‘Dancing With the Stars’ Recap: Whitney Tops the Leaderboard & Another Shocking Elimination

Dancing With the Stars Season 34 continued with Disney Night during the Tuesday, October 7, episode. With just 11 pairs left, the competition is already getting fierce.

The remaining stars and their pro partners hit the ballroom floor to perform routines set to Disney songs. After Lauren Jauregui‘s shocking elimination last week, everyone really knew that the pressure was on to score high and win over the public.

Scroll down for a recap of the night’s performances and scores, as well as to find out who got eliminated at the end of the episode.

Dylan Efron — 23/30

After some major improvements last week, Dylan Efron returned to the dance floor to perform a quickstep to “Life Is a Highway” from Cars. 

“The Dylan McQueen, the quickstep king!” Derek Hough raved. “So impressed by that left arm. You are keeping it straight all the way, too.” He called the dance “fantastic,” but told Efron to watch his head so he could get to the “next level.”

Bruno Tonioli praised Efron for working on everything the judges have told him and praised his footwork. Carrie Ann Inaba agreed, saying she loves watching people like Efron learn and understand the routine, beyond just learning the steps. Efron earned 8s from Hough and Tonioli and a 7 from Inaba, giving him a 23/30 this week.

Danielle Fishel — 21/30

Danielle Fishel also performed a quickstep. Her routine was set to The Jungle Book‘s “I Wan’na Be Like You.”

Tonioli said the routine was “very, very good,” but admitted that Fishel was off timing at one part. “Most impressive was that first pass when you came down the center was that body contact! You guys were zipped up like a zipped-up bag!” Inaba gushed. She did have to point out the mistake, too, though.

Hough said, “I love seeing your personality come through. You’re so wonderful to watch. The quickstep was fantastic.” However, he did also note that when the dance switched into a lindy hop, she lost it a bit. Fishel received 7s from all the judges.

Scott Hoying — 21/30

For his Week 4 dance, Scott Hoying did a salsa to “Bop to the Top” from High School Musical.

“That’s what happens when the confidence kicks in,” Inaba raved. “You razzle dazzled us with that salsa. You made it work. When you dance, you live, and you were living through that.” She did critique the underarm turns, but overall had rave reviews.

“You guys are fantastic,” Hough said. “You guys are so good. I love seeing that confidence.” Tonioli said, “I love to see your showmanship coming alive, and what you did content-wise was all there. You got a little bit tangled in a moment or two, but I really appreciate when you put the effort in.” From all three judges, Hoying received 7s.

Alix Earle — 24/30

Alix Earle‘s Disney Night routine was a Viennese waltz to “Once Upon a Dream” from Maleficent.

Hough called the routine “spellbinding” and made sure to shout-out how Earle danced by herself so beautifully in the beginning. “I think this was your best dance,” he insisted.

“You make me spin,” Tonioli raved. “Every movement had a very, very clear, real intention. It was danced as storytelling. It flew effortlessly from you and it married the music beautifully.” Inaba closed it out by saying, “You are on a roll!” With 8s from all three judges, Earle got her best score yet.

Hilaria Baldwin — 23/30

Hilaria Baldwin hit the dance floor with a quickstep to “Cantina Band” from Star Wars: A New Hope.

Tonioli told Baldwin, “Whatever you did worked. I actually watched very, very closely everything you did tonight. Really analyzing. I was looking for something wrong. I didn’t see it.”

Inaba said the dance was “beautiful” and assured Baldwin she is a “contender.” Hough didn’t feel like there was enough quickstep in the routine. “There needs to be something that sets you apart. What is that moment?” he wondered. Inaba fought back by defending Baldwin “It was that dance!”

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From Inaba and Tonioli, Baldwin received 8s, while Hough gave her a 7.

Andy Richter — 18/30

After avoiding elimination again last week, Andy Richter returned to the ballroom with a Viennese waltz to “Le Festin” from Ratatouille.

“You produce such memorable moments. We are, though, at Week 4,” Inaba warned. She told him to lead more with his body and less with his arms, but assured him he’s doing “great.”

