Top 10 Most Electric Performances in ‘Dancing With The Stars’ History

First, on our list of the top ten performances in Dancing with the Stars history, we had to include Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson’s ‘It’s Not Unusual.’ Alfonso Ribeiro from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air delivered the moment everyone awaited in Season 19. Paired with pro dancer Witney Carson, their jazz routine didn’t just include the iconic “Carlton Dance,” it also reinvented it for the ballroom.

Wearing his character’s signature sweater vest and bow tie, Ribeiro brought his famous charm to a routine that proved he was much more than a one-hit-wonder. The routine’s choreography built upon the beloved sitcom moves, making them into a full jazz performance. This dance truly showed off his natural rhythm.

The judges awarded the performance a perfect score, marking a turning point in the competition. Later, the duo won the Mirror Ball Trophy.

Next up is a freestyle that stunned everyone in Season 27’s finale week. Milo Manheim, the young star of Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise, had already impressed viewers all season with his natural talent. During this season, he was paired with pro-Witney Carson, and they were truly unstoppable.

The 17-year-old actor and his veteran partner performed a contemporary-fusion piece to ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’. Memorably, the routine used umbrellas as props (matching the song’s rain theme) while Milo matched his partner’s skill beat for beat. In the end, with a score of perfect 10s, the judges rewarded their risk-taking with a perfect score.

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In Season 21, Bindi Irwin, daughter of Steve Irwin, teamed up with six-time Mirror Ball champion Derek Hough for what would become one of the top performances in Dancing with the Stars history.

The freestyle performance to “Footprints in the Sand” was flowy and magical. Bindi and Derek moved across the floor like ethereal beings while their white costumes and bare feet added to the spiritual quality of the piece. The routine was also incredibly emotional, as an image of young Bindi with her late father appeared on screen. It turned an already beautiful dance into a moment of connection with the audience.

Understandably, not a single eye remained dry in the ballroom. This perfect-scoring freestyle forever changed DWTS history and showed how dance could tell deeply personal stories.

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Another one of the best performances in Dancing with the Stars history was this contemporary routine to “Take Me Home.” Jordan Fisher, the Broadway-trained actor and singer from Hamilton, was paired with pro-Lindsay Arnold in Season 25. And they blew audiences away.

The pair moved across the floor beautifully. Fisher matched Arnold’s expertise move for move, with their contemporary training shining through. The routine also showcased Jordan’s natural grace from years of theater performance.

Like the rest, the judges awarded them a perfect score. Fisher went on to win the season, but this contemporary routine remains the clearest demonstration of why this duo was one of the best to ever grace the DWTS floor.

Next up on our list is the trio dance that showed everyone why former Disney star Zendaya was Season 16’s one to beat. She teamed up with Val Chmerkovskiy and new pro-Gleb Savchenko for a salsa to “Feel This Moment.”

Right from the start, Zendaya took control. Instead of letting the two male pros lead her, she matched their skills step for step. Her moves and confidence made the dance into a showstopper.

The routine was packed with complex Latin combinations that looked effortless. While Zendaya may not have won the Mirror Ball that season, this performance showed the talent that would later take Hollywood by storm. The dance became an instant fan favorite, with viewers and fans still rewatching it today.

In Season 23, Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Val Chmerkovskiy tackled “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago, turning a challenge into a perfect-scoring dance.

The young gold medalist stepped far outside her comfort zone, trading her bubbly personality for murderous Broadway drama. Every movement hit with the sharpness this iconic song demanded, earning its spot on our list. And, the performance was also so successful it earned a spot on the 2016 DWTS Live! tour.

If you’ve watched DWTS recently, then you definitely know Harry Jowsey. If not, he’s the reality star from Too Hot to Handle, who stepped onto the floor with pro Rylee Arnold. On our list, we had to include the duo’s Cha Cha to Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body” during Season 32.

At 6’5″, Jowsey faced some challenges with his height. But while Harry had no dance background, he and 18-year-old Rylee (Lindsay Arnold’s younger sister) turned his size into an asset. Their Cha Cha blended clean Latin moves with playful personality, impressing audiences and earning a spot on our list.

Next, Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis and pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy capped Season 18 with a perfect freestyle dance. Their performance to “Latch” showcased the rare chemistry that had viewers talking all season.

The duo danced barefoot and stripped down to simple costumes – Maks shirtless and Meryl in a flowing dress. Their ice and dance training were evident as they translated into flawless lifts on the stage as well. Each movement flowed naturally into the next, making even the most difficult sequences look easy.

This performance also helped secure their Mirror Ball victory. Notably, it was also Maks’ first win after competing for 14 seasons.

As we approach the end, we couldn’t forget to include NBA champion Iman Shumpert and pro-Daniella Karagach‘s performance in Season 30. It changed the game for athletes on DWTS. Their contemporary routine to “I Got 5 on It (Tethered Mix)” brought Jordan Peele’s thriller Us to the ballroom.

Dressed in the film’s iconic red jumpsuits, the 6’5″ basketball star and his partner uniquely used their height difference to an advantage, creating new moves never seen on the show. Shumpert became the base for a series of acrobatic moves.

The performance earned the pair their first perfect score of the season. This routine also redefined what was possible for athletes on DWTS, especially taller contestants who were often seen as limited by their size. And Shumpert became the first NBA player to make it to the finals and win the Mirror Ball Trophy.

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Capping our list was yet another Milo Manheim and Witney Carson dance from Season 27. Their contemporary routine to Britney Spears’s “Toxic” showcased everything fresh and exciting about the new generation of DWTS competitors.

The performance turned the ballroom into a playground for the undead, with Manheim and Carson wearing ghostly white outfits against the grey backdrop. Their zombie-fied appearance didn’t hold back their precision. If anything, it enhanced the routine’s intense and fluid movements.

What made this routine stand out was how it combined Milo’s natural acting abilities with serious dance skills. Their perfect score also proved that taking creative risks (including bringing horror to the ballroom) could pay off spectacularly.