Tonight on ABC the glitz and the glitter is back in the ballroom as Dancing With The Stars returns with an all-new Monday, October 10, 2016, season 23 episode 5 and we have your Dancing With The Stars recap below! On tonight’s DWTS Season 23 episode 5 the remaining 9 celebrities dance a special dance to commemorate their most memorable year.
Did you watch last week’s DWTS season 23 episode 4 episode where the 11 celebs performed big spectacle dances for Cirque du Soleil night and two celebs were 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, “The nine remaining celebrities will set out to leave a lasting impression with their dances as they commemorate their most memorable year. Each couple will dance to a song of the celebrity’s choosing that encompasses a memorable time or truly incredible experience in their life. These heartfelt performances promise to showcase some of the most exciting choreography and emotional routines of the season yet. ”
Make sure to bookmark this spot and come back from 8PM – 9PM ET for our live coverage of the Dancing With The Stars Season 23 episode 5. 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!
Tonight’s episode of Dancing With The Stars kicks off with a beautiful performance by Andre Rio and his orchestra – he plays “Time Will Go On” and the DWTS pros join him for a ballroom dance. Of course the happily engaged couple, Sasha and Emma are paired up together.
Tonight on DWTS is “Most Memorable Years.” Brady Bunch star Maureen McCormick and her partner Artem are up first. Maureen McCormick has chosen the year 1985 – it’s the year that she and her husband were married. Maureen met her husband Michael as she was coming out of a 5 year cocaine addiction, and she feels like he helped save her from rock-bottom. As a tribute to 1985, Maureen and Artem dance the Foxtrot to “From The Ground Up.”
Now, it’s time for the judges to weigh in.
Julianne: So what we just saw was art imitating life and your journey has been so spectacular and that is exactly what this competition is about. You are a different person, you are graceful and you feel right at home. This was one of your best dances. Well done!
Bruno: Goin to the chapel and we’re going to get married! That was so pretty, every girl in the country will want to get married just to do that dance. That was absolutely angelic!
Carrie Ann: When I watch you dance, you are sort of like the slow and steady. You know what they say about slow and steady, they win the race. You approached that dance like you approached your healing, one step at a time. You are growing steady and it is really exciting to watch, it was beautiful.
Scores:
Carrie Ann: 8
Julianne: 8
Bruno: 8
Total: 24/30
Up next is is NFL player Calvin Johnson and his pro parter Lindsay. For Calvin’s most memorable year, he has selected the year that he broke Jerry Rice’s record. He looked up to Jerry Rice as he was a kid growing up, and it was truly a magical moment during the game that he broke the record. He even walked off the field and gave the game ball to his Dad in the middle of the game. Calvin believes that if it wasn’t for his family, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Calvin and Lindsay are dancing the Jazz to “No Mountain High Enough.”
Now, it’s time to hear what the DWTS judges thought of their performance.
Bruno: It looks like you stepped out of the Motown Charm School on to the set of grease! All the little stylistic points were there. Lindsay was flying! You have all the natural ease and smooth charm. You really are a dancer.
Carrie Ann: You remind me of Jerry Rice on the dance floor. You bring the fun like no one else in this competition. What is so fantastic is that you are so big and every move is fully expressed. Musicality just a little bit, be stronger when you hit the beats, you are a big man – use it all!
Julianne: You two together are just magic! You really are magic. When you are having fun and you are authentic, that is when you make your family so proud. So thank you for coming out here and giving it all you got. I do want to say, I actually believe there is more from you that we haven’t seen yet, so I do think that you have to push him a little bit more.
Scores
Carrie Ann: 8
Julianne: 8
Bruno: 8
Total 24/30
The next couple to compete tonight will be Jana Kramer and Gleb. For Jana’s Most Memorable Year, she has chosen 2016 – since it was the year that her daughter Jolie Rae was born. Jana confesses that 10 years ago she was in an abusive relationship, and her ex actually went to jail for attempting to murder her. Jana explains that she never felt complete again until this year when her daughter Jolie was born. Tonight Jana and Gleb are dancing a contemporary dance to Martina McBride’s song “In My Daughter’s Eyes.”
Afterwards, the DWTS judges critique them.
Carrie Ann: Thank you for setting such a wonderful example for all women and your daughter Jolie. It was like a breakthrough for you tonight, it was like you finally danced with the beauty that we all know you have. There was just one thing, you had a little sickle.
Julianne: I just have one word, and that is perseverance. I am going to cry. In your journey you had perseverance, but you have also had perseverance on this show. You had injury with your bac, there were times that I was like work on your shoulders and work on your lines and you did that, so in your daughter’s eyes your perseverance was a great gift and you are going to give it to her.
Bruno: Well my darling, that was pure and undiluted expression of unconditional love. You were totally focused, totally committed, totally fearless – you took some risks in this dance routine and you pulled it through, you were dedicated and I loved it.
Scores
Carrie Ann: 9
Julianne: 8
Bruno: 9
Total: 26/30
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl Bure take the stage next. Ryan’s most memorable year is 2008 – when he won his first individual gold medal at the Olympics and his entire family was there to support him. After he turned 16 years old, he trained every day, and has been doing that for 15 years now. In 2008 he beat the world record holder, he still remembers the first second that he touched the wall and looked up at the scoreboard. Tonight Ryan and Cheryl will be dancing a contemporary dance to the song “A Song For You.”
Julianne: I am really impressed. The thing that I love so much about this week is everybody gets in a vulnerable place and you did that tonight. That was a really hard piece of music too by the way, the musicality is very interpretive, and you gave it everything you had. I’m really impressed, that was wonderful.
