The American actress and singer, Elaine’s Dancing With the Stars cha-cha with her partner Alan on Monday night’s season 34 premiere threw down a smoldering blend of grace and fire. She leaned into every move, flaunting her warrior-woman spirit in mesmerizing fashion for both the judges and America, even though she hadn’t busted a sweat in a studio since the Reagan administration.
“Sassy, sexy, yet classy … I could see all the nuances in your performance,” Bruno commented.
Bruno Tonioli commended Elaine following their confident performance, where they demonstrated poise, control, and fluidity. Her movements appeared to tell her story: Excels as one number in a pack of newcomers, loves performance despite physical issues, and dances again at an advanced age.
Elaine’s first performance stood out for a lot of the audience members, not because it was brilliant, but because it felt genuine. In a season that often seems to have forgotten that Dancing With the Stars remains as much about heart and passion as accuracy, every lift, rhythm, and musical moment was an invitation to step into her story.
Bruno Tonioli applauds Elaine’s premiere Cha-Cha on Dancing With the Stars Season 34
Elaine Hendrix is back in the spotlight and made her Dancing With the Stars debut dancing the Cha-Cha with pro partner Alan Bersten on Monday night’s Season 34 premiere. Elaine served some vivacious charm and grace with a confident sprinkling of zeal while dancing to Kesha's "Woman". A bit nervous, but ultimately slaying the judges and audience with her showmanship during her first live ballroom dance performance in decades.
Elaine’s premiere sets the tone
The harmony between personality and musicianship made Elaine's Cha-Cha stand out right away. Her confident onstage demeanor added a flair to the routine, and her crisp moves and animated delivery demonstrated the amount of work she put into rehearsals. The routine felt polished yet full of personality because it combined lively energy with crisp lines.
Despite the Dancing With the Stars judges' criticism of Elaine's posture and consistency, she was able to draw in the audience with her ability to follow the beat and capture the spirit of the song. She showed that she could blend strong execution with entertainment value for a debut performance. Her capacity to adjust was demonstrated by her presence with Alan, which will be helpful as the choreography becomes more intricate in the coming weeks.
Scores and the road ahead
Elaine and Alan were placed in the middle of the pack on premiere night, finishing with a total score of 12 out of 20 on Dancing With the Stars Season 34. Both her potential on stage and the fairly rough improvements she has to make technically in order to advance further in the competition came across in her score. Her routine didn’t score the highest of the night, but she managed to keep enough interest in the painting, under the pressure of being on live television, where her presence won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Reactions from the audience were positive, with many admiring her readiness to take on a new task after years out of the spotlight. The feedback also suggested that her combination of determination and charisma could allow her to close the gap with technically stronger competitors as the weeks progress. Elaine has the potential to develop into one of Season 34's most notable tales if she keeps improving on her foundation and embraces the joy of performing.
Watch Dancing With the Stars Season 34 on ABC.