Chaz Bono Impresses DWTS Judges with Cha-Cha

Season 13 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars kicked off last night, featuring one of the most talked about contestants ever in its history: transgender Chaz Bono, Cher and Sonny Bono’s child. Chaz did his best not to disappoint – and wowed audiences and the judges with his cha-cha.

Chaz and partner Lacey Schwimmer were the night’s final act and they certainly made it worth the waiting, even if the judges’ scores didn’t exactly reflect that, as an MSNBC report also notes.

While Chaz said in the intro that he was afraid his age and weight would make it difficult for him to keep up with the other contestants, his moves on the dancefloor contradicted him, earning warm praises from the judges.

Granted, the routine was far from perfect – as the video below will confirm – but there’s no denying that Chaz may actually turn out to be this season’s underdog, just like it happened with Kirstie Alley in the previous one.

Considering the kind of praises the judges bestowed on him, it’s safe to put money on Chaz at this point in time.

“I think people have been waiting all night to see you, Chaz, and you do not disappoint! You can dance! You had great footwork. You’ve got so much joy. You light up this room,” Carrie-Ann Inaba told him at the end of the cha-cha.

“You really came out with the right attitude. You came out to enjoy yourself, and that’s what I felt you did. You’re so joyous out here. Great debut, Chaz. You should be proud!” Len Goodman chimes in.

Even before the performance, Chaz credited whatever achievement that might come to his partner Lacey, of whom he said she was just the kind of partner he needed for this type of show.

“I think Lacey and I have amazing chemistry. I think she brings out the kid in me which is great, because I tend to be serious,” he said.

The live results show will air on Tuesday.