Disney-themed performances brought theatrical flair and high-stakes competition to the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars, but the night's defining moment was the departure of Julia Stiles, whose run ended despite a determined return following an injury.

The Monday episode of the show's 35th season brought together the eight remaining couples for routines inspired by Disney films and stage productions. The program combined individual dances with a new team challenge, while Tony Award-winning performer Cynthia Erivo joined the judging panel as a guest judge. Broadway artists Heather Headley, Michael James Scott and Kyra Belle Johnson also contributed live performances, reinforcing the evening's stage-inspired atmosphere.

Several contestants delivered strong results. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson earned a perfect 40 for their jazz routine inspired by Mary Poppins. Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy matched that score with a quickstep set to “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast. Their performances placed them among the night's standout couples.

The other individual routines produced a competitive spread of scores. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov received 34 points for a Hercules-inspired quickstep, while Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas earned 32 for their Peter Pan-themed jive. Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik scored 33 with a contemporary performance inspired by Aida.

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach collected 37 points for a samba inspired by The Little Mermaid. Stiles and her partner, Ezra Sosa, scored 33 for a paso doble inspired by Hamilton, while Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold received 32 for a waltz based on Tangled.

The team competition added another layer to the night's results. Team Slaytopia, led by Ali, performed to “Zoo” from Zootopia 2 and earned 36 points. Team Wildcats, led by Wood and featuring Shum Jr., Dewan and Frech, delivered a high-energy rendition of “We're All in This Together” from High School Musical, receiving a perfect 40. The group scores were added to the couples' totals, increasing the importance of the team performances.

Despite the strong field, the elimination came down to Stiles and Sosa facing Higgins and Ballas in the bottom two. The result sent Stiles and Sosa out of the competition, bringing an end to a journey that had included a difficult recovery after a rib injury forced Stiles to collapse during rehearsals.

In her farewell, Stiles described the experience as extraordinary and said the competition had helped her discover strengths and abilities she had not previously recognized. She also expressed appreciation for Sosa and the time they had spent working together.

Sosa, in turn, praised the experience of partnering with Stiles, describing it as a privilege to witness her development both personally and as a performer.

The episode illustrated how the competition increasingly depends on more than technical scores. Individual routines, team results and audience support all shape contestants' prospects, meaning even a memorable comeback may not be enough to secure a place in the next round.