Following Week 2 of Dancing With the Stars Season 35, a few early frontrunners are separating themselves from the pack. Scores are just one part of the equation: judges’ feedback, week-to-week growth and fan support all factor into our second power rankings of the season. Here are our Dancing With the Stars power rankings following Week 2, from the couples best positioned to contend for the Mirrorball Trophy to those who need a major breakthrough in the weeks ahead.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Power Rankings
#13: Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
Week 2 Score: 12
Guillermo is clearly the most athletically limited participant on DWTS this season, but I have to give him props, he absolutely brought it in his Week 2 pasodoble with Witney. The stage presence, intention and energy were all there. Unfortunately, those can only take Guillermo so far, but he’s a joy to watch.
#12: Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
Week 2 Score: 15
Everything that went right for Connor in Week 1 went wrong for him this time around. The comedian still has talent, but I fear for his fan presence compared to some of the more established celebrities in this competition.
#11: Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
Week 2 Score: 16
Julia has the stage presence, no one ever doubted that. Unfortunately, she’s just a bit rigid on the floor, and without that natural fluidity, it’s hard to make a deep run on Dancing With the Stars.
#10: Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
Week 2 Score: 16
I was actually higher on Tyler’s Week 2 performance than his first number (the judges disagreed). The former Bachelorette contestant stuck to his strengths in his most recent routine, and he’s much more agile than his frame would suggest. He just seems to lack the “IT” factor that could take him far this season.
#9: Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
Week 2 Score: 18
Jackson’s Week 2 foxtrot was a significant step up from Week 2, but in my opinion he still lacks the necessary X-factor and fan support to make a deep run in this competition. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong, but to do so he’ll need to aim for a score around 20 or better next week.
#8: Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
Week 2 Score: 15
Look, I get it. Taylor’s Week 2 routine wasn’t perfect, but this guy can flat-out DANCE. His technique is strong, his stage presence is elite (as expected) and Britt Stewart compliments him perfectly as his pro partner. If Taylor can put all the pieces together, a deep run could be in the cards.
#7: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
Week 2 Score: 18
There’s the Tatyana Ali we know and love. The Fresh Prince star was nervous in the premiere, but she came ready to roll in Week 2. The foxtrot is not an easy bounce-back dance but she and Jan made light work of their routine. With her talent and fanbase, she could make some noise.
#6: Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
Week 2 Score: 18
Ciara delivered the most emotional performance of the Season 35 DWTS premiere, but her technique was lacking. This time around, she drastically cleaned it up and received a very strong score as a result. Miller has a great story leading into this competition, a devoted fanbase and the talent to give her a real shot at a run to the finale.
#5: Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
Week 2 Score: 19
We’ve reached “anyone from here on out can win” territory, as the top five have separated themselves from the rest of the pack through two performances. Maura gets fifth billing in these rankings simply because she’s not on the same level athletically as the rest of the group. That said, with her fanbase and skillset, it will be no surprise whatsoever if she wins it all.
#4: Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
Week 2 Score: 21
Speaking of athletes, Amber Glenn can do things no one else in this field can, and her skillset directly translates to a dancing competition. We’re going to see at least one move per performance that genuinely leaves our jaws dropped, the question is whether she can put the rest of the routine together consistently. If so, she absolutely has a path to the Mirrorball.
#3: Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
Week 2 Score: 18
Harry took a slight step back in Week 2 with the Viennese waltz, but he’s still one of the most — if not THE most — talented dancers in the Season 35 cast. He’ll surely bounce back in a huge way in Week 3, the potential obstacle to winning the Mirrorball will be his fan vote.
#2: Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
Week 2 Score: 21
Jenna Dewan is in a similar boat to Harry as a former professional dancer, but she has a more established fanbase and is coming off a much stronger Week 2 performance. She and Val are the perfect pairing and could easily win this entire competition.
#1: Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
Week 2 Score: 21
I needed to see it again to believe it, and that’s exactly what happened. Ezra has all the tools needed to win Dancing With the Stars. He’s an elite athlete with natural rhythm and a truly incredible story. The Paralympian has scored 20 and 21 across his two performances so far. He clearly has what it takes to compete with the likes of Jenna, Harry and Amber, and he appears to be the fan favorite so far.
Who are the favorites to win Dancing With the Stars Season 35?
Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech and Maura Higgins have made the strongest early case for the Mirrorball Trophy after two weeks. Still, the season is young, and a breakout routine or strong fan-vote push could quickly reshape these rankings.
When is the next episode of Dancing With the Stars?
Dancing With the Stars returns on Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Who was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars this week?
Giada De Laurentiis was eliminated in Week 2 of Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
