✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Maura Higgins really showed up with zero experience and absolutely ate! She tied for the highest score of the premiere, even beating out pro dancers like Jenna Dewan. Total main character energy.
Maura Higgins just proved that having zero professional dance experience is actually no barrier to being an absolute icon. While fans speculated that seasoned pros would dominate the Dancing with the Stars Season 35 premiere, our favorite Love Island alum completely shook up the leaderboard. When she hit the floor with partner Mark Ballas for a moody foxtrot to Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet,” the vibes were immaculate—and clearly, the judges were feeling it too.
A Massive Leaderboard Moment
The performance leaned into a dark, moody “Traitor” theme—which felt incredibly meta since Maura and Mark were Faithfuls together in Season 4—and even featured the Birkin bag Maura was gifted by Rob Rauschas. But it wasn’t just the aesthetic; Maura and Mark secured a score of 21, which tied with Glee fame Harry Shum Jr. for the highest mark of the evening. It even beat out Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, who earned a 19. Even though Jenna was a dancer for Janet Jackson and starred in Step Up, she admitted to Entertainment Weekly that ballroom is its own beast. I do not know how to ballroom dance. Let’s be clear. It’s two different languages.
💫 I do not know how to ballroom dance. Let’s be clear. It’s two different languages.
Proving The Newbies Can Compete
Maura definitely didn’t walk into this thinking she was a natural. She actually warned her partner via Bustle that he would need luck because she basically has two left feet and tends to have breakdowns when she gets too hard on herself. Seeing her land at the top of the leaderboard after such a self-deprecating warning was wild. When the scores came in, Maura was visibly shook, telling producers, “What?! I’m dying, I’m dying — I literally can’t speak.”
While one night doesn’t guarantee a trophy, Maura Higgins has officially made herself a massive threat to the competition. She showed us that you don’t need a background in professional dance to bring the main character energy required to win over the judges. If this premiere is any indication, Season 35 is going to be an absolute masterclass in unexpected talent.
Are you team Maura now that she’s topped the leaderboard, or do you think the pros will eventually take back their lead?
❓ People Also Ask
What score did Maura Higgins receive for her premiere performance?
Maura Higgins earned a score of 21 for her premiere performance on Dancing with the Stars. She performed a moody foxtrot to Alannah Myles’ Black Velvet alongside her professional partner, Mark Ballas. This impressive score allowed her to tie with Harry Shum Jr. for the highest mark of the evening. Her performance was notable because it even surpassed the score of 19 received by seasoned professional dancer Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
How did Maura Higgins describe her own dancing abilities before the show?
Maura Higgins described herself as having two left feet and expressed significant anxiety about her performance. Before hitting the dance floor, she warned her partner Mark Ballas that they would need luck because she tends to have emotional breakdowns when she is too hard on herself. Despite these self-deprecating warnings and her lack of professional dance experience, she managed to shock the judges and secure a spot at the top of the leaderboard.
What theme did Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas use for their first dance?
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas utilized a dark and moody Traitor theme for their premiere foxtrot. This specific concept felt meta to fans because both Maura and Mark previously appeared as Faithfuls together during Season 4 of the show. The performance also incorporated high-end aesthetic elements, including a Birkin bag that Maura had been gifted by Rob Rauschas, helping to create an immaculate vibe that resonated with the judging panel.
Why did professional dancer Jenna Dewan find ballroom dancing challenging?
Jenna Dewan found ballroom dancing challenging because she views it as a completely different discipline from other styles of dance. Although she has an extensive background as a dancer for Janet Jackson and starred in the film Step Up, she noted that ballroom is its own unique beast. She explained that ballroom dance and other professional dance styles essentially speak two different languages, which makes mastering the specific techniques of the ballroom floor difficult.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Bustle