The ballroom is once again filled with the sequins shining brighter and the sound of music blaring louder than before as season 34 of ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ hits the air. With fan favorites Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough hosting with their signature flair, they bring the perfect vibe for an evening filled with tension, nerves, and standing ovations. For the very first night of dances of the season, the energy is definitely electric. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli stand poised with their biting criticisms and unexpected accolades, keeping the contestants on their feet.
The Premiere Starts With Stunning Performances and New Faces
The premiere starts off with a spectacular dance number, and then there’s the arrival of the hosts, Alfonso and Julianne. The latter informs everyone that the dance is choreographed by Ray Leeper. Now that the judges, Derek and Bruno, have been introduced out of the way, it is disclosed that Carrie is unable to come tonight because she is not feeling well, but will be joining the panel next week. Julianne goes on to welcome the celebrity-studded cast of this season: (1) Olympian gold medal winner Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, (2) Reality TV personality Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, (3) Actress Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, (4) Cast member and influencer of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, (5) NBA All-Star Baron Davis and Britt Stewart, (6) Social media influencer Alix Earle and Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and (7) Singer and Musician Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold.
The lineup goes on with: (8) Actress Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov, (9) Influencer Jennifer Affleck AKA Jen and Jan Ravnik, (10) Actor and Musician Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson, (11) Singer from Fifth Harmony Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong, (12) Comedian Andy Richter and Emma Slater, (13) Author and Wellness Teacher Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko, and (14) Wildlife Conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Julianne reveals that the fantastic crew is gathered to assist in celebrating the show’s milestone 20th year on the air. All season long, they’ll celebrate some surprises in the weeks to come as they make their way to the huge 20th birthday bash down the line. The couples battle to claim the Mirrorball Trophy, and as always, the performances are judged by the judges. Additionally, the public also gets to relish choosing who wins to become the champion by voting. Each member has 10 votes per duo with the method. Every team is to perform on their anthems, songs best describing who they are. The competition begins with Jordan and Ezra. On her confessional, the former reveals that she is an Olympic gymnast twice over and a gold medallist. Her teammates have previously performed in the show and have set the bar high. Ezra feels his partner is “spicy” and fierce, and it is revealed that her anthem is “Break My Soul” by Beyoncé. It turns out that the singer is a big inspiration for her, and she performed in the Olympics to her music. Ezra believes that he must get her to believe she is a dancer. For her, turning on a piece of wood and experimenting with dancing a partner is also very different.
Pressure Still Builds as Even Beyoncé-inspired Style Receives
Harsh Critiques After Jordan and Ezra are done with their phenomenal salsa dance performance, Derek comments that it is a great first dance with a Beyoncé style. However, he wishes he had seen a little more content of salsa in the routine and explains that the score may be low because she has a long way to go. Bruno notes that although it was good, some dismounts were wobbly. He continues that one needs to carry the heat of the motion through the body. After the two go up on the Sky Box, Alfonso reveals that nobody goes home tonight. But both audience votes and judges’ scores will roll over to next week’s season premiere first elimination. The focus then comes to Julianne on the box, who queries Jordan and Ezra regarding the pressure. Ezra tells us he is happy they at least got to complete and enjoyed dancing with his partner.
On being asked, Jordan tells us that Beyoncé would be proud after watching the performance. In general, the contestant feels privileged to dance to her song. She also says she has a bond with her partner, making their couple adorable. Finally, the two judges give 5 points each, so it is 10 out of 20. The next duo to step onto the floor is Dylan, a content creator, reality personality, and outdoorsman, who is a worldwide sensation for the travel show ‘Down to Earth,’ and his partner Daniella. The latter is also recognized for being the season 3 winner of ‘The Traitors.’ Even though he is an adrenaline addict, this experience will get his heart rate up more than anything, he believes. He shares that he was always opposed to acting, but he is Zac Efron’s biggest fan, his brother. Zac is charismatic, and as a younger brother, it’s only natural that he would deviate from it. But the former cannot wait to do something which no one will anticipate. Daniella believes Dylan’s greatest challenge is stepping out of his comfort zone. His tonight’s anthem is “Milkshake” because it is all about overcoming his fear of dancing in public places. Dylan starts his dance with some moves just before Bruno. Once the cha-cha-cha routine is over, the judge says that although he is amazing at times, in some moments he lost consistency and requests him to be careful regarding the timing. Derek agrees with Bruno but states that there was fluidity. As the dancers make their way to the Sky Box, a fresh troupe that includes Carter Williams, Onye Stevenson, Jaxon Willard, and Hailey Bills mesmerizes everyone with an amazing performance.
