DWTS 2019 Recap: Week 8 - Dance-Off Night
Heading into Week 8 of Dancing with the Stars 2019, the competition had really begun to heat up. With most of the couples scoring so closely on the leaderboard over the past few weeks, it was time to finally settle which couples were better with a full-on dance-off! After each couples' performance and scores from judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba, six of the seven remaining celebrity and pro dancer couples paired off to compete head-to-head for immunity. Because they had the highest point total across the season so far, James Van Der Beek and Emma received an extra two points and a bye for the dance-off round. Which of your other favorite couples won their dance-offs and who was sent home on Dancing with the Stars? Scroll on for the full recap and results!
RELATED: Watch Week 7 – Halloween Night for the latest dances and elimination!
Sean Spicer & Jenna
This week, Jenna Johnson stepped in for Sean's usual partner Lindsay Arnold to help Sean sail away to a Jazz routine to Styx's "Come Sail Away." Unfortunately, despite not one, not two, but three jazz hands in a row, judge Len Goodman said "we keep throwing you out of the boat and the viewers keep throwing you a life preserver." The judges' scores stayed under water, but would the viewers votes once again pull Sean through?
Watch Sean Spicer and Jenna's Jazz
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 7; Len – 7; Bruno – 6; TOTAL: 20 out of 30
Lauren Alaina & Gleb
Lauren was excited to team up with her partner Gleb Savchenko to perform a Jive to Elvis' classic "Hound Dog" as a tribute to her Nana, a devoted Elvis fan. Bruno declared that "The King himself would've loved that performance," but he did catch several mistakes, as did the other judges, but Len insisted that Lauren "deserve[s] to stay in this competition."
Watch Lauren Alaina and Gleb's Jive
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 8; Len – 8; Bruno – 8; TOTAL: 24 out of 30
RELATED: Missed week seven? Get the full recap and results right here!
Kel Mitchell & Witney
Halloween Night was quite a treat for Kel and his pro dance partner Witney Carson as they scored their best scores of the season. To celebrate, he took Witney to visit the set of the revived All That to get some energy from the young cast. He brought that energy to his Salsa to Montell Jordan's "This is How We Do It," and it had the crowd on their feet. Carrie Ann was impressed by how well Kel was leading Witney, Len called him "large and in charge," and Bruno declared it "a star turn." Not only that, Kel and Witney took the first 10 of the season!
Watch Kel Mitchell and Witney's Salsa
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 9; Len – 9; Bruno – 10; TOTAL: 28 out of 30
Ally Brooke & Sasha
Last week, Ally and her pro dance partner Sasha Farber set a high bar with a terrific Tango. For their Paso Doble, they brought that same energy and ferocity. Len Goodman declared it had "a mix of good technique and incredible performance," and Bruno and Carrie Ann agreed. And now that the judges had found their "10" paddles, they all used them, giving Ally and Sasha the first perfect score of the season.
Watch Ally Brooke and Sasha's perfect Paso Doble
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 10; Len – 10; Bruno – 10; TOTAL: 30 out of 30
Hannah Brown & Alan
This week, Hannah admitted to her pro dance partner Alan Bersten that she hasn't felt connected to herself the past few weeks. To find that connection, she took Alan home to Alabama to reconnect with her roots. The journey home definitely paid off on the dancefloor and all of the judges noticed, with Carrie Ann calling it "the comeback of the season!"
Watch Hannah Brown and Alan's Quickstep
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 10; Len – 9; Bruno – 10; TOTAL: 29 out of 30
Kate Flannery & Pasha
Last week, Kate and her partner Pasha Pashkov dodged a bullet and were saved by the judges from going home. This week, they danced a Jive to Linda Ronstadt's "Heat Wave," a favorite of her late sister, Nancy, who passed away not long before Kate joined the show. Len said that Kate and Pasha "are an absolute joy to watch."
Watch Kate Flannery and Pasha's Jive
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 8; Len – 8; Bruno – 8; TOTAL: 24 out of 30
James Van Der Beek & Emma
This week, James and his partner Emma Slater danced a Contemporary routine to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'." James explained how hard his early career as an actor was, and how the faith and support of his parents pulled him through. The tribute had emotions high in the ballroom and the judges in love with the storytelling and fluidity, and the incredible lifts.
Watch James Van Der Beek and Emma's Contemporary
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – 10; Len – 10; Bruno – 10; TOTAL: 30 out of 30
Dance-Off: Ally & Sasha vs. Kel & Witney
The first couples to face off, they had the Jive to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," making it a fast, fun, and frenetic head-to-head. The judges agreed that the pairs were both incredibly good, and incredibly close, making it a very tough call.
Watch Ally & Sasha take on Kel & Witney
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – Kel; Len – Ally; Bruno – Kel; WINNER: Kel Mitchell & Witney
Dance-Off: Kate & Pasha vs. Sean & Jenna
For dance-off number two, it was the Cha Cha to "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" by C+C Music Factory. The judges had a great time watching both couples, even if not everyone on the dancefloor was quite up to the task.
Watch Kate & Pasha take on Sean & Jenna
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – Kate; Len – Kate; Bruno – Kate; WINNER: Kate Flannery & Pasha
Dance-Off: Hannah & Alan vs. Lauren & Gleb
For the third and final dance-off, the couples danced the Salsa to Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine's "Rhythm is Gonna Get You." The rhythm certainly got both of these couples, who put it all on the line for a pair of sultry Salsa's that left the audience breathless.
Watch Hannah & Alan take on Lauren & Gleb
SCORES:
Carrie Ann – Hannah; Len – Hannah; Bruno – Hannah; WINNER: Hannah Brown & Alan
Fifth Elimination
With the individual and dance-off performances completed, the judges' scores in, and America's votes counted, it was time to find out which couples were in the bottom two. Remember, each couple that won its dance-off—and James & Emma—received an extra two points from the judges, which could prove crucial. This week's bottom two were Ally Brooke & Sasha and Kate Flannery & Gleb, much to the judges' disappointment. Both Carrie Ann and Bruno chose to save Ally, which means it was time for Kate Flannery to say goodbye to the ballroom.
Watch the fifth Dancing with the Stars 2019 elimination
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