Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Tuesday, September 16 on ABC and Disney+. The 14 stars competing for the Mirrorball dazzled the dance floor with their first routine of the season. Some stars delivered crisp performances that had the judges on their feet, while others struggled to keep up with the music. It’s still early on, which means our stars have ample time to improve their moves. But in the meantime, let’s judge them based on their first attempt.
Here are the DWTS Season 34 frontrunners and stragglers.
Who are the early Dancing With The Stars Season 34 frontrunners?
A Mormon wife, a conservationist, and a yoga instructor. What do these people have in common? They all found themselves at the top of the leaderboard in the Season 34 premiere of Dancing with the Stars. Let’s take a look at our early frontrunners who have a shot at the Mirrorball trophy…
Robert Irwin
Robert Irwin had big shoes to fill when he joined the Season 34 cast. His sister, Bindi Irwin, took home the Mirrorball trophy a decade ago when she competed in Season 21 with partner Derek Hough. The two dominated the dance floor week-after-week, crafting some of the most memorable dances ever seen on the show. Fans hoped Robert carried the dancing gene, but wee weren’t sure. Unlike Derek and his sister, Julianne Hough, Bindi and Robert weren’t brought up in the dancing world. So, it was totally possible he had two left feet despite his sister’s natural ability. Thankfully, Robert proved dancing runs in the Irwin family. He delivered a killer performance on the first night, receiving high scores and praise from the judges. Derek even lamented that it was one of best first night dances he’s ever seen.
Whitney Leavitt
Hulu star Whitney Leavitt’s impressive performance wasn’t unexpected. She is a trained dancer, giving her a leg up on the competition. Her sultry tango night one put her at the top of the leaderboard with Robert. She is certainly one to watch this season.
Hilaria Baldwin
Hilaria Baldwin is known for making headlines whether it be because of her famous family or the controversial pronunciation of her name. She’s always handled the gossip head-on, choosing to star in a reality show rather than hiding from the controversies that surround her. Now, she’s making news for her fabulous performance in the Season 34 premiere. The reality star’s cha cha earned her the third spot on the leaderboard.
Who’s lagging behind in Season 34?
The above performances set the bar high, which meant less experienced dancers struggled to keep up. A few stars found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard, unsure how much time they have left in the competition. Let’s take a look at our underdogs…
Scott Hoying
Scott Hoying and his partner Rylee Arnold chose a tango for premiere night. The performance earned the pair a 10/20, putting them right in the middle of the leaderboard. Scott’s score was the most popular rating of the night with four pairs receiving 10/20. His routine wasn’t necessarily worse than the others who received a 10, but I did him less interesting to watch. I’m curious to see what he does next week. Maybe I’ll change my opinion of him as a straggler.
Corey Feldman
Actor and musician Corey Feldman brought great energy to the dance floor, but his technique could use some work. He and his partner Jenna Johnson danced a tango set to Billy Joel’s It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me. The performance was fun, but paled in comparison to some of the more technical dance routines.
Andy Richter
Comedian Andy Richter’s cha cha performance earned him a 9/20, earning him the bottom spot on the leaderboard with Corey. While his performance had a few kinks, it was still fun to watch. He had a great attitude about his low scores and seemed eager to improve.
Dancing with the Stars is available to stream on Disney+
TELL US – DO YOU AGREE WITH OUR FRONT RUNNER PICKS? WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE TAKE HOME THE MIRRORBALL?