Bruno: I have to say these vocals were out of the park. And, this was your most honest performance to date, you really showed your strength, your emotions, your tenderness, you were in tune with your partner. This is the way to go. Show who you are!
Carrie Ann: I have a lot of respect for you because you keep coming out here and you are such a vulnerable spirit and I actually saw your vulnerability in that dance. And, thank you for going there, you dove right in.
Scores
Carrie Ann: 8
Julianne: 8
Bruno: 8
Total 24/30
Laurie Hernandez has only been alive 16 years, but out of her 16 years she has decided that her most memorable year is of course 2016 because she finally made it to the Olympics. Laurie and Val had a tough week of rehearsals this week, and Laurie actually broke down in tears. Tonight, they are dancing a complicated Paso Doble to “Rise” by Katy Perry. Afterwards, they wait to hear the judge’s critiques.
Bruno: I am still shaking ,oh my God you really are a force of nature! Incredible dancer! But, tonight you mess it up. You went wrong, it happens to everyone. I think what happens is you put so much emphasis n to the dance that your footwork wasn’t the best you can do. But still, fantastic performance.
Carrie Ann: There were moments of brilliance and you are undoubtedly a warrior or goddess that I would like to be in my next life. I don’t think you needed the beginning. I felt like it wasn’t necessary, you are a fantastic dancer, but it didn’t feel authentic to who you were. I felt the beginning didn’t feel real, and you did, you fell out of a turn. But, that girl is fierce!
Julianne: I actually disagree I thought that was fantastic. There is no denying that you have so much dynamic and strength. Your skirt was a little heavy and I think that distracted you a bit. I really want to see you guys connect a little more, I want to see you guys as a couple, I can only keep my eyes on you and I want to see both of you now.
Scores
Carrie Ann: 8
Julianne: 9
Bruno: 8
Total: 25/30
Marilu Henner and Derek Hough are the next couple to perform tonight. Marilu’s most memorable year is 1978. For Marilu that year was the best of times and the worst of times. Marilu was still a struggling actor, and could barely make ends meet – and then her mother became deathly ill and passed away. A few weeks after her mother’s death, she booked her role on Taxi, which changed Marilu’s life. Marilu and Derek are dancing the Viennese Waltz to “Surprise Yourself.” After their performance – the judges are so moved, they rush down on the floor to hug Marilu.
Carrie Ann: As soon as you turned around you were a different person, instead of trying to be great, you allowed yourself to be great! The tension was gone!
Julianne: I am so happy for you because I know how much you want this! When you turned around, you gasped and you laughed, I almost started crying because I know how much you want this and you did it.
Bruno: You are another woman tonight. You hit the floor and you never stopped, Brilliant!
Scores
Carrie Ann: 9
Julianne: 9
Bruno: 9
Score: 27/30
Amber Rose and Maks take the DWTS stage next. For Amber’s most memorable year, she has chosen 2013, the year that her son Sebastian was born. Amber says that having her son made her stronger, and she wants him to look at her like super woman. Amber and Maks are dancing the Samba to “Woman Up.” Now, it’s time to hear what the judges have to say.
Julianne: First of all, I love the costume, the concept, and the content. By the way, Maks is here for you and trust him, own the fact that you guys are a partnership. Also, when you guys are together, I feel like you are giving 80%, but when you are solo I feel like you are queen Bee! So, really reach out!
Bruno: A Samba with girl power! I thought I was in Vegas, you were just killing it with the girls. He has done a fantastic job with you, trust him and don’t be scared of him. He’s right!
Carrie Ann: I just want to ask you, how did that feel for you? I saw you, when you started to walk down, you were a little nervous. When you heard the audience, you were like YES, and you filled the room. Keep going, you are on the trajectory up, you know it and you feel it.
Scores
Julianne: 8
Bruno: 8
Carrie Ann: 8
Up next is James Hinchliffe and his partner Sharna. For his most memorable year, James has chose 2015 because it was when he had the biggest crash of his career. He crashed straight in to the wall at 224 MPH. The paramedics rushes to the hospital, he actually flatlined in the emergency room – he lost so much blood – the doctor was shocked he even lived. James and Sharna are dancing the Tango to “Right Now.”
Bruno: And that is how you Tango! You went in to hyperdrive, super slick, super sharp, amazing control. You put in all of the poses, that is what makes it so special. Wonderful!
Carrie Ann: Okay, you are a miracle, you are the one to beat!
Julianne: They said it, your frame is the best frame I have ever seen on this competition. One note, when you move I want you to go that much here, you’ll be incredible!
Score
Carrie Ann: 10
Julianne: 9
Bruno: 10
Total: 29/30
The final performer to take the stage tonight is Terra Jole and her pro partner Sasha. Sasha’s most memorable year was 2013, her Dad always supported her dream to be in the entertainment industry. In 2013, her father had a liver transplant, but she was on tour with Miley Cyrus and decided not to come home. She thought her father would be fine, but the day he was supposed to be released from the hospital he had a heart attack and passed away. Sasha and Terra perform an emotional Contemporary dance to “Stand By Me” for the judges.
Julianne: Your biggest fan believed in you since you were born, and I think every one watching believes in you too.
Bruno: You were really dancing with you heart, and he was watching over you smiling. A memorable dance to end a fantastic night, there is not a dry eye in the place. Just fantastic!
Carrie Ann: I am sure your dad is watching you tonight, you are living the dream that you were born to. This is what you were meant to do.
Scores
Carrie Ann: 9
Julianne: 9
Bruno: 9
27/30
At the end of tonight’s episode, Tom Bergeron makes a surprising announcement – there won’t be an elimination this week!
