‘DWTS’ Semifinals Recap: Robert Tops the Leaderboard & the Toughest Elimination Yet Is Made

The competition continued on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars during the Tuesday, November 18, episode. Just six couples remained in the Semifinals, and they all hit the dance floor two times with routines to songs by Prince.

Every couple performed a new style of dance, as well as one that they’d already previously learned, with hopes of showing improvement. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli were behind the judges’ table to give their scores, which were combined with viewer votes to determine which pair was eliminated. The five couples who made it past the elimination will head to next week’s Finals.

Scroll down for a recap of the night’s performances, including the judges’ comments and scores. Plus, see where everyone fell on the leaderboard and find out who went home!

Elaine Hendrix — 27/30

To kick off the night, Elaine Hendrix danced a foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Inaba said, “You are sophisticated, smooth, strong. It’s solid.” She noted that “nothing was wrong with the dance,” but said she wants Hendrix to “push a little more” to make the Finals.

“That was beautiful. Truly incredible foxtrot,” Hough gushed. He did echo Inaba’s statement, though, and urged Hendrix, “I want to see a little more fight [in your second dance].” Tonioli agreed that Hendrix needs to “push a bit harder,” but praised her performance overall.

She received three 9s from the judges for a total score so far of 27/30.

Alix Earle — 28/30

For her first dance of the night, Alix Earle performed a spicy Argentine tango to “Little Red Corvette.” Hough commented first. “I didn’t like it. I LOVED IT,” he raved. “Truly. Alix, I really think you have the potential to go all the way in this competition.” He also praised Earle’s improvement and called the dance “gorgeous.”

Tonioli added, “I agree. The shapes. The lines. The bodywork. Top notch.” However, he also noted there was a move that “could’ve been sharper.” Inaba weighed in last, saying, “I agree. Out of all the competitors who are here tonight, you have grown the most, steadily, in all aspects. You’re really blossoming.”

She did add some critiques, though, and urged Earle to “come back stronger” on her second dance of the night. Hough gave the dance a 10, while Inaba and Toniolo scored her 9s, so Earle earned a 28/30 total.

Whitney Leavitt — 29/30

Next, Whitney Leavitt hit the dance floor with a cha-cha-cha to “1999.” Tonioli called it a “saucy” cha-cha-cha and raved over how much content was put into the dance, also noting the level of difficulty. “You did it stunningly well,” he said.

Inaba added, “Once again, a wonderful dance. At times, I felt that the technique … I could see you focusing on the technique, and normally that doesn’t happen when you perform. It almost hindered it.” However, she made sure to note that it was still “well-delivered.”

Hough said Inaba is “out of [her] mind,” and said the performance was “awesome.” With 10s from Hough and Tonioli, and a 9 from Inaba, Leavitt earned a 29/30 total.

Dylan Efron — 27/30

Dylan Efron‘s Prince song was “I Would Die 4 U.” He performed a tango and worked hard on making sure he was tucking his backside under, due to comments he’d received from judges in the past. He also had a proud supporter in the audience, with his brother Zac Efron showing up for the first time this season.

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Inaba pointed out a mess-up with Efron’s footwork at one point in the routine, and warned him to “feel the music” while dancing. Hough said, “Overall, my man, that was fantastic,” but also said that there weren’t enough heel leads in the dance.

In the end, all three judges gave Efron 9s, for a total of 27/30.

Jordan Chiles — 27/30

Jordan Chiles‘ first dance was a jive to “Raspberry Beret.” Hough called the jive “fresh and so fantastic.” However, he added, “I wanted a little more attack, a little more sharpness, a little more bite.

Tonioli said the dance was “so fast” that Chiles lost the timing a little bit, but Inaba called it the “best performance of the night so far.” Still, she had to point out the mess-up, as well, although she said she would give it a perfect score if she didn’t notice that.

With three 9s, Chiles earned a 27/30 for her first dance of the night.

Robert Irwin — 30/30

Closing out round 1 was Robert Irwin with a jive to “Baby I’m a Star.” It’s the same dance he did in Week 1, so there was plenty of room to show improvement nine weeks later.

“For Prince, only a superstar jive would do. You did that,” Tonioli said, also noting Irwin’s “control” in the dance and perfect choreography. Inaba said, “That is how you tell everyon! You demand to be in the finale when you dance like that. That was insane. So clean, so sharp!”

