Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
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Dancing with the Stars

"Dance like everyone's watching."

6.2
Yr 2005
Status Returning Series
Reality Family
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

The competition sees celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts and voted on by viewers. Enjoy sizzling salsas, sambas and spray-tans as they vie for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.

Status

Latest

  • Kamri Peterson joins Season 35 dance troupe — August 2, 2026
  • ABC sets fall premiere date for Dancing with the Stars — July 27, 2026
Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

While early critical appraisals were skeptical of its roster of marginal celebrities and cheesy presentation, Dancing with the Stars quickly carved out a lasting niche as a lighthearted and crowd-pleasing reality competition. Reviewers found unexpected charm in the show's campy, earnest energy, frequently highlighting it as a fun and goofy alternative to mean-spirited talent contests.

Much of the series' lasting appeal rests on the journey of watching recognizable personalities pushed entirely outside their comfort zones. Critics and viewers alike appreciate the developmental arc of amateur dancers, noting that even contestants who begin with minimal rhythm often evolve into impressive performers under the guidance of top-tier professional dancers.

Family-oriented guides frequently caution that the ballroom routines lean heavily into sex appeal and revealing costumes. Nevertheless, the broad consensus views the competition as breezy, engaging escapism built on sheer enthusiasm and unexpected determination.

“an improbable, goofy delight, more fun to watch than the bombastic American Idol”

“While some stars dance about as well as the average garden vegetable, by the time the contest advances, the dancing is really quite good.”

“The stars... are strictly marginal. The host... is excruciatingly lame. And the dancing is only sporadically scintillating.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Hulu
US
Citytvplus Amazon Channel
CA
Disney Plus
US
Why fans love it

Since debuting in 2005, this reality competition has anchored its format in the spectacle of pairing professional dancers with high-profile celebrities. The thrill stems from watching an amateur tackle complex choreography while trying to maintain composure under the gaze of a veteran panel of ballroom experts. It is a show built on the visible tension between intense technical training and the inevitable chaos of live performance.

With regular staples like Bruno Tonioli bringing theatrical scrutiny to the ballroom floor, the production balances strict critique with the absurdity of competition. Success relies on finding a rhythm that appeals to both the judges and the voting public. It remains a consistent staple of the family television landscape for those interested in the transformation of its participants over the course of the season.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 4
Longest run 522 eps
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
as Self - Host
33 episodes
Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba
as Self - Judge
522 episodes
Bruno Tonioli
Bruno Tonioli
as Self - Judge
522 episodes
Len Goodman
Len Goodman
as Self - Judge
453 episodes
Tom Bergeron
Tom Bergeron
as Self - Guest Judge
446 episodes
Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews
as Self - Contestant
148 episodes
Brooke Burke
Brooke Burke
as Self - Contestant
169 episodes
Samantha Harris
Samantha Harris
as Self - Host
161 episodes
Show 67 more
Alfonso Ribeiro as Self - Trio Partner 72 episodes Julianne Hough as Self - Guest Judge 193 episodes Mario López as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Laila Ali as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Marie Osmond as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Drew Lachey as Self - Guest Judge 30 episodes Emmitt Smith as Self - Guest Judge 38 episodes Lance Bass as Self - Contestant 21 episodes Warren Sapp as Self - Contestant 21 episodes Mel B as Self - Contestant 21 episodes Mya as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Kelly Osbourne as Self - Contestant 21 episodes Bristol Palin as Self - Contestant 28 episodes Kyle Massey as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Jennifer Grey as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Chelsea Kane as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Kirstie Alley as Self - Contestant 35 episodes Hines Ward as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Ricki Lake as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Rob Kardashian as Self - Contestant 20 episodes J.R. Martinez as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Apolo Ohno as Self - Dancer 39 episodes Sabrina Bryan as Self - Audience Member 26 episodes Hélio Castroneves as Self - Contestant 28 episodes Zendaya as Self - Judge 20 episodes Gilles Marini as Self - Contestant 38