Dancing With the Stars “Halloween Nightmares” recap

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This article was written by a student author from the chapter “Her Campus at Holy Cross.”

To Dancing with the stars “Halloween Nightmares” intensified the competition with themed performances and dramatic dance-offs.

NBA all-star Dwight Howard and his partner Daniella Karagach brought a very competitive and spooky contemporary dance to District 78’s “Ring Around the Rosie.” They scored the first 10 of the season from judge Carrie Ann, who handed out several more 10s throughout the course of the evening. Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and his partner Rylee Arnold also danced a contemporary, which also earned them their first 10 points. Bachelors Joey Grazidei and Jenna Johnson danced a stirring Argentine tango that received high scores for their storytelling. Actress Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong performed a hauntingly elegant Viennese waltz to “Secret” by The Pierces. The performance was praised for its classic, spooky quality and intricate choreography. Their strong results further cemented their place as the standout pair in the competition.

After individual dances, the dance-offs began as Dwight Howard and Ilona Maher competed against each other in a cha-cha. The judges praised Dwight for his high energy and praised Ilona’s technical precision. The judges ultimately awarded the bonus points to Dwight and Daniella, recognizing Dwight’s progress and energy on the floor. Next, Stephen Nedoroscik competed in a salsa against Bachelorette Jenn Tran. Stephen impressed with energetic tricks, while Jenn brought a softer and more sophisticated style to her performance. The bonus points went to Jenn and Sasha, a result that caused some controversy among fans. The final dance-off featured a jive competition between Joey Grazidei and Danny Amendola. The back and forth throughout the dance-off made it a real battle, but ultimately Joey and Jenna received the extra points for their outstanding technique and quality of performance.

Although Jenn and Sasha won their dance-off against Stephen and Rylee, they were eliminated after dancing a contemporary to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire.” The judges praised Jenn for her style and skill, but her results and weaker fan base ultimately earned her a spot in the competition.