The love of dancing is in the stars tonight as Matthew Macnabb tops the leaderboard

Matthew MacNabb and Laura Nolan topped the leader board tonight in what was an emotional evening on Dancing with the Stars for Dedicated Dance Night'. Each dance and piece of music for show six were carefully selected as each celebrity dancer dedicated tonight's dance to someone very special in their lives.

No couple were eliminated from the show this evening so all couples will dance again this week. The twist tonight is that now Matthew and Laura will be exempt from the first dreaded dance-off of series 5 which takes place next Sunday evening. Their emotional contemporary ballroom dance saw them achieve the highest combined vote between the judges scores and the public vote.

The pro-dancers opened the show with a contemporary ballroom dance tonight dancing to I'll Be There,' sang by Jess Glynn.

The first couple to dance tonight were Nina Carberry and Pasquale La Rocca. Nina dedicated her upbeat and energetic salsa to her two young daughters, Rosie and Holly. They danced to Starships' by Nicki Minaj as that's the song they love to dance around the kitchen to!

Nina said: I really enjoyed it and I thought it went really well, I can't wait to go home and watch it with the girls. I never thought I'd make it to week 6.

Nina and Pasquale scored 24 from the judges

Aslan's Billy McGuinness and Hannah Kelly opened part two of the show. It was a very special contemporary ballroom dance for Billy as he dedicated his performance tonight to his bandmate and friend of over 40 years, co-founder of Aslan, Christy Dignam. They danced contemporary ballroom to one of Aslan's most loved hits, Crazy World.

An emotional Billy said; It was so emotional dancing for Christy. I will have an experience like that again in my life.

His message to Christy who is watching at home I love you to bits

Billy and Hannah scored 17 from the judges.

Olympic medallist Ellen Keane danced an intense paso doble with Stephen Vincent tonight. They danced to Beyonc 's Run the World (Girls)' in celebration of Ellen's best friend Aisling Byrne, who she hasn't seen in three years but is always hugely supportive, even though she lives in Sydney, Australia.

Ellen said; I think it was so important to dance to Run the World as she's fierce (her friend Aisling). When I'm feeling down, she's always there for me, even all the way from Sydney.

Arthur gave Ellen her first 10 and she told Nicky Byrne she was on cloud nine.

Ellen and Stephen scored 28 from the judges.

The next couple to dance were TV presenter Gr inne Seoige and John Nolan. Tonight, Gr inne dedicated her dance to her husband Leon. They danced a samba to Toto's iconic song Africa,' in tribute to her husband's nationality.

Grainne said: I had a ball. Leon's been at every show this series, but this week he got covid and unfortunately, that's just the world we are living in. Nicky asked her about how her life has changed since she met Leon. Gr inne continued; Isn't that what's great about life? To move to the other side of the world and learn a new culture and new language. It's so good for you to do that.

Gr inne and John scored 17 from the judges.

Jordan Conroy and Salome Chachua were next up with an emotional foxtrot who Jordan dedicated to his mother Jennie, who raised her two children as a single mother. They danced to an aptly named song Isn't She Lovely' by Stevie Wonder. His finished his dance routine by presenting his mam with a bunch of flowers.

Jordan said; It's been a long tough road, but for me, it's now more of a celebration. It was hard not to cry at the beginning. You've got to celebrate. It's more of a celebration than a sob story. A little big of nerves, it's my mammy so I'll always be a little boy at heart.

Jordan and Salome scored 19 from the judges.

Nicolas Roche and Karen Byrne were the 6th couple on the dancefloor. Nicolas dedicated his emotional dance tonight to his brother, Alexis. In 2008, Alexis donated his bone marrow to his other brother, Florian, as he battled leukaemia. Hey Brother' by Avicii was the perfect choice for their quickstep tonight.

Nicholas said; I felt a lot of pressure, it's been a tough rehearsal. The person who you dedicated your song to, is here all the way from France. You don't want to mess it up! I thought it was quite emotional to dedicate the dance to my bother who saved my other brothers life.

Nicolas and Karen scored 19 from the judges.

Singer Erica Cody dedicated tonight's tango to her icon and childhood inspiration, Samantha Mumba. Growing up, Erica realised she could be a singer too. She and Denys Samson danced to one of Samantha's most popular hits Body II Body'. Erica shared her delight in telling Samantha earlier in the week of her dedication of tonight's performance to her.

An emotional Erica Cody said; You can't help but feel empowered when you have someone in your corner, who looks like you and tells you, you can do anything. It's a real full circle for me, to do that for Samantha when she did it for me growing up. It's such a journey, I'm really giving it my all.

Erica and Denys scored 20 from the judges.

Matthew MacNabb and Laura Nolan were last but not least as Matthew dedicated his dance to his close friend Ryan who passed away last summer. Ryan has been in Matthew's thoughts with every dance step this week. See You Again' by Charlie Puth was the perfect track for their contemporary ballroom dance.

An emotional Matthew said; We had such special memories, he was such a special person. I was in Love Island quarantine when he passed away so I wasn't able to go to his funeral so this was my dedication to him.

Matthew and Laura scored 26 from the judges.

The Guest Act tonight

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