Tonight is a big one: “Dancing with the Stars” is honoring Prince in the semi-finals episode starting at 8:00pm ET on ABC and Disney+, with streaming next day on Hulu.
According to People, this night gives each couple a chance to show both strength and growth: “each couple will perform two routines to some of the legendary musician’s hits, including one in a style they have yet to dance this season, and another in a repeat style that gives them a chance to show their improvement.”
And Elaine Hendrix and her pro-partner, Alan Bersten, are bringing the drama with two very different routines. A Paso Doble to “When Doves Cry” and a Foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover.”
SPOILER WARNING: The post was updated live as Season 34, Episode 10 of “Dancing with the Stars” airs live. Keep scrolling to see all the details and if Elaine made it through Prince Night.
The Judges’ Comments & Scores, Part 1
Opening the show tonight, their Foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover” showed off Elaine’s elegance and Alan’s smooth partnering. Flowing steps, playful glances, and that signature chemistry made this routine a total crowd-pleaser. After weeks of competing, this one felt like a breath of fresh, romantic air; the kind of routine that makes us swoon and take notice.
- Carrie Ann: “You deserve this spot so much.” Says she’s looking sophisticated, smooth, strong; basically serving looks and technique. That said, she could still “push to the edge” a bit more to really make it unforgettable. Score: 9/10
- Derek: He called it a beautiful, incredible foxtrot (no argument here). But he’s already teasing the second dance, saying he wants to see more fight; which, let’s be real, sounds like exactly the kind of energy Elaine can bring. Score: 9/10
- Bruno: “Radiant as ever,” and “flirty.” Dancing is “character-driven,” and she knows how to sell it. But he agrees with the other judges that she needs to push herself more. Score: 9/10
Total For This Dance: 27/30
Fan Reactions to Elaine & Alan’s Foxtrot
On X (formerly Twitter), fans had a lot to say about Elaine and Alan’s first dance tonight. But DWTS tends to bring out everyone’s most dramatic, unfiltered opinions. After her Foxtrot, viewers were split between soft praise and full-on “flip the table” energy, which feels extremely on brand for a semi-final.
Some fans were gentle but honest, with one saying, “I love Elaine, but sometimes her dance just doesn’t get it for me. Beautifully done, though.” Others went all-in with the praise, calling it an “incredible foxtrot,” saying she was “flawless,” and repeating “beautifully done” like it was the only phrase that mattered.
But let’s be real… the loudest corner of the fandom was the “justice for Elaine” crowd. Comments like “underscored and robbed” and “so ridiculously underscored ARE WE KIDDING” were everywhere. One fan even dropped the all-caps rage we all know too well: “They deserved 10’s!!!🤬🤬🤬 What’s wrong with judges!!”
It seems like viewers are feeling very protective of Elaine tonight, and honestly? That checks out.
The Judges’ Comments & Scores, Part 2
Switching gears completely, Elaine and Alan hit the floor to “When Doves Cry” with all the intensity you want from a Paso Doble; sharp, dramatic, and full of attitude. The choreography pushed them to be bold and precise while telling a story that grabbed us immediately. It’s the kind of dance that makes you lean forward in your seat, hoping the judges are ready to throw high scores their way.
- Carrie Ann: *jumped up to hug Elaine* She was all in, saying, “That was amazing … You left it all on the floor.” You could tell she meant every word; that kind of praise doesn’t come lightly this late in the competition. Score: 10/10
- Derek: He came in hyped, telling her, “You came with that fight,” and that it was “exactly what we were talking about.” He also pointed out how she “filled the room” with “energy,” which, honestly, is exactly the vibe a Paso Doble needs. Score: 10/10
- Bruno: Ever the dramatist, he called it “a regal paso doble” and made sure everyone knew it was a proper paso in its choreography. When Bruno starts talking royalty, you know he’s impressed. Score: 10/10
Total For This Dance: 30/30 (her first perfect score!)
Fan Reactions to Elaine & Alan’s Paso Doble
If the Foxtrot had fans sounding off, the Paso Doble sent them straight into full celebration mode. On X (formerly Twitter), viewers were losing it in the best way; the kind of all-caps enthusiasm that only happens when a performance actually lands the way we hoped it would.
One person shouted what everyone else was thinking: “THEY DID SO GOOD! WHAT A DANCE!” Another fan went full poet-warrior about it, saying, “Elaine bounced back hard and danced a great pasodoble to ‘When Doves Cry.’ They feel the heat, the heat between me and you. She deserves a 10.” Honestly, the passion is real.
Others kept it simple but sincere, dropping comments like, “That is how it is done! Congratulations!” and the classic live-show plea: “VOTE FOR HER.” And then there were the fans who skipped the essays altogether and went straight for the numbers, declaring, “They deserved all 3-10s,” followed by enough 👏🏻 emojis to fill the ballroom.
Yep, the Elaine fans were very happy with how she brought it back and fought in round two.
Results: Did Elaine & Alan Make It Through?
Overall Prince Night Score: 57/60
Elaine and Alan are officially finale-bound. Yep, you read that right; they made it through! It seems like all that hard work, resilience, and fan love paid off. Their Prince Night performances clearly hit the judges and all of us voting in all the right ways, and now they’re stepping into next week with serious momentum.
Want to see a full recap of tonight’s episode? Check out our live coverage here.
We’re almost at the finish line, which means everything we love about DWTS is about to be cranked up to 11. Don’t miss next week’s high-stakes routines, freestyle chaos (the fun kind), and all the glitzy victory-lap energy you could ask for.
The three-hour “Dancing with the Stars” finale airs Tuesday, November 25 at 8:00pm ET on ABC (and Disney+), streaming next day on Hulu.
