Dancing With The Stars Premiere Recap: Who's Your Early Favorite In Season 34?

Limber up and book your spray tan: Dancing With the Stars is back for a new season!

The dancing competition returned to ABC Tuesday for its Season 34 premiere, a two-hour event that showed us this year's competitors on the dance floor for the first time. The new crop of choreographed contestants — 14 total — includes two Mormon Wives, an '80s-movies heartthrob and Topanga from Boy Meets World. But let's be honest: We were laser-focused on Hilaria Baldwin and how early in the season the show would address allegations of her faking her, how do you say it?, Latina heritage.

Unfortunately, we're left waiting. Hilaria ended up dancing the cha-cha without any mention of her prior misstep! Luckily, we were treated to a surprising twist: a cameo from her husband Alec Baldwin.

Another familiar face, however, was missing from the premiere: Carrie Ann Inaba. The judge took to Instagram Tuesday morning to share that she would not be taking part in the Season 34 premiere due to "feeling quite under the weather." She was not replaced for the evening, so contestants were scored out of 20 instead of the usual 30.

Who was your favorite couple on Night 1? Keep scrolling for our recap of all 13 performances, then weigh in on the episode via our poll!

DANCE STYLE: Salsa (to "NUEVAYoL" by Bad Bunny)

Jen entered the competition with a leg up thanks to her dance partner: New pro Jan is fresh off Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. (!) But that's pretty much where Jen's good fortune ended. She didn't quite deliver the kind of high-energy salsa routine that a Bad Bunny anthem demands. The woman deserves some grace, however, since she's still recovering from childbirth eight weeks ago. (Um... ow?!)

JUDGES' SCORE: 12 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha (to "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez)

The wellness influencer has had her share of public flubs in the past, but in Week 1 on Dancing With the Stars, the mother of seven didn't miss a beat! After breaking her hip 16 years ago and giving up dance altogether, Hilaria looked right at home in the ballroom. For a casual viewer, you may have even mistaken her for a professional!

JUDGES' SCORE: 14 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Salsa (to "Break My Soul" by Beyoncé)

After channeling Beyoncé during the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was no surprise that Jordan made her DWTS debut with a Renaissance hit. Backed by the power of Queen Bey, her athleticism and enthusiasm was on full display, despite the ocassional wobble. As an Olympic gold medalist gymnast, I'm confident she'll soon look as comfortable in the ballroom as she does on the beam.

JUDGES' SCORE: 10 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha (to "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer)

Baron may have been a playmaker on the court, but on Dancing With the Stars, the former NBA player dropped the ball. He reported that he was sore and out of shape, and it showed. Overall, he looked more like Britt's hype-man than her actual dance partner.

JUDGES' SCORE: 10 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha (to "Circus" by Britney Spears)

Alix and Val looked like they had already developed a good bit of trust ahead of their first performance as a pair. (Did you see those dips?!) The TikTok influencer looked pretty crisp, but it sometimes came off as stiff, like Alix was simply going through the motions as she remembered each move. Definitely full of potential!

JUDGES' SCORE: 13 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha (to "Milkshake" by Kelis)

The Traitors winner started off strong by shaking what his mama gave him atop the judges' desk, but he wasn't able to maintain that energy throughout. Perhaps with a different song Dylan could shine, but his chosen anthem resulted in a timid and largely inconsistent performance.

JUDGES' SCORE: 10 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Tango (to "It's Still Rock & Roll To Me" by Billy Joel)

If costumes are an indicator of the future Mirrorball winner, Corey is walking away as Season 34 champion. That disco ball suit made us fall in love with him before he took his first step! Once things got underway, Corey delivered a suitable (pun intended!) rock and roll Tango. Was it the most technically sound routine? No. Was watching The Goonies vet get grooving absolutely delightful? Yes! And before you go counting Corey out after that low score, remember that he's paired with the Season 33 winner — it's still anybody's game!

JUDGES' SCORE: 9 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Tango (to "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson)

Something about Danielle's performance was a little herky-jerky — I was nearly struck down by a bout of ballroom motion sickness! But at the end of the day, Boy Meets World nostalgia cures all. I would never count Danielle — aka Topanga! — out.

JUDGES' SCORE: 12 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha (to "Woman" by Kesha)

The Parent Trap alum started her career as a dancer, and let me say: It showed! She had clear, natural rhythm and even played to the camera in ways her fellow contestants couldn't even dream. There's plenty of competition to go, but as of now, Elaine is certainly a Mirrorball contender.

JUDGES' SCORE: 12 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Tango (to "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga)

I can't speak for Gaga, but Scott certainly brought a smile to this Little Monster's face! The beloved Pentatonix baritone started off a little shy, but really hit his stride once he reached the song's chorus. Despite Scott's clear personal connection with the pop hit, his excitement resulted in some messy choreography. Though judges may have scored his limp arms and frame, they can't judge his heart: 10 out of 10 on that front!

JUDGES' SCORE: 10 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Jive ("Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf)

His dad was known as the "Crocodile Hunter," but Robert might now be known as the "Mirrorball Hunter." The wildlife conservationist looked right at home on the dance floor. As a man who feels so comfortable in the wild, why did he look so at home in the ballroom?! With a Week 1 performance that strong, Robert has quickly emerged as a top Season 34 contender.

JUDGES' SCORE: 15 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Tango (to "yes, and?" by Ariana Grande)

The last two members of Fifth Harmony who competed on Dancing With the Stars made it to the finale, so Lauren has big shoes to fill! (And perhaps some good karma helping her along?) Though the girl group is notorious for performing out of sync, Lauren gave us a fluid, elegant, and very much synchronous tango. As a girl who's used to the spotlight, Lauren wasn't weighed down by Week 1 jitters or nerves, giving her a clear advantage going forward.

JUDGES' SCORE: 13 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Tango (to "Golden" by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI and KPop Demon Hunters Cast)

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is high-kicking her haters into oblivion! She may be known for being a reality-TV villain, but Whitney brought only good vibes to the dance floor. Though we're still a little unclear about that scoring confusion, we're not mad at her relatively high score. And listen, I'm not afraid to say it: Whitney was much more fun to watch in the ballroom than she has ever been on #MomTok!

JUDGES' SCORE: 15 out of 20

DANCE STYLE: Cha-cha ("Hold On, I'm Coming" by Sam & Dave)

As a self-described "dance-avoidant" person, Andy set the expectations low. So when Conan O'Brien's former sidekick came out slapping his ass, I was stunned! The man was quite light on his feet and certainly brought energy to the room. Technically speaking, he looked more like a drunk wedding guest closing down the dance floor than a ballroom professional, but he was so much fun to watch! (As are most drunken wedding guests, in fact!)

JUDGES' SCORE: 9 out of 20

OK, your turn! Who impressed you tonight? And we know it's super early, but who would you like to see take home the Mirrorball Trophy this season? Cast your vote in the poll below, then hit the comments with your thoughts!