Dancing With the Stars Removes 2nd Celeb in Back-to

Originally appeared on E! Online

One more couple has gotten off on the wrong foot.

After Conner Leavittand Adele Zaikmanwere eliminated during night one of the Dancing With the Stars season 35 premiere, another pair have met the end the road.

This time, during part-two of the premiere on Sept. 16 which saw all the female celebrities perform, it was Love Thy Nader star Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills whose time in the ballroom came to an end.

Though the pair pulled off a fiery jive to “Sk8er Boi” byAvril Lavigne, they were out of sync and their score of 14 combined with votes from the public wasn’t enough to earn them a spot in week two.

Before the reveal, Sarah Jane had expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of a same-sex pairing on DWTS.

“I think that us being on this ballroom floor together as two women is just so powerful,” she said after her routine. “And I hope that it shows you can dance with whoever you want, you can love whoever you want, and being yourself is the best power.”

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Gratitude was a feeling echoed by Conner, whose wife Whitney Leavittmade it to during week 10 of season 34 with partner Mark Ballas.

“This has been the most fun,” Conner said from the ballroom stage after his elimination. “I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele. I can’t wait for the world to get to see her talent.”

Dancing With the Stars season 35 cast on ABC, Sarah Jane Nader — Disney/Andrew Eccles

Indeed, it was his partner Adele’s first year on the cast after she won Dancing With the Stars: TheNext Pro. And though her cha-cha to “Whoomp! There It Is” wasn’t enough to best her and Conner’s competition, she doesn’t have any regrets.

“It’s a dream come true no matter what, and I’m so lucky that I had Conner,” Adele said during the premiere. “I had so much fun and thank you so much for everything.”

Dancing With the Stars season 35 cast on ABC, Conner Leavitt — Disney/Andrew Eccles

As for those celebrity-pro pairings who landed on their feet? There are a few whose twinkle toes ushered them into the upper echelon of contestants after week one.

Among them are Harry Shum Jr.and Jenna Johnson, whose cha-cha earned 21 points and Ezra Frechand Daniella Karagach, who stunned with a 20-point tango.

And though some armchair experts may call foul when it comes to celebrities enter the competition with prior experience on a dance floor—Harry previously danced for Beyoncé while Jenna Dewan starred in the 2006 dance film Step Up—celebrities and pros alike have defended the casting choices.

Harry, for his part, pointed out during an interview with E! News, “A lot of people who had dance backgrounds don’t make it very far. That tells you everything you need to know about what the show is. It’s beyond just dancing.”

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson during Dancing With the Stars premiere

Mark, too, emphasized that prior experience only takes someone so far in the ballroom.

“Just because someone danced in high school or they danced for an artist or something,” he said during a Sept. 10 appearance on the Get Realpodcast, “that doesn’t mean they can’t take this on and improve every single week.”

Plus, “I also think that even though there is dancing on the show and you want to root, you want to see great dancing, it’s also like about experience,” he added. “Some fans want to see banger dances. Some fans want to see someone from ground zero make it.”

For a closer look at those pairings hoping to make it all the way to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, read on.