DWTS INTERACT: Dancing With the Stars Season 24- Week 1 (Premiere) Dance Overviews

Monday, March 20 was the season 24 premiere of Dancing With the Stars, featuring twelve all new couples performing for the first time ever live on the dance floor. And for the four hundredth episode of the show, we were introduced to a wide variety of personalities and partnerships!

For this season, Paul Bentley, Julia Delbel, and DWTS Dreams will all be giving their thoughts on the dances each week, but there will be more blog posts throughout each week. And so, for the first time in season 24, here are Paul’s and Julia’s thoughts and scores on the show. DWTS Dream was only able to give her scores for this week, but she is sure to come back with more insight on the couples!

Premiere Dances

400th Episode!

The brand new celebrity cast of Dancing With the Stars performed their first ever dances with their professional partners to make some first impressions on the audience and the judges.

[Order of the Judges' Scores: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli]

Opening Number

I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Someone Who Can Dance by District 78 featuring Cheesa

@TheBentleyNinja: Although we will probably never see a season premiere opening number as energetic and as fun as the season 21 opening number, this one was still pretty good. I think it was a good choice to use the songs from the Season 22 promos and the Season 21 Famous Dances Night opening number; it was a pretty good mashup that gave off an aura suitable for a premiere opening. And of course, I always love when the celebrities are given little dancing sections in opening numbers, so that was definitely my favorite part this time around.

@juliadelbel: This was a pretty good way to start off the show, and the season. The number wasn’t too drawn-out or complicated, just an introduction to the pros and celebrities without any fuss. I’m glad they took this route instead of something more complicated because I find that in season premieres with a lot of time spent on the opening the rest of the show ends up feeling rushed (save the more outrageous stuff for the Finale!). Thankfully, that wasn’t the case Monday night and the show as a whole seemed to run much more smoothly because of it.

Singer Normani Kordei and her partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Quickstep: Good Time Good Life by Erin Bowman

The Judges’ Scores: 7, 6, 7, 7 (27/40)

#TeamValmani 1(800)868-3410

@TheBentleyNinja: Normani really came out with a bang, keeping a steady, quick pace from beginning to end. It’s a shame that a ridiculous amount of time was spent on everything that wasn’t a Quickstep because I feel like I didn’t get to see enough ballroom technique to see everything that she has to offer to its fullest extent. I agree with the fact that it seemed like she and Val were dancing separately rather than as one unit, but in a way, that made Normani shine. Normani needs to transfer all of the energy she has into keeping her center of balance and keeping her limbs under control, but overall, she had some pretty impressive technique for week one.

Bentley’s Score: 7

@juliadelbel: I love that they chose this number to kick off the competition because it was full of energy and set the bar high for the rest of the evening. I agree with Bentley that there wasn’t nearly enough time spent on actual Quickstep content (but the opening portion did make me very excited to see a potential Charleston from this couple). I think Normani’s frame was pretty good for Week 1 but the dance did seem a little too frantic, even for a Quickstep to such a fast song. I think this was one of the styles least-suited to Normani’s wheelhouse, but she still did a pretty good job and it was nice they could get it out of the way early. I’m sure we’ll see her do better in subsequent dances!

Julia’s Score: 7

DWTS Dream’s Score: 7

Olympic Figure Skater Nancy Kerrigan and her partner Artem Chigvintsev

Viennese Waltz: Always a Woman by Billy Joel

The Judges’ Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7 (28/40)

#TeamBladesofGlory 1(800)868-3408

@TheBentleyNinja: Nancy really impressed me right from the start. I was worried that Nancy might not connect to the audience very well, but that was far from what actually happened on Monday! Her Viennese Waltz was easily my favorite dance of the night, and that’s because of her poise, her technique, and her connection with Artem. This dance was a bit reminiscent of Artem’s Viennese Waltz with Maureen McCormick last season, but it still held true to Nancy’s own character. Nancy was a bit wobbly in certain sections, and I could see the focus in her face that almost took away from the feel of the dance, but overall, this was performance was a great way for Nancy to start out the season. And I’m sure many people will agree with me when I say that this was the most underscored dance of the night!

