Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap delivered exactly what fans hope for this late in the competition: big performances, Broadway flair, emotional storytelling and leaderboard drama. With just eight couples left, Disney Night became a pivotal turning point as contestants tackled both individual routines and high-pressure team dances in one packed episode.
Moved to Monday to avoid Election Day scheduling conflicts, Week 8 asked even more of the remaining celebrities and pros. The ballroom leaned fully into Disney on Broadway, with songs from Hercules, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Hamilton, Aida and more. Adding to the theatrical energy, Cynthia Erivo appeared as a guest commentator, giving the night a dose of West End and Broadway credibility.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap: Biggest performances of Week 8
The episode opened with strong momentum and rarely let up. Several couples looked determined to peak at exactly the right time, while others fought to survive as the margin for error continued to shrink.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson kept their momentum rolling
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson once again looked like a championship-caliber pair. Their jazz routine to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins blended comedy, musicality and technical precision, earning a perfect 40 out of 40. It was the kind of performance that reminded viewers why Harry has become one of the season’s most consistent frontrunners.
What stood out most was the balance between theatricality and control. A Disney Night routine can easily turn gimmicky, but this one felt polished and sharply executed from start to finish.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy earned their first perfect score
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy also had a breakthrough moment. Their quickstep to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast scored a flawless 40, marking their first perfect score of the season. The judges praised the crisp footwork, classic quickstep energy and strong performance quality.
For Jenna, the result confirmed that she is not just surviving week to week. She is now firmly part of the title conversation, especially with the finale drawing closer.
Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech and Tatyana Ali stayed competitive
Elsewhere, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov opened the show with a lively quickstep to “A Star Is Born” from Hercules, earning 34 out of 40. Amber came in wanting her first 10 of the season, and while she fell just short, the performance kept her well within striking distance.
Paralympian Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach had one of the night’s most impressive growth moments with a samba to “Under the Sea.” Scoring 37 out of 40, including a 10 from Derek Hough, the routine showed expanding confidence and adaptability.
Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik also rebounded effectively after a difficult previous week. Their contemporary routine to “Easy as Life” from Aida earned 33 out of 40 and showcased emotional depth, even if the judges still wanted cleaner lines.
Disney Night leaderboard: Full individual scores
This Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap would not be complete without the full scoreboard from the first round:
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson — 40/40
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy — 40/40
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach — 37/40
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov — 34/40
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik — 33/40
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa — 33/40
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas — 32/40
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold — 32/40
The leaderboard reflected how tight the race has become. While two couples separated themselves at the top, the middle and lower tiers remained incredibly compressed.
Team dances brought Disney Night to another level
Team dances often reshape an episode, and Week 8 was no exception. This part of the show tested chemistry, synchronization and stage awareness in ways the individual routines cannot.
Team Slaytopia impressed with style and cohesion
Team Slaytopia featured Tatyana Ali, Maura Higgins, Amber Glenn and Julia Stiles. Dancing to “Zoo” from Zootopia 2, the group leaned into playful character work and strong ensemble energy. Their routine earned 36 out of 40, a very respectable score that kept pressure on the second team.
Team Wildcats closed strong with a perfect score
Team Wildcats included Connor Wood, Ezra Frech, Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. They performed to “We’re All in This Together” from High School Musical, a song that naturally demands crowd-pleasing choreography and bright performance energy. They delivered exactly that and were rewarded with a perfect 40 out of 40.
Going last is rarely easy, especially after a well-received first team dance, but Team Wildcats looked unified and confident. The number landed as one of the night’s biggest audience moments.
Who was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars?
The emotional downside of any late-season episode is that a stronger couple goes home. In this Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap, the eliminated pair was Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa.
Julia had battled through rib pain and still delivered a solid paso doble to “Satisfied” from Hamilton. Her score of 33 out of 40 kept her competitive, but at this stage of the contest, solid is sometimes not enough. The elimination underscored just how unforgiving the final stretch has become.
Immunity twist and what it means for next week
One of the most important developments in this Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap was the immunity decision. Because Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Dewan both posted perfect individual scores, the show used cumulative season totals as the tiebreaker.
Harry won immunity by a single point, giving him a major advantage heading into Grammy Night. In a season this close, that buffer could prove critical.
Key takeaways from the episode:
- Harry Shum Jr. remains the one to beat
- Jenna Dewan has emerged as a genuine finalist threat
- Team dances reshaped the leaderboard and momentum
- Mid-tier couples are running out of room for mistakes
- Grammy Night now carries even higher stakes
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Final thoughts on Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap
This Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Disney Night recap proved that Season 35 is entering its most competitive phase. Perfect scores, a standout team round and a surprising elimination gave the episode real momentum, while Harry Shum Jr.’s immunity win added another strategic wrinkle heading into Grammy Night.
If Disney Night showed anything, it is that the leaderboard can still shift fast. The frontrunners may be taking shape, but with the finale approaching, every dance now feels decisive.
