Tonight on ABC the glitz and the glitter returns to the ballroom as Dancing With The Stars and continues with an all-new Monday, November 6, 2016, season 23 episode 9 and we have your Dancing With The Stars recap below! On tonight’s DWTS Season 23 episode 9 “Showstoppers Night Night,” each of the six remaining celebrities will dance two show-stopping dances – one from some of the hottest Broadway musicals, and a second where they are paired up for a “Team-Up Challenge.”
Did you watch last week’s DWTS season 23 episode 8 episode where “Dancing with the Stars” treated viewers to a frightfully delightful night filled with chilling performances and at the end of the evening Ryan Lochte & Cheryl Burke was sent home? If you missed the episode we have a full and detailed Dancing With The Stars recap of last week, right here!
On tonight’s DWTS episode as per the ABC synopsis, “For the first dance, the couples will each dance a style they have not yet danced to a song from a hit Broadway musical. The teams traveled the country to see famous shows in person to get inspiration for their dances in the ballroom on Monday night. Following their first dance, each couple will be paired up with another couple to perform in the “Team-Up Challenge.” Each team will dance together to one song, and for a portion of the dance, the two celebrities will dance together without the assistance of their professional partners.”
Make sure to bookmark this spot and come back from 8PM – 10PM ET for our live coverage of the Dancing With The Stars Season 23 episode 9. While you wait for our recap make sure to head over and check out all our DWTS recap, spoilers, news & videos, right here!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
It’s Showstoppers Night tonight on Dancing With The Stars, and the celebs and their partners will be dancing hit songs from Broadway shows. After an exciting opening number, hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin take the stage and introduce tonight’s special guest judge – Broadway star Idina Menzel.
The first couple to dance tonight is Marilu Henner and Derek Hough [VIDEO HERE] – they dance the Samba to the popular show “Jersey Boys,” with the help of pro-Mark Ballas. Afterward, they wait to hear what the judges have to say.
Idina: I have known Marilu for a while and we have been in the theater scene together, I am inspired by her. You looked you were having an amazing time, and these guys sounded like they approved. If I could give as much joy, love, and humor to my audience as you have through your career then I feel very lucky.
Julianne: Idina is absolutely right, it was like finally, you looked so free out there. You were enjoying yourself, and that was a real Samba. Here’s what I am going to say, I have to practice it all right? What a night for you Marilu!
Bruno: Yes my darling, forget about December, you look perfectly defrosted to me. It was as bright and sizzling as a midsummer’s day! You had warmth, joy, plenty of Samba, and your legs were wonderfully straight and you put the bows in. And, not a hint of heat exhaustion!
Carrie Ann: What I loved the most was seeing a true partnership coming together tonight. I was feeling not only the Derek and Marilu love, but the Samba love. You came out and you gave your best, it was really fun to watch!
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Idina: 9 Julianne: 9 Bruno: 9 Total: 36/40
Calvin Johnson Jr and Lindsay Arnold [VIDEO HERE] are up next, tonight they are dancing the Waltz to a hit song from the musical “Cats.” And, “Cats” star Leona Lewis takes the stage to help them out. Afterward, the judges sound off.
Julianne: I loved that you owned that and what I loved so much is your level of commitment to this competition. You come out here and you are a ray of sunshine and then you do a dance like this and you’re smooth and graceful, I feel like this is one of your best dances.
Bruno: Leona Lewis, come on! And you my dear, as always majestic, like a Siberian tiger toying with a little pussy cat. I love the way you handle her, because of the difference in size, to take and balance the music of this song is so hard and you have to go in and out of tempo – and you did it my darling!
Carrie Ann: As Bruno says, I agree, considering the height difference you really have learned to dance as one. I am going to give you a point that I want you to work on because everything matter, that one wasn’t your best musically. It was a little ahead and you weren’t as strongly connected to the music as you usually are. I just wanted to point that out because we are heading in to the finals. But, well done!
