Dancing with the Stars Season 35 — Week 2 Recap: Viral Hits Night
Welcome to the Week 2 recap of Dancing with the Stars Season 35. Tonight’s theme was Viral Hits Night, with each couple performing to a song that found fame on social media. Fourteen couples returned after the premiere, all aiming to raise their scores, win audience votes, and stay in the competition. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough guided the evening while judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli delivered the critiques.
A quick reminder about voting: you can vote online at dwtsvote.abc.com or by texting the celebrity’s name to 21523. Voting opens at the start of the show and closes before the final commercial break. Each fan can cast up to ten votes per couple via each method, for a maximum of twenty votes per couple.
Troupe Opening
The troupe opened the show and the hosts quickly introduced all fourteen remaining partnerships. The pace felt brisk, with short rehearsal montages and quick transitions—clearly a fast-moving night designed to fit many performances and one elimination into a single episode.
Jenna & Val – Jive
Jenna and Val delivered a high-energy jive filled with sharp kicks and playful choreography. Jenna, a trained dancer, moved like a confident soloist and matched Val’s athleticism. The routine packed punch and the partnership looked tightly synchronized.
Judges: Bruno praised the speed, Carrie Ann noted connected resistance, and Derek summed it up as fast and fantastic. Score: 21/30.
Ciara & Brandon – Tango
Ciara improved from last week with stronger presence and better composure. The tango still needs more fluidity—the transitions felt slightly start-and-stop—but her posture and performance quality showed real progress.
Judges: Carrie Ann said Ciara “entered the building,” Derek praised her look while advising sharper frame, and Bruno called it beautiful. Score: 18/30.
Tyler & Sharna – Salsa
Tyler’s athleticism showed, but the salsa leaned toward showy lifts and cabaret rather than authentic salsa technique. The routine was impressive in moments but lacked consistent salsa content and polish.
Judges: Derek felt it was more cabaret than salsa; Bruno wanted more salsa content; Carrie Ann called it impressive. Score: 16/30.
Julia & Ezra – Tango
Julia stepped out of her comfort zone with a strong tango, showing solid posture and dramatic performance. Her acting ability enhanced the storytelling, and with memorable choreography she could climb higher on the leaderboard.
Judges: Bruno liked the persona despite a few stumbles, Carrie Ann praised posture, and Derek applauded the performance. Score: 16/30.
Jackson & Emma – Foxtrot
Jackson showed clear improvement with a graceful foxtrot and some impressive glide. A few technical moments needed tightening, but overall it was a pretty, well-executed routine that demonstrated forward momentum.
Judges: Carrie Ann noted improvement, Derek complimented the frame, and Bruno called it charming. Score: 18/30.
Giada & Alan – Salsa
Giada’s salsa came across timid and overly cautious for an inherently lively dance. She lost her footing mid-routine and struggled to regain momentum. The performance felt measured rather than spirited, which hurt the overall impact.
Judges: Derek appreciated her smile but cited timid missteps, Bruno said it lacked spice, and Carrie Ann described it as shaky. Score: 12/30.
Connor & Rylee – Tango
Connor showed determination and many basics were present, but a mid-routine stumble interrupted an otherwise promising tango. Relaxing and sharpening technique will help him showcase his strengths more consistently.
Judges: Bruno applauded the connection despite mistakes, Carrie Ann admired his commitment, and Derek offered a warm personal shout-out. Score: 15/30.
Ezra & Daniella – Cha-Cha-Cha
Ezra brought energy and boldness to a fast cha-cha-cha choreographed by Daniella. While a few moments felt frenetic, the routine contained excellent technique and exciting choreography that captured attention.
Judges: Carrie Ann loved the grit, Derek was impressed by his performance and attitude, and Bruno called it fabulous. Score: 21/30.
Tatyana & Jan – Foxtrot
Tatyana delivered a dramatic foxtrot with strong lines, though heavy stage smoke obscured some footwork. Her acting is a definite strength; now she must refine frame and spatial awareness to maximize her dancing potential.
Judges: Derek found her stunning, Bruno praised the flow while noting the lost footwork in fog, and Carrie Ann called it touching. Score: 18/30.
Amber & Pasha – Tango
Amber and Pasha delivered one of the night’s strongest tangos: controlled, powerful, and fluid. Their partnership and the choreography worked beautifully together, producing a confident, polished routine.
Judges: Bruno named it the best tango of the night, Carrie Ann called it phenomenal, and Derek celebrated the partnership. Score: 21/30.
Guillermo & Witney – Paso Doble
Guillermo remains a crowd favorite for his charm and improvement. The paso doble wasn’t flawless, but the commitment and theatrical moments—like knee slides assisted by the troupe—made it memorable and endearing.
Judges: Carrie Ann praised his effort beyond shtick, Derek noted intention and intensity, and Bruno applauded the passion. Score: 12/30.
Taylor & Britt – Cha-Cha-Cha
Taylor showed promising moments side-by-side with Britt, but arm and finish details were inconsistent. The routine needed more finesse and finishing polish, suggesting more rehearsal time would benefit the partnership.
Judges: Derek urged attention to arm placement, Bruno agreed on technical finishes, and Carrie Ann described the routine as frenetic. Score: 15/30.
Harry & Jenna – Viennese Waltz
Harry offered a bold, powerful Viennese waltz with a strong stage presence and an unexpectedly primal “war cry” moment. The performance favored dramatic power over vulnerability, which worked for some viewers but left technical posture slightly unbalanced.
Judges: Bruno appreciated the performance style, Carrie Ann called for balance work, and Derek described it as beautiful. Score: 18/30.
Maura & Mark – Cha-Cha-Cha
Maura displayed natural dance talent with a clean cha-cha-cha. The routine felt a touch safe and could have used a few faster moments, but her potential is clear and the judges recognized her strong technique.
Judges: Carrie Ann noted her dedication, Derek praised elegance while advising weight placement, and Bruno applauded the effort. Score: 19/30.
Judges’ Scores — Week 2
Top scores of the night were 21s from Jenna, Ezra, and Amber. Maura followed with 19. Several couples earned 18s, and the lower scores included 16s, 15s, and a 12 from Giada and Guillermo.
Summary of judges’ scores:
Jenna – 21
Ezra – 21
Amber – 21
Maura – 19
Ciara – 18
Jackson – 18
Tatyana – 18
Harry – 18
Tyler – 16
Julia – 16
Connor – 15
Taylor – 15
Giada – 12
Voting closed before the results were announced.
Results and Elimination
The following couples were declared safe and will return next week: Tatyana & Jan, Jackson & Emma, Ezra & Daniella, Ciara & Brandon, Taylor & Britt, Amber & Pasha, Maura & Mark, Jenna & Val, Harry & Jenna, Connor & Rylee, Julia & Ezra, Guillermo & Witney, and Tyler & Sharna.
Eliminated this week: Giada & Alan. Giada thanked the judges and hugged her partner as the cast gathered around.
Final note: tonight proved that personality and memorable moments still matter as much as technical skill. Couples with strong storytelling and committed performances earned praise, while others will head back to the rehearsal studio to sharpen technique. Next week’s theme is Yacht Rock Night, offering a different musical palette and fresh opportunities for the remaining couples. Thanks for reading this Viral Hits Night recap—see you next week for another Dancing with the Stars update.