Why Did Conner Leavitt Score So Low on DWTS? His Premiere Salsa Explained

Conner Leavitt brought plenty of energy to his first Dancing With the Stars performance, but enthusiasm was not enough to produce a strong score from the judges. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star and new pro Adele Zaikman finished their premiere salsa with 12 points out of 30 after Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli each gave the routine a 4.

The judges were not dismissive of Leavitt as a performer. In fact, all three found something entertaining in his debut. The low score came from the technical side of the salsa, particularly his timing, hip action and ability to maintain the characteristics of the dance throughout the routine.

Related: Why Were DWTS Online Votes Thrown Out? What Happened During the Season 35 Premiere

Conner Leavitt Received Three 4s for His First Salsa

Leavitt and Zaikman performed a salsa to Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is),” one of the No. 1 songs selected for the premiere’s birth-year theme.

The performance was also significant for Zaikman. After winning Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Season 35 marked her first appearance as a competing professional on the main show, with Leavitt becoming her first celebrity partner.

Their routine leaned into Leavitt’s playful personality, and the judges responded positively to that part of the performance. Their concerns began when they looked beyond the entertainment value and focused on whether he was consistently performing the salsa technique they expected.

Derek Hough Wanted More Salsa Technique

Hough enjoyed Leavitt’s personality and even compared his goofy energy to Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. His critique changed once he turned to the actual dancing.

The judge felt there was not enough recognizable salsa in the performance and specifically pointed to Leavitt’s lack of hip action. Hough praised his performance quality but said the movement needed considerable refinement and stronger technique.

That helps explain why an entertaining routine still ended with a 4 from Hough. Season 35 opened with Hough warning contestants that the judges intended to be strict, particularly when performance quality was not matched by the required ballroom or Latin technique.

Bruno Tonioli Said Conner’s Timing Was Off

Tonioli’s criticism focused heavily on rhythm and timing, two areas that are especially important in salsa.

He told Leavitt that his timing was off through much of the performance and also wanted to see better hip movement. The problem was not simply missing an isolated step. Tonioli wanted Leavitt to stay connected to the rhythm consistently from the beginning of the routine through the end.

That kind of issue can quickly suppress a DWTS score because timing affects almost everything else in a partnered routine. If a celebrity falls behind or gets ahead of the music, the footwork, hip action and connection with the professional partner can all begin to look less controlled.

Carrie Ann Inaba Thought the Dance Was Too Chaotic

Inaba also found Leavitt entertaining, but she described the performance as chaotic. She felt his attention was not always directed effectively and wanted his movement to work together more cohesively. Inaba also encouraged him to perform outward toward the ballroom and audience, noting that he has natural performance ability that could become an asset once the technical side improves.

Her comments followed the same basic pattern as the other two critiques. Leavitt already has personality on the floor, but the judges did not believe his first routine had enough control underneath that personality to justify a higher score.

Was Conner Leavitt the Lowest-Scoring Man on Night 1?

Despite receiving three 4s, Leavitt did not finish with the lowest judges’ score of the night.

Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson later received a 10 out of 30 for their cha-cha, with Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli awarding 3s and Carrie Ann Inaba giving the routine a 4. Leavitt’s 12 therefore placed him near the bottom of the Night 1 leaderboard, but not at the very bottom.

That context is important because the entire Season 35 premiere was scored relatively conservatively. Hough warned during the opening performance that contestants should expect tough judging, and several celebrities received 5s or lower despite positive comments about their potential.

Ezra Frech provided the clearest contrast. His tango with Daniella Karagach earned 20 out of 30 after the judges praised his control, frame and ability to lead the performance, showing how heavily they were rewarding technical execution rather than enthusiasm alone.

Does Conner Leavitt Have Dance Experience?

Leavitt is not entering DWTS with the same professional dance background as contestants such as Harry Shum Jr. His recent performance experience does mean he is not completely unfamiliar with learning movement for the stage.

Before joining DWTS, Leavitt appeared in the Off-Broadway production 11 to Midnight. He also spent Season 34 around the ballroom while supporting his wife, Whitney Leavitt, during her successful run on the show.

Neither experience automatically translates to salsa technique. That difference was visible in his premiere routine, where comfort performing in front of an audience did not prevent the judges from finding problems with timing and hip movement.

Can Conner Leavitt Improve After a 12?

A 12 out of 30 is a difficult opening score, but the judges’ comments gave Leavitt and Zaikman a fairly specific list of things to address.

His personality was not the problem. Hough considered his performance quality extremely strong, while Inaba also saw natural entertainment ability. The work now centers on controlling that energy, staying on time and developing the technique required for whichever style comes next.

That distinction matters early in DWTS. Stage presence can be difficult to teach, while timing, footwork and hip action can improve through rehearsal. Leavitt’s premiere showed that he already knows how to make a routine feel lively, but Season 35’s judging panel appears unwilling to reward that alone.

His three 4s were therefore less a rejection of the performance than a clear message about what the judges want from him next. If Leavitt can keep the personality while making the dancing cleaner, there is considerably more room for his scores to rise.