Hough closed out the comments by saying, “When you dance, you dance with your full body, your full charisma. You’re not just hitting the steps.” The dance earned Irwin another perfect score from the judges … all 10s!

Elaine Hendrix — 30/30

Hendrix returned to the dance floor with a paso doble to “When Doves Cry.” Inaba jumped out of her seat to hug Hendrix. “You left it all on the floor!” she gushed.

Hough called it a “proper, beautiful paso doble” and raved over how Hendrix “came with that fight” to the dance floor. “That is what we’re talking about,” he added. “Truly, that is exactly what we’re talking about.” The dance earned Hendrix her first perfect score of the season.

Alix Earle — 30/30

Earle came back to the floor to perform a Viennese waltz to “Purple Rain,” lending itself to a “more emotional performance” for the influencer.

Hough told Earle that he’s “seen [her] blossom” and said he has “no doubts” that she’ll be in the Finals. Tonioli added, “You delivered what I wanted … the perfect combination of motion and emotion. You were so connected and so into what was happening as a performer.”

Inaba also had praise for Earle, gushing, “A performance like this is going to go down in history. This was so powerful. You have blossomed. You are exactly what we always want.” With three 10s, it was another perfect score for Earle!

Dylan Efron — 28/30

For his next dance, Efron performed a cha-cha-cha t0 “Kiss.” Tonioli called Efron a “sexy beast” and gushed over how much “work” he’s done to perfect the hip action and foot placement.

Inaba said, “I liked the attack this time. I felt you’re more connected to the music. Sometimes your arms got a little small.” She noted that “a lot is at stake” and that’s why she had to be truthful with her critiques.

Hough broke down the “details” in the dance and about how Efron did it so well. “It was so, so impressive, man, you should be so proud!” he said, although he also pointed out a “little thing” that happened at one point. Inaba and Hough scored the routine with 9s, while Tonioli gave it a 10, for 28/30.

Whitney Leavitt — 58/60

Leavitt was back in the ballroom with a Viennese waltz to “Slow Love” next. Inaba got emotional as she gave her comments. “That was, for you, of all the performances you’ve done, my absolute favorite. It felt so authentically you,” she said. However, she said she had to take a point off for a “hop” at one point.

Hough called Inaba “crazy” again, and told Leavitt, “You show up and you deliver and you dance, girl!” Tonioli concluded, “You are immensely talented. The quality of movement in that Viennese waltz, we see very rarely.”

Leavitt received a 9 from Inaba and 10s from Tonioli and Hough for another 29/30.

Jordan Chiles — 30/30

Back on the dance floor next was Chiles with an Argentine tango to “U Got the Look.” Hough told Chiles, “I know the scores, being on top, and being No. 1 is important. My dear, that was a TOP performance. I loved the lines, the smooth, slick tricks, and way to make an entrance. Well done.”

Tonioli said the dance was “beautiful, powerful, and focused,” and called the gymnast a “leading lady.” Inaba couldn’t find the words to describe Chiles. “You’re in a class of your own,” she said. “You’re always taking the biggest risks. You’re always moving forward to your own style.”

Chiles received a perfect score for her Argentine tango.

Robert Irwin — 29/30

The final dance of the night was Irwin’s Viennese waltz to “WOW.” Tonioli told Irwin he was in “Top Gun mode,” adding, “That was so thrilling. I want to see the sequel. I didn’t want it to stop!”

Inaba said, “You always deliver such fun, strong performances, but tonight, you drew us in in a different way. You made us curious about you. Telling the story like that, in sort of that subtle way, this is the evolution of dance I love watching in our contestants.”

Hough called the dance “ferocious” and raved over how Irwin “commanded” it, although he pointed out that the frame wasn’t perfect. Irwin got 10s from Inaba and Tonioli and a 9 from Hough for a 29/30.

Dancing With the Stars Week 10 leaderboard

Robert Irwin & Witney Carson — 59/60
Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy — 58/60
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas — 58/60
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten — 57/60
Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa — 57/60
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach — 55/60

Who went home in the Dancing With the Stars Semifinals?

After all the dances, the judges’ scores and viewer votes were combined to determine who would be moving onto the finals. Hendrix was first to be called safe, followed by Earle, then Irwin, then Efron.

That left Chiles and Leavitt in the end, although not necessarily the bottom two. The couple with the lowest scores and votes combined was: Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, which means they were eliminated.

Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC