Takes two to tango (among other dances). Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times the pros really challenged their celeb partners with some ambitious choreography.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times
00:11the pros really challenged their celeb partners with some ambitious choreography.
00:22Number 20. Gaston, Juan Pablo Di Pace and Cheryl Burke.
00:27It seems the rumors are true. No one's slick as Gaston, no one's quick as Gaston,
00:33and no one brings his bravado to the dance floor quite like Juan Pablo Di Pace.
00:48During Disney night on season 27, the Fuller House actor and his partner Cheryl Burke
00:53pulled off a near-perfect Viennese waltz to this Beauty and the Beast tune,
00:57but with a couple of acrobatic twists.
01:06Their technique is light-footed and beautiful, as they expertly pull off those steps atop a table.
01:12But Juan Pablo takes things to new heights when he grabs the chandelier above his head
01:16and swings to freedom. His acting flourishes are also adorable,
01:20cementing this routine as one to remember.
01:24Number 19. Resolve, Bindi Irwin, Derek Hough, and Mark Ballas.
01:42Learning a new style of dance is hard. Learning a new dance while navigating two pros is even harder.
01:54Learning a new style of dance with two dancers and a revolving prop? You see where we're headed.
02:06This was one of those dances where a single misstep could have spelled disaster,
02:10but this trio moves like a well-oiled machine, and it's phenomenal.
02:23There's so much to juggle, yet Bindi handles it all like a seasoned pro.
02:30With Derek and Mark, perhaps two of the show's most innovative choreographers,
02:35joining forces, it's no surprise that this routine is both breathtaking
02:40and heart-stopping at nearly every turn.
02:42Number 18. When the party's over, Charlie D'Amelio and Mark Ballas.
02:49Just because someone shares their life publicly doesn't mean what we see matches how they feel inside.
02:55So even before D'Amelio took a single step, we had huge respect for her courage in bringing
03:01that much vulnerability to the dance floor. That's arguably tougher than any step Ballas could throw her way.
03:07Even so, he created this beautiful routine that captures the anguish
03:11of the spilled milk and the frustration of a young man who's never seen a movie before.
03:16The stage was set for a dance, where characters from all walks of life
03:21could be seen holding hands and shaking hands.
03:24And we were all dancing to the tune of Charlie D'Amelio's song to prevent the staff from seeing it.
03:30Quiet when I'm coming home
03:33Even so, he created this beautiful routine that captures the anxiety she's faced,
03:38showing that overwhelming feeling so many of us know too well.
03:42Anyone who's struggled with anxiety knows it's rarely an easy battle, and together,
03:47they bring it to life with choreography that's intense, breathtaking, and absolutely powerful.
03:53Quiet when I'm coming home
03:55My, my, my, my, oh
03:58Number 17.
03:59Spanish Guitar.
04:01Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough.
04:03When Derek and Nicole found out they needed to inject some 50s flair into their Paso Doble,
04:09Derek joked it seemed, quote,
04:11But bit by bit, the choreography came together, with Hough finding clever
04:30ways to keep the dance's fundamentals intact while also taking us back in time.
04:41What's so impressive is how this routine could have easily felt split, part Paso, part 50s.
04:53But instead, it's a perfect fusion that feels like we'd been transported back in time
04:57to an era-appropriate Spanish bullring.
05:00Even Len had to admit that as much as he wanted to find fault with it,
05:04he simply couldn't.
05:06It was 10s all around.
05:07Olé.
05:12Number 16.
05:16The Sound of Silence.
05:17Niall DeMarco and Peta Murgatroyd.
05:20Since contemporary isn't Peta's specialty,
05:23she brought in choreographer Talia Favia to create a routine that
05:27truly honored the story she and DeMarco wanted to tell.
05:31And since it was for the finals, if there was ever a time to go big, this was it.
05:46Talia didn't hold back, creating a routine that takes us through the challenges the
05:50deaf community faces in an ableist world, and ending with this powerful moment of triumph.
