS will be crowned during the special three-hour finale on Nov. 25.
ABC (official show announcement)
Entertainment coverage highlighted both the surprise live-audience appearances and the scoring outcomes that shaped the leaderboard. Critics and viewers noted Robert and Witney’s Round 1 perfection as the evening’s defining moment, and media reports flagged Zac Efron’s attendance as a notable moment of support.
Robert and Witney topped the leaderboard after the first round, becoming the only duo to earn a perfect 30/30 in the first half of Prince Night.
The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment news)
On-site reporting and social coverage recorded heightened audience interest when Zac Efron arrived to support his brother Dylan, marking the actor’s first public attendance at a live taping this season. That appearance generated additional social engagement for the episode.
Zac Efron attended the live taping in support of his brother, marking his first in-person appearance at a DWTS taping this season.
The Hollywood Reporter / on-site observation
Unconfirmed
- Exact viewer vote totals for the semi-final have not been released; only the combined results used for elimination are public.
- Reports that Zac Efron’s attendance was pre-planned by producers are unconfirmed; sources have not specified whether his appearance was coordinated with the show.
Bottom Line
Prince Night narrowed the field while producing tightly clustered judges’ scores: six couples finished within four points of each other, leaving the final outcome heavily dependent on viewer voting and fan mobilization ahead of the Nov. 25 finale. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson’s Round 1 perfect score positioned them as favorites in the judges’ column, but the marginal differences across the leaderboard mean public support will be decisive.
Viewers should watch the remaining episodes for strategic song choices, risk-taking in choreography, and social amplification—elements that historically swing late-season voting. With the finale’s judges’ choice, instant dance and freestyle rounds looming, competitors must balance technical polish with memorable moments to secure the mirrorball.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment journalism — episode coverage)
- Dancing With the Stars — ABC (official show page and announcements)