The 4 Most Thrilling and Chilling Halloween Routines in ‘Dancing with the Stars’ History
Dancing with the Stars Halloween episode is always one of the season’s most anticipated. Celebrities and their professional partners team up to thrill and chill viewers as they dance for votes and the chance to remain on the series and win a mirrorball trophy. These dances have a lot to live up to, as some of the most iconic routines have appeared during spooky season. Here are 4 of the most unforgettable Halloween routines in DWTS history.
Milo Manheim and Witney Carson (Season 27)
Milo Manheim and Witney Carson performed an unforgettable contemporary Halloween dance set to 2WEI’s version of Britney Spears’s “Toxic.” It perfectly captured the essence of Halloween; scary and spooky and entertaining as well.
Manheim was seen in a padded cell, and Carson played his nurse. The routine was deeply unsettling, as Manheim wore colored contact lenses and utilized jerky movements to depict a man in deep distress.
By the end of the dance, it was revealed that Carson was a figment of his imagination, and Manheim was left alone. The couple received a perfect 30 for the routine, putting them at the top of the night’s leaderboard.
Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach (Season 30) of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Perhaps one of the most disturbing and electric Halloween routines Dancing with the Stars has ever generated was Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach during season 30. The couple performed a contemporary based on Jordan Peele’s horror film Us.
The NBA player and his pro partner were dressed in the movie’s iconic red jumpsuits. They danced to a song from the film’s soundtrack, “I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix).” This routine earned the duo a perfect score of 40. Shumpert and Karagach would also go on to win the season and take home a mirrorball trophy.
Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson (Season 29)
During season 29, Jenna Johnson and Nev Shulman’s professional partnership took a dark turn on the dance floor as they channeled the film Black Swan. The couple performed a Paso Doble to the song “Swan Lake Remix” by District 78.
Jenna portrayed the white swan while Nev, the darker side. Their performance was a mashup of the traditional ballet and the horror film.
The traditional ballet tells the story of a curse that turns young women into swans during the day and humans at night. The only way to break the curse is through faithful love.
In the film, Nina (Natalie Portman) is a ballerina chosen by her ballet company’s artistic director to replace his prima ballerina for a production of Swan Lake. However, Nina has a competitor, Lily (Mila Kunis) whom he wants to play the Black Swan. A rivalry between the dancers transforms into a twisted relationship.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold (Season 25)
Jordan Fisher and his pro-partner Lindsay Arnold danced a routine to a nightmarish rendition of the children’s story, “Little Red Riding Hood.” They danced a Paso Doble where Fisher played the Big Bad Wolf during season 25.
The couple danced to “Animals” by Martin Garrix. The result was straight 10s from the judges for a total of 30 out of 30 points.
Fisher and Arnold would go on to win the season in 2017. They beat out violinist Lindsey Stirling and actor Frankie Muniz for a glittery mirrorball. The dance duo set a record that remains in place to this day, the most perfect scores in a single season with nine.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ presents ‘Halloween Nightmares’ dances and team matchups
During season 33, the remaining couples will dance through each celebrity’s nightmare. These performances will focus on this particular fear.
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson dance Argentine Tango to “Poison” by RAVN based on his nightmare: snakes. Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson will perform an Argentine Tango to “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” by Róisín Murphy based on his nightmare: ventriloquist dolls.
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach dance Contemporary to “Ring Around The Rosie” by District 78 featuring Natalia Lillee where Dwight becomes the nightmare: the boogeyman. Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong perform a Viennese Waltz to “Secret” by Denmark + Winter based on her nightmare: creepy dolls.
Olympian rugby player Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten Tango to “Psycho Killer” by Miley Cyrus based on her nightmare: psycho killers. Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold dance Contemporary to “I Ran (So Far Away)” by Hidden Citizens based on his nightmare: the dark. Finally, Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber will perform a Contemporary routine to “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo based on her nightmare: vampires.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney Plus. The episode airs the next day on Hulu.
