Dancing with the Stars Recap: Julia Stiles Is Eliminated on Disney Night

Dancing with the Stars returned with its annual Disney Night on Monday, 2 November 2026. Actress Julia Stiles and her professional partner Ezra Sosa were eliminated during Season 35’s Disney Night, despite earning 69 points across their individual and team performances.

The episode celebrated Disney musicals and their Broadway adaptations, with guest judge Cynthia Erivo joining Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.

It aired live on ABC and Disney+ in the US, with episodes available on Hulu the following day. While Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. both secured perfect individual scores, Stiles became the evening’s biggest talking point.

Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Scores & First EliminationDancing With the Stars Season 35 begins with an early elimination and a new two-night premiere format.

Julia Stiles Is Eliminated After Disney Night

Stiles and Sosa performed a paso doble to “Satisfied” from Hamilton. The routine was particularly important for the actress, who had been struggling with rib pain during rehearsals and wanted to improve after receiving criticism the previous week.

Despite the discomfort, Stiles returned to the ballroom with a more intense performance, earning 33 out of 40 points. Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Cynthia Erivo each awarded her an eight, while Bruno Tonioli gave her a nine.

Bruno praised her storytelling, saying, “That’s how you tell a story,” while Carrie Ann commended her for turning “real, raw emotion into beautiful dancing”, according to People.

The judges’ scores were not enough to save the pair. After the audience votes were combined with the scores, Stiles and Sosa were announced as the eliminated couple. Reflecting on her experience, Stiles said: “It’s been an incredible experience. I pulled things out of myself that I didn’t realise were there.” She also praised Sosa, saying she would miss seeing him every day.

Disney Night Performances And Judges’ Scores

The eight remaining couples performed routines inspired by Disney films and their Broadway adaptations. The evening also featured live musical performances from Broadway performers, adding another layer to the show's theatrical theme.

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson opened with a jazz routine to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins, earning a perfect 40. Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy matched that result with their quickstep to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast.