The semi-finals of “Dancing with the Stars” took place Tuesday night as contestants fought one last time to escape elimination and move on to the finale.

Individual round recap

The recaps are formatted in order of when each contestant performed. Couples were challenged to dance to songs from the late icon, Prince. Each contestant performed two dances, with one being a redemption dance to earn a spot in next week’s finale.

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: Overall Score 57/60

Dance 1: Foxtrot (9, 9, 9)

Hendrix and Bersten danced a foxtrot to “I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince. The judges admired Hendrix’s sophisticated, smooth and strong movements but wanted to see more fight in her, awarding the pair three nines.

Dance 2: Redemption Paso Doble (10, 10, 10)

For their redemption dance, Hendrix and Bersten performed the Paso Doble they never got to perform — because of Hendrix’s injury — to “When Doves Cry” by Prince. The judges said it was a beautiful Paso Doble, overflowing with fight and filling the room with Hendrix’s energy. The couple was awarded their first perfect score of three 10s.

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: Overall Score 58/60

Dance 1: Argentine tango (9, 10, 9)

Earle and Chmerkovskiy danced an Argentine tango to “Little Red Corvette” by Prince. The judges found the sharp lines Earle created with her body to be fantastic but wanted to see her take more control of the dance, awarding the duo two nines and one 10.

Dance 2: Redemption Viennese waltz (10, 10, 10)

Performing a redemption Viennese waltz to “Purple Rain” by Prince, Earle and Chmerkovskiy “will go down in history,” the judges said. They loved the perfect delivery of “motion and emotion” from the couple, awarding them a perfect score of three 10s. 

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: Overall Score 55/60

Dance 1: Tango (9, 9, 9)

Efron and Karagach danced a tango to “I Would Die 4 U” by Prince. The judges felt like Efron wasn’t feeling the music and saw some missteps but overall admired his strong arms and frame, awarding the couple three nines.

Dance 2: Redemption cha-cha (9, 9, 10)

Efron and Karagach performed a redemption cha cha to “Kiss” by Prince. The judges pointed out Efron’s immaculate hip action as usual and found him to be more connected to the music. The pair was awarded two nines and one 10, landing them at the bottom of the leaderboard for the week.

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: Overall Score 58/60

Dance 1: Cha cha (9, 10, 10)

Leavitt and Ballas danced a cha-cha to “1999” by Prince. The judges were impressed with Leavitt’s delivery of the difficult choreography but felt she was focusing too much on technique in her head, awarding the pair one nine and two 10s.

Dance 2: Redemption Viennese waltz (9, 10, 10)

Leavitt and Ballas performed a Viennese waltz to “Slow Love” by Prince. The judges said the dance felt authentically like Leavitt, showing much soul and love; although, they saw two little hops in the routine they had to mark. The couple was awarded one nine and two 10s.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: Overall Score 57/60 

Dance 1: Jive (9, 9, 9)

Chiles and Sosa danced a jive to “Raspberry Beret” by Prince. The judges wanted to see more attack and “bite” in Chile’s movements — also pointing out a mess-up — but applauded their fun routine. The pair was awarded three nines.

Dance 2: Redemption Argentine tango (10, 10, 10)

Performing a redemption Argentine tango to “U Got the Look” by Prince, Chiles and Sosa wowed the judges. They said Chiles is in a class of her own, always taking the biggest risk and embracing who she is in the dance. The couple was awarded their first perfect score of three 10s.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: Overall Score 59/60

Dance 1: Jive (10, 10, 10)

Irwin and Carson performed a jive to “Baby I’m a Star” by Prince. The judges admired Irwin’s undoubted control paired with his high energy, never placing a foot wrong in a sharp and clean routine. The couple was awarded a perfect score of three 10s.

Dance 2: Redemption Viennese waltz (10, 9, 10)

Dancing a Viennese waltz to “WOW” by Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL, Irwin and Carson delivered a “blockbuster” of dances, the judges said. They highlighted how the pair always delivers fun, strong performances, drawing in audiences with the evolution of their dance in their routines. The couple was awarded two 10s and one nine, landing them at the top of the leaderboard for the week.

Elimination

After 10 weeks of ballroom dancing, one of the remaining six couples had to be eliminated before the finale next week. The bottom two of the week were Chiles and Leavitt, with Leavitt and Ballas ultimately being eliminated. The audience was shocked as the couple had dominated the leaderboard consistently this season. The next episode is the three-hour finale, where contestants will perform three routines, including the freestyle dance.