Laughter, Strength, and Elegance Characterize
This Segment of Performances The spotlight is now on the box where Dylan informs that he picked “Milkshake” to be his anthem since he plays it every morning. He continues by stating that dancing live on TV is worse than being an adrenaline addict. The judges give both Dylan and Daniella 5 points each. The second star is Elaine, the actress who has appeared in ‘The Parent Trap’ and ‘Dynasty,’ and her boyfriend, Alan. In her confession, she reveals that she started working as a professional dancer, hence she does not shy away from sweating and blistering. Surprisingly, she quit dancing since she got hit by a car. Even though she closes her eyes and thinks she is 21, her body does not agree. The pair finishes their cha-cha-cha routine on her hit song “Woman” with ease.
Derek says that Elaine has Broadway talent in her dance, but asks that she complete her motion with her arms. Bruno says the dance is classy and sassy, but concurs with his co-judge’s observation. Upon inquiring them to occupy their spot on the box, Alfonso welcomes back Ray Chew Live and the singers. The focus is directed to Julianne as she inquires from Elaine how many years it has been since her previous dance. It is revealed that the actress has not trained in a studio for 30 years, and therefore, this is a new experience for her. She would like to show the other women out there that they are never too old. To their surprise, the pair’s routine scores them 6 points each. The spotlight then falls on ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast. They are sitting on the sidelines because two of their fellow cast members are competing this season. The first one up from their group is Whitney, and her dance partner Mark, last season’s guest judge. She recalls that she watched the latter on the show with her mother. She confesses that when she was initially a mother, she encountered other mothers on TikTok. It gave birth to a group, MomTok, that opened doors for them to the reality show. Her friend Jen is also appearing on the show, and they will motivate each other. After Whitney and Mark finish performing the tango on the song “Golden,” Bruno compliments the dance, saying that it was classy, top-notch, and full of great attitude. Derek also notices that her posture and turns were stunning, but he advises that she needs to have a consistent frame. After inquiring, Whitney shares that dancing on the show is so much more than working on her TikTok videos. She also says that she fell in love with the anthem while watching ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ with her children.
The Leaderboard Swings in Whitney and Mark’s Favor
As finally it’s time for the judges to award Whitney and Mark their scores, Derek gives them 7, whereas Bruno gives them 8. Julianne announces that the latter had meant a different score, but it cannot be changed at the moment. This leaves them with 15 out of 20, which is the evening’s highest score. Alfonso describes that after the judges score, the scores become fixed, regardless of which paddle they hold up. Up next are two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis, also an entrepreneur, producer, director, analyst, and content creator, and his dance partner Britt. Baron is a retired NBA player of 13 years, a two-time NBA All-Star, and he is here to learn to finish. He was motivated by watching the player, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, on the show. Baron’s song today is “U Can’t Touch This” because it makes him feel like a kid again.
