Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan Make "Dancing with the Stars" Debut; Sarah Jane Nader Eliminated
The second week of "Dancing with the Stars" season 35 saw celebrity contestants perform for judges, culminating in the first elimination of the season.
The second contestant of season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars" was sent home Wednesday night, following the highly anticipated debuts of Golden Globe nominee Julia Stiles and actress Jenna Dewan.
Stiles, 45, and her professional partner Ezra Sosa performed a jive to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5." Stiles, who has previously expressed a secret dream of competing on the show, embraced the challenge, humorously noting her past roles while acknowledging her professional dance limitations. She shared that the choice of song was made before Parton's passing, expressing her honor in celebrating the late legend. "Could winning the Mirrorball mean more to me than maybe an Emmy or Oscar? Yes," Stiles quipped.
Judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba awarded Stiles and Sosa a score of 18 out of 30. Hough encouraged Stiles to "take off the hand brake" and bring more energy to future performances, while Tonioli praised her character-driven performance and acting ability. Inaba noted Stiles's radiant presence and expansive performance style.
Jenna Dewan, 45, and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy performed a tango to Blondie's "Call Me." Dewan, known for her role in "Step Up," expressed nervousness about high expectations but delivered a strong performance, earning a score of 19 out of 30. Hough commended her power and energy, while Tonioli declared she was "on fire."
The night concluded with the elimination of model Sarah Jane Nader and her partner Hailey Bills, who danced a jive to Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi." Nader, who chose to dance with a female partner to provide queer representation, received a score of 14 out of 30. Inaba described the performance as "super hot," but it was not enough to save them from the bottom three.
Other contestants showcased their talents, including reality star Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas, who earned a score of 21 for their foxtrot to Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet." Higgins was called "mesmerizing" and "seductive" by the judges.
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Tatyana Ali performed a jive to Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood," receiving a score of 12. Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn danced the cha-cha to Santana's "Smooth," scoring an 18. Chef Giada De Laurentiis and partner Alan Bersten performed a tango to "Venus" by Shocking Blue, earning a 16. "Summer House" star Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong danced to Whitney Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," receiving a 15, with Inaba noting Miller's performance conveyed palpable emotion.
The season premiere on Tuesday saw Conner Leavitt, husband of Whitney Leavitt, and his partner Adele Zaikman become the first couple eliminated after a "chaotic" salsa performance. "Dancing with the Stars" airs live on ABC and Disney+ and streams the following day on Hulu.