Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson entered Dancing With the Stars’ Yacht Rock Night hoping to show another step forward, but their Week 3 performance turned into one of their toughest nights of the season.
The pair performed a foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” bringing Guillermo’s usual humor and personality into the ballroom while attempting to handle the more controlled technique required for the dance.
There were entertaining moments, but the routine remained noticeably rough in places. Guillermo struggled with some of the technical details, and the performance never became as polished as several of the other dances that night.
Still, the judges recognized how hard he was working.
Carrie Ann Inaba specifically praised Guillermo for putting in the effort, an especially meaningful comment after Witney had recently revealed that he often continues practicing by himself even when she needs to sit down and rest during rehearsals.
The scores, however, showed just how much improvement the judges still wanted to see.
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each awarded Guillermo and Witney a 5, giving them a total of 15 out of 30 — the lowest score on the Week 3 leaderboard.
Guillermo didn’t let the disappointing numbers stop him from entertaining the ballroom. He even revealed a coconut-themed costume underneath his shirt with a playful message across his chest, turning the end of the routine into one of the night’s funniest moments.
But once the performances were finished, the situation became much more serious.
Guillermo and Witney were among the final couples left waiting for their names to be called during the elimination results, putting them in real danger of leaving the competition after another low-scoring week.
Then came the surprise.
Guillermo and Witney were safe. Instead, Taylor Hanson and professional partner Britt Stewart were eliminated after receiving 18 points for their foxtrot.
That means Guillermo will get another opportunity to prove himself despite finishing at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard. Viewer voting combines with the judges’ scores to determine the results, and once again, enough support came through to keep his DWTS journey alive.
For Witney, the survival means another week to work with a partner she has repeatedly praised for his dedication. Guillermo may still have a considerable technical gap to close, but his willingness to keep practicing — even when rehearsals officially pause — has become an important part of their story.
A 15 may not have been the score Guillermo and Witney hoped to see, but it wasn’t the end. They are officially moving forward, and Week 4 will give Guillermo another chance to show whether all those extra rehearsal hours can finally translate into a breakthrough on the ballroom floor.
