Dancing With the Stars returned for Season 35 with an action-packed first night of performances. The new season features 16 celebrities competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, with the cast split across two premiere nights.
The first night featured eight male celebrities taking the ballroom floor, each performing to a No. 1 song from the year they were born. With judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli watching closely, the contestants had plenty to prove during their first performances of the season.
Here’s a look at every dance from Night 1 of Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
Dancing With the Stars: Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
Jackson Olson opened the competition with a lively cha cha set to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” The Savannah Bananas entertainer brought plenty of personality to the performance, although the judges felt his technique needed improvement.
Carrie Ann Inaba praised his potential as a crowd favorite, while Derek Hough highlighted Olson’s natural performance ability but pointed out issues with his legs and technique. Bruno Tonioli also enjoyed the energy but noted problems with his foot placement.
Score: 15/30
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
Tyler Cameron took on the tango with Sharna Burgess, dancing to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.” The reality star worked to maintain his posture and frame while bringing a confident presence to the ballroom.
The judges saw plenty of potential. Carrie Ann was impressed once Cameron settled into the routine, while Derek compared his presence to Patrick Swayze. Bruno also noted his natural musicality despite some mistakes.
Score: 17/30
Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman
Conner Leavitt brought a playful energy to the ballroom with a salsa performance set to “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team. Dancing with new pro Adele Zaikman, Leavitt embraced the fun side of the routine.
The judges enjoyed his enthusiasm but wanted more control and stronger salsa technique. Derek and Bruno both specifically pointed to his lack of hip action and inconsistent timing.
Score: 12/30
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
Guillermo Rodriguez brought plenty of entertainment value to his cha cha with Witney Carson. The Jimmy Kimmel Live personality danced to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” and quickly won over the crowd.
Carrie Ann praised the clearly defined movements, while Derek and Bruno agreed that Rodriguez’s performance had personality even though the technical elements still needed work.
Score: 10/30
Dancing With the Stars: Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech delivered one of the night’s standout performances alongside Daniella Karagach. The pair performed a tango to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” adapting the choreography to work with Frech’s prosthetic.
The judges responded strongly to the performance. Carrie Ann praised the way the pair moved together as a unit, while Derek highlighted Frech’s frame. Bruno also praised his focus, control and commanding presence.
Score: 20/30
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
Connor Wood brought a country-western flavor to his cha cha with Rylee Arnold. The comedian danced to Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” and surprised the judges with his smooth performance.
Carrie Ann pointed out the softness in Wood’s dancing, while Derek praised the duo’s upbeat energy. Bruno encouraged Wood to maintain his performance level while continuing to improve his timing and technique.
Score: 16/30
Dancing With the Stars: Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
Taylor Hanson tackled the quickstep with Britt Stewart, performing to Billy Joel’s “Tell Her About It.” Although Hanson previously avoided dancing, he embraced the challenge with a routine that impressed the judges.
Carrie Ann called it a proper quickstep, while Derek praised Hanson’s communication with Stewart. Bruno also noted the difficulty of the routine and Hanson’s ability to recover when mistakes happened.
Score: 16/30
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
Harry Shum Jr. closed out the night with a high-energy cha cha alongside Jenna Johnson. The pair performed to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove” in a medical-themed “Emergency Disco” number.
Shum Jr.’s professional background as a dancer was evident throughout the routine. Carrie Ann praised his electric performance while advising him to be careful not to overextend his movements. Derek enjoyed the routine, and Bruno highlighted the chemistry between Shum Jr. and Johnson.
The performance earned the highest score of the night.
Score: 21/30
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Night 1 Scores
Harry Shum Jr. finished the night at the top of the judges’ leaderboard with 21 points, followed by Ezra Frech with 20. Tyler Cameron earned 17, while Taylor Hanson and Connor Wood each received 16.
With eight performances completed, the competition is already underway. The remaining celebrities will take the ballroom floor during Night 2 of the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere.
Who Goes Home on Dancing With the Stars?
The first elimination of Dancing With the Stars Season 35 has officially taken place. Conner Leavitt and his partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated at the end of Night 1 of the premiere.
The pair performed a salsa to “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team, earning 12 out of 30 points from the judges. While Carrie Ann Inaba praised Leavitt’s enthusiasm, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli both felt the routine needed stronger salsa technique and hip action.
The elimination was determined by a combination of the judges’ scores and viewer votes. However, technical issues affected online voting during the episode, so only text-message votes counted toward the Night 1 results.
After the elimination was announced, Leavitt thanked Zaikman for the experience, while Zaikman described her first season as a professional on the show as a dream come true.
Meanwhile, Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold remain in the competition after earning 16 points for their cha cha.
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