Dancing with the Stars is a reality dance television show that first premiered on June 1, 2005, and continues to grow every year. The premise of the show is to pair a celebrity with a professional ballroom dancer. Each week, the celebrities compete to see who can make it to the finale and win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
Even after 20 years on live television, Dancing with the Stars remains popular because of its genuine, loving, and competitive nature. Each celebrity is taken completely out of their comfort zone and trains for weeks at a time to learn challenging choreography. While the professionals make it look easy, the dances become more difficult as the competition progresses. Along with watching each transformation, audiences also get to see behind-the-scenes moments from rehearsals, creating a connection between the celebrities and the viewers at home. And because this is a competition, the celebrities, professionals, and fans all become invested, hoping their favorites make it to the end and take home the Mirrorball Trophy.
Whether you’re a first-time viewer, someone curious about the show, or a longtime fan, this article will guide you through the ins and outs of Dancing with the Stars!
Celebrity pairings are fairly simple. When a celebrity is cast for the show, it is mainly up to the producers’ discretion which pro they will be partnered with. The key factors taken into consideration are height and build, personality, and the requests of the pro or the star. When partnering for ballroom-style dances, height and build are important because most dances are performed in frame and often involve different flips and tricks. It is important for choreography and overall performance that partners have compatible heights and builds.
Personality is also important because the pair spends every day together for up to 11 weeks. It is well known that the more chemistry a pairing has, the better they will dance together. Dancing is all about trust and dynamics; when a pairing has compatible personalities, it makes them all the better. Lastly, pro and star requests may be considered. In some cases, a pro or a star can request a specific partner, and these requests will be reviewed by the production team, but the final decision rests with the producers.
Every week on Tuesday night is when the next set of competition begins. The pros have a list of dance styles they must choose from each week and must pair that style with a song of their choice. The different dance styles include ballroom: Foxtrot, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, and Tango, and Latin: Cha-cha, Jive, Paso Doble, Rumba, Samba, Argentine Tango, and Salsa. While the pros are heavily involved in these decisions, the producers act as enforcers, making sure no one is using the same song and not everyone is dancing the same style. For the majority of the season, there are themed nights. This is a fun way for the audience to stay engaged and to honor someone in music, TV, or film. Some of the theme nights this season included Halloween, Prince, and Wicked.
Scoring works through a combination of the judges’ scores and viewership votes. Each judge scores on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being a perfect score. At the beginning of the season, most scores fall in the 5–7 range, and closer to the end of the season, most stars receive 9s and 10s. Viewers also get the chance to vote for their favorites online at the official ABC website or via SMS text message during the live broadcast. The viewers’ votes and judges’ scores are combined to decide who will be going home that week. The scores and votes are not a 1-for-1 comparison; they are averaged out. So if a star receives a perfect score but the lowest amount of votes, they will place overall in the middle of the pack. The same goes for the lowest judged score if they receive the highest number of viewer votes.
Eliminations happen at the end of each episode every week. The scores are calculated, and in no particular order, the stars who are safe from elimination are called one by one until there are two or three remaining. Again, the last three are not necessarily the bottom three scores. Finally, one of the hosts announces who will be going home.
Part of the charm of the show comes from the judges. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been judges since the premiere of the show. Since 2020, or season 29, Derek Hough has been the third permanent judge. He officially replaced Len Goodman after his retirement during season 31. Carrie Ann Inaba is known for scoring based on contestant ability and emotion. Although she can be picky about technique, she scores based on improvement, passion, and overall well-being for the dancer’s ability. Len Goodman and Derek Hough have been known to score based on technique the most; they look for timing, posture, and shaping. Bruno Tonioli is known for bringing excitement and enthusiasm; he often shouts compliments and is one of the most positive judges.
Not only do the judges and viewers play a role, but the celebrities themselves also play a huge role through their teaching style and choreography. It is apparent when amazing choreographers like Daniella Karagach or Mark Ballas are on the ballroom floor; the dance exceeds expectations, and they can turn a simplistic style of dance into art. This captures not only the viewers’ attention but also the judges’. Teaching style also goes a long way. Many pros have been on the show since the very beginning and know what works and what doesn’t. For example, Val Chmerkovskiy is known for being very tough, pushing his partner to the very end, but always out of love and passion. Emma Slater teaches with more patience and sweetness. Both of these pros have Mirrorballs under their belts, and neither teaching style is better than the other—but the difference is important for teaching their respective partners.
While this season of Dancing with the Stars comes to an end, it’s important to remember that every celebrity and professional on that stage is human. They come to the show to compete, to grow, and to embrace the transformation that Dancing with the Stars makes possible. Win or lose, each couple walks away with new skills, new confidence, and an unforgettable journey that fans get to share with them week after week. The connection between the dancers, the audience, and the stories behind each performance is what keeps the show thriving after two decades. And whether you’re tuning in for the first time or returning for another season, there’s always something inspiring, surprising, and heartfelt waiting on the ballroom floor.