Bentley’s Score: 8

@juliadelbel: I’m glad the rumors of Nancy being a diva were seemingly put to rest Monday night and I’m enjoying her partnership with Artem so far. I think these two got the best deal this week in terms of dance assignment but the worst in the running order. Viennese Waltz clearly suited Nancy’s strengths and the dance was beautiful with graceful and elegant movements. She seemed a little shaky at a couple points but those times were few and far between. Like I said, Nancy and Artem really got the shaft in terms of the running order because this dance was one of the best of the night but going so early meant they were scored lower than they otherwise would have been and since they were in the “death slot” (second dance of the night, though third and fourth are usually also not good spots to be in) I fear many people forgot about them by the end of the night. Now, I’d be SHOCKED if they were eliminated next week, but the running order of the first night does often end up having a lasting effect on the results of the season.

Julia’s Score: 8

DWTS Dream’s Score: 7

Actor/Comedian Chris Kattan and his partner Witney Carson

Cha-Cha-Cha: What Is Love By Haddaway

The Judges’ Scores: 5, 4, 4, 4 (17/40) Lowest Score of the Night

#TeamMangoTango 1(800)868-3403

@TheBentleyNinja: Was I the only one who thought that Chris looked like he was in pain during this dance? It looked like his previous neck injury was holding him back, which is why I thought that Carrie Ann’s comment about Chris needing to loosen his neck more was out of place and not very helpful to him. Just like a lot of other dances during the premiere, this Cha-Cha-Cha was less of a Cha-Cha-Cha and more of a social club dance. But I get it. I mean, someone’s overall score of the night is 17/40, the amount of content isn’t exactly the biggest concern. But I loved the A Night at the Roxbury theme, and that lift towards the end was just perfection! I have a feeling that with scores like these, Chris and Witney will be the first couple out, but I have another feeling that he will get just enough votes to last at least one more week with his personality. But I’m going with the former.

Bentley’s Score: 3

@juliadelbel: Well, as I expected, this dance wasn’t very good. I know Chris has some limitations due to his neck injury, but he unfortunately didn’t have good technique (especially with his legs). This performance could have been somewhat salvaged had he played up the character and silliness a lot more, but he just looked uncomfortable the whole times, and like he was just going through the motions of the routine. His awkwardness continued after the dance as well, and the whole segment just ended on a sour note. I’d be surprised to see anyone else except these two leave on Monday, unless it turns out there are multiple couples going home.

Julia’s Score: 3

DWTS Dream’s Score: 3

Bull Rider Bonner Bolton and his partner Sharna Burgess

Cha-Cha-Cha: Move by Luke Bryan

The Judges’ Scores: 6, 5, 5, 6 (22/40)

#TeamDenimNDiamonds 1(800)868-3401

@TheBentleyNinja: Maybe Bonner is just shy, but I can’t get a good reading on him yet. His Cha-Cha-Cha wasn’t all that impressive either, and not just because he got off on the wrong foot and was off at a few parts. I just want to see more to Bonner than just his looks and his profession as a bull rider. But I guess premiere episodes of Dancing With the Stars usually just take one quality of each celebrity and magnify them so the audience can see an exaggerated form of their personalities. I do have to say, though, that whether it was authentic or not, Bonner and Sharna have a fiery connection together, which makes me wonder how that connection would translate to a more elegant dance like the Waltz. This dance had too much filler in my opinion, but the country dance moves really worked for Bonner. I feel like Bonner is hiding from us. I just want to see him give it his all without worrying what he will look like on the dance floor!

Bentley’s Score: 5

@juliadelbel: I think Bonner is pretty boring so far and the fact that they’re already diving this deep into the showmance well tells me he doesn’t have much else going for him. This dance actually could have been decent but it was choppy and the technique and performance quality just weren’t there, and I kept getting the sense Bonner was just trying to focus on not falling behind. The whole thing just fell flat and felt very one-note to me. Once he gains more confidence I think he’ll do better, especially in the Standard Ballroom dances.

Julia’s Score: 5

DWTS Dream’s Score: 4

Actress/Comedian/Musician Charo and her partner Keoikantse Motsepe

Salsa: Cuban Pete by Mambo Compañeros

The Judges’ Scores: 6, 5, 5, 5 (21/40)

#TeamCuchiCuchi 1(800)868-3402

@TheBentleyNinja: I want to spend a day in rehearsals with Charo and Keo so I could see all of the crazy shenanigans that they have together! Everything about their Salsa was so much fun, but I would be lying if I said that the dance wasn’t all over the place! I didn’t see any technique in Charo’s arms at all, and she overall was not able to keep any steady control over her body (but the crazy messiness gave this dance charm!). While her technique was subpar, Charo still hit every beat hard with tons of passion and personality. She shows tons of potential in her footwork, but her upper body needs to have more precision. I can’t even imagine what these two have in store for next week!