06:01It took a lot of trust, dedication, and heart to make this work,
06:10and it turned out to be more than just finals-worthy.
06:13It was mirrorball-worthy too.
06:15To this day, it's a Dancing with the Stars Hall of Famer.
06:18Number 15.
06:31Mundia Tobachki.
06:33Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough.
06:35For Derek, combining Knight Rider with Bangara made less sense than mustard on ice cream.
06:48On top of that, Shawn basically had to shelve everything she had learned about dance so far,
06:55as well as her gymnastics background, and go back to square one.
06:59The dance is lightning fast, packed with intricate choreography,
07:03and loaded with some next-level lifts.
07:10Len called it dynamite, but honestly, it was more like a whole firework display.
07:19You know a routine is tough when, by the end, the Olympic gold medalist is out
07:23of breath and the pro dancer collapses to the floor in total exhaustion and relief.
07:33Number 14.
07:40Santa Maria del Buen Aire.
07:42James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess.
07:45This was the first time Sharna and James reunited since her injury,
07:49and they were ready to prove they were back stronger than ever.
07:56They went all-in with a bold Argentine tango, where Sharna was blindfolded the entire time.
08:08It was a huge risk.
08:10Argentine tango demands sharp, intricate movements.
08:13But Sharna put herself completely in James' hands, and he took his role as her eyes seriously.
08:27She could have toned down the choreography to ease this extra challenge,
08:35but that's not their style.
08:37They weren't the first pair to use blindfolds in their dance,
08:40but this duo took it up a notch by committing to it for the entire routine.
08:50Number 13.
08:56I'll Make a Man Out of You.
08:57Normani and Val Shmerkovski.
09:00The Paso Doble is all about strength and power,
09:03and so is Mulan, so this pairing felt like a natural fit.
09:14The week before, the judges had been hoping for more from Normani,
09:18and this time, she and Val delivered.
09:21She brought all the fierceness a Paso needs,
09:23along with the drama and artistry worthy of a Disney Broadway show.
09:36As if the dance wasn't difficult and busy enough,
09:39they threw in some epic combat-ography that fit the style perfectly.
09:44The judges wanted to see the fight in Normani, and she showed it to them tenfold.
09:48Plus, having Li Shang's actual singing voice performing live couldn't have hurt either.
10:05Number 12.
10:06I Got Five On It, Tethered Mix.
10:09Iman Shumpert and Daniela Karagoc.
10:12If you watched Jordan Peele's Us with your heart in your mouth,
10:15just wait until you watch Iman and Daniela's contemporary routine.
10:29From the very first move, they set a high bar,
10:32delivering trick after trick that demands so much from them both individually and as partners.
10:38Choreographing to this eerie music can't have been easy.
10:41Yet they pulled off an incredible routine,
10:44packed with jaw-dropping lifts that left our nerves completely frayed.
10:56Can we talk about their height difference?
10:58With less chemistry, it could have been an issue, but it certainly wasn't for them.
11:02This felt like their game-changing performance,
11:05setting a new standard for what we'd expect from this winning duo.
11:11Number 11.
11:20Proud Mary, Paige Van Zandt and Mark Ballas.
11:23You've never seen a jive like this before.
11:26In week 7 of season 22, UFC fighter Paige Van Zandt and her dancing partner, Mark Ballas,
11:32took the judges by storm with an electric and difficult routine set to Proud Mary.
11:42Watching Van Zandt conquer the quick and precise steps of the jive,
11:46while never losing her energy or poise, is really a sight to behold.
11:50Her exuberance spread through the ballroom and captured the audience completely.
12:05Van Zandt and Ballas kept the crowd clapping along throughout the number,
12:09and would receive three 10s from the judges afterwards.
12:12Big wheels keep on turning, indeed.
12:18Number 10.
12:19Para Los Rumberos, Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough.
12:23Shawn Johnson more than excelled during her not one, but two seasons on Dancing with the Stars.
