Dancing with the Stars 2025: Season 34 Week 5 — Dedication Night Dance Styles and Song Choices
In Week 5 of Dancing with the Stars Season 34, the competition shifts to a deeply personal theme: Dedication Night. Ten remaining celebrity couples will honor the people who shaped their lives with heartfelt performances. This episode features the return of special guest judge Kym Johnson, who will join the regular judging panel to share her expertise and perspective on the night’s emotionally charged routines.
Dedication Night airs TUESDAY, OCT. 14 (8:00–10:00 p.m. EDT/PDT, 7:00–9:00 p.m. CDT) and will be simulcast live across ABC and Disney+ in local time zones, with the episode available the next day on Hulu. For viewers, the episode promises a mix of contemporary storytelling and classic ballroom technique as celebrities bring loved ones onto the dance floor for the first time in the show’s history.
For this special episode, each celebrity will be joined by the friend or family member they chose for their dedication, integrating them into routines across multiple styles: Contemporary, Foxtrot, Jive, Salsa and Viennese Waltz. In addition to the couples’ dances, the troupe will present high-energy and emotionally resonant numbers. Featured troupe performances include “Heal” by Jamal Roberts, winner of American Idol 2025; “Mystical Magical” by Benson Boone; and “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean. Professional-only performances will also be highlighted, including a Jenna Johnson and Britt Stewart-choreographed routine to “Green Light” by Lorde and a Brandon Armstrong-choreographed piece to “Back On 74” by Jungle.
How to vote
Viewer participation will influence the results in real time. Fans can vote during the live simulcast in the ET/CT time zones. Online voting will be open to viewers in all U.S. time zones, U.S. territories, and Canada at the official voting site, and viewers on participating U.S. wireless carriers can vote via SMS/text (SMS/text voting is not available to voters in Canada). Live viewer votes will be combined with the judges’ scores from the night to determine which couples are at risk of elimination. If you plan to vote, check your local broadcast time so your votes count during the live window.
Dancing with the Stars: Dedication Night — Dance Styles and Song Choices
- Jen Affleck and partner Jan Ravnik — Viennese Waltz to “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle, dedicated to her mother, Maria.
- Jordan Chiles and partner Ezra Sosa — Viennese Waltz to “Daughters” by John Mayer, dedicated to her father, Timothy.
- Alix Earle and partner Val Chmerkovskiy — Contemporary to “Sparks” by Coldplay, dedicated to her younger sister, Izabel.
- Dylan Efron and partner Daniella Karagach — Contemporary to “Rewrite the Stars” by Zac Efron & Zendaya, dedicated to his younger sister, Olivia.
- Danielle Fishel and partner Pasha Pashkov — Jive to “Boy Meets World” by Twenty Cent Crush featuring Phil Rosenthal, dedicated to “Boy Meets World” co-star Bill Daniels (Mr. Feeny).
- Elaine Hendrix and partner Alan Bersten — Foxtrot to “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole, dedicated to her best friend and The Parent Trap co-star Lisa Ann Walter (Chessy).
- Scott Hoying and partner Rylee Arnold — Foxtrot to “Parallel” by Scott Hoying, dedicated to his husband, Mark.
- Robert Irwin and partner Witney Carson — Contemporary to “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins, dedicated to his mother, Terri Irwin.
- Whitney Leavitt and partner Mark Ballas — Contemporary to “Heal” by Jamal Roberts, dedicated to her husband, Connor.
- Andy Richter and partner Emma Slater — Salsa to “Jump In the Line” by Harry Belafonte, dedicated to his daughter, Cornelia.
These pairings balance emotional storytelling and technical demands. Viennese Waltzes will showcase sweeping turns and partnering, Contemporary routines will emphasize expressive lifts and narrative movement, Foxtrots will highlight smooth technique and musicality, Jive will bring fast footwork and fun energy, and Salsa will offer rhythmic flair and chemistry on the dance floor.
Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast
After each episode, the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast goes behind the curtain for deeper context. Hosted by Season 33 Mirrorball Trophy champion Joey Graziadei, the podcast features exclusive cast interviews, guest appearances, behind-the-scenes insights and performance breakdowns from the week’s episode. New podcast episodes are available Thursdays on Disney+ and Hulu, offering fans additional perspective on choreography, rehearsal challenges and the emotions that drive Dedication Night performances.
The series is co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. The judging panel includes Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, with Kym Johnson returning as a special guest judge for this episode. Together, hosts and judges help guide the competition while providing reactions and constructive critique that shape each couple’s journey through the season.
Dedication Night is designed to be one of the season’s most emotional and revealing episodes, combining personal storytelling with demanding choreography. As couples bring family and friends onto the ballroom floor, expect memorable moments that resonate both with the live audience and at-home viewers. Tune in for compelling performances and to cast your vote when the show airs live.