Dancing with the Stars Returns for Season 34!

The highly anticipated new season of Dancing with the Stars has officially kicked off, marking a dazzling 20 years on air! This year, the ballroom welcomed a star-studded lineup of celebrity contestants ready to groove to their chosen anthems.

Meet This Season's Star Contestants!

Among the cast are familiar faces from various fields: from reality TV star Jen Affleck and social media sensation Alix Earle to Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and retired NBA star Baron Davis. Also gracing the stage are The Traitors winner Dylan Efron, actor Corey Feldman, and renowned conservationist Robert Irwin, son of the late Steve Irwin. The lineup also includes actress Danielle Fishel from Boy Meets World and Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui.

Judges Made It Interesting!

In a twist, judge Carrie Ann Inaba was absent due to an illness, with no guest judge to fill her spot. Only Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough evaluated the performances, resulting in scores out of 20 points—diving in from the traditional 30.

Top Scores of Night!

Going into the evening, Whitney Leavitt and Robert Irwin wowed the audience and secured the highest scores of the night, both achieving 15 out of 20! A minor mishap saw Tonioli initially raise a 'seven' paddle for Leavitt but officially counted her score as an 'eight,' leading to the impressive 15.

Heartfelt Stories and Triumphs!

As the stars shared their personal stories, Fishel touched hearts by reflecting on her cancer survival, while Baldwin celebrated returning to the dance floor after a hip injury. Fellow contestant Andy Richter humorously noted his desire to sign up was simply 'for the paycheck!' The evening’s highlight, however, was when Judge Hough praised Irwin’s performance as 'the best first dance I’ve ever seen on the show!'

No Eliminations Yet!

As expected in premiere episodes, no couples were eliminated this week, but excitement is brewing for next Tuesday, where two couples will face a double elimination!

Returning Pros & Fan Favorites!

Familiar professional dancers such as Gleb Savchenko, Val Chmerkovskiy, and Jenna Johnson return alongside new talent, including a dancer from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Jan Ravnik. Co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are back to guide fans through the season.

Full Score Recap:

1. Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: 10/20 2. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: 10/20 3. Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: 12/20 4. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas: 15/20 5. Baron Davis and Britt Stewart: 10/20 6. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: 13/20 7. Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold: 10/20 8. Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov: 12/20 9. Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik: 12/20 10. Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson: 9/20 11. Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong: 13/20 12. Andy Richter and Emma Slater: 9/20 13. Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko: 14/20 14. Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: 15/20

Don't miss the excitement as Season 34 airs every Tuesday on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day!