Idina: I didn’t see any of that, I was just thinking, my dad taught me everything I know about football. And he always taught me that football players get a bad rap because you have to be really tough, but really graceful, especially a wide receiver. I know now why you are an amazing athlete and an amazing dancer, you have both, and that was really beautiful.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Idina: 9 Julianne: 10 Bruno: 9 Total: 37/40
James Hinchcliffe is up next, [VIDEO HERE] unfortunately, Sharna Burgess is still out on injury, and Jenna will be dancing with him again his week. James and Jenna dance a Jazz routine from the Broadway musical “The Whiz.”
Bruno: A great wizard and a wonderful dancer! I have to point out your versatility and skill. You inhabit every style and every role with such a natural flow, its incredible. That was fantastic! You went off in the beginning and you missed a step, but a tiny flaw in an otherwise perfect dance.
Carrie Ann: First of all I have to say, not everyone can rock a green outfit. You are rocking it. Bruno is right, you got a head with one movement, but you came back with a vengeance and you were like “I am going to get this move and that move, and that move!”
Idina: I played the wicked witch of the west and green is hard to look good in, and you look hot. I would share the stage with you anytime, you are amazing!
Julianne: We all know you messed up but whatever, I called it in like Week 3, you should be on Broadway! That is all I am going to say!
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Bruno: 9 Idina: 9 Julianne: 9 Total: 36/40
Terra Jole and Sasha Farber [VIDEO HERE] dance a showstopping Charleston on the DWTS stage for the judges. During rehearsals, Sasha had to adapt some of the dance moves for Terra, because of her size she was having issues with the choreography that they were given.
Carrie Ann: Winners do not focus on what they can’t do, they focus on what they can do. You focus on all of your best attributes. You out perform everybody in this competition, I don’t care hands down, you bring it every single time!
Idina: I had so many thoughts going through my head, I used to sing that song in my livingroom when I was a little girl all the time. The point is, for someone who is known for singing high notes, I mess them up all the time – on New Years I totally screwed up and everyone was making fun of me on Twitter. And, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is your soul, and you are supremely talented anyway, even if you can’t do certain things. It was about your spirit and how you made me feel. WE see you, we definitely see you.
Julianne: Limitations are real. But you know what else is? You! And that spotlight is way too small for you, that’s all I have to say!
Bruno: Sweet little Terra, gave it to me large, you were going for a Tony over there! Such a great performance I have to say!
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10 Idina: 10 Julianne: 9 Bruno: 9 Total 38/40
Jana Kramer and her pro partner Gleb [VIDEO HERE] take the stage next. For Showstoppers Night, Jana and Gleb are dancing the waltz to “She Used To Be Mine” from the hit show “Waitress.” Jana Kramer feels an emotional connection to the song, and it really hits home for her. After their performance, they wait to hear the judges’ critiques.
Idina: You would make Jesse Mueller so proud, she has so much complexity in her voice and you had so much complexity in your performance – you just broke me. Thanks for breaking me!
Julianne: It’s true, that was beautiful storytelling. It’s one thing to execute a routine, and another thing to perform from the heart and that is what makes a captivating dancer. So thank-you!
Bruno: My darling, keep it up, you are going to get huge tips! What you said through your body was so clear and focused, you two were partnering each other like a dream. It was like watching a movie, it was fantastic.
Carrie Ann: Jana you have this special gift, every time I watch you dance, I feel like I am watching a slice of your life unfold in front of us. I just want to thank you for making it so beautiful and mesmerizing every time.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10 Idina: 10 Julianne: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 40/40
The final couple to dance a Showstopper tonight are Laurie Hernandez and Val Chmerovskiy. [VIDEO HERE] Laurie and Val are dancing the Argentine Tango from the hit Broadway show “Chicago.” Afterward, the judges share their thoughts on the performance.
Julianne: I think the best part is that even you look shocked. You walked over here, like what just happened? You looks absolutely stunning, this was the perfect dance for you to use your strengths, your flexibility, and your power. I am literally speechless.
Bruno: You little delinquent, you are guilty of killing the Tango! You have the flexibility of a rubberband but the precision of a laser. You defied gravity and stuck to him like Velcro.Carrie Ann: I am speechless too, tonight I really saw Laurie the gymnast, you were working Val like he was a vault, a balance
Carrie Ann: I am speechless too, tonight I really saw Laurie the gymnast, you were working Val like he was a vault, a balance beam, and a bar!
