Dancing with the Stars Saves Couples During Dedication Night
Ten couples remain in the competition after an unexpected non-elimination round during Dedication Night.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Dance
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The ballroom competition saw no eliminations during its sixth week as contestants performed routines for Dedication Night. Ten couples now remain in the hunt for the trophy.
Why it matters
The show continues to navigate personnel changes, including a one-week suspension for Val Chmerkovskiy following a social media comment about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov led the leaderboard with 38 out of 40 points, while Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagatch secured the season's first perfect score of 10. There are currently 10 couples remaining in the competition.
The players
Val Chmerkovskiy
He is a long-standing professional dancer on the show who received a one-week suspension following comments made on social media.
Carrie Ann Inaba
She serves as a permanent judge on the panel for the dance competition series.
Kym Johnson
She is a former professional dancer and champion on the series who returned to serve as a guest judge for this broadcast.
Alan Bersten
He is a professional dancer who filled in as a partner for Jenna Dewan during the recent performance week.
The details
Contestants performed routines dedicated to significant figures in their lives, with Kym Johnson serving as a guest judge for the event. Alan Bersten stepped in to partner with Jenna Dewan due to the temporary suspension of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy.
Timeline
Dedication Night occurred in October 2026.
Horror Movie Night and a double elimination are scheduled for Week 7.
Industry Dynamics
This non-elimination week arrives mid-season, a common strategy used to maintain interest as the competition field narrows toward the finale. It underscores the production's effort to manage celebrity and professional volatility while maintaining viewer engagement during the live broadcast schedule.
Viewers should prepare for a high-stakes episode next week, as two couples are slated to be eliminated during Horror Movie Night. Fans can expect to see Shirley Ballas join the judging panel for this upcoming themed broadcast.
The takeaway
The competition landscape remains intense as the field moves into themed weeks that require more technical complexity. Participants and fans alike should track the upcoming double elimination to see which remaining teams successfully transition to the next stage.
What happens next
Two couples will be eliminated during Horror Movie Night in Week 7, which will also feature guest judge Shirley Ballas.
Further reading
For more on the latest performances and choreography, visit the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Oswegonian.
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