My Top 10 Dancing With The Stars Couples Ever

Dancing With The Stars has been one of my favorite shows since I was in middle school. I remember the excitement of watching every week as my favorite couples tore up the dance floor in glittering costumes, the diverse themes they had to follow (Halloween week on TOP), and getting to see some of my favorite niche celebrities in a new light as they learned a new craft. Dancing has always been near and dear to my heart - I find myself wishing I kept dancing after my brief stint from the ages of 11-13 constantly. As the current season of DWTS is currently airing and approaching the halfway point of the season, it’s the perfect time to recap my absolute favorite partnerships to have graced our screens.

What makes a great dance partnership to me isn’t necessarily being the best dancers - it’s about the love and camaraderie they show for both each other and the sport of dance. The most beloved couples on this show may not even be the most entertaining or achieve the highest scores, but they keep viewers voting for them because of their attitude and dedication to improving week after week. With that being said, these 10 couples (and it was hard to only pick 10) stick out the most to me when thinking back on my favorite partnerships from these past 32 seasons of television:

#10 - Bethany Mota & Derek Hough

Season 19 was truly one for the books - there were many couples from that iconic season that could’ve made this list, but my 12 year old self would be upset if I didn’t include these two. I need you to remember - Bethany Mota was that GIRL when this season aired back in 2014. I had her whole Aeropostale collection, down to the perfume in the gold glittery heart-shaped bottle. She was the blueprint for me back in middle school, and I imagine I completely lost it when I learned she would be on DWTS - and she did NOT disappoint! Having little to no dance experience, Bethany is what this show is all about: learning how to ballroom dance from scratch while millions of people watch from home and judge you! Seriously though - I still think about her jive to Shake it Off and their incredible freestyle during the finale. Not to mention her Week 3 perfect score for a "Singing in The Rain" Jazz routine - all while she was injured!!! Legend status for Ms. Mota!! Bethany came in 4th place but will forever be a winner in my heart.

#9 - Amber Riley & Derek Hough

These two…. wow. From the very first week (a cha cha cha to "Wings" by Little Mix), you just KNEW Amber was here to win. As a massive Glee stan, I was rooting for Amber the entire time and was over the moon when she won that mirrorball. Amber was the epitome of hard work and dedication paying off. Though she didn’t have much professional dance experience and talked a lot on the show about how her body didn’t fit the typical dancer’s mold, Amber proved everyone who doubted her, and maybe even herself, wrong when she continued to dominate the competition week after week. Not only were her and Derek exciting to watch because of their raw talent, their support and friendship toward one another make this couple memorable years later. Amber’s freestyle, in my opinion, is maybe the best this show has ever seen.

#8 - Sadie Robertson & Mark Ballas

Sadie was such a sweet surprise on season 19 - it was verrryyyy difficult for me to choose to vote between her, Janel, Bethany, and Alfonso (like I said - truly a stacked season). Before my frontal lobe fully developed, for some reason I was a HUGE Duck Dynasty fan and was hyped for Sadie to make her way to the ballroom. From her first dance, everybody knew she’d be here for the long-run. Ultimately being crowned the runner-up of an incredibly competitive season, Sadie proved herself to be one of the DWTS greats. Her Samba to “Hunter” by Pharrell lives in my head and it is not paying rent. Mark is my favorite male pro on this show, and his choreography was really showcased during his partnership with Sadie. Their Foxtrot with Emma and their Freestyle stick out to me as their best dances.

#7 - Frankie Muniz & Witney Carson

THIS MAN. Frankie came into season 25 as a retired actor and current race car driver, revealing he was in a serious car accident were he lost most of his memories of being a child actor. This immediately drew me to Frankie & Witney’s partnership, mostly because I underestimated him. Upon watching him grow and get better and better every episode, Frankie really stole my heart this season. Every time he got on that dance floor, he gave it his all and completely devoted himself to every dance. You could feel the passion and drive Frankie had for dancing and his dedication towards winning the show. Although he placed 3rd, I still watch back many of their dances and remember how truly incredible this duo was. Their Halloween contemporary dance to “Every Breath You Take” is one of the most haunting and magical dances I have still ever seen on this show.

#6 - Ilona Maher & Alan Bersten

Ilona is currently competing for the mirrorball on season 33 with Alan, and I am voting overtime to keep these two in the competition. Ilona has no dance experience whatsoever - which makes her dedication and passion for this competition so enticing to watch. What she lacks in technique and fluidity in her dances she makes up for in musicality and downright fight to win. When she had a tough go at her jive on Hair Metal Night (Gene Simmons, I’m coming for you), she was truly shaken up and anxious that she had let her partner down. Seeing Alan comfort her and make sure she knew how much he loves and values her as a partner truly brought tears to my eyes and made me completely fall in love with them as a partnership. Not only is Ilona working incredibly hard to prove herself, they have the most captivating Tik Tok presence this show has EVER seen. They are truly hilarious and love dancing together, making this pair one that will be remembered for a long time after this season is over, no matter the outcome.

