“Dancing with the Stars” season 35 premiered with eight couples dancing to retro hits tied to their birth years, and the judges made it clear which routines stood out and which did not. The show split the night into two episodes: one for the men, one for the women. Each night ended with an elimination, and on the first night, Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were sent home.
Opening Night
The night began with Jackson Olson, the star of “Savannah Bananas,” dancing a cha-cha to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls alongside pro Emma Slater. The judges wasted no time setting the tone for the competition, with Derek Hough telling the audience to brace themselves for exceptionally harsh scoring this season.
Bruno Tonioli commented that the baseball player’s performance was well received by the audience. Carrie Ann Inaba believes Olson could remain a crowd favorite, though she pointed out that he still needs to improve his movements.
Score: 5, 5, 5 — 15 out of 30.
Tyler Cameron’s Tango
Sharna Burgess and Tyler Cameron danced the tango to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way”, with Burgess serving as the professional partner to Cameron, who previously appeared on “The Bachelorette,”. Bruno expressed pleasant surprise at Cameron’s ability to move. Carrie Ann went further, saying she was beyond impressed with his command of the dance floor. Derek praised Cameron’s effort, describing it as “Patrick Swayze aura,” though he also noted that the dancer needs work on presence, frame and posture.
Score: 6, 5, 6 — 17 out of 30.
Conner Leavitt’s Salsa
Conner Leavitt, husband of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” and pro Adele Zaikman performed a salsa to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team. Carrie Ann diplomatically said the dance was fun but chaotic. Derek called the routine goofy, playful and fun, but said it needs refinement. Bruno thought things were colorful, but said the timing was off quite a bit.
Score: 4, 4, 4 — 12 out of 30.
Guillermo Rodriguez’s Cha-Cha
Derek gave Guillermo Rodriguez of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” his honest opinion about their performance to “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight, returning to 1971. He admitted the dancer showed great effort, but said technique was lacking and that plenty of work remains ahead. Bruno’s take was memorable in its own right, calling the routine unforgettable — though not in a positive sense — and predicting it would go viral. Carrie Ann praised the dance as super entertaining and said she could see the intention behind it.
Score: 4, 3, 3 — 10 out of 30.
Ezra Frech’s Tango
Daniella Karagach and two-time Paralympic champion Ezra Frech picked Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” for their tango. Bruno praised the performance as strong, focused and in control, adding that he believed Ezra looked like a leading man. Carrie Ann explained why she loves watching “Dancing with the Stars,” noting that these dancers show people what is possible despite adversity. Derek was moved, recalling the season he danced with Paralympian Amy Purdy, and told Ezra he believes he can do it all.
Score: 7, 6, 7 — 20 out of 30.
Connor Wood’s Cha-Cha
Connor Wood, who runs a podcast and posts content online, and professional dancer Rylee Arnold performed the cha-cha to “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw. Carrie Ann admitted she was pleased with their effort and noted there was no “ick” element involved in the routine. Derek described the pair as a double dose of dopamine, saying they were both attractive and had a strong bond, while also noting they need to improve their timing and technique. Bruno praised their look, calling them the king and queen of the prom, though he agreed with Derek’s assessment that they still need to focus on technique, adding that they should maintain the same level of performance.
Score: 6, 5, 5 — 16 out of 30.
Taylor Hanson’s Quickstep
Taylor Hanson, the musician, and Britt Stewart danced a quickstep set to “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel. Derek told Taylor that the quickstep had been assigned to him, and added that though there was some trouble, they managed a solid save! He advised the pair to focus on consistency. Bruno praised the routine, calling it a proper, real quickstep. Carrie Ann said she heard the late Len Goodman’s voice in her head saying that it was a proper quickstep, and urged the audience to watch this couple closely.
Score: 6, 5, 5 — 16 out of 30.
Harry Shum Jr.’s Cha-Cha
Jenna Johnson and actor Harry Shum Jr. danced a cha-cha set to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove”. Bruno felt their on-stage connection was exceptional. Carrie Ann praised Harry’s energy during performances but advised him to keep his steps under control and stick to what the dance demands. Derek simply stated that he found the routine enjoyable, though time was growing short.
Score: 7, 7, 7 — 21 out of 30.
The Elimination
On Tuesday, the program revealed that online voting had problems, and only text votes were counted instead. The hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, shared that there were over twice as many votes compared to last season’s premiere. This figure stands out even more given that just eight couples took part in night one.
The final result saw Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman leave the show. Zaikman is a newcomer to “DWTS” Pro, having secured the title in the first season of “Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro.”
What Happens Next
Wednesday, Sept. 16, marks the second night of the premiere, with it airing at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. The episodes then appear on Hulu the following day.
| Couple | Routine | Song |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Olson / Emma Slater | Cha-cha | “Wannabe” by Spice Girls |
| Tyler Cameron / Sharna Burgess | Tango | “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz |
| Conner Leavitt / Adele Zaikman | Salsa | “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team |
| Guillermo Rodriguez / Witney Carson | Cha-cha | “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight |
| Ezra Frech / Daniella Karagach | Tango | “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson |
| Connor Wood / Rylee Arnold | Cha-cha | “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw |
| Taylor Hanson / Britt Stewart | Quickstep | “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel |
| Harry Shum Jr. / Jenna Johnson | Cha-Cha | “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire |
Our View
“Dancing with the Stars” proved at the premiere that it can still put on a grand show. The setup is simple: eight pairs, eight tracks, eight marks from the panel. Yet the pressure mounts with each elimination.
The show played by its own rules when Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were eliminated; their score sat at the bottom, and the outcome felt earned. Guillermo Rodriguez, the crowd favorite, likewise faced trouble with his technique, which demonstrates that the judges consider both the numbers and the actual performance.
On the following evening, the female contestants take their turn on stage. Viewership has already been established, yet the coming weeks will determine if the skill behind those numbers is truly there.
The dance floor is packed once more, and the grand hall has returned to its former glory. The elimination serves as a constant reminder that this event is a contest, not merely a display.
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