Dancing With the Stars Season 34 Premiere: Scores, Surprises, and Future Themes

Welcome Back to the Glitzy Ballroom for Dancing With the Stars Season 34!

Alright, dance fanatics! The ballroom lights are officially back on, the glitter is flying, and Dancing With The Stars Season 34 has made its grand return. It honestly feels like ages since we last saw that mirror ball trophy spin. But ABC put that waiting period to good use, bringing us not one, but two amateur dancers from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for this season. And get this: another Mormon wife will lead the next season of The Bachelorette. That is a story for another time, though. Right now, let's talk about the dance floor action!

First things first, let's send some positive thoughts to Carrie Ann Inaba. She had to miss premiere night due to an undisclosed sickness. We certainly missed her sharp observations and probably her exasperation with Bruno Tonioli's playful antics. Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro were back as our hosts, guiding us through all the dance floor happenings. Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough held down the judging panel.

No Early Exits Allowed: Premiere Night Spared All the Competing Stars

Hold your breath, everyone, because the first night of Season 34 brought a surprise: no one went home! That is right, it was a non-elimination night. Everyone gets another week to show what they've got. The votes from this week and next, along with the judges' scores from both weeks, will decide who faces elimination in a double departure next week. Get ready for some serious competition!

Reviewing Each Couple's First Dance Floor Performance and Initial Scores

Let's get into the specifics of how our new stars performed. Judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli were ready to deliver their comments and scores.

Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson's Ballroom Tango Debut

Actor and musician Corey Feldman stepped out with Jenna Johnson. Feldman admitted he'd never danced ballroom before, but he certainly has some Michael Jackson moves. While his rehearsal video showed off those pop moves, they might not cover a full ballroom season. Still, he moonwalked and pumped his hips like the Gloved One during his tango. Bruno Tonioli advised, "The performance was great, now work on the technique." Corey and Jenna received a SCORE: 9 out of 20. A bit of a low start, but plenty of chances to improve!

Olympic Gymnast Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa's Energetic Salsa

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles hit the floor with Ezra Sosa. As an artistic gymnast from the 2024 U.S. team, she felt the standards might be too high for athletes like herself. But do not worry, golden girl! Chiles' salsa was energetic enough to kick off premiere night, even if one of her cues to Sosa was a little too obvious. Bruno Tonioli was excited, saying, "I love to see your spice girl come out there! You have to carry the heat and the motion through the body. You have to express it." Jordan and Ezra earned a SCORE: 10 out of 20. A solid beginning for the Olympian!

Reality TV Star Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach's Bold Cha Cha

Reality TV star Dylan Efron partnered with Daniella Karagach. Yes, he is Zac's attractive older brother! Dylan's introduction video flaunted his shirtless look, and he started his cha cha with an open shirt and hip pumps near Derek Hough's head. Then he jumped off the stage and grabbed his crotch. That was a bold choice! Derek Hough commented, "I didn't know what to expect. You've got some fluidity. You lost the timing in a few places and lost the music." Dylan and Daniella secured a SCORE: 10 out of 20. Definitely a memorable debut!

NBA All-Star Baron Davis and Britt Stewart's Charismatic Cha Cha

NBA All-Star Baron Davis joined Britt Stewart. Davis certainly has big expectations to meet, as many basketball players have shined on this show. But he showed charisma with his first televised cha cha, even if M.C. Hammer's "You Can't Touch This" wasn't the perfect song. Derek Hough praised him, "You not only touched this, you crushed this! That was fun." Baron and Britt also received a SCORE: 10 out of 20. He clearly has potential to go far!

Pentatonix Singer Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold's Enthusiastic Tango

Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying teamed up with Rylee Arnold. Hoying declared himself a true DWTS fan before performing his tango to Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra." He faced some timing problems, but his excitement to be there was very clear. Derek Hough advised, "That left arm? You gotta finesse this. But for a week one dance? Amazing." Scott and Rylee scored a SCORE: 10 out of 20. His energy might carry him far in the contest!

