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This week, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) season 33 marked the milestone 500th episode of the competition series. The latest segment saw contestants face both familiar routines, inspired by past seasons and an Instant Dance Challenge.
Dancing with the Stars aired episode 8 on November 12, on ABC. Former NBA star Dwight Howard and his dance partner Daniella Karagach were eliminated due to lowest scores.
Elimination and highlights from the Dancing with the Stars season 33 500th episode
A look back and an instant challenge
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The 500th episode of Dancing with the Stars was a milestone celebration, with each of the remaining six couples performing routines inspired by iconic dances from past seasons. Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson took on a Contemporary routine, inspired by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s act from season 20, dancing to Work Song by Hozier.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson followed with a Quickstep, inspired by Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s performance in season 5, dancing to Hey Pachuco by Royal Crown Revue. Meanwhile, Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach did an Argentine Tango, grooving to Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) by Gotan Project. Their act was inspired by Sharna Burgess and James Hinchcliffe’ season 23 performance.
Moreover, Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold performed Viennese Waltz style, inspired by Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ act in season 31. They chose Joji's Glimpse of Us melody for their routine.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong opted for an Argentine Tango style and danced to Appart's Para Te. Their choreography was inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s performance in season 16.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten completed the segment with a Quickstep, inspired by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s act in season 25, dancing to Chuck Berry by Pharrell Williams.
After these nostalgic performances, the couples transitioned into the Instant Dance Challenge on Dancing with the Stars. In this challenge, they had only five minutes to choreograph a new routine before hitting the dance floor.
Top performers and standout scores on Dancing with the Stars
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong were the standout performers of the night, delivering an Argentine Tango. Their success continued into the Instant Dance Challenge, where they were tasked with performing a Salsa to Gloria Estefan's Conga. The duo received another perfect score for their dynamic act, making them the highest-scoring couple of the night.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson also performed strongly, scoring 28/30 for their Contemporary routine. In the Instant Dance segment, the pair grooved to I’m Still Standing by Elton John. Their Quickstep routine earned them 27/30, placing them near the top of the leaderboard.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold’s Viennese Waltz got them 29/30 on the scoreboard. For their Instant Dance Challenge, the duo took to the stage to perform Cha-cha style. Dancing to Let’s Groove by Earth, Wind & Fire helped thm score 25/30, bringing their total to 54, just a point behind Joey and Jenna.
Who finished at the bottom of the leaderboard?
For Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach, it was a challenging night that led to their elimination on Dancing with the Stars. They received 26/30 for the first dance routine, putting them near the bottom of the leaderboard.
However, it was during the Instant Dance Challenge that they faced significant difficulties. Their Paso Doble to Europe's The Final Countdown was marred by timing issues and lack of synchronization, earning them just 22/30 — their lowest score of the season. This score left them with a total of 48 for the night, resulting in their elimination.
Meanwhile, Danny Amendola and Witney Carson scored 27/30 for their first act. For their second routine, they did Samba to Hot, Hot, Hot by Arrow and got 24 points, bringing their total to 51.
Moreover, Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten scored 28/30. In the Instant Dance Challenge, they performed a Tango to Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon and garnered 24 points, placing them in the middle of the leaderboard with a total score of 52.
Full scores and remaining contestants
Here are the complete scores from this week’s Dancing with the Stars episode, including both the prepared routines and Instant Dance Challenge results:
- Chandler & Brandon: 60 (30 + 30)
- Joey & Jenna: 55 (28 + 27)
- Stephen & Rylee: 54 (29 + 25)
- Ilona & Alan: 52 (28 + 24)
- Danny & Witney: 51 (27 + 24)
- Dwight & Daniella: 48 (26 + 22)
With Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach’s elimination, the remaining contestants moving on to the semifinals are:
- Danny Amendola and Witney Carson
- Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
- Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong
- Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
- Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
Catch Dancing with the Stars season 33 live every Tuesday at 8/7c on ABC and streaming on Disney+. Don’t miss the action as contestants compete for the mirrorball trophy!