When the routine is done, Derek comments there was so much charm, and it is wonderful for a first dance. Bruno also compliments the cha-cha-cha performance but says that he would like to see more since Baron has the talent. Briefly, Alfonso shifts the attention to the host of the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ podcast and the current champion, Joey Graziadei. The evening continues to the Sky Box, where Julianne asks Baron what his former teammates from his WhatsApp group had to say. He reports that they initially laughed for a few minutes and then instructed him not to lose. Fortunately, he and Britt manage to earn 5 points each for his performance. The second team on stage is Alix Earle, who appeared on the 2025 Forbes list of Top Creators and Val. She leaves her signature through her fashion, beauty, and lifestyle advice, but fans first discovered her through her get ready with me videos. Alix reports that over the past two years, she has appeared in a Super Bowl commercial and a film, but nobody knows her competitive spirit yet. She loves Val and lets on that dancing was her sport as a child. Her partner observes that cha-cha-cha is frenetic, and it is too much for her. Yet, she impresses the judges with the dance on the anthem “Circus.” While Bruno praises her and says she must never forget that there has to be a connection and smoothness between the pairs, Derek declares the dance clean and efficient. Yet, the latter observes that one must not make precision become stiffness. When Alix gets onto the box, she describes how it has been her ambition to step onto the stage to perform in front of cameras and a live crowd, after filming in the confines of her room. To her surprise, Derek awards 7 points to Alix and Val, and Bruno gives a 6.
Scott Shows Vulnerability, While Danielle Gives a Powerhouse Performance
The seventh couple of the evening is Scott, the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer, who has sold more than 13 million albums with Pentatonix and his partner, Rylee. The former is a member of the Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix. Even though his career is founded on singing, he is willing to dance on stage. For him, singing is an area of comfort, but dancing is much more vulnerable. As per Rylee, singing in a group provides him with a cushion of safety, but he can become accustomed to playing on his own by doing tango. He is dancing today on Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” because he and his husband have performed a TikTok on the same, which got a comment from the singer. Post-dance, Derek applauds the stunning routine but comments that they need to work on their fundamentals.
Bruno raises a point that the dance needs more tango and requests Scott to work on it. On top of the Sky Box, the contestant says how much he respects the ballroom and that judges’ comments motivate him to try harder. He actually prays Lady Gaga can give him a 10 after seeing him dance. Derek and Bruno each give him and his partner 5. Next up is Danielle Fishel, an actress and director who appears on ‘Boy Meets World’ and its spinoff ‘Girl Meets World,’ and her fellow dancer, Pasha. In her confessional, she discloses that she just survived cancer and is ready to take this year on. She believes she is in good hands because individuals who dance with Pasha are impressed with him. Danielle has one thing going for her: she has been dancing for more than 30 years. Danielle’s tango song today is “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson, which became significant after she recovered from cancer. Bruno comments on a great chemistry between her and Pasha but requests her to maintain her shoulder line. Derek concurs with the judge but adds it is an amazing dance. When Julianne asks Danielle whether her plan is to ride everyone’s crush on her to victory, the actress responds playfully that she is fine with it. Fortunately, the pair gets 6 points from each judge. It is now time for Jen, another star of ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,’ who partners with new pro Jan, a performer on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
The Premiere Reports on Tales of Resilience and Individual Struggles
Jen says she never imagined that her silly dancing on the countertops would take her to this. She has three children under the age of three, and the newborn is only eight weeks old. While practicing, she informed Jan that she may not be a professional dancer but is a Latina. She believes she is extremely feminine, and that will be a plus for the salsa. Finally, when the couple stands on the stage, they impress everyone with their dance in the song “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny. Derek initially says he cannot believe that she gave birth only eight weeks ago. He goes on saying that it’s a good first dance but wants to observe a bit more dancing from her henceforth. Bruno thinks that she spent all her time up in the air and mentions that it cuts off the flow. He advises her to move more and just give it a go.
