'Dancing with the Stars': Alexa and Carlos PeñaVega battle it out on the dance floor
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}It was like “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” of dance.
In a first for the Emmy-nominated ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” a married couple competed against each other, and it’s going to be a fun ride to see which one can out-dance the other.
Actors Alexa and Carlos PeñaVega hit the ballroom floor during the season 21 premiere Monday night, putting their marriage to the test with their dance partners, Mark Ballas and Whitney Carson.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“We wanted to do this show together because want to work together,” Alexa, 27, said in a pre-taped video before their dances.
“Whoever wins will never let the other one live it down,” her husband, 26, added.
The former “Big Time Rush” actor went first and performed a jive, only receiving praise from the judges.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Your musicality was off the chart,” Carrie Ann Inaba said, while Julianne Hough said he was the “most natural performer” they had seen all night.
Bruno Tonioli called it an excellent performance but said PeñaVega needed to work on his footwork for next week.
Alexa followed soon after with her own jive and also wowed the judges.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“You were so beautiful out there,” Inaba told the former “Spy Kids” actress.
Hough said that it was one of the most difficult jives she’s ever seen on the show. “You had so much content in there,” she added.
At the end of the dances, the married couldn't be more happy for each other.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This was just love and fun right now. I need to ask costume if she can borrow that," Carlos said, pointing to his wife's sheer black outfit. "You look great!"
But who came out on top? The judges gave Carlos the leg up with 23 out of 30, though his wife was not far behind. She received 22.
The married couple weren't the only Latinos taking on the dance floor.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza opened the show with a salsa-lite salsa with partner Karina Smirnoff.
“You are adorable. I don’t think you were going to come out as a Latin lover,” Inaba told the 5’2" Espinoza, who was dressed in a bedazzled jockey uniform.
Hough called it a “fun and interesting way to start the season,” bringing attention to Espinoza’s hip movement.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I was really surprised,” she said, adding, “great things come in small packages.”
Monday night’s season premiere also included social media sensation Hayes Grier, TV host Tamar Brazon, singing legend Chaka Khan, singer Andy Grammer, celebrity chef Paula Dean, reality star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, actor Gary Busey, Bindi Irwin – the daughter of the late "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin – Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter and recent U.S. military hero Alek Skarlatos.
Tied atop the leaderboard after the first episode with 24 points apiece were Irwin, 17, with her partner Derek Hough, and Carter, who danced with Sharna Burgess, tied the leader board with 24 out of 30 points.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Coming in last place was Zolciak-Biermann, with partner Tony Dovolani, who received 12 out of 30 points.