“Dancing With the Stars” came back for its 34th season with the “Premiere” on September 16, 2025. This season stars a brand new celebrity cast ranging from influencers to athletes and new to old TV stars. The range within the cast creates contrasting dances, making this season an exciting watch.
This season’s stars include Robert Irwin (paired with Whitney Carson), Alex Earl (paired with Val Chmerkovskiy), Jen Affleck (paired with Jan Ravnik), Whitney Leavitt (paired with Mark Ballas), Jordan Chiles (paired with Ezra Sosa), Corey Feldman (paired with Jenna Johnson), Lauren Jauregui (paired with Brandon Armstrong), Dylan Efron (paired with Daniella Karagach), Hilaria Baldwin (paired with Gleb Savchenko), Andy Richter (paired with Emma Slater), Danielle Fishel (Paired with Pasha Pashkov), Elaine Hendrix (paired with Alan Bernsten), Scott Hoying (paired with Rylee Arnold), Baron Davis (paired with Britt Stewart).
In the first episode of the season titled “Premiere” Robert Irwin and Whitney Leavitt had an outstanding night. They tied for first place with a score of 15/20.
“I’ve been a fan of Dancing With the Stars for so long and during the premiere I can tell that either Robert Irwin or Whitney Levitt is going to win the competition.” said Ella Debourg (‘27)
For their first dance Irwin and Carson performed a jive to the song “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf. They wore sparkly, eye-catching animal print costumes, adding to the fun of their performance. Their dance had a wild life theme, relating back to Irwin’s occupation as a zookeeper at Australian Zoo. The dance they performed was fast, upbeat, and entertaining, leading them to an early lead. Many people have been anticipating Irwin on this season’s cast, including Academy girls. Among the student body Irwin is one of the top votes.
In contrast, Leavitt and Ballas danced a tango to the song “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters. Leavitt wore an iridescent silver skirt attached to a top covered in gems, one akin to something an ice skater may have worn. Ballas complemented Leavitt’s outfit by wearing a black satin suit with silver buttons. While the dance may not have been as fast as Irwin and Carson’s, the pair’s outfits and careful movements mesmerized viewers and judges, landing them tied for first place.
Runners up include the pairings of Jauregui and Armstrong and Earl and Chmerkovskiy tied for third with a score of 13/20. Duo Baldwin and Savchenko placed second with a score of 14/20 on their cha cha. There were no eliminations this episode, but anticipation grows as contestants are threatened with elimination in the next episode.
The second episode titled “One-Hit Wonders Night” aired September 23, 2025 with millions of anticipating viewers. Dancers performed mesmerizing pieces with many different types of dances, ranging from the foxtrot to the jive and the tango to the quick step.
The tied champions from the first episode kept their reign with a score of 22/30. Irwin and Carson performed a rhythmic and calculated tango to the song “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior. This dance had quick movements that kept viewers on the edge of their seats and also helped keep Irwin as a favorite at Academy. In comparison Leavitt and Ballas performed a lively and entrancing cha cha to the song “Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry. Their fast but smooth movements impressed the audience and judges.
While the episode was a huge success for the two-peat winners, there were also some losses. Pairs Feldman and Johnson and Davis and Steward both got eliminated. Feldman and Johnson performed a cha cha to the song “Baby got back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot, earning them a score of 15/30. While their dance was fun, it was not enough to win them a spot in the next episode. Similarly, Davis and Steward performed a samba to the song “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison, earning them an 18/20. While the performance was impressive, it wasn’t enough to land them another dance.
“I think the elimination from last night was reasonable, I think if anyone had to go it was understandable that it was those two. I’m rooting very strongly for Robert Irwin and Jordan Chiles. They’ve made a lot of progress and I think they have a lot of potential!” said Gigi Luka (‘27).
Irwin and Carson are popular among Academy girls, with many hoping they perform well in later episodes. The pair’s strong social media presence and upbeat dances have won the hearts of our student body. Many are anticipating the next episode and are excited to see what Irwin and Carson bring to the table.
