It’s time to hit the dance floor because “Dancing With The Stars” is back!
Season 33 premiered last Tuesday, Sept. 17 ushering in a spectacular night filled with glitz, glamor and chaos! 13 celebrities took to the dance floor and showcased their skills in a dazzling debut.
All three judges, Bruno Tonioli, Carrie-Ann Inaba and Derek Hough as well as hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro were back to kick off an exciting new season.
Bachelor Joey Graziadei was the first to perform with his partner Jenna Johnson, giving the audience a country-inspired cha-cha to “Dancin’ In The Country.” He shocked the audience with his infectious smile and suave dance skills.
Senior Stefanie Santoli believes that “Joey has some serious potential!” He is someone to look out for in the coming weeks, as he had the third-highest score of the night, 21/30.
Senior Erin Resnick loves watching the show with her friends every week. She exclaimed “My friends and I love watching all the couples every Tuesday and we get so invested!” She also thinks Joey has a lot of potential, commenting that “he exceeded dancing expectations in my opinion!”
There has never been a season of DWTS with a bachelor and bachelorette, so Season 33 is making history with the late addition of Jenn Tran! Following the intense finale of “The Bachelorette,” Tran immediately got on a plane to meet her pro, Sasha Farber. With very little time to practice, Tran gave an outstanding performance to “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus. She was right up there with Joey, scoring a 19/30 on her cha-cha.
One stand-out performance was 6 ’11 basketball star Dwight Howard and his 5′ 2 partner Daniella Karagach. Their height difference was definitely a big concern for some, but Daniella’s choreography made Howard blossom on the dance floor. The couple danced a salsa to “This Is How We Do It,” and scored an impressive 22/30.
Stephen Nedoroscik and pro Rylee Arnold did the only jive of the night to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. Nedoroscik, also known as the “pommel horse guy” from this summer’s Olympics, was definitely a fan favorite going into this season.
Sophomore Rebecca Mattei-Brown exclaimed, “I was so excited to see Stephen and he blew me away!” She was very impressed with his rhythm and charisma, commenting that “he looked like he belonged onstage.”
Resnick agrees and thinks “They [Stephen and Rylee] are so fun to watch and so positive!”
Stephen and Rylee scored a 21/30, taking the fourth-highest spot of the night.
Taking first place of the night was “Zombies” and “Pretty Little Liars” star, Chandler Kinney. Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong electrified the dance floor with their tango to “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan, receiving a score of 23/30.
With all these impressive celebrities, it’s going to be hard to choose a winner in the end. Sophomore, Taylor Kiggins agrees and exclaims “There’s so much talent, I can’t pick a favorite!”
While many stars shined brightly on stage, there were a few who struggled to find the rhythm and confidence they needed for a stand-out performance. 72-year-old “Family Matters” star Reginald VelJohnson was criticized for his lack of movement. While the judges tried to be uplifting, Bruno Tonioli asked, “Moving forward, a few more steps please.”
Similarly, 68-year-old actor, Eric Roberts danced a little too stiff for the judging liking. Derek Hough compared him to “…assembling Ikea furniture.” Though he has the lowest score of the night with a 15/30, Roberts left the stage with a smile on his face ready for next week!
While VelJohnson and Roberts have a lot of work to do in the coming weeks, Santoli loves their positive attitude. She insists that “Reggie is so adorable, we have to vote for him!”
With dazzling performances and a few surprises, season 33 of DWTS is already off to a fabulous start! Don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 8 p.m. to see who gets eliminated and who gets closer to winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy!
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