Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Premieres with 14 Celebrities Despite Judge’s Absence

Dancing with the Stars returned to ABC and Disney+ tonight for its milestone 34th season premiere, welcoming 14 new celebrity contestants to the ballroom despite judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s illness-related absence.

The highly anticipated season marks the show’s 20th anniversary milestone, with celebrities including Dylan Efron, Lauren Alaina, and cast members from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” taking the stage for their inaugural performances alongside professional dancing partners. The premiere featured no eliminations, with viewer votes from tonight and next week determining the first departure.

Judge Panel Reduced to Two

The judging panel was notably reduced from three to two members after Carrie Ann Inaba announced her absence due to illness on social media. Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli evaluated the performances alone, while ABC has not yet announced a replacement judge for future episodes.

“Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba shared on social media that she will be absent from the ballroom for the season 34 premiere of the show.

Diverse Dance Styles Showcase Opening Night

The 14 celebrity-professional pairs performed a variety of ballroom styles including the Tango, Cha-Cha, Salsa, and Jive during the premiere episode. The evening opened with a high-energy number to “Kill the Lights” by Whitney Myer, choreographed by Ray Leeper.

Notable performances included Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach’s Cha-Cha to “Milkshake” by Kelis, and Lauren Alaina and Brandon Armstrong’s Tango to “Yes, And?” by Ariana Grande.

Professional Dancer Changes Create Backstage Drama

Professional dancer Sasha Farber was notably absent from the competing cast this season, instead taking on a new social media role for the show. Farber addressed his absence in an Instagram video, thanking fans for their support while promising viewers “quite a season.”

“I know who you’re not going to vote for - that’s me,” Farber said in his video message to fans, acknowledging his absence from the competition floor.

Fellow professional dancers including Peta Murgatroyd and Daniella Karagach showed support for Farber’s new role in social media comments.

Anniversary Season Sets Stage for Competition

The season premiere featured performances from the all-new troupe dancers Carter Williams, Hailey Bills, Onye Stevenson and Jaxon Willard to “Just Keep Watching” by Tate McRae. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned to guide viewers through the milestone season.

With no themed weeks typically beginning until the second episode, next week’s show is expected to feature the season’s first elimination based on combined votes from both premiere night and the upcoming episode. The competition will continue its traditional format of audience voting combined with judges’ scores to determine which couples advance.