Behind the Scenes of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ ‘Viral Hits Night’: What Viewers Didn’t See
The cameras captured the performances, scores and elimination on Dancing With the Stars Tuesday night. But inside the ballroom, plenty was happening before, between and after the moments that made it onto television.
Page Six received a VIP invitation to the Season 35 set for “Viral Hits Night,” offering a closer look at how the celebrities and professional dancers prepared for Week 2 of the live competition.
With 14 couples returning to the ballroom, the night brought energetic routines, nervous backstage moments, unexpected reactions and plenty of support among the cast.
Arriving at the Ballroom
Around 3:30 p.m. local time, the Page Six team arrived at the Los Angeles studio where Dancing With the Stars is filmed and checked in before taking a place among the live audience.
The first familiar faces appeared almost immediately.
Glee star Harry Shum Jr. and professional partner Jenna Johnson were outside the studio, both dressed in white satin outfits while posing for photographers and preparing for their Viennese Waltz to the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.”
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson were also spotted greeting fans who had arrived early and were waiting to enter the ballroom ahead of the 5 p.m. PT start time.
Once security and check-in were complete, VIP and general admission guests were escorted inside. Along the way, they passed the show’s iconic skybox, where couples receive their scores, as well as the backstage quick-change area and various production booths.
Audience members were then directed to their assigned seats, which they would keep for the entire live broadcast.
A Front-Row View of the Judges
The Page Six team landed a floor seat directly across from the judges’ table, providing a close view of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Their off-camera interactions proved to be just as entertaining as their televised exchanges.
Nearby, friends and family members of Taylor Hanson, Ciara Miller, Tyler Cameron, Amber Glenn, Jackson Olson, Jenna Dewan and Julia Stiles gathered to support the contestants.
As the ballroom filled, members of the troupe kept the audience entertained before the celebrities and their professional partners came out for their final warm-ups.
Previously eliminated professionals Hailey Bills and Adele Zaikman also got involved in the pre-show atmosphere, going live on TikTok and giving viewers at home a glimpse of what was happening inside the ballroom.
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The Live Show Begins
The taping began promptly at 5 p.m. PT.
The audience erupted in cheers as the Season 35 couples were announced, with everyone putting on their best television smiles as the live broadcast got underway.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy opened the night with an energetic Jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal.”
Afterward, Dewan continued supporting her fellow contestants from the audience area. During one commercial break, she was even spotted freestyling alongside members of the troupe in the skybox.
The moment offered a glimpse of the energy that continues between performances, when the cameras are no longer focused on the dance floor.
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Ciara Miller’s Powerful Ballroom Moment
Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong were another pair who drew plenty of attention.
The couple performed a Tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines and Tinashe. Before taking the floor, the pair could be seen intensely concentrating on their choreography in the minutes leading up to their performance.
Miller had also appeared in a pre-taped interview package addressing drama from Summer House, involving her ex West Wilson and former best friend Amanda Batula.
But once the live performance began, the reality star appeared completely focused on the dance.
The ballroom responded with enthusiastic support, culminating in a standing ovation.
Afterward, Miller delivered a line that connected directly to the theme surrounding her performance:
“One time a broke boy ruined my life — or he tried. But we’re here tonight, so it didn’t work.”
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Guillermo Rodriguez Gets the Crowd Moving
Later in the show, Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson took the floor for a fiery Paso Doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.”
One of the memorable moments came when Rodriguez put his own spin on Val Chmerkovskiy’s signature knee walks.
From the audience, Val’s reaction was impossible to miss. He smiled broadly as the crowd erupted in cheers after seeing Rodriguez incorporate the move into his routine.
Chmerkovskiy had previously gone viral for his smooth gliding moves during his partnership with Alix Earle last season, making Rodriguez’s decision to put his own twist on the signature move even more entertaining.
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Mark Ballas Helps Calm Maura Higgins
Another revealing behind-the-scenes moment involved Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas.
The former Traitors co-stars entered the ballroom shortly before performing a Cha Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”
Higgins appeared nervous ahead of the live performance, but Ballas repeatedly helped settle her nerves and encouraged her to stay focused on the moment.
When her pre-taped interview package began playing, Higgins adorably covered her ears, a move some celebrities use during the season to avoid hearing the commentary surrounding their performances.
Once the music started, however, the nerves appeared to disappear. Higgins turned on the confidence and delivered her routine with the energy of a seasoned performer.
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The Tension Builds at Elimination
As the evening drew to a close, all of the remaining celebrities and their professional partners gathered onstage to await the results.
The outcome was determined using the combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes.
Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro announced the three couples in danger of elimination: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten, and Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess.
Ultimately, Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten were eliminated from the competition, making them the third couple to leave Season 35.
As soon as the credits began rolling, their fellow contestants quickly gathered around them to offer support and comfort before the pair left the ballroom.
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What Comes Next for Season 35?
With Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten eliminated, the remaining couples will return for Week 3.
The next episode will feature a “Yacht Rock” theme and is scheduled to air Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with streaming available on Hulu the following day.
The season will also feature several other themed nights, including a tribute to Mariah Carey, a Grammys-themed episode and “Horror Movie Night.”
For viewers watching from home, “Viral Hits Night” may have looked like two hours of polished performances and dramatic results. Inside the ballroom, however, the night was filled with last-minute preparation, nerves, cheering friends and family, spontaneous dancing and moments between the cast that never made it onto the broadcast.
That unseen energy was part of what made Week 2 feel just as lively behind the cameras as it did on the dance floor.
