On “Prince Night” of “Dancing with the Stars,” Elaine Hendrix and her pro partner Alan Bersten turned up the drama with two very different but equally powerful routines. They opened with a smooth, romantic foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” then switched gears into a dramatic paso doble set to “When Doves Cry.” Elaine’s poise and intensity paired with Alan’s sharp technique gave them a memorable night in the ballroom—and the judges responded with praise.
Hendrix & Bersten’s Performances Plus Scores
The couple began their night with a foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” They receive three nines from the judges creating their score a 27 out of 30.
Their paso doble set to “When Doves Cry” was the second dance of the night. They receive a perfect score of 30 out of 30 for this second dance.
Carrie-Ann immediately got out of her chair to go hug Hendrix after the performance.
Lisa Ann Walter Calls Out Judges for Underscoring Elaine Hendrix
Elaine’s longtime friend and “Parent Trap” co-star Lisa Ann Walter recently spoke out, claiming that the judges have been underscoring her all season. Reality Tea reports, Lisa Ann insists Elaine’s dances deserve more credit than what the judges have given. She argued that Elaine, who hadn’t done ballroom dancing in years before this season, has shown real skill: “the way she picked up the frame … the way she picked up heel leads in her smooth dances,” Lisa said. She also gave Alan his due, praising him for teaching “legit ballroom” without shortcuts.
Lisa’s comments add another layer to Elaine’s journey—one where her growth is clear to friends and fans, but still feels underappreciated on the scoreboard.
Elaine Opens Up About Her Injury, Fighting Through Pain to Dance
Elaine revealed that during rehearsal she suffered a severe rib injury—so bad that she couldn’t breathe and was eventually rushed to the hospital. An Exclusive PEOPLE article said she’d been dealing with bruised ribs, but one morning everything changed: “that day literally took my breath away,” she recalled. She begged her team not to take her to the hospital because more than anything she just wanted to dance that night.
With her partner Alan by her side, and her close friend Lisa Ann Walter rushing to support her, Elaine eventually went in for treatment. While she cried tears of relief when she learned she’d made it through another round, she also admitted she was terrified—worried her season might end the way she didn’t want it to.
Doctors suspect her injury was a strained muscle rather than a fracture, and she’s since resumed rehearsals with physical therapy and a strict pain-management plan. Elaine told PEOPLE she’s “1000% determined” to stay in the competition, even though she knows every routine now carries more risk. Last week’s 20th anniversary episode Hendrix and Bersten danced a sizzling salsa to “It Takes Two” for the 20th Anniversary Night of “Dancing with the Stars.” After suffering a rib injury earlier in the season, Hendrix called this performance a “moment of clarity” that reignited her passion. Despite the setback, the pair earned a solid 36 out of 40 from the judges.