Bentley’s Score: 5

@juliadelbel: Charo and Keo are turning out to be one of the most well-matched pairs of the season! I love their fun energy, and the Salsa was a great dance for them to share that with the audience! I was impressed that Charo was so energetic and managed to keep up with Keo for the entire time, and not only that, she seems to have moves and really sold the number! Her feet were surprisingly decent but the technique was a bit lacking (though I mean she’s the oldest one this season so that wasn’t unexpected). I was also happy to see that Keo actually gave her a decent amount of Salsa content, because a lot of times pros with older partners throw that out the window (as we’ll discuss later on).

Julia’s Score: 6

DWTS Dream’s Score: 5

Reality TV Star Nick Viall and his partner Peta Murgatroyd

Cha-Cha-Cha: Let Me Love You by DJ Snake and Tiësto featuring Justin Bieber

The Judges’ Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6 (24/40)

#TeamBabyGotBach 1(800)868-3409

@TheBentleyNinja: Nick was the biggest surprise of the night to me! I wasn’t expecting Nick to be as fun or as good of a dancer as he actually is! He isn’t quite on the same level as some of the other celebrities, but he looks like he is going to have a nice, steady progression in his skills as the weeks go on. I loved Nick’s style in his Cha-Cha-Cha, which seemed to be choreographed just for him my Peta. Carrie Ann said that Nick needed to calm down in his performance, but I disagree with that. I actually think that Nick needed have some more energy to really sell the routine. Nick’s moves were small for such a dance, but I have a feeling that Peta will help him with that as they continue on the show. I want to see more from Nick, but I know that this is just the beginning, and I’m confident that he will grow to refine his technique and express more of his emotions.

Bentley’s Score: 7

@juliadelbel: Nick danced about as well as I expected him to. Not the best, not the worst. His arms and hands were doing some weird things, but he pretty much had the steps down and a decent performance level. I think he’ll be even better when he’s not so nervous. I think Nick and Peta have a good partnership so far and I’m interested to see what they do as the weeks go on.

Julia’s Score: 7

DWTS Dream’s Score: 7

Actress/Singer/Dancer Heather Morris and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Viennese Waltz: Make Something Beautiful by Ben Rector

The Judges’ Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7 (28/40)

#TeamMaksimumHeat 1(800)868-3406

@TheBentleyNinja: Maybe I was expecting too much, but while I do think that this was an excellent Viennese Waltz, it seemed to be lacking in certain categories. The emotion of the dance did not seem very real to me, and it just didn’t have any sparkle in the movements to make them stand out. But don’t get me wrong-- Heather had some of the best technique of the night. She made that dance look effortless with her light movements and flowing motions. It was an exceptionally beautiful routine, but there wasn’t really enough character implemented in my opinion. I know this isn’t a very popular opinion, but I actually really like the dynamic between Heather and Maks both on the dance floor and off. Together, they have potential to pretty dynamic duo if their future dances do not come off as artificial as this one.

Bentley’s Score: 7

@juliadelbel: Heather and Maks have an interesting dynamic so far, and so far they seem to be working pretty well together. (I have a feeling this may deteriorate in the coming weeks, but they seem fine for now.) I enjoyed this performance and it’s obvious Heather has quite a bit of dance experience because her turns were amazing! I have to disagree with Bentley in that I think this dance has excellent characterization and I’m looking forward to seeing Heather portray different types of “roles” in future routines.

Julia’s Score: 8

DWTS Dream’s Score: 8

Baseball Catcher David Ross and his partner Lindsay Arnold

Quickstep: Go Cubs Go by Steve Goodman

The Judges’ Scores: 7, 7, 7, 7 (28/40)

#TeamLadyAndTheGramp 1(800)868-3404

@TheBentleyNinja: Right off the bat from his rehearsal package, David seemed like a really down-to-earth and funny person who will definitely have fun with a partner like Lindsay! As for his Quickstep, I thought that it was pretty good, even though I wouldn’t have necessarily been giving it the exaggerated type of appraisal that the judges gave. I noticed that David has a good understanding of the dynamic between the quick parts and the slow parts of the dance, which is a really useful thing to learn so early in the competition, but the overall hold was a bit tight for a large portion of the dance. But frankly, I wish that Lindsay would have put in some more Quickstep content so I could see his endurance in the style, but she wasn’t the only one to do something like that on Monday.