#5 - Bindi Irwin & Derek Hough

Bindi truly came out of left field for me. Steve Irwin came before my time, so I wasn’t exactly familiar with her family and the void her father had left behind for so many. Immediately when Bindi stepped on that dance floor, my jaw dropped and it didn’t pick up until she took home that mirrorball trophy. Sometimes I go back and watch her dances and I am truly shocked how good she really is. For someone who had never danced, Bindi clearly had ballroom in her blood or something. Every style, every theme, every week Bindi absolutely crushed. Her tribute dance to her father is one of the most emotional pieces I’ve seen on DWTS ever - my eyes will never be dry after watching that one. What made Bindi so special was her consistency and attitude towards the show and her partnership. Bindi was bubbly, always excited, humble, and built a beautiful friendship with Derek. Her ability to portray a vast range of emotions while dancing is rare, and makes her one of the best mirrorball winners to date, imo.

#4 - Paige VanZant & Mark Ballas

This was another shocker for me. Coming into season 22, I had no idea who Paige was. She really made me a fan throughout the season by showcasing her raw talent for dancing and adorable partnership with Mark. I’ve said it and I’ll say it 100 more times - Mark’s choreography may be the greatest DWTS has ever seen. From their unreal “Proud Mary” jive, Austin Powers jazz routine, and emotional freestyle, this duo gave professional-grade routines week after week. I genuinely couldn’t believe Paige wasn’t a professional dancer. Ultimately placing 2nd next to Nyle DiMarco & Peta (another great duo and deserving champions), Paige truly did carry herself with professionalism and passion during the entire competition. Another mirrorball champion duo, Jordan Fisher & Lindsay Arnold, actually recreated their incredibly impressive "Proud Mary" jive in season 25, showing this partnership’s lasting impact on the show.

#3 - Jason Mraz & Daniella Karagach

Watching Jason & Dani last season reminded me of why I love this show so much. As a newer pro, Daniella had previously proved herself coming off a win with partner Iman Shumpert in season 30. Daniella, in my opinion, is the best female pro the show currently has. She showcased her impressive choreography and knack for transforming stars into incredible dancers perfectly while partnered with Jason. My favorite part of this duo was the way anyone watching them could tell how much fun they were having together. From his ICONIC week 3 jive, their “Don’t Blame Me” Tango, and their freestyle basically being an explosion of happiness, I couldn’t help but root for these two. Having grown up listening to Jason’s music, many of their dances made me truly emotional and reminded me how great of an artist this man is, in many facets it appears. Jason poured his heart and soul into this competition and never let up, with Dani supporting and encouraging him every step of the way. They were an absolute joy to watch every week, in every sense of the word.

#2 - Riker Lynch & Allison Holker

Dare I say they had the best Week 1 dance of all time?? Riker & Allison are truly a partnership I think about constantly. The way they moved together, her incredible and dynamic choreography every week, his acting talent and capability to bring any theme to life - these two were so in sync it was insane. As a Disney and Glee fan, I was rooting for Riker from the start but after seeing his first few dances, I was so encapsulated by this partnership in every way. They truly seemed like they cared about each other so much, and that was evident in the way they danced together. Some memorable routines include their Pirates of the Caribbean Paso Double, Samba to “Want to Want Me,” “Wiggle” baseball theme Quickstep, and of course their Contemporary to “Work Song” by Hozier. They were innovative, always kept the audience guessing, and had an unparalleled emotional connection.

#1 - Milo Manheim & Witney Carson

This one I am VERY passionate about. People have a lot to say about the outcome of this season, and may I add, I don’t think the results were rigged or anything. I simply think Milo was robbed and there is no way the winner of this season deserved that trophy over Milo & Witney. They were a perfect partnership in every way. Since Milo had some experience dancing (not ballroom, let’s be very clear), it was evident that Witney really wanted to push Milo to become the best he could be. Her choreography was extremely difficult and risky, but Milo didn't hesitate to rise to every challenge thrown at him. Not only was he obviously an incredibly talented dancer and actor, Milo showed how humble and hardworking he was at every phase of the competition. Even when he was consistently leading the scores, he didn’t get comfortable and kept digging to become even better. Queen of contemporary Witney struck again this season with their Halloween routine to the creepiest version of “Toxic” you’ve ever heard. If you ask me, this is the best dance in the history of DWTS. I said what I said!!! Their Charleston, Jive, and Freestyle are also certified platinum on my Youtube account. I also remember watching Milo’s Q&A with Witney on his personal channel and falling completely in love with their partnership; it seemed like Witney really thought of Milo like a little brother, and it was endearing to see that play out during the show.

So there we have it - the couples that are still on my mind after their time on the dance floor was done (and Ilona). I truly love this show and the friendships that come out of it every season. Now I’m gonna go watch Milo & Witney’s freestyle again!