dx “THE CROWD WENT WILD!” — Julianne Hough and Dick Van Dyke Leave America Speechless with a Legendary Dancing with the Stars Premiere Performance
For the first time in Dancing with the Stars history, the hosts didn’t just introduce the show — they became the show. In a dazzling, high-octane opening that no one saw coming, Julianne Hough and Dick Van Dyke set the ballroom ablaze with a Cha-Cha-Cha to Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.”
It wasn’t merely an introduction — it was a declaration.
As the spotlight hit the shimmering gold stage, the audience expected the usual warm welcome and witty banter. Instead, the familiar musical cue was replaced by a pulsing Latin beat, and the crowd gasped as Julianne, resplendent in a sparkling crimson dress, took center stage. But the real shock came seconds later when the 99-year-old Hollywood legend — Dick Van Dyke himself — stepped forward, smiling that ageless grin, and took her hand.
Then the impossible happened: they danced.
A Performance for the Ages
From the very first count, it was clear this was no nostalgic cameo or playful gesture. It was artistry. Van Dyke, whose career has spanned eight decades, moved with a rhythm that defied his years. His posture sharp, his timing impeccable, his footwork cheeky yet precise — it was as though time itself had decided to take a bow.
Julianne matched him with radiant energy, spinning, snapping, and kicking with the kind of precision only a professional of her caliber could deliver. Together, they brought to life a routine that fused Latin fire with Broadway storytelling — a joyful, sunlit celebration of music, movement, and pure love for the dance floor.
When the chorus of “Let’s Get Loud” hit, Van Dyke raised his arm and shouted along with the lyrics, igniting a roar from the crowd. Studio lights flared like fireworks, the floor gleamed gold, and the audience — along with millions watching at home — erupted in disbelief.
“Are we really watching Dick Van Dyke doing the Cha-Cha at 99?” one fan tweeted.
“Yes. And he’s killing it,” another replied.
Behind the Magic
Insiders revealed that the performance had been months in the making. According to sources close to the production, Julianne personally approached Van Dyke with the idea.
“She told him, ‘Let’s give the audience something they’ll never forget,’” a crew member shared. “And he didn’t even hesitate. He said, ‘I’ve been dancing all my life — let’s make them smile.’”
Rehearsals reportedly took place in Los Angeles, where Van Dyke trained three times a week with Julianne and her husband, fellow dancer Brooks Laich, serving as assistant choreographer. The goal wasn’t to make the veteran actor move like a twenty-something — it was to create choreography that celebrated joy, charisma, and connection.
Julianne, speaking backstage after the show, called the experience “a once-in-a-lifetime honor.”
“He’s everything I aspire to be,” she said, visibly emotional. “At 99, he still approaches every day with wonder, with gratitude, and with the kind of passion that makes everyone around him believe in magic. Dancing beside him tonight was a dream.”
Van Dyke, meanwhile, was all humility when asked how he pulled it off.
“I just tried to keep up!” he laughed. “Julianne’s the real deal — she’s sunshine and energy rolled into one. I told her, ‘If I fall, just make it look like choreography.’”
A New Era for Dancing with the Stars
The performance marked a turning point for the show, which recently entered what ABC is calling its “new era” — one that honors tradition while embracing innovation. Producers say this season’s vision is to blend the elegance of classic ballroom with the inclusivity and diversity of modern performance styles.
And what better way to signal that change than by uniting two generations of entertainers on one stage?
“It’s symbolic,” noted executive producer Conrad Green. “Julianne represents the new wave — fierce, fearless, contemporary. Dick represents timeless artistry, a living bridge to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Together, they embody what Dancing with the Stars has always been about: connection through movement.”
Social media lit up within minutes of the broadcast. Clips of the dance flooded X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram, racking up millions of views before the episode had even ended. Fans praised not just the choreography but the emotional weight of the moment.
“This wasn’t just a dance,” wrote one user. “It was a message — that passion never expires, and joy has no age limit.”
From “Mary Poppins” to the Modern Ballroom
For Dick Van Dyke, the performance was more than a novelty — it was a homecoming. Dance has been a cornerstone of his life since his breakout role in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), followed by his immortal turn as Bert in Mary Poppins.
His signature style — playful, graceful, effortlessly rhythmic — has inspired generations of performers, including Julianne herself.
“I grew up watching him tap-dance across rooftops and thought, ‘That’s what freedom looks like,’” Julianne said. “He dances with soul, not ego. It’s storytelling through joy.”
When the “Let’s Get Loud” routine reached its climax, that same essence was palpable. Julianne twirled across the floor as Van Dyke struck his iconic, cheeky pose — a wink to the camera, a lift of the chin — and the crowd rose to its feet in thunderous applause.
As confetti rained down, Julianne and Dick clasped hands, laughing, nearly in tears. The hosts who were supposed to talk had instead spoken through movement.
Fans Can’t Stop Talking
Moments after the live show ended, #DickVanDyke and #JulianneHough trended worldwide. Celebrities chimed in with praise:
- Jennifer Lopez reposted the clip on Instagram, writing, “You DID get loud! What a moment!”
- Derek Hough called it “one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen on this stage.”
- Ryan Seacrest tweeted, “That’s how you open a show — history made.”
Even younger viewers who may not have known much about Van Dyke found themselves spellbound. The performance introduced a new generation to the kind of showmanship that once defined classic Hollywood — joyous, heartfelt, and alive.
“I showed my daughter this clip,” one fan wrote. “She didn’t know who Dick Van Dyke was. Now she’s obsessed. She said, ‘Mom, he dances happier than anyone I’ve ever seen.’”
A Legacy That Still Dances
After the episode, Van Dyke was asked whether this would be his last performance. He smiled — the same boyish grin that first won hearts nearly seventy years ago.
“I don’t think I’ve ever stopped performing,” he said. “Every day’s a little song, a little dance. I’ll keep moving as long as I can stand on my feet — maybe even after that.”
The remark drew laughter and applause from the press room, but behind the humor was something deeper. This was not a goodbye — it was a living reminder that creativity doesn’t retire.
Julianne added one final note before the night ended:
“We didn’t just open the show. We opened hearts. That’s what dance is supposed to do.”
The Night They Got Loud
As the credits rolled and the ballroom lights dimmed, the echoes of “Let’s Get Loud” lingered — not just in the studio, but in living rooms across America.
In a single, breathtaking number, Julianne Hough and Dick Van Dyke had done what Dancing with the Stars has always aspired to do: remind us that movement is universal, joy is timeless, and art — at its purest — knows no age.
It wasn’t just a dance.
It was history with rhythm.
It was legacy in motion.
It was loud, and the world loved every second of it.
“You could feel the heartbeat of America in that dance,” one fan wrote. “Two generations, one rhythm, one word: joy.”
And as the music faded, one thing became clear — when Dick Van Dyke and Julianne Hough say, “Let’s get loud,” the world listens.
