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Maks and Meryl win the Mirrorball Trophy Season 18

The 20 Most Memorable Performances on Dancing With the Stars

Dancing With the Stars took the world by storm when it premiered in 2005. 10 years and 20 seasons later, it's still the number one dance show on TV. In honor of the show's 20th season, we're counting down the 20 most unforgettable performances over the years (videos are included for the top five performances, so keep scrolling!).

20. Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke – Samba to "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder, Season 3
Most of the football players who take the DWTS stage don’t last very long. While they have the athletic ability, most of them lack the grace and flexibility it takes to dance well. But in Season 3, Emmitt Smith proved us all wrong when he charmed us week after week and ended up taking home the Mirrorball Trophy with pro partner Cheryl Burke. DWTS Judge Carrie Ann Inaba put it best when she described Emmett as “the every day man who became a dancer before our eyes.”

19. J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff - Rumba to "If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw, Season 13
U.S. Army veteran J.R. Martinez won Season 13 of Dancing With the Stars with pro partner Karina Smirnoff (her first and only win). The duo’s emotional performances like this one, with choreography depicting a love story between a soldier reuniting with his love, made us feel all the feels.

18. Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke – Freestyle to "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Big & Rich, Season 2
Nick Lachey’s little brother dancing to “Save a Horse (Ride A Cowboy).” Nothing else needs to be said.

17. Brooke Burke-Charvet and Derek Hough – Viennese Waltz to "Daughters" by John Mayer, Season 7
Brooke Burke-Charvet won Season 7 and went on to host Dancing With the Stars for eight seasons. She was let go and replaced by the “younger” Erin Andrews in Season 18, but her graceful dances will live on forever on YouTube.

16. Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Paso Doble to "Free Your Mind" by En Vogue, Season 5
Scary Spice? More like Sexy Spice after this Paso Doble with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. She may have come in second place Season 5, but Mel B has legs for days – so that’s something.

15. Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough – Argentine Tango to "Para Te" by A.P.P.A.R.T., Season 16
This was just one of Derek Hough’s many DWTS wins, but Kellie proved that she deserved the Mirrorball Trophy with this Argentine Tango.

14. Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson – Freestyle to "Back in Business" by Liza Minnelli, Season 9
Ever the showman, Donny Osmond put on a wonderful freestyle performance with pro partner Kym Johnson in Season 9 (he later took home the Mirrorball Trophy, too). After the performance, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told the duo, “Welcome to the Hall of Fame of the Freestyle!” And so it was decreed.

13. Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas – Freestyle to "Do Your Thing" by Basement Jaxx, Season 8

Former gymnast Shawn Johnson and pro partner Mark Ballas gave us an unforgettable Jabbawockeez-esue freestyle performance in Season 9. Obviously, no one was shocked when she took home the Mirrorball Trophy that year.

12. Tommy Chong, Peta Murgatroyd, and Sharna Burgess – Samba to "Talk Dirty" by Jason Derulo, Season 19

This performance was definitely not memorable for Tommy Chong’s dancing skills; but it was 100% unforgettable nonetheless. If you’re having a rough day, just YouTube all of Tommy Chong’s dances on DWTS. I can guarantee every single one of them will put a smile on your face.

11. Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough – Bhangra to "Mundian to Bach ke" by Panjabi MC, Season 15
Shawn returned for the All-Star Season and was expected to win again. She came in second, but this performance will go down in DWTS history.

Derek, the pro who’s stolen the Mirrorball Trophy five times, didn’t have a clue how to choreograph a Bhangra dance. He had to bring in a Bhangra choreographer, and if you can find whole clip of the performance – rehearsal package and all – it’s definitely worth watching.

10. Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough – Cha-Cha to "Push It" by Salt-n-Pepa, Season 4
Julianne Hough is perfection on her own. But when partnered with someone of her exact size and athletic abilities like Apolo Ohno…the possibilities are endless. 

9. Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough – Freestyle to "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)" by The Contours, Season 11
Can you say iconic!? The pair, who ended up taking the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 11, danced to the iconic song “Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)” from the iconic movie Dirty Dancing. And yes, I’m aware of how many times I just said “iconic.” But if the shoe fits…

8. Elizabeth Berkley Lauren and Val Chmerkovskiy – Jive to "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters, Season 17
Again, iconic. Elizabeth Berkley Lauren reenacted a famous (iconic?) scene from Saved by the Bell with partner Val Chmerkovskiy, and we will never forget. Sure, she did it for the votes, but at least she’s not like other child actors who are ashamed of the silly TV shows that put them on the map (we’re looking at you, Olsen twins). 

7. Amy Purdy and Derek Hough – Tango/Cha-Cha to "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit, Season 18
Try to watch this performance and not be inspired (and cry all the happy tears). Amy Purdy may not have won the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 18, but she won our hearts (and Derek didn’t need to win again anyway – five times is enough). 

6. Janel Parrish and Val Chmerkovskiy – Foxtrot/Paso Doble to "Blame" by Calvin Harris ft. John Newman, Season 19
I’m probably extremely biased because this was my favorite season of DWTS (and my favorite couple ever), but I can’t listen to this song without imagining these two strutting around and being perfect. Why did Team Janelskiy break up and ruin my life?

5. Alfonso, Witney, & Lindsay – Paso Doble to "Turn Down for What" by DJ Snake and Lil Jon, Season 19
I have nothing to say about this performance other than the fact that I squealed the whole time like a middle school fangirl. No shame. Carlton Banks and Lil Jon should theoretically just not work…but somehow it does. And I’m ok with that. 

4. Janel Parrish and Val Chmerkovskiy - Jazz to "America" from West Side Story, Season 19
Other than the fact that this performance was amazing and perfect and this pair was just beyond adorable, this recreation of West Side Story earned Team Janelskiy the earliest perfect score in the history of Dancing With the Stars. Like I said, perfection.

3. Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy – Freestyle to "Latch" by Disclosure ft. Sam Smith, Season 18
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when this performance ended. Season 18 was Maks’ final season (still not over it), and he finally found a partner who helped him win a Mirrorball Trophy. The two sparked a lot of romance rumors during their season (obviously – did you watch the video??), and they still remain close friends.

2. Sadie Robertson & Mark Ballas – Freestyle to Mario Theme Song, Season 19
Sadie and Mark were runner-ups in Season 19, but this Mario-themed performance will live on forever in Dancing With the Stars history. There have been lots of amazing freestyles on the show over its 10-year run, but this one takes the cake (but not the Mirrorball Trophy - sorry, guys!).

1. Alfonso Ribeiro & Witney Carson – Jazz, "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones, Season 19
I know I’ve referred to a few other performances as “iconic” during this article, but Alfonso Ribeiro doing the “Carlton” dance is all anyone can really ask for in life. We can all watch this video on repeat and die happy now. 

 

 

Featured image via Disneyabc

Last Updated: May 14, 2015