On last night's spectacular Dancing with the Stars, the ballroom was completely transformed into a realm of Disney magic, but one performance proved that Broadway royalty can effortlessly steal a Disney-themed night.
In a standout moment from the special Disney Night episode, social media influencer Whitney Leavitt, paired with the incredibly talented professional dancer Mark Ballas, delivered a captivating Foxtrot. Their routine was expertly choreographed to the powerful and politically charged anthem "The Room Where It Happens" from the groundbreaking Broadway musical Hamilton. To fully embody the spirit of the show, the duo wore costumes directly inspired by the iconic attire from the Broadway production, adding an extra layer of authenticity to their performance. And here’s the result everyone’s talking about: their sophisticated and commanding routine earned them the highest score of the entire evening!
But the magic didn't stop there. The entire "Disney Night" premiere, which aired on Tuesday, October 7th, is now available for streaming on Hulu. The episode kicked off with a grandiose opening number that set the tone perfectly. Choreographed by the renowned Mandy Moore, the performance was set to the beloved "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. In a brilliant crossover, the number featured a special guest appearance by Danny Gardner, who is currently playing Lumiere in the ongoing North American tour of Beauty and the Beast.
Now, this is the part that truly highlights the scale of the night. The lineup of celebrity and pro pairings, along with their imaginative Disney-inspired dances, was nothing short of impressive. And this is where it gets interesting—with so many styles and songs, which combination do you think was the most creative?
- Jen Affleck (from "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives") and Jan Ravnik performed a Jazz routine to "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin.
- Author and wellness influencer Hilaria Baldwin and GLEB SAVCHENKO tackled a Quickstep to the catchy "Cantina Band" from Star Wars: A New Hope.
- Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa also performed a Quickstep, this time to "Special Spice" from the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride.
- Social media personality Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy glided through a Viennese Waltz to "Once Upon a Dream" from Maleficent.
- Reality TV star Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach raced through a Quickstep to "Life Is a Highway" from Cars.
- "Boy Meets World" star Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov swung into a Quickstep to "I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" from The Jungle Book.
- Film and TV actress Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten embarked on a Quickstep set to the music of the "Space Mountain" ride.
- GRAMMY® winner Scott Hoying (of Pentatonix) and Rylee Arnold heated up the floor with a Salsa to "Bop to the Top" from High School Musical.
- Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and WITNEY CARSON delivered a lively Cha Cha to "Try Everything" from Zootopia.
- And of course, Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas performed their show-stopping Foxtrot to "The Room Where It Happens" from Hamilton.
- Comedian Andy Richter and EMMA SLATER closed out the list with a Viennese Waltz to "Le Festin" from Ratatouille.
But here's where the real controversy might lie for super fans: is it fair to allow a song from a Broadway show like Hamilton, even if it's owned by Disney, to compete on a quintessentially "Disney film" night? Does this give a pairing an unfair advantage by tapping into a more serious, narrative-driven piece of music compared to classic animated tunes? We want to hear your take in the comments!
For those who can't get enough, the experience continues after each episode with the "'Dancing with the Stars' Official Podcast." Hosted by Joey Graziadei, the champion from Season 33, the podcast offers exclusive cast interviews, special guests, behind-the-scenes secrets, and expert analysis of the performances that have everyone talking. New episodes drop every Thursday on Disney+ and Hulu.
For anyone new to the phenomenon, Dancing with the Stars is the hugely popular reality competition cohosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. The show pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers to create themed dance routines, which are then critiqued by a panel of expert judges: Carrie Ann Inaba, the passionate Bruno Tonioli, and the critically acclaimed Derek Hough.