Actress Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten's Broadway-Quality Cha Cha

Actress Elaine Hendrix, the cast's older member, danced with Alan Bersten. Good news for her: she began as a dancer, so she is ready for the competition. She also has many loyal fans from her famous portrayal of Dennis Quaid's girlfriend in The Parent Trap. Alan Bersten wisely played to the crowd by including the hand slap from the 1998 movie during their cha cha. Derek Hough was impressed, saying, "You are amazing. You have this Broadway quality to your dancing. It was mesmerizing." Elaine and Alan earned a solid SCORE: 12 out of 20. She could be a surprise contender!

Jen Affleck from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Jan Ravnik's Salsa

It is another mom from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives! Jen Affleck showed off her #Momtok moves before dancing with Jan Ravnik, a star himself who danced with Taylor Swift. Affleck reminded her partner she is a hot Latina, suggesting she had the right qualities for their lift-heavy salsa. Derek Hough applauded, "I can't believe you just had a baby two months ago. Bravo. That was a great first dance." Jen and Jan received a SCORE: 12 out of 30. This score seems a bit odd compared to others given the context, but we will stick with it!

Danielle Fishel from Boy Meets World and Pasha Pashkov's Tango

After a clip from her Boy Meets World days, Danielle Fishel explained this is her "Year of Yes" after breast cancer treatment. Fishel admitted little dance experience but knows how to put on a show, which she proved with her tango. Bruno Tonioli noted, "You have a wonderful sense of movement, great fluidity. Just make sure to check your shoulder. That's the hardest thing to do. But I'm telling you darling, you should be proud of yourself." Danielle and Pasha also scored a SCORE: 12 out of 20. What a moving comeback story for her!

Comedian Andy Richter and Emma Slater's Humorous Cha Cha

Comedian Andy Richter partnered with Emma Slater. He joked about avoiding dance his whole career but said his "time is up on that." He is not afraid to look foolish, having done so on TV before, but he knows "how important it is to sell it!" He even admitted to co-host Julianne Hough that a paycheck motivated him. Bruno Tonioli said, "It really was the spirit of the cha cha cha. The body of the cha cha cha wasn't there. You were in another time zone." Andy and Emma received a SCORE: 9 out of 20, tying for the lowest score of the night. His humor is definitely a highlight though!

Social Media Personality Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy's Cha Cha

If you do not know social media personality Alix Earle, you might be "too old." She is an influencer who works out online. Val Chmerkovskiy highlighted her stunning looks by having her stand with a whip in a fiery circle before their cha cha. She looked quite tired after the number. Bruno Tonioli told her to focus on her "continuity and connection." Alix and Val scored a SCORE: 13 out of 20. She certainly brought the visual drama to the stage!

Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong's Impressive Tango

Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui joined Brandon Armstrong. She is keen for people to know her outside the pop world and seems very relatable among this season's diverse cast. This will likely earn her fan votes, along with her good opening night tango. Derek Hough stated, "It was elegant there was texture in your movement. Overall, you put us all on notice tonight." Lauren and Brandon earned a strong SCORE: 13 out of 20. She made a real impression on her first night!

Whitney Leavitt from Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and Mark Ballas's Tango

The other Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, Whitney Leavitt, teamed up with Mark Ballas. Leavitt explained her sudden fame through her dancing TikTok videos and promised to show a different side of her Salt Lake City persona. Her tango was a good start. Bruno Tonioli praised, "No messing around, very, very high quality." Whitney and Mark achieved a fantastic SCORE: 15 out of 20, putting her at the top of the leaderboard!

Author and Influencer Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko's Cha Cha

Author and influencer Hilaria Baldwin, Alec Baldwin's wife, danced with Gleb Savchenko. The show saved her for the final 15 minutes. She mentioned having danced before but now has screws in her hips. Ouch! But she rocked those booty feathers through a cheerful cha cha, with her many children and Alec watching from the sidelines. Derek Hough declared, "That was the best cha cha I have seen for a mother of 7." Hilaria and Gleb scored a great SCORE: 14 out of 20. Impressive for a mom of seven!

Wildlife Conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson's Kick-Ass Jive

Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson closed the show. Ten years ago, Robert's sister Bindi won the Mirror Ball trophy. Dance clearly runs in the family! Robert's energetic jive, performed to "Born to be Wild," was left for last. Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, "That wasn't good. It was great! Wonderful in the best possible way." Robert and Witney also secured a fantastic SCORE: 15 out of 20, tying for the top spot with Whitney Leavitt. What a way to finish the night with excitement!

