DWTS Finale Preview: Prince Night Shakes Up the Race

The Final Countdown Begins

As Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars approaches its grand finale, the semi-finals delivered an unforgettable Prince Night that tested the remaining couples' versatility and artistry. With six stars still in the race for the mirrorball trophy, this high-stakes episode not only celebrated the legacy of Prince but also set the stage for an intense finale showdown.

Prince Night: A Celebration of a Legend

The ballroom transformed into a purple paradise as contestants performed two dances each – one in a style never attempted this season and one repeat performance – all set to Prince's iconic hits. This challenging format pushed couples to showcase technical growth while honoring the late music legend's diverse catalog. From "Purple Rain" to "Little Red Corvette," each dance became a tribute to Prince's enduring musical legacy.

The Couples and Their Performances

Each semi-finalist brought their A-game with these standout performances:

• Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: Argentine Tango to "Little Red Corvette" (28/30) and Viennese Waltz to "Purple Rain" (28/30). Judges praised Alix's growth but noted she needed to "take a deep breath" for better control.
• Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: Jive to "Baby I'm a Star" and Viennese Waltz to "WOW". Continued their strong run with energetic performances.
• Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: Cha Cha to "1999" and Viennese Waltz to "Slow Love". Whitney revealed her DWTS journey started as a strategic move to return to her reality TV roots.
• Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: Tango to "I Would Die 4 U" and Cha Cha to "Kiss". Maintained their perfect-score momentum from last week.
• Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Foxtrot to "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (27/30) and Paso Doble to "When Doves Cry". Judges wanted to see more "edge" in her performances.
• Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: Jive to "Raspberry Beret" and Argentine Tango to "U Got the Look". The Olympic gymnast proved her dance versatility.

Judges' Verdict and Scoring

The judges panel – Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli – delivered mixed reviews. While praising technical improvements, they consistently urged contestants to push their performance boundaries:

"You deserve this spot so much! But I want to see more fight." – Carrie Ann Inaba to Elaine Hendrix

"You have the potential to go all the way... beautiful lines, well done!" – Derek Hough to Alix Earle

How Voting Works and Who's in the Finale

After combining judges' scores with live viewer votes from the East Coast broadcast, all six couples advanced to the finale, meaning no elimination occurred this week. This unprecedented move creates maximum drama for the finale where:

• The winner will be crowned during a special three-hour finale on November 25
• Live voting opens during the East Coast airing and ends shortly after performances conclude
• Fans can vote online at dwtsvote.abc.com or via SMS (U.S. carriers only)

What to Expect in the Finale

With no overarching theme, the finale will feature couples performing multiple dances including freestyles and possibly redemption numbers. The competition remains wide open, with:

• Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy showing consistent technical growth
• Robert Irwin maintaining fan favorite status
• Whitney Leavitt's strategic TV background proving advantageous
• Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach's perfect-score momentum
• Elaine Hendrix needing to deliver breakout performances
• Jordan Chiles bringing athletic prowess to the dance floor

Conclusion

Prince Night wasn't just a tribute to a music icon – it was a masterclass in adaptability that perfectly set up DWTS' most unpredictable finale yet. As the final six prepare to battle it out for the mirrorball trophy, fans are buzzing about who will claim the crown in this season's star-studded conclusion.