Idina: There really isn’t much to say other than don’t worry about being sexy – sexy is you. Sexy is being confident and beautiful person that you are, you are that. I just want to know, what is more nerve-racking, to be on the balance beam or to be here?
Scores: Bruno: 10 Julianne: 10 Carrie Ann: 10 Idina: 10 Total 40/40
Now it’s time for the Team Up Challenge. The dancers are teaming up to dance for extra points. Calvin Johnson Jr and Lindsay Arnold are teaming up with James Hinchcliffe and Jenna and dancing the Paso Doble to “Last Man Standing” for the DWTS judges.
Bruno: It was mayhem and carnage, sorry for the season spoiler, that is how it is going to end – the boys beating the hell out of each other and the girls winding up with the prize. Very topical, very entertaining, every strong.
Carrie Ann: I loved the way you took the energy from the competition. What we are looking for is how well you dance in synch, the synch was good, you got off in the musicality in the beginning. Once you found each other it was like boom, boom, bam.
Idina: I am probably like the worst judge, because I didn’t see anything but how hot they both were. I don’t know, they were just sexy. The dancing was amazing.
Julianne: I just wish all guys did a Paso to deal with their problems. That’s the reason why you guys are the last guys standing. James, I could tell you were kind of pissed from the last dance, you were like I’m not going to let that determine my fate. You rocked it, I loved it.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Idina: 9 Julianne: 10 Bruno: 9 Total: 37/40
Terra Jole and Sasha and Marilu Henner and Derek Hough are teaming up together for a Jazz performance, and it has all the makings of a Showstopping Broadway performance.
Carrie Ann: That was a wonderful celebration, you had the biggest challenge because you are so different. What I loved about it was you did a lot of side by side to prove that you were up to the challenge. I think you hit the mark with this challenge.
Idina: I just thought it was so much fun, everyone hit their marks, it was accurate and I loved it.
Julianne: Talk about a showstopper, you did the hustle, you did jazz and that little trick over there with the skirt. You guys went all out and that was exactly what we wanted to see tonight.
Bruno: It was like a New Year’s Eve party at the Great Gatsby mansion! Cooky, whacky, an endless supply of booze, anything goes!
Scores: Carrie Ann: 9 Idina: 9 Bruno: 9 Julianne: 9 Total: 36/40
The final Team Up Challenge tonight is Laurie Hernandez and Val and Jana Kramer and Gleb – tonight they are dancing the Contemporary for the DWTS judges. We are running short on time so the judges rush through their critiques.
Idina: Oh my gosh, can I just say thank-you for having me here? It’s such an honor. First of all, I am completely speechless, it was so beautiful. I have a younger sister and I know how it feels, it was a magical dance. To all of the other dancers, I have been inspired tonight. Everyone is so courageous.
Julianne: I loved that you guys took a totally different approach, it was much more emotional and raw. You are very different dancers, and I think you guys learned from each other and almost push yourselves in another way. I thought it was amazing and you guys did Sia’s song justice, the choreography was amazing. It was just beautiful.
Bruno: The two little birds reached new heights tonight. You were physically and emotionally in tune, you were just so beautiful out there, powerful and touching, not a moment of this song wasted. You used everything to maximum effect. Beautiful.
Carrie Ann: First of all, in the beginning I heard Val going 3,4,5 – I thought you guys were off, but whether you were off or not I couldn’t tell. You guys were greater than the sum of your parts, I saw both of you merge in to one greater dancer, all four of you. It was beautiful.
Scores: Carrie Ann: 10 Idina: 10 Julianne: 10 Bruno: 10 Total: 40/40
Now, it’s time to find out which five couples will be going to the semi-finals. The couples who are safe tonight are Laurie Hernandez and Val, Terra Jole and Sasha, James Hinchcliffe and Sharna, and Calvin Johnson Jr and Lindsay.
According to America’s votes and the judges’ scores from last week, Marilu Henner and Derek and Jana Kramer and Gleb are in danger.
Marilu Henner and Derek Hough are officially eliminated from DWTS.
THE END!