12:28So much so that this isn't the first time we've talked about her, and it won't be the last.
12:33Spoiler alert!
12:34But for now, let's focus on this excellent mambo between her and Derek Hough during her
12:39all-star season.
12:48Johnson not only shows off her quick feet and excellent form,
12:51but puts those gymnastic skills to use.
12:54She lands splits, twirls, and handstands, seemingly without breaking a sweat.
12:59In one stellar moment, Hough jumps over Johnson, guiding her into a backbend in one of the most
13:04impressive feats of strength ever seen on the show.
13:07There's a reason they call it all-stars.
13:16Number 9.
13:17Santa Maria, Del Buen Aire.
13:19Johnson's performance was a bit of a surprise,
13:21but it was enough to earn her a spot on our list of Best Actresses.
13:29Jojo Siwa and Jenna Johnson.
13:31YouTube personality Jojo Siwa made history on Dancing with the Stars when she became
13:35one half of the first same-sex couple to compete on the show.
13:47Along with her dance partner Jenna Johnson, Siwa tore up the stage all season with her killer moves
13:52and infectious personality.
13:53But no dance was better or more on fire than this Argentine tango.
13:59Chemistry is one of the most important parts of the tango, and Siwa and Johnson have that in spades.
14:12But what's most impressive is the way Siwa is able to perfectly execute
14:16extremely difficult footwork.
14:18If you get offbeat in the tango, things can go really wrong really fast.
14:22But Siwa and Johnson stayed perfectly in tune with each other the whole time.
14:298. Free Your Mind
14:37Mel B and Maxim Shmerkovski
14:40All the way back in Season 5,
14:42Max Shmerkovski had a great partner in Mel B of The Spice Girls.
14:477. Paso Doble
14:56During Week 7, the two pulled off a remarkable Paso Doble,
15:00a fast-paced ballroom dance inspired, as we alluded to earlier, by Spanish bullfighting.
15:06The juxtaposition of the funky music choice Free Your Mind by En Vogue
15:10and the diligence and precision of the steps is so much fun to watch.
15:18Mel B really kicks it into high gear with some of the straightest legs and cleanest
15:26fan kicks you've ever seen in your life.
15:29Between the cool attitude and the sharp moves,
15:31this one will live rent-free in our brains for years to come.
15:427. Feel So Close
15:44Meryl Davis and Maxim Shmerkovski
15:46On Season 18, ice dancer Meryl Davis and her partner,
15:50Maxim Shmerkovski, turned up the heat to 11 every week,
15:54especially with this super-fast tango in Week 6.
16:08Davis put her ice dancing skills to work here,
16:10her face emotive and gorgeous throughout every step of the routine.
16:14The most impressive part of this dance is just how fast the tango has to move.
16:26Davis and Shmerkovski have impeccable form throughout,
16:30spinning and strutting with the best of them.
16:32Watching this routine compared to the rest of their work this season,
16:35it's no wonder they were eventually crowned champions.
16:456. You're Welcome
16:51Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold
16:54Let's be honest, Jordan and Lindsay could easily fill out this list.
16:58Throw Corbin Bleu into the mix, and things really get sizzling.
17:09Yet it was their Disney night foxtrot set to You're Welcome from Moana
17:13that glided straight into our hearts.
17:22The foxtrot itself is a marvel to watch, with Fisher and Arnold
17:26expertly hitting their marks time and time again.
17:28Still, the best part of this routine has to be the breakdown.
17:36Fisher has such excellent rhythm, no doubt a holdover from his musical theater background,
17:41and that little modern flair in the middle of the routine gives this performance the
17:45extra oomph it needs to solidify its god-tier status.
17:49What can we say except You're Welcome?
17:575. Hayadio
17:59Lindsay Sterling and Mark Ballas
18:02The best thing about freestyle dance is that couples can ditch the rulebook
18:06and let their creativity run wild.