Bentley’s Score: 7

@juliadelbel: David and Lindsay are another great partnership this season, and I was pleasantly surprised as to how well they did this first week. However, I think this routine was overscored because David seemed very stiff in some places he shouldn’t have been quite so stiff in. It’s very hard to explain, but I felt like his shins and feet looked like scissors while the rest of his legs were just kind of there. However, this was a great start for these two and I have a feeling they’re going to be sticking around for a while.

Julia’s Score: 6

DWTS Dream’s Score: 7

Reality TV Star/Singer Erika Jayne and her partner Gleb Savchenko

Salsa: XXPEN$IVE by Erika Jayne

The Judges’ Scores: 6, 6, 6, 6 (24/40)

#TeamPrettyXXpensive 1(800)868-3405

@TheBentleyNinja: I don’t know if Erika received an unfair edit, or if Erika just jokes in a way that I don’t quite get, or if Erika is actually how she was portrayed in her rehearsal package, but she did not give off the best first impressions. I need to get to know her better to see what she’s really all about, but I’m sure that the way she was portrayed during the premiere will hurt her, possibly leading to an early elimination. I do like how her Salsa was filled with her- as she said it herself- “raunchy” personality, but I would have liked to have seen some more refined and polished technique from her. She and Gleb seem like they are having a blast together, but I need to see a better execution of her dances in future weeks. Erika shows potential dance-wise, but I don’t know if the viewing audience is going to want to see her progress as much as some of the other celebrities on the show

Bentley’s Score: 5

@juliadelbel: Just as I feared, they’ve already started to make Erika look like a spoiled rich girl and not much else. I don’t think her demeanour really helped, either, since she seems to suffer from “resting bitch face” and we didn’t see her smile that much on Monday. The choreography for this dance was very strange, especially considering Erika has quite a bit of dance experience and could probably have handled a lot more Salsa content, though I know the song certainly didn’t help. The little she did do was decent, and her performance level was amazing (Gleb looked like he was having a lot of fun as well!) but I’m already seeing a lot of people slut-shame her which is disappointed given the positive reaction to the focus on Bonner’s sexuality. (#DoubleStandards) I think Erika will do better in Ballroom though and for her sake I hope they get a style from that group and fast, because if she isn’t able to show another side of her personality in the very near future I think she and Gleb will be eliminated soon.

Julia’s Score: 6

DWTS Dream’s Score: 5

Football Running Back Rashad Jennings and his partner Emma Slater

Cha-Cha-Cha: 24K Magic by Bruno Mars

The Judges’ Scores: 8, 7, 8, 8 (31/40)

#TeamShadSquad 1(800)868-3411

@TheBentleyNinja: I knew that Rashad was going to be a force to reckon with this season! And with Emma by his side, he is almost unstoppable! Rashad has such a natural and cool style that it nothing than less than spectacular! As I expected, he is a very natural mover, and from the looks of his Cha-Cha-Cha, he has been working hard on his technique and listening to Emma’s instructions well. Rashad made himself stand out on Monday night with all of his classy funk and the way that he interacted with Emma. And I know that it is just the very beginning of the season, but I think that these two can win it all! Rashad’s sharp lines alone can blow the audience away!

Bentley’s Score: 8

@juliadelbel: I knew that when it was finally time for Rashad to dance we were about to see some 8’s, and of course he killed his routine! Rashad has great moves, a great attitude, and a great partnership with Emma, and I think all of that will take him far this season, possibly all the way to the Mirrorball! It’s clear he has been working hard and having fun, which is often a winning combo on DWTS!

