A High-Stakes Ballroom Debut
The intensity in the ballroom reached new heights as the female celebrities of Dancing With the Stars season 35 took the spotlight for the second half of the show's two-night premiere, which concluded on Wednesday, September 16. To celebrate their arrival, each star performed routines choreographed to Billboard No. 1 hits from the year of their birth.
Judges Demand Perfection
Much like the previous evening's performances, the judges maintained a rigorous standard, offering candid critiques and tight scoring. Before the competition heated up, judge Carrie Ann Inaba set the tone for the season:
“We’re all very excited to see what this cast can do, but we also want to leave room for growth, so remember that as the scores come out. We want you to earn every point of those scores.”
Inaba’s words proved meaningful, as evidenced by the tough 4 out of 10 score awarded to Tatyana Ali and her partner, Jan Ravnik.
Top Performers and Early Struggles
The leaderboard saw a significant spread in talent. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas emerged as clear standouts, earning one of the most impressive scores of the night. Conversely, Ciara Miller and her partner, Brandon Armstrong, struggled to make an impression with their foxtrot, landing them dangerously close to the bottom of the rankings.
The First Elimination of the Season
As the evening drew to a close, hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough tallied the audience votes and judge scores to determine the first pair to exit the show. It was a somber moment for Sarah Jane Nader and her professional partner, Hailey Bills, who were revealed to be the first contestants eliminated from the competition.