Hello everyone — I hope you’re enjoying the summer. Tonight marked the premiere of a new dance competition and we’ll be recapping each Monday as the season unfolds. Dancing with the Stars returns with a fresh format titled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, which will crown a new professional dancer to join the flagship series.
Twelve aspiring professional dancers move in together to compete in an audition-style series. While the show bills them as “aspiring,” many are already established performers within the dance community. The series is hosted by DWTS current champion Robert Irwin. The judging panel features a family pairing: three-time mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, the head judge of the British series Strictly Come Dancing. Each week will include a guest judge; tonight’s guest was six-time DWTS champion Derek Hough, who kicked off the season with an energetic demonstration of samba technique.
The first-week challenge focused squarely on technique. Male contestants were assigned the jive and the women performed the samba. Each pair presented side-by-side choreography plus an individual solo. Judges emphasized that technique was the decisive factor this episode, and they warned contestants that side-by-side sections would quickly reveal who had technical mastery and who needed more work.
After introductions and a tour of the house and rehearsal studio, Derek Hough led technique sessions and worked one-on-one with the contestants. He praised several of the women for their strength but expressed concern about the men’s solos and overall stamina. Rehearsal footage showed tension and last-minute adjustments, with some dancers visibly shaken by Derek’s tough but constructive feedback.
Show night featured all twelve dancers performing in front of the judges. Erik Linder and Tristen Sanders opened with a lively jive that showcased clean kicks and synced movement. Their solos contrasted slightly—Erik’s felt more technically sound while Tristen favored flashier choices. Judges praised Erik’s posture and Tristen’s personality, with Mark and Shirley offering differing takes on risk versus refinement.
AJ Pritchard and Jake Monreal followed with another high-energy jive. Jake’s solo received particular notice for strong jive content and animated performance, though the pair’s side-by-side section lost momentum toward the end. Judges called for more energy and focus, and both AJ and Jake were encouraged to sharpen posture and musicality.
Allen Genkin and Benjamin Castro delivered the most convincing male performance of the night. Their jive combined technical precision and showmanship, and both dancers demonstrated polish and cohesion. Judges labeled the pairing dynamic and energetic; Derek, while complimentary, still wanted to see even greater risk-taking.
On the samba side, Selena Hamilton stood out from her very first step, bringing explosive energy and charisma. Natalie Jolley danced well but was overshadowed by Selena’s intensity; judges urged Natalie to increase flexibility and loosen up to capture more of the samba’s spirit.
Stephani Sosa and Briar Nolet struggled to find cohesion. Briar’s solo contained a visible slip and lacked the technical clarity the judges expected for a technique-focused night. Stephani offered stronger moments, but the routine overall needed more finesse and tighter transitions. Judges noted issues with footwork and lower-body control, which is essential for samba technique.
Nina Mayster and Adele Zaikman closed the samba portion with a high-octane routine. Adele, in particular, drew praise for an exceptional solo and an intense stage presence; Nina matched her with committed rhythm and dramatic expression. Judges suggested that the two could borrow qualities from each other—Adele tempering some blocking of personality and Nina incorporating more fluidity and flexibility into her movement.
With the performances complete, judges faced difficult decisions. They were tasked with eliminating one male and one female contestant. Shirley placed Briar and Natalie in jeopardy among the women, while Mark identified Tristen and Jake as the two at risk among the men. Ultimately the judges eliminated Briar Nolet and Jake Monreal.
The eliminations reflected concerns shown during rehearsal and onstage: Briar’s slip and lack of consistency made her vulnerable, and while Jake had strong moments, he lacked the polish and control the judges prioritized for this competition. The episode set a clear tone for the season—technical precision is paramount, and dancers must deliver both clean fundamentals and compelling performance quality.
Overall, the premiere delivered solid dance content and compelling critiques, though the one-hour format felt compressed. Between introductions, rehearsal segments, and performances, the show moved quickly; a longer runtime might allow fuller storytelling and more rehearsal footage. Still, it was welcome to have a summer dance competition back on air following the cancellation of So You Think You Can Dance.
Next week’s guest judge will be Brandon Armstrong, and the remaining ten contestants will take another step toward earning the new pro title. We’ll be watching and recapping the journey as the competition narrows and dancers vie for a spot on Dancing with the Stars.