Dancing With The Stars’ Season 34 Crowns New Champs in Explosive Finale!

WARNING: SPOILERS! This article contains details from the Season 34 finale of Dancing with the Stars, including the winner of the mirrorball trophy.

Dancing with the Stars has declared its latest champion.

The epic Season 34 finale unfolded on Tuesday evening, stretching over three hours and showcasing the final five pairs through three rounds of competition: freestyle, judges’ choice, and the instant dance challenge. After an 11-week saga, the climax included tributes to all previously eliminated contestants.

Indeed, every duo from Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas to Jenna Johnson and Corey Feldman returned to the dance floor for a final performance. Following a spectacular opening act, the competition kicked into high gear.

There’s a lot of action tonight, so let’s dive right in.

JUDGES’ CHOICE

In this segment, judges assigned each pair a dance style they had not yet tackled.

Internet star Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy. Earle has already had several standout moments this season, yet Chmerkovskiy believes she hasn’t reached her pinnacle. Carrie Ann Inaba chose a samba for them, set to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas. During rehearsals, Earle praised Inaba’s intense coaching style. After their performance, Inaba exclaimed, “It was just brilliant,” with Bruno Tonioli adding, “You were not just good, you were glowing!” SCORE: 30 out of 30

Reality TV celebrity Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. Starting off near the bottom, Efron was surprised to make it to the finale. Tonioli gave them a paso doble, performed to “Stampede” by Alexander Jean ft. Lindsey Stirling. When Efron took his shirt off, the crowd was thrilled. “Michelangelo couldn’t have sculpted better,” praised Tonioli. Inaba critiqued his hand movements, which drew some boos, though Derek Hough concurred. SCORE: 28 out of 30

Actress Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten. With a visit from Derek in training, Hendrix and Bersten were tasked with a rumba to “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall. Despite past injuries, Hendrix was determined to give it her all. “That was exquisite,” Derek commented post-performance, with the other judges echoing his praise. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Conservationist Robert Irwin with Witney Carson. After topping the leaderboard last week, Irwin aimed to maintain his streak with a quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, selected by Derek. Nursing an injury from rehearsals, Irwin was cautious not to overdo it. His performance dispelled any concerns, with Derek proclaiming, “Robert, the quickstep king!” SCORE: 29 out of 30

Olympic champion Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa. The duo performed a paso doble to “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna, choreographed by Inaba. Chiles impressed the judges, especially Tonioli who admired her determination. SCORE: 29 out of 30

INSTANT DANCE

This new challenge tested the couples’ ability to perform a dance style announced just five minutes before their performance. It emphasized their ability to rely on instinct and quick learning.

Internet star Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy. They performed a cha cha to “Where Is My Husband!” by Rae. Earle’s performance was so polished it seemed rehearsed. “First of all, blown away, because that was fantastic,” Inaba commented. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Reality TV celebrity Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. They chose a foxtrot to the TikTok hit “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. Efron, feeling confident in this style, delivered an impressive performance. “I don’t think you know how amazing that was!” Inaba exclaimed. Derek added, “We were just sitting here, amazed!” SCORE: 30 out of 30

Actress Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten. The pair drew a quickstep to “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes. Despite a few minor missteps, the judges were impressed with Hendrix’s ability to keep up with the challenging pace. SCORE: 27 out of 30

Conservationist Robert Irwin with Witney Carson. Assigned a cha cha to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE, Irwin faced one of his weaker styles. Despite the challenge, his charisma shone through. “I was nervous for you, but my guy, the rotation…the performance…it was honestly so incredibly impressive,” Derek praised. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Olympic champion Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa. Tasked with a tango to “I Like It” by Alesso and Nate Smith, they aimed to improve on their previous scores. “There’s not much to say other than I couldn’t have thought of a better dance for you for that challenge,” Derek remarked. SCORE: 30 out of 30

FREESTYLE

As always, the freestyle round was a highlight, giving the professionals creative control to tailor the choreography to their celebrity partners’ strengths.

Internet star Alix Earle with Val Chmerkovskiy. They danced a dynamic freestyle to a mix of “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado and “Sports Car” by Tate McRae. Earle’s performance was powerful, showcasing her growth from a timid beginner to a confident dancer. “Thank you so much for letting us witness that,” Derek said, while Tonioli called her a “dominatrix unleashed!” SCORE: 30 out of 30

Reality TV celebrity Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach. Their freestyle to “Something in the Heavens” by Lewis Capaldi reflected Efron’s newfound passion for dance. “This dance was the perfect representation of what Dancing with the Stars is,” Inaba stated. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Actress Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten. They performed a charming freestyle to “Opening: I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line. Hendrix expressed how the show had boosted her self-confidence and her intent to continue dancing. Her performance moved Inaba to tears. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Conservationist Robert Irwin with Witney Carson. Dancing their freestyle to a blend of “Black and Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii, Irwin dedicated his performance as a heartfelt thank you to his supporters and a tribute to his father. “Mate, that was a 24-carat gold performance!” Tonioli exclaimed. SCORE: 30 out of 30

Olympic champion Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa. Ending the season with a freestyle to “Motivation” by Normani, which featured a guest appearance by Normani herself, Chiles showcased her tremendous growth. “That is the best freestyle I have ever seen in 20 years!” Inaba declared. SCORE: 30 out of 30

AND THE WINNER IS… Robert and Witney!

For the record: Elaine and Alan took fifth place, Dylan and Daniella fourth, Jordan and Ezra third, and Alix and Val were runners-up.