Everyone’s favorite celebrity dancing competition is back for its 34th season. This season features Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, not one but two MomTok stars, a group of Mormon TikTok moms from the hit reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” “High School Musical” star Zac Efron’s brother, and many more.
Before we get into the recap, let’s set the groundwork. “Dancing With the Stars” (DWTS) pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who teach their partners the basics of many ballroom styles, ranging from Salsa to the complex Foxtrot. Every week the couple performs a new dance and is scored by judges Derek Hough, a former DWTS pro, Bruno Tonioli, and everyone’s least favorite judge, Carrie Ann Inaba. Final scores are calculated by combining the judges’ scores with fan votes. In the end, the winners take home the revered Mirror Ball Trophy. Catch the show every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST on Disney+ or Hulu.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get into Tuesday’s episode.
The first episode of every season introduces the contestants by having them perform with their partners to their anthem of choice. This week there was also no elimination, which means scores will carry over to next Tuesday. Additionally, Carrie Ann was out sick, meaning only two judges scores were present.
The night kicked off with Jordan Chiles, a gold-winning Olympic gymnast, who was paired with the young Ezra Sosa. The two performed a Salsa to “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé. Their Salsa featured lots of lifts and tricks — which Carrie Ann, if she had been present, would have criticized for its extravagance. Carrie Ann is known to dislike lifts, instead wanting a more traditional performance. The two judges praised the excitement of the dance, but wanted to see more of the traditional salsa style and moves. The pair received two 5s for a total of 10 out of 20.
Zac Efron’s brother, Dylan Efron, performed next with my personal favorite pro, Daniella Karagach. They danced a cha-cha to “Milkshake” by Kelis (yes, the one that Katseye danced to). Dylan surprised the crowd with his smile, energy, and ability to shake his butt, which Bruno commented on. When asked why he chose this song, Efron noted that he wanted something that was out of his comfort zone. The judges critiqued Efron’s consistency and said they wanted him to work on his timing, landing the pair another score of two 5s (10 out of 20).
Actress Elaine Hendrix, who is known for her sizzling performance as Meredith Blake in the 1998 “The Parent Trap,” dazzled next with Alan Berster. Dancing a cha-cha to “Woman” by Kesha, Hendrix wowed with the nuances and complexities of her dance. The judges wanted her to work on finishing movements, but commented on her incredible stage presence. She received two 6s for a 12 out of 20.
Whitney Levitt, one of the Mormon wives, is one of the most controversial celebrity picks of this season. Levitt studied dance in college, attended the rival dance studio of one of the pros on the show, and is known for her strong personality on social media. She was paired with returning pro, Mark Ballas, known for his former partnership on Season 31 with Charli D’Amelio. The two performed a detailed tango to “Golden” from the hit movie “KPop Demon Hunters.” The pair received a 7 from Derek and an accidental 8 from Bruno (he meant to type 7); and thus the first 8 of season was given out on the first episode. This dance in particular greatly upset the fan base, what with Whitney’s already unfair advantage in dancing experience and now Bruno’s mistype of 8 instead of 7. Previously, 8s were a hot commodity not given out until at least the third week.
Speeding through the next few, Baron Davis, retired two-time all star NBA player, was paired with newlywed and pro-dancer Britt Stewart. The pair danced a cha-cha to “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer, which surprised the crowd and has room for improvement. They received a 10 out of 20. Social media personality Alix Earle performed a cha-cha to “Circus” by Britney Spears with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. The judges praised the pair on the clean movements, but wanted more fluidity in the dance. They received a 7 from Derek and a 6 from Bruno. Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying danced a tango with Rylee Arnold to “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga. The judges were impressed but told Hoying to focus on the fundamentals. Hoying and Arnold received two 5s.
Danielle Fisher, known for her roles in “Boy Meets World” and “Girl Meets World,” amazed the audience with a Tango to “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. Having just survived cancer, Fisher wanted to celebrate and show what her body can do. The pair received two 6s from the judges.
Our second MomTok star, Jen Affleck, performed with new professional, Jan Ravnik, known for his dancing role in Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. The pair performed a salsa with many lifts and tricks to “NUEVEYoL” by Bad Bunny. The judges critiqued the amount of lifts, saying they slowed the performance down. Affleck, who just gave birth to her third child, said she was having fun pushing herself in this new chapter. The pair received a 12 out of 20.
Prolific actor Corey Feldman, along with pro and reigning champion Jenna Johnson, danced a tango to “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel. Feldman’s infectious personality rubbed off on the judges, but they did critique his drooping frame. They received a 4 from Derek and a 5 from Bruno.
Lauren Jauregui, known for her role in the girl group Fifth Harmony, danced a tango to “yes, and?” by Ariana Grande. She and her partner Brandon Armstrong were praised for their fluidity. They received a 7 from Derek and a 6 from Bruno.
Comedian Andy Richter was paired with Emma Slater. They danced a cha-cha to “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam and Dave. The judges noted Richter’s stage presence and dancing potential. They received a 5 from Derek and a 4 from Bruno.
Hilaria Baldwin, Alec Baldwin’s wife, danced a cha-cha to “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez. The judges noted her and her partner’s Gleb Savchenko’s sharpness and precision. They received a 14 out of 20.
Finally, Episode 1 closed out with professional Witney Carson and Robert Irwin, Australian conservationist and son of the “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. The pair performed an incredible jive to “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. Not only was Irwin expressive, but his movements were sharp and light on his feet, awarding him a 15 out of 20, tying him in first place with Whitney Levitt and Mark Ballas.
The episode and my article wrap up there. Catch us next week to see who will be eliminated and if Whitney and Robert can keep their lead.
