Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars has officially wrapped up and TikTok star Charli D'Amelio was crowned the winner. It was the culmination of an impressive season where she received incredibly high scores alongside fellow finalists Shangela, Gabby Windey, and Wayne Brady.
As usual, the season was filled with tremendous dances that stood out from the pack. Some were memorable for the pure technique displayed while others were filled with emotion and some were just a ton of fun to watch. With so many great performances it's hard to narrow it down but a handful could be considered the best.
Gabby & Val's Waltz (Week 9)
The four dancers who ended up in the finals kind of stood out from the very beginning. Among them was Gabby Windey, who looked to follow in the footsteps of fellow Bachelorette leading ladies Kaitlyn Bristowe and Hannah Brown as winners.
That didn't happen but she delivered some performances that even outmatched theirs. This semifinal waltz was all the evidence anyone needed as Gabby was seemingly made for this kind of dance. She shined all season due to her technique and fluidity, which were all on display here.
Shangela & Gleb's Viennese Waltz (Week 9)
Speaking of the semifinals, that was the night when Shangela really looked to cement herself as a favorite to win it all. Other dances may have received a higher score than this Viennese waltz (which got a 37 out of 40) but this was as beautiful as it got.
Shangela and Gleb had phenomenal chemistry and it showed in this gorgeous dance. Witnessing their connection as Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" built to its crescendo was stunning and made for something that fans will never forget.
Daniel & Britt's Jazz (Week 8)
Two dancers who didn't get off to a great start but ultimately improved at an impressive level were Trevor Donovan and Daniel Durant. The CODA actor saved his best performance for '90s NIght set to Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence."
Not only was the dance itself stellar (it received a 39 out of 40) but it had the added bonus of doing something unique. The music disappeared for a section of the performance, allowing them to dance in silence and give the audience to get a taste of what dancing is like for Durant, who is deaf.
Charli & Mark's Contemporary (Week 5)
It always takes a little while before dancers start getting perfect 10s from the judges but by week 5, Charli D'Amelio was ready for that honor. Her contemporary dance with Mark Ballas set to "When the Party's Over" by Lewis Capaldi was breathtaking.
The added aspect of how much it meant to Charli since it told a story about her struggles with anxiety made it even better. It was filled with emotion and technique and was incredibly touching. Unfortunately, Charli only received a 9 from Carrie Ann Inaba, which fans online weren't pleased with.
Shangela & Gleb's Jazz (Week 7)
During the finals, the iconic Shangela said that it felt like things truly started to click for her during week 7. That makes a lot of sense because the Halloween episode saw her perform to Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" and she received her first perfect score.
A special nod must be given to the Dancing with the Stars makeup team for making Shangela and Gleb look truly terrifying. It was one of those dances that was great on a technical level but also told a compelling story. Plus, Shangela's reaction to her scores was priceless.
Wayne & Witney's Samba (Week 5)
Wayne Brady was so remarkably consistent that so many of his dances could be considered among the best. One such example came during week 5's Prom Night gimmick, where he and Witney Carson performed to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.
The song was a perfect fit for them because Wayne was at his best when dances allowed him to let his personality and energy shine, while Witney's choreography also worked best in those situations, making this a perfect storm of sorts.
Charli & Mark's Foxtrot (Week 6)
For this dance, Charli D'Amelio received the highest score in Dancing with the Stars history. Of course, you can't get any higher than perfect 10s for every judge but Charli did it on a night where there were five judges, giving her an incredible 50.
After weeks of coming close to perfect, Charli nailed it on Michael Bublé night right in front of the man himself, who gave her the extra 10. From footwork to timing to facial expressions, Charli got it all right on this night. From that point on, she received all 10s except for one dance where she got a single 9.
Team Scream Freestyle (Week 7)
There is a lot of fun to be had with the team challenges in this series. Week 7 gave it a horror theme on Halloween night, with teams chosen by Trevor Donovan and Vinny Guadagnino. Trevor had Team Screen, which included Charli, Wayne, and Daniel.
While Team Wicked did well, this group took it to the next level. Every bit of this dance was filled with entertainment whether it was the individual solos, the seamless choreography, the story it told, or how there was never a dull moment.
Charli & Mark's Freestyle (Week 10)
Unfortunately, with the finale having just aired, there aren't any videos of this dance available but it was spectacular. Most freestyles in the finale are extravagant numbers filled with energy. However, Charli and Mark opted to go for something stripped down.
Telling a story about how both lost their love of dance at different times, this performance was filled with so many different styles that it kept viewers hooked. The gripping tale inspired by the Disney short film Us Again makes it worth heading to Disney+ to check it out.
Shangela & Gleb's Freestyle (Week 10)
While Charli and Mark didn't go for something over the top, Shangela and Gleb did and it worked in their favor. The most memorable dance of the night came from these two, with Shangela putting on the ultimate drag performance.
Along with top-notch dancing, it featured death drops, references to Shangela giving Len a piece of fried chicken earlier in the season (including pros like Sasha dressed as chicken), and most talked-about moment of the season. That was Gleb dressing in full drag as Natasha, making for one of the show's greatest moments.