Dancing with the Stars' 25th season got off to an excellent start for Jordan Fisher and Lindsey Stirling, who landed at the top of the judges' leaderboard during Monday night's premiere broadcast on ABC.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jordan, a singer and actor, and his professional partner Lindsay Arnold tied for first place on the leaderboard with Lindsey, an internationally-recognized violinist, and her partner Mark Ballas out of the 13 competing couples when they each received 22 out of 30 possible points from Dancing with the Stars judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.
Jordan and Lindsay A. danced a tango that thoroughly impressed the judges, especially Carrie Ann.
"This is Week 1! You shouldn't be dancing like that yet!... You were in control of that dance from the beginning to the end and there was so much swagger... You guys are the partnership to watch," Carrie Ann gushed after the couple took the stage.
Lindsey S. and Mark -- who just returned to Dancing with the Stars after taking a year off to pursue other career opportunities -- performed the cha cha, and Len said the pair had "the dance of the night."
ADVERTISEMENT
Third place on the judges' leaderboard belonged to TV personality Vanessa Lachey and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who earned 21 points for their cha cha from the panel.
WWE wrestler and Total Divas star Nikki Bella and partner Artem Chigvintsev finished the night in fourth place after receiving 20 points for their tango routine from the judges.
Fifth place on the leaderboard turned out to be a tie at 19 points between actor and racecar driver Frankie Muniz as well as former Paralympic swimmer Victoria Arlen.
Frankie and partner Witney Carson danced the foxtrot, while Victoria and partner Val Chmerkovskiy took the stage with a cha cha routine.
There was a three-way tie for seventh place among the following celebrities, who each received 18 points from the judges: Former NBA star and coach Derek Fisher, TV personality and 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey, and Pretty Little Liars actress Sasha Pieterse.
ADVERTISEMENT
Derek and partner Sharna Burgess danced the salsa, while Nick and Sasha each performed a cha cha number with their pro partners Peta Murgatroyd and Gleb Savchenko, respectively.
Singer and songwriter Debbie Gibson and partner Alan Bersten, a new pro dancer this season, claimed tenth place on the judges' leaderboard with 17 points after they took the stage with the foxtrot.
Property Brothers star Drew Scott also danced the foxtrot with partner Emma Slater. The pair placed eleventh on the leaderboard after receiving 16 points from the judging panel.
Former NFL football wide receiver and six-time Pro Bowler Terrell Owens and partner Cheryl Burke finished the night in twelfth place with 15 points on the leaderboard. The couple performed the cha cha.
And finally, Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran and partner Keo Motsepe landed in thirteenth -- and last -- place after putting up only 14 points on the judges' leaderboard for their salsa routine.
ADVERTISEMENT
Next week, ABC will air a two-night event of Dancing with the Stars on Monday, September 25 and Tuesday, September 26. One couple will be eliminated from the Season 25 competition during each episode based on a combination of judges' scores and home viewer votes.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski