By Heather Halperin
Correspondent
The Season 34 finale of “Dancing with the Stars” took place on Nov. 25, bringing us back into the ballroom with the top five couples.
Weeks of blood, sweat, and tears have led them to this moment — to see who will be crowned the winners and receive the Len Goodman MirrorBall Trophy.
After votes from inside and outside the ballroom, stepping onto the dance floor tonight were Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, Dylan Efron and Danielle Karagach and finally Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.
For the finale, each couple was tasked with three challenges. First, they were each given a brand new style they had never danced before by one of the judges.
Round two is the instant dance, where each couple randomly selects their dance and music from the styles they did earlier in the season. They have five minutes to prepare everything and perform it.
Finally, each couple has a freestyle routine where they get to select any styles, props and other dancers they wish to include in their performance.
Round one began with Earle and Chmerkovskiy performing a samba chosen for them by judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Then, for their instant dance, they were given the cha-cha.
She ended with the freestyle incorporating paso doble, Argentine tango and many other elements into her dance. She brought fierceness, precision and confidence to the stage, allowing her to get a perfect total score of 90.
Next onto the stage were Efron and Karagach, with Bruno Tonioli choosing the paso doble for the couple. In round two, the fox trot was given to them for their instant dance.
Efron’s freestyle touched the hearts of everyone around him, using the performance to show his growth. His dances were crisp and structured, allowing him to showcase his ability to lead, causing him to get an overall score of 88.
Third to the floor were Hendrix and Bersten. Derek Hough dropped into rehearsal to tell them they would be performing a rumba. Next, they selected the quickstep for their instant dance.
Elaine's freestyle to “A Chorus Line" brought so much personality. She shined on stage, accentuating her movements and bringing light to all her performances. This allowed her to get a final score of 87.
Next to enter the ballroom were Irwin and Carson Derek returned, giving this pair the challenge of dancing the quickstep. Then, for their instant dance, they drew a cha-cha.
For the final routine, Irwin’s freestyle, he included many styles, dancers and props to bring it to life. Even with an injury, Robert brought energy, smiles and skill to the stage, causing him to get a total score of 89.
The final couple to hit the stage was Chiles and Sosa. For their first dance, Carrie Ann gave them a paso doble. For the last instant dance of the night, they were given a tango.
The final dance of the night, Chiles’ freestyle, had everything possible: various dance styles, tricks and power. Chiles brought nothing but fierceness and intensity to the routine, which allowed her to receive a combined score of 89.
After all the incredible performances, it all came down to the fan vote to see who would be crowned the champion.
In the end, fifth place was taken by Hendriz and Bersten, in fourth was Efron and Karagach, and in third was Chiles and Sosa.
This meant the top two finalists were Earle and Chmerkovskiy against Irwin and Carson, with the closest scores ever seen in the show’s history.
After weeks of hard work, dedication and intense competition, the winner of Season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” and taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, was Irwin and Carson.
For any fans out there who want to continue to watch these pros and celebrities dance, be sure to look out for the Dancing with the Stars tour coming soon.