In her interview, Jen shares that even though her body aches after just having given birth, she is enjoying herself and doing it for her children. Fortunately, she and Jan get a good score of 6 from Derek and Bruno. The second team to set foot on the stage is Corey, who features in over 100 films, such as ‘The Goonies’ and ‘The Lost Boys,’ and his dance partner, Jenna. The latter has had three Billboard top 40 hits and is an artist and actor. In his career, he adores twinkle but has never danced ever. Nevertheless, he is more than ready to learn. When he was 13 years old, he danced at the Rose Bowl with Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and to his surprise, he used to dance with Alfonso. Even though Jenna thinks he is groovy, she thinks that tango is all about connection. Posture is a difficult aspect for Corey because he suffers from Scoliosis. As soon as the show is finished, Bruno lets Corey know it was great but that he has to work on the technique. In the same manner, Derek finds it enjoyable but thinks the actors have a lot of work to do in every single one of his shots. When talking about his condition, Corey states that he always considers how he can better himself or his shape because he would like to improve. Unfortunately, they receive 4 from Derek and 5 from Bruno. Right behind this group is Fifth Harmony musician and songwriter Lauren and her boyfriend, Brandon. Two of her band members have reached the Finale, so it is not going to get any better for her. She has never ballroom danced in her life, yet she is connected to her body. Lauren feels that these dance styles actually permit femininity, and she is looking forward to it.
Some Contestants Promising, While Others Hit an Early Snag
Brandon believes that Lauren’s biggest challenge is adapting to the technicalities. While finishing their routine on “Yes, and?” Derek praises the beautiful tango moves and the steady frame, but requests her to maintain the landing. After heaping praise on the great flow, Bruno also stresses concentrating on making the ending more clearer. Back on the box, Lauren adds that she remains cool and calm because she is a performer by profession. Fortunately, she and Brandon get 7 points from Derek and a 6 from Bruno. The next contestants are Andy Richter, the Comedian on a number of movies, TV series, and podcasts, and his partner, Emma. Apart from his appearances on a number of sitcom shows, he is commonly referred to as Conan O’Brien’s sidekick.
Although he has managed to avoid dance throughout his career, the time is up for that. Derek is happy that Emma is her partner because he perceives her as someone positive. Furthermore, he is unafraid to look like an “idiot” on television. Tonight, they finish dancing on “Hold On, I’m Coming.” While Bruno mentions that there is spirit, but it lacks proper timing, Derek points out that Andy needs to practice his dancing. When the competitor is asked what made him take the plunge to be on the show, he jokes that it is for the paycheck. He also knows it will benefit him since he is the oldest contestant. With that being said, Derek provides him with 5 points and Bruno with 4. Next up are the Author and Wellness Influencer Hilaria and fellow dancer, Gleb Savchenko. Besides her profession, the star is also a mother of seven and the wife of Alec Baldwin. She is usually comfortable with someone direct, so she feels Gleb is a good choice because he will be honest with her. The Night Czarps With Robert and Witney, and Whitney and Mark Leading at the Top of the Leaderboard It is then disclosed that Hilaria was a dancer, but she was forced to quit because she broke her hips. She cannot wait to narrate the experience to her family, though. Dance is her passion, and she adores physically demanding things. Without hesitation, the two surprise everyone with their amazing cha-cha-cha routine on “Let’s Get Loud.” Both judges highly commend her for making her dance an expression. After she returns to the box, Hilaria shares that she cried backstage because she quit dancing 16 years ago. To her and Gleb’s advantage, the pair manages to get 14 points from the total set by the judges.
The last dancers for the evening are Witney and Robert. Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, had won the contest in 2015 with no other person than the judge, Derek. The wildlife conservationist shares that upon seeing his sister compete, he wanted to be a part of this contest one day. He is a champion of the natural world, and legacy means a lot to him. Not only is he interested in doing those which his father has established, but also designing something of his own. His and Witney’s jive routine is based on the song “Born To Be Wild.” As it is about to end, Bruno terms the routine as “wonderful.” Likewise, Derek also says that it is most likely the best first dance he has ever witnessed. While these remarks are precious to Robert, most important is that his family gives their support from the sidelines. In the end, the phenomenal performance gets the couple 8 points from Derek and 7 from Bruno, making it 15 out of 20. At the end of the night, Robert and Witney are level with Whitney and Mark on 15 points. At the bottom of the leaderboard are Andy and Emma, as well as Corey and Jenna, both with 9 points. Alfonso finally announces that in next week’s episode, not a single but double eliminations will take place.
