The first live show of the popular dance competition Let’s Dance 2025 aired Friday night at RTL, showcasing emotional performances, strict jury evaluations, and the unfortunate elimination of one pair of contestants.
Among the highlights was Taliso Engel, the Paralympic swimmer who has emerged as one of the season's favorites. He and his partner Patricija Ionel delivered an outstanding quickstep, earning themselves 23 points from the judging panel. Engel's performance was well-received and he secured his place for the next round with his previously earned wildcard from the introduction show.
Meanwhile, gymnast Fabian Hambüchen also shined with his jive partnered by Anastasia Maruster, scoring 23 points as well. Hambüchen expressed his initial nervousness stating, "I really had shaky knees at the start." The feedback from stern judge Joachim Llambi was surprisingly positive as he highlighted, "There were no rhythmic difficulties and nice compact steps," acknowledging the impressive performance.
Due to illness, both Leyla Lahouar and Jeanette Biedermann were unable to dance and automatically advanced to the next round, much to their relief.
On the flip side, comedic actor Osan Yaran faced dire criticism from Llambi during his tango with Christina Hänni. Llambi remarked bluntly, "What were those twitching movements in your foot? It was like a horse!" The audience responded with loud boos following the harsh critique, emphasizing their disappointment. Osan and Christina scored merely 10 points.
Ben Zucker's performance also fell flat. After his slow waltz with Malika Dzumaev, Llambi was left unimpressed, stating, "You lack rhythm, and every attempt goes awry - you should be rated last." His score was disappointingly low with only 9 points, yet he managed to stay safe for the next round.
Selfiesandra, paired with Zsolt Sándor Cseke, delighted the audience with her energetic cha-cha-cha, receiving 14 points. Llambi remarked on her personality, saying, "You might not be the perfect dancer, but you come down and just say, ‘You can all shove it!’ - and then you deliver!" The reflections from the judges were somewhat mixed, yet the enthusiasm from Sandra was contagious.
The night ended with the tension of the elimination round. While the judges provided scores, it was the audience voting which decided the fates of the contestants. Osan Yaran and Christina Hänni were announced as the first couple to leave the competition, eliciting both applause and sympathy as they exited the stage.
This season premiere reinforced the challenges and unpredictability of Let’s Dance, with strong performances from top dancers leaving everyone eager for the next week's show. The excitement continues as viewers await who will shine and who may falter as the competition progresses.