The starting signal for the 17th season of “Let’s Dance” has been fired! Once again, 14 celebrities want to prove what they can do on the dance floor together with their professional dance partners in the RTL dance show (also via RTL). In the introductory show on Friday evening (February 23rd), the young dancers faced the verdict of the jury for the first time, which this year again consists of Motsi Mabuse (42), Jorge González (56) and Joachim Llambi (59). The 14 dance couples then came together for the new season. A favorite has already emerged from the group dances…
There were no major mishaps in the group dances in episode one. The jury particularly criticized “The Lions’ Den” investor Tillman Schulz (34) for having two left feet. Jorge González’s performance was more reminiscent of “swaying at the Oktoberfest” than the desired Viennese waltz. For Joachim Llambi, he resembled a “ship swing braker at the fair. Motsi Mabuse also remarked: “Exercise is not your thing.” And so Schulz was the only celebrity who in the end only received a single-digit rating from the jurors: seven points.
Although all of the participants were still away from the full 30 points on the first evening, two favorites had already emerged: Musician Gabriel Kelly (22) shone in the Viennese waltz and was rewarded with 18 points and thus the highest rating of the evening – what’s more He received the much sought-after direct ticket from the TV audience – this means he is safe for the coming week and cannot be eliminated. After her Cha-Cha-Cha performance, singer Lulu (31) not only received 17 points from the judges, but also extra praise from Joachim Llambi.
Right behind her with 16 points were comedienne Maria Clara Groppler (24), who gave her all in her Charleston performance, and choreographer Detlef “D!” Soost (53), who excelled at tango.
Influencer Ann-Kathrin Bendixen (24) dances with last year’s winner Valentin Lusin (36). Choreographer Detlef “D!” Soost can look forward to the support of the three-time “Let’s Dance” winner Ekaterina Leonova (36). The oldest woman in the group, model Eva Padberg (44), will twirl across the dance floor in the coming episodes with Paul Lorenz (36), who is back after an eight-year break from “Let’s Dance”.
The youngest in the group, singer Gabriel Kelly, trains and dances with Malika Dzumaev (32) – thanks to the direct ticket, the two are safe in the first regular episode. Sports journalist Jana Wosnitza (30) gets Vadim Garbuzov (36) at her side – he has already won the Austrian show “Dancing Stars” three times. “Bibi and Tina” actress Lina Larissa Strahl (26) is coached by Zsolt Sándor Cseke (36).
Singer Lulu Lewe is entering the race together with the two-time “Let’s Dance” winner Massimo Sinató (43), comedienne Maria Clara Groppler with newcomer Mikael Tatarkin (27). Comedian Tony Bauer (28) also has a newcomer at his side, Anastasia Stan (26). “The Mountain Doctor” star Mark Keller (58) is the oldest celebrity, but he has a real power professional at his side in the form of two-time winner Kathrin Menzinger (35).
The Lithuanian Patricija Ionel (28) is given the task of transforming “The Lion’s Den” investor Tillman Schulz from a ship’s swing brakeman to a dancing ace.
The other dance couples: motivational coach Biyon Kattilathu (39) and Marta Arndt (34), influencers Sophia Thiel (28) and Alexandru Ionel (29) as well as food bloggers Stefano Zarrella (33) and Mariia Maksina (27).
