Elaine Hendrix Stuns 'DWTS' Judges With Emotional 'Defying Gravity' Performance on Wicked Night

Not only did the contestant blow the judges away, but she also left online viewers in awe, as many even noted how she should have garnered at least one ten from the judges.

On the latest episode of "Dancing with the Stars" ("DWTS"), contestant Elaine Hendrix stole the show with her professional dance partner Alan Bersten. The duo performed an impressive rendition of a contemporary dance to "Defying Gravity" that garnered rave reviews from the judges and everyone in the ballroom during Wicked Night.

And it wasn't just about the glitter and glamor. Behind the sequins? A crippling injury that would sideline most people — but not Hendrix.

Elaine Hendrix Blows the Roaring Audience Away with Her Enchanting 'Wicked' Homage

The performance opened with a gasp-inducing visual: Hendrix, bathed in emerald light, perched atop Bersten's shoulders, channeling a spellbinding Elphaba-inspired look. The music swelled, the crowd hushed — and the magic began.

Bersten lowered her down with balletic precision, launching them into a choreography dripping with elegance, urgency, and impossible grace. Every twirl, sweeping legwork, and spin wove emotion and narrative into the very floorboards of the ballroom.

But it was one moment that left everyone breathless — Hendrix, upright and poised, suddenly fell backward in a heart-stopping trust fall, her head caught just in time by Bersten. The audience gasped.

The drama only escalated: Bersten grabbed Hendrix by one leg and arm, spinning her in a dizzying cyclone before releasing her into a fluid floor spin that felt more like sorcery than choreography.

Then — in a cinematic twist — Bersten squared off against background dancers in a stylized battle, setting the stage for a final moment that would haunt the ballroom.

Hendrix returned, transformed — arms raised, cloaked in full witches' wear, commanding the audience and Bersten with her spell. It was an image that brought the routine to a powerful close.

Following the show-stopping performance, "DWTS's" official Instagram wasted no time in joining the chorus of acclaim. The show's page posted a carousel of arresting images from the routine.

Alongside the visuals, the caption reads, "Elaine and Alan are definitely matching them in renown after their epic Contemporary to 'Defying Gravity' for #WickedNight 😱💚 #DWTS."

The post not only celebrated the duo's show-stopping execution but also subtly likened their impact to the legendary characters of "Wicked" — a nod to just how powerful their presence was on the dance floor that night.

'This Was INSANE': Fans Erupt as 'DWTS' Instagram Comment Section Explodes with Praise

Online, the reaction was just as impassioned — if not more so — with fans rushing to express their awe in the post's comment section.

One admirer declared, "This was INSANE. Best dance of the night. This should have been at least one 10," while another echoed a similar sentiment, "I just wanna know why??? How was THIS not a single 10 compared to the dance that got three 10s? I absolutely cannot. That was the best dance of the season."

Several viewers fixated on the unforgettable mid-routine drop, with one person exclaiming, "THAT TRUST FALL????" and another marveling, "That trust fall was the most incredible thing I've ever seen." Others were overcome with emotion, with one supporter confessing, "not to be dramatic but i have full body chills and tears in my eyes [sic]."

Meanwhile, Hendrix's resilience and age-defying strength didn't go unnoticed, as one commenter celebrated, "She is 54, injured, and just did that! 💚."

Elaine Hendrix's Hidden Pain: 'My Body Shifts Into a New Pain Spot Every Week'

Amid the tidal wave of praise, Hendrix's own words brought even deeper meaning to the performance. "The Parent Trap" star had the ballroom in tears during the October 21, 2025, episode, not just because of her artistry, but because of her quiet battle behind the scenes.

In a candid segment, she revealed the extent of her physical limitations following a life-altering car accident in 1992.

"I have a titanium joint in my right foot, so that renders half my foot unusable. Every week, my body shifts into a new pain spot, but I just don't wanna let it stop me," Hendrix shared.

That level of determination resonated deeply, making her execution of such a demanding routine all the more awe-inspiring. The ballroom's response said it all — as host Alfonso Ribeiro observed, "The ballroom is literally on their feet."

Judge Bruno Tonioli echoed that emotion, acknowledging the difficulty of the routine and praising its success, "You had the toughest number because it's the highest, the biggest in the show. And you killed it."

Leaderboard Scores and an Unexpected Elimination

Though Hendrix's performance stole hearts, the evening featured a string of standout routines from the rest of the cast. Hendrix and Bersten earned a strong 36 out of 40, tying with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, and Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov for the night.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa dazzled the judges and landed at the top with 39 points each, while Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy followed closely with 35.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, and Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik earned 32 apiece, just above Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold's 28 and Andy Richter and Emma Slater's 27 — the lowest score of the night.

In the end, Hoying and Arnold were eliminated. As Week 6 scores were combined with those from the previous week, the updated leaderboard revealed where each duo now stands in the competition. Leavitt and Ballas lead with a combined 72 points, followed by Irwin and Carson, as well as Chiles and Sosa, with 71.

Earle and Chmerkovskiy sit at 70, Efron and Karagach at 68, while Hendrix and Bersten hold strong with 66. Fishel and Pashkov follow with 65, Affleck and Ravnik with 61, and Hoying and Arnold — who exited the competition — had 58. Richter and Slater remain in last place with 51.

Looking at the full-season scoreboard thus far, Leavitt and Ballas continue to dominate with 158 points. Irwin and Carson trail closely at 152, and Chiles and Sosa are tied with Earle and Chmerkovskiy with 151.

Meanwhile, Dylan Efron and Karagach sit at 144 — a score matched by Hendrix and Bersten. Fishel and Pashkov round out with 138, Affleck and Ravnik with 137, while the eliminated Hoying and Arnold ended at 129.

Richter and Slater sit at the bottom with a total of 112. With the competition tightening and eliminations looming, the pressure continues to mount. However, if Hendrix's performance is any indication, she's more than ready to rise above it all and continue to defy gravity.