The six remaining dancers on “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” will be trying to make some wow moments on ABC tonight. We are on the hunt for the next pro dancer to debut on “DWTS” Season 35. For tonight’s episode, it’s all about making a viral moment, as “Dancing With the Stars” pro dancer Daniella Karagach will be serving as guest mentor and judge. Watch with us tonight during our “DWTS: The Next Pro” 2026 live recap below and find out with us who got eliminated on “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” tonight.
Wow Moments on ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’
We had an intense week on this “Dancing With the Stars’ spinoff last week, as the dancers paired up to create some spicy and hot routines. It was all about chemistry, but we did see the bottom couple sent home.
For tonight, the contestants will once again pair up as they take on this week’s theme, which is all about making “wow” moments with Daniella. They will be tasked with incorporating one of her signature moves into a viral-worthy routine. Then, the dancers will visit the Australia Zoo with host Robert Irwin, as they try to garner some inspiration from the power and agility of animals in nature.
In the end, another dancer will be sent home. Who will it be tonight? Find out with us during our Live Recap below!
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD: THIS LIVE RECAP WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE EPISODE, SO DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ SPOILERS.
August 10 Live Recap – Week 5
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Week 5 Begins
The dancers are back in the ballroom. We have made it to the halfway point, as half of the dancers have been eliminated. The judges are here; Robert Irwin is here. We have the guest judge/mentor this week, Daniella Karagach, perform her routine, which is intense and fun to watch.
Daniella said it’s all about creating wow moments during a routine. Those wow moments go viral, and people want to recreate them. Those viral moments also lead to votes. During her performance tonight, they included three “Dancing With the Stars” dance moves that went viral: Val’s iconic knee walks, Witney’s leg lift, and Daniella’s air walk.
For tonight’s challenge, the dancers have to create a routine that includes one of those moves. It must also include one of their own unique, wow moves. This is all while dancing in a contemporary style. At the end of this challenge, there will be another elimination.
A Trip to the Zoo
To help give them inspiration, Robert meets the dancers at the Australia Zoo. There are animals everywhere, and it’s so fun to see Robert in his element.
The dancers are feeling inspired by animals. It’s a fun time, but the real work is about to begin.
Rehearsal Time on ‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’
The dancers are back in the studio. They will be dancing in partners tonight. Since the girls picked last week, now the guys get to pick. If more than one guy picks the same girl, then the girl gets to pick her partner.
Like last week, we have a dancer not picked: Nina. Both Erik and AJ pick Selena, whose wheelhouse is contemporary. Selena picks Erik, so the partners this week are:
- Allen & Adele
- Erik & Selena
- AJ & Nina
Creating Their Wow Moments
The couples are now working on their routines. Allen got in trouble last week for not following the brief, so he wants to make sure he follows all the rules this week on “DWTS: The Next Pro.” Adele is a Latin ballroom dancer, so she has no connection to contemporary and is struggling during rehearsals.
Nina and AJ are working the animals into their routine, as they are doing a koala bear jump and grab. Nina has a theater background, so she wants to use that to channel a contemporary routine. The couples are struggling with coming up with their wow moment.
Back at the house, the dancers are feeling stressed. They feel the lack of dancers left, so they know the pressure is on. They are feeling drained. The pressure is on, and emotions are running high.
One Day to Performance
The dancers are back in the rehearsal room. Daniella comes in to check out their routines and wow moments. For Adele & Allen, they are doing a caveman walk. She wants more and bigger.
For AJ & Nina, they are doing the koala launch. She wants Nina to give herself away and just let herself go. Selena & Erik don’t have their wow moment yet, which has Daniella worried.
Erik and Selena are struggling over this wow moment. They are not on the same page about what they want to do. Selena is contemporary, so I think she is feeling the pressure of the week, and all eyes will be on her.
AJ is freaking out. He thinks it all lands on him, but Nina said he’s too focused and never lets go or lets emotions come into the routine. Adele is all blistered up, and her feet are hurting her, especially when dancing barefoot for contemporary.
AJ and Nina have a moment. He finally lets those walls down. He wants this so much; his perfection is hurting him. They have a good talk, which seems to help both of them.
Show Night
The couples are back in the ballroom. The judges are in place, and Robert is here to introduce the couples. Time to get to these performances! They are dancing in couples, but they will be judged individually, and one dancer will be going home tonight.
AJ & Nina
They start a little rough, as Nina seems too stiff. I know it’s part of the routine, but in certain parts she needs to let go. This one went very strong, though. You could feel the emotion from both of them, and there were some standout moments.
Judges’ Feedback: Daniella said they both understood the assignment. The koala move is so fun. Mark said that was great. Shirley said you didn’t just have one wow moment; you had a few. She loved the koala move. AJ came out of his comfort zone today. They did well today.
Allen & Adele
They start with that caveman walk, which is so cool. I feel like they weren’t in sync at times. I feel like AJ & Nina had so much emotion, but this one lacked that for me.
Judges’ Feedback: Mark said they dance so well together. He didn’t hit the brief last week, but he hit it hard tonight. Adele, wow. She is a diamond. Shirley said she is beyond a diamond for her. She is one of the best female dancers she’s ever seen. She is the real deal. Daniella said she is so proud of how this came out.