Top Scorers and Bottom Dancers: Who Started the Competition Strongest?

After all the routines, two couples stood at the top with an impressive 15 out of 20: Robert Irwin and Witney Carson, and Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Robert's jive was called the "best week one dance" Derek Hough has ever seen. Interestingly, Bruno Tonioli initially showed a 7 for Whitney Leavitt, but it was later confirmed he meant to give an 8, raising her total.

At the other end of the scoreboard, we had a tie for the lowest score: Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson, and Andy Richter and Emma Slater both received 9 out of 20. They will need to step up their game to avoid the double elimination next week!

Get Ready for Themed Nights: A Look at Season 34's Upcoming Dance Schedule

Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro, along with Season 33 winner Joey Graziadei, spilled the details on the upcoming themed nights for Dancing With the Stars Season 34. This looks like a fun ride for viewers!

The Return of One Hit Wonder Night and a Brand New TikTok Inspired Theme

Week 2 brings back One Hit Wonder Night, where we will see two couples leave in a double elimination. Get ready for some serious nostalgia! After that, Week 3 introduces a brand new TikTok Night. Julianne Hough felt this theme was necessary, and Joey Graziadei pointed out we have many TikTokers this season, including Alix Earle and Whitney Leavitt, who became famous through the platform. This sounds like it will be wild!

Classic Disney Magic and Heartfelt Dedications on Future Episodes

Week 4 promises the always popular Disney Night. Joey Graziadei called it "a classic, one of my favorites." Who does not love a bit of Disney magic? Following that, Week 5 is Dedication Night. Stars will pick a person, group, or organization to honor with their dance. Joey also picked this as "another one of my favorites." These nights often bring out some truly emotional and powerful performances from the stars.

Wicked Night, Halloween Fun, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Celebrations

Things get spooky and musical later in the season. Week 6 is set to be Wicked Night, airing October 21. Joey Graziadei joked this night "might break the internet." This happens a month before the Wicked sequel, For Good, arrives. Week 7 brings us Halloween Night, arriving just three days before the holiday itself. And Week 8 will be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night. Get ready for some powerful music and iconic moves on the stage!

A Special Birthday Party and Prince Night Leading to the Grand Finale

For the last regular-season episode before the finals, Episode 9 will celebrate with a DWTS Birthday Party. Joey Graziadei explained, "This is a special one. It is the 20th birthday party in celebration of our 20th year on air." What a milestone for the show! Week 10's semi-final episode will honor the legendary "Purple Rain" singer with Prince Night. Alfonso Ribeiro was ecstatic, claiming, "That is my night. That's my night," and said he is already planning his outfits for the November 18 episode.

Finally, Week 11 will bring the three-hour finale! Alfonso Ribeiro believes this season is unique, with many contestants having a real shot at winning. "They all brought it," he said about the premiere. It sounds like a wide-open race for the mirror ball trophy this year!

Meet the Talented Troupe and Notable Family Connections in This Season

The new season also introduced us to the talented troupe members: Carter Williams, Onye Stevenson, Jaxon Willard, and Hailey Bills. Hailey Bills is Jenna Johnson's cousin, adding another family connection to the show. It is a sweet twist to see relatives joining the dance world! We also know that Rylee Arnold is not the first family member of a pro or contestant to hit the ballroom. Robert Irwin's dream of winning the mirror ball trophy a decade after his sister Bindi Irwin is another lovely family story running through the season.

Dancing With the Stars: Where and When to Catch All the Dance Action

Ready to dive back in? Dancing With the Stars broadcasts on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. If you miss it live, new episodes stream the following day on Hulu. Do not forget to get involved! You can compete against other fans and editors in the Bracketology DWTS fantasy league. Predict who will reach the finale for Season 34, access exclusive content, stats, and get a chance to win prizes. Joining is free, so go ahead and prove your DWTS knowledge!

Season 34 is off to a grand start with its familiar mix of excitement and unpredictability. Despite some initial lower scores and an unexpected scoring moment with Whitney Leavitt and Bruno Tonioli, the show promises high-energy dances and plenty of drama each week. Derek Hough even warned contestants about potentially lower-than-usual scores early on to allow for growth. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson showed strong potential, dancing their way to a promising initial score. With so many contenders, it truly feels like anyone's game for that mirror ball trophy!

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