18:08Mark choreographed a routine that felt like their own highlight reel,
18:12blending various dance styles.
18:24If you're a longtime Dancing with the Stars fan, you know each style has its own set of rules,
18:29making those transitions rather tricky.
18:32Their most impressive moment came when they added a third element, Lindsay's violin.
18:39We know she's a pro at dancing and playing simultaneously,
18:50but this is a next-level challenge, and she makes it look effortless.
18:54Once the violin is set aside,
18:56they keep that energy going and continue hitting all the right notes.
19:094. Adrenalina
19:15Milo Manheim, Whitney Carson, and Riker Lynch
19:18What's harder than dancing the salsa?
19:20Why, dancing the salsa with two partners, of course.
19:23Disney Channel star Milo Manheim and his partner Whitney Carson
19:39slayed the dance floor all throughout Season 27,
19:42but adding singer Riker Lynch into the mix gave them a boost.
19:45The group more than meets the challenge,
19:47executing this salsa trio with precision, grace, and style.
19:535. Adrenalina
19:59Adding the third person into the dance heightens the difficulty,
20:03as each person has to be hyper-aware of not one, but two other people's movements.
20:07These three are perfectly in sync the whole time, though,
20:10even throwing some lifts in for good measure.
20:233. Beneath You're Beautiful
20:26Kelly Pickler and Derek Hough
20:28For a supersized freestyle, you might expect the dancers to throw in everything,
20:33including the kitchen sink.
20:35But as Derek considered ways to wow everyone,
20:38he realized he only needed himself, Kelly, and a solid routine.
20:42He stripped everything down to focus on the dancing and show off Kelly's strengths.
20:55He even mentioned that some of the moves were ones he'd never even attempted with other pros.
21:004. Mirror Ball
21:09Luckily, Kelly had the talent to pull off even the toughest steps,
21:13and enough raw emotion to truly sell the routine and capture the audience's hearts.
21:18This approach paid off big time.
21:21They walked away with that season's Mirror Ball.
21:242. Latch
21:35Meryl Davis and Maxim Shmerkovski
21:38If you want to talk about chemistry, we've got to go back to Meryl and Max.
21:43During their amazing championship-winning run on season 18,
21:47the two performed a freestyle dance in the finale that left viewers stunned.
21:51Each dance move is more impressive than the one before it,
21:54showing off the long, beautiful lines that both Davis and Shmerkovski
21:58are able to make with their bodies.
21:59The pair displayed incredible grace and strength as they lifted,
22:03swung and twirled each other around the floor.
22:05Carrie Anne Inaba, who was brought to tears by the performance, said it best.
22:223. Hush
22:27married." Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
22:36Work Song, Riker Lynch and Alison Holker. The actor and his partner leave their heart and
22:42soul on the dance floor. Assassin's Tango,
22:56Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke. Is there anything they don't throw at this dance?
23:13Atlas, Willow Shields and Mark Ballas all praise The Mockingjay.
23:27Hey Pachuco, Elio Castroneves and Julianne Hough.
23:33No wonder they managed to quick-step their way to the mirror ball.
23:44Danza Molengo, Zendaya, Val Shmurkovski and Gleb Savchenko.
23:49Reigning over the salsa and two dance partners with ease.
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24:16Do Your Thing, Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas. And we're back to the queen of Dancing with the
24:22Stars, Shawn Johnson herself. This performance comes from Johnson's first season, season eight,
24:27where she and pro partner Mark Ballas wowed the judges consistently and ended up taking
24:32home the big prize. Their crowning achievement came in the finale when they unleashed this
24:45magnificent freestyle dance on the world. It has everything, humor, chemistry, costume changes,
24:51and of course, ridiculously challenging choreography.
25:03Everything about this routine is fast-paced and acrobatic, allowing Johnson to show off
25:08her strengths. Seriously, the amount of times she flips should go down in history.
25:13Which choreo do you think a celeb tackled like a pro? Let us know in the comments.
25:30Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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