Hough added, “You’re filling that space, Andy, I see you.” He gave Richter some tips on his frame. Tonioli agreed with his fellow judges. Richter received 6s from all the judges.

Robert Irwin — 22/30

Robert Irwin’s dance this week was a cha-cha-cha to “Try Everything” from Zootopia.

“You just have that Irwin aura, you really do. You can’t help but smile when I watch you perform,” Hough said. He gave some tips on how Irwin can elongate his lines in the future. Tonioli said it was “clear” and “sweet,” and also made sure to applaud Irwin’s timing.

“Sometimes you stop your movements. I want you to start to flow through the movements,” Inaba warned. She and Hough gave Irwin 7s, while Tonioli scored him an 8.

Elaine Hendrix — 24/30

Elaine Hendrix was tasked with performing a quickstep to “Space Mountain.”

“What a ride! You were going at warp speed and keeping up. That track was so fast. Keeping up with it without making any error and put so much content in it … that was wonderful,” Tonioli said. Inaba said the dance was “amazing” and that Hendrix was “redefining” what it’s like to be a mature woman on the dance floor.

“I honestly just blacked out,” Hough said. “I don’t even know what happened. I am so impressed with you. That was a complicated routine, a lot of steps, you didn’t miss a beat.” All three judges gave Hendrix 8s, which makes this her best score yet.

Whitney Leavitt — 25/30

Whitney Leavitt had the foxtrot this week and danced to “The Room Where It Happens” from Hamilton. After topping the leaderboard last week, Leavitt wanted to maintain that momentum.

“There’s traditional foxtrot and then there’s Mark’s foxtrot. I was watching you and my lip was quivering,” Inaba gushed. “It’s so good. Your precision. The technicality. The smooth. The flows. The painting of that picture was incredible.”

Hough said it felt like watching from a front row seat to Hamilton. “Get these two on Broadway, stat!” he insisted. Tonioli said the routine was “show-stopping.” From Inaba, Leavitt got a 9, while Hough and Tonioli scored her 8s. It was the first 9 of the season and Leavitt’s highest yet.

Jordan Chiles — 24/30

After tying for the top of the leaderboard last week, Jordan Chiles was back this week with a quickstep to “Special Spice.”

Hough told Chiles that she looked “absolutely beautiful out there,” adding, “It was crisp, completely charming, the footwork was so sharp, and you held the frame very well. Great job.” Tonioli said it was “vivacious” but also “always elegant,” and called Chiles “dance royalty.”

Inaba said, “This kind of dance is why people love Disney Night. You brought it to life.” Chiles got three 8s for her dance.

Jen Affleck — 23/30

The last routine of the night was Jen Affleck’s jazz dance to “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin.

Tonioli praised the entire routine. “It was so well put together. Truly, grand finale for a magical night,” he said. Inaba added, “You are living the Disney dream right now.” She called it a “great performance,” but admitted that it didn’t “set [her] over the top,” which was met with boos from the audience.

Hough said, “Well done. Great way to end the night.” Affleck earned her best score yet, with 8s from Hough and Tonioli and a 7 from Inaba.

Dancing With the Stars Week 4 leaderboard

Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas — 25/30

Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy — 24/30

Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten — 24/30

Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa — 24/30

Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 23/30

Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb Savchenko — 23/30

Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik — 23/30

Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — 22/ 30

Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov — 21/30

Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold — 21/ 30

Andy Richter & Emma Slater — 18/30

Who went home on Dancing With the Stars Week 4?

At the end of the show, the results were revealed, and the couple with the lowest combined judges’ scores and viewer votes was eliminated. While not necessarily the bottom three, Richter and Slater, Fishel and Pashkov, and Baldwin and Savchenko were the last to hear results. In the end, it was Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko who were eliminated.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+ (Streaming Next Day on Hulu)

For a more extended celebration of two decades of Dancing With the Stars, from exclusive interviews to retrospectives and must-see photos, pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine’s Dancing With the Stars 20th Anniversary special issue, available for purchase online at DWTS.TVGM2025.com and on newsstands now.

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