Julia’s Score: 8

DWTS Dream’s Score: 8

Wrestler/Actor Mr. T and his partner Kym Johnson-Herjavec

Cha-Cha-Cha: The A-Team Theme by Mike Post, Pete Carpenter, and the Daniel Caine Orchestra

The Judges’ Scores: 5, 5, 5, 5 (20/40)

#TeamDancinFools 1(800)868-3407

@TheBentleyNinja: Mr. T is a very unpredictable character, and that is why I love him! He and Kym are surprisingly a really well-matched couple, with Kym giving Mr. T suitable choreography, and with Mr. T entertaining Kym throughout their rehearsal sessions. The Cha-Cha-Cha was very uneventful, but I have to give Mr. T some points for effort. The song was really odd for a Cha-Cha-Cha, but at the same time, it was perfect for such a unique personality. Mr. T definitely brought out everything he could for his dance, but it just did not translate well into the Latin style. I do think, however, that he has the ability to fix some of his glaringly obvious technique issues that can be tuned with a little more focus on shifting his weight and getting the timing right.

Bentley’s Score: 4

@juliadelbel: I’m already loving Mr. T and Kym’s partnership, and they seem to be having a blast so far! Now, the thing is, this is the dance I was referring to when I talked about pros giving the older celebrities next to no content. Most of this routine consisted of movements based on drill team exercises, and there was even a portion where Mr. T just stood there while Kym literally danced around him, which is a BIG no-no from me. I wish she’d given him a little more Cha-Cha content because while he didn’t have the technique to really kill it, he did manage to keep up with her during that portion. There were some other times I thought he might have been behind, but near the end it came across as intentional, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on that front. Anyway, the reason I’m scoring him higher than Chris is because he actually embodied the character and fully and confidently completed every move that he did, and the dance came across much better because of that.

Julia’s Score: 4

DWTS Dream’s Score: 4

Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles and her partner Sasha Farber

Tango: Untouchable by Tritonal and Cash Cash featuring JHart

The Judges’ Scores: 8, 8, 8, 8 (32/40) Highest Score of the Night

#TeamGoldenGiggles 1(800)868-3412

@TheBentleyNinja: I know that almost everyone is comparing Simone to Laurie Hernandez from last season, but I can’t help but notice how much they are like each other with their outgoing and happy personalities! Simone, however, came out during the premiere with a little more grace than Laurie. Sasha is such a good instructor, and now that he has a partner like Simone to do practically anything with, I know that we will see some incredible stuff from these two! Their Tango was very cohesive and put-together, despite some parts where they were just a hair off from each other. Simone can definitely improve the movements from her core, but I can tell that she is going to grow as a dancer really fast, so from here on out, there is going to be a lot of nit-picking to compensate for everything that she is going to excel at.

Bentley’s Score: 8

@juliadelbel: I know the expectations were super-high for Simone considering the track-record of gymnasts competing on this show, but I honestly thought there was no way she was going to be able to live up to them, especially with a Tango right out of the gate. I was very surprised and impressed with how well she handled the routine, keeping her frame intact and remaining strong throughout the dance. While I think the smile she had on her face while performing was beautiful, it didn’t really suit the style or tone of the performance, and I agree with Bentley that she needs to improve her movements from her core a bit, but I think if she keeps this up she could make it to the end, and maybe even win the Mirrorball!

Julia’s Score: 8

DWTS Dream’s Score: 8

Rankings of the Week One Premiere Dances

@juliadelbel

1. Nancy & Artem

2. Heather & Maks

3. Rashad & Emma

4. Simone & Sasha

5. Normani & Val

6. Nick & Peta

7. David & Lindsay

8. Erika & Gleb

9. Charo & Keo

10. Bonner & Sharna

11. Mr. T & Kym

12. Chris & Witney

@TheBentleyNinja

1. Nancy & Artem

2. Rashad & Emma

3. Simone & Sasha

4. Nick & Peta

5. Normani & Val

6. Heather & Maks

7. David & Lindsay

8. Bonner & Sharna

9. Erika & Gleb

10. Charo & Keo

11. Mr. T & Kym

12. Chris & Witney

@dwtsdreams

1. Rashad & Emma

2. Simone & Sasha

3. Heather & Maks

4. Nancy & Artem

5. Normani & Val

6. Nick & Peta

7. David & Lindsay

8. Erika & Gleb

9. Charo & Keo

10. Bonner & Sharna

11. Mr. T & Kym

12. Chris & Witney

Make sure you read our thoughts on the dances every Wednesday, controversial topics every Thursday, and additional thoughts and analyses every Friday throughout season 24 of Dancing With the Stars on the DWTS INTERACT blog!

Playlist of the Season 24 Season Premiere Dances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmRtGmnQ2CI&list=PLK1f1bOs9Xyd50jrkP1dDe5YS518KWVZl