Cha-Cha Real Smooth: The 15 Best Dancing With the Stars Routines of All Time

Granted, DWTS freestyle routines have evolved to the point where this dance from 2006 seems downright quaint. But it can't be overlooked: It's the wacky, fun moment that launched the freestyle round into what it is today.

In the early days of the show, Chmerkovskiy established his "bad boy" reputation in large part thanks to routines like this, where he and Spice Girl Mel B. gave us a sultry, sexy paso to remember.

Another iconic number from the early days of DWTS: this energetic, often-referenced quickstep that's technically precise and as energetic and cheerful as the yellow costumes.

DWTS may have long since moved on to other heartthrobs, but never forget the season where Marini made everyone swoon, thanks to Burke's intense, technically complicated choreography.

Somewhere along the line, Ballas went from an unassuming, though reliable, pro to one of the show's mad creative geniuses. His season with Johnson, capped with this acrobatic and wacky freestyle, really cemented that reputation.

It might not be the most technically perfect dance the show has ever seen, but it's definitely one of the most fun! White, an Olympic figure skater, had one of the all-time famous bloopers when he dropped his cane, but the routine is utterly joyful and otherwise precise.

Davis and Chmerkovskiy's chemistry was much buzzed-about, but even beyond that, this elegant freestyle took all of his ballroom expertise and combined it with complex lifts taken from her figure skating career for something truly special.

Is there anything as pure and joyful as watching Ribeiro do his signature "Carlton" dance in the middle of the ballroom? We think not.

DWTS often knows just how to make us cry, but it's hard to top this one. Irwin's touching tribute to her late father, Steve Irwin, took the freestyle in a new direction: stripped-down and emotional instead of showy.

DiMarco became the first deaf winner of DWTS in 2016, and his freestyle performance in the finale paid elegant, moving tribute to his particular journey.

Hinchcliffe was in an incredibly competitive season, which is a shame, because in any other season, this powerful freestyle would have won him the mirrorball without question. Choreographed by Burgess to represent his racing career — including a near-death accident — it's beautiful and also deeply personal.

With a freestyle routine that put Hernandez's sunny personality and Olympian gymnastics skills on display, the duo gave us a memorable number that capped a season showing the softer, brighter side of DWTS vet Chmerkovskiy.

Biles's heartfelt tribute to her parents, who adopted her when she was a little girl, is enough to get any viewer choked up. Farber's choreography is lovely, but the cherry on top is when Biles runs to embrace her parents at the end.

Fisher had a string of memorable routines, but his and Arnold's pitch-perfect, energy-packed jive has to be the highlight of his mirrorball-winning run.

In the shortened "athletes' edition" of the show, Olympian Rippon shone most weeks, but this jazz routine was the perfect balance between his huge personality and precision and Johnson's creativity and skill.