Season 33 of Dancing With the Stars has officially premiered, bringing glitz, glamour, and a fresh roster of celebrities to the ballroom. The debut episode, while skipping eliminations for the first week, served as a thrilling introduction to the stars vying for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. Returning to guide viewers through the season are co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, alongside the esteemed judging panel of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
The night kicked off with a high-energy Cha-Cha from former Bachelor Joey Graziadei and seasoned pro Jenna Johnson. Their performance immediately set a high benchmark, earning them an impressive 21 out of 30 – a remarkable score for the first week of competition.
However, it was Chandler Kinney who truly raised the stakes, as judge Carrie Ann Inaba noted. Kinney and her partner Brandon Armstrong delivered a powerful Tango that topped the leaderboard, securing a score of 23/30. Close behind, Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach impressed with their Salsa, landing in second place with a solid 22/30.
Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik initially seemed to struggle with rhythm during rehearsals. Yet, when he took to the dance floor with partner Rylee Arnold, he unleashed a dynamic Jive that defied expectations, also earning a commendable 21/30.
Adding an element of intrigue to the premiere was Anna Delvey. The convicted felon acknowledged her past in her introductory package, humorously mentioning her ankle bracelet and journey of reinvention, this time as a ballroom dancer.
Her performance sparked a notable reaction from Carrie Ann Inaba. “When you came out on the dance floor, there was a shift in the energy in this room,” Inaba addressed Delvey and the audience. “I just want to say, let’s all just give this a chance, because I can imagine that this is scary for you. I’m not pro or against that you’ve done, but this is about your dancing here, so let’s all give her this space, please.”
Below is a complete rundown of each celebrity pairing, their dance styles, and scores from the exciting season 33 premiere of Dancing With the Stars.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars Season 33
Dance: Cha Cha to “Dancin’ In The Country”
Score: 21/30
Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko
Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko dance Tango on Dancing With the Stars premiere
Dance: Tango to “Piece of Me”
Score: 18/30
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars season 33
Dance: Cha Cha to “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Score: 18/30
Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater
Reginald VelJohnson and Emma Slater perform Salsa on Dancing With the Stars season 33
Dance: Salsa to “Motownphilly”
Score: 16/30
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson
Danny Amendola and Witney Carson dance Tango on Dancing With the Stars Season 33 premiere
Dance: Tango to “A Bar Song (Tipsy) [Remix]”
Score: 20/30
Tori Spelling and Pasha Pashkov
Tori Spelling and Pasha Pashkov perform Foxtrot on Dancing With the Stars Season 33
Dance: Foxtrot to “Trustfall”
Score: 17/30
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars premiere night
Dance: Cha Cha to “Flowers”
Score: 19/30
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong dance Tango and top leaderboard on Dancing With the Stars
Dance: Tango to “HOT TO GO!”
Score: 23/30
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach
Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach perform Salsa on Dancing With the Stars Season 33 week 1
Dance: Salsa to “This Is How We Do It”
Score: 22/30
Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart
Eric Roberts and Britt Stewart perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars Season 33
Dance: Cha Cha to “Old Time Rock and Roll”
Score: 15/30
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy
Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars premiere
Dance: Cha Cha to “I’m Every Woman”
Score: 19/30
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold perform Jive on Dancing With the Stars Season 33
Dance: Jive to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
Score: 21/30
Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa
Anna Delvey and Ezra Sosa perform Cha Cha on Dancing With the Stars premiere episode
Dance: Cha Cha to “Espresso”
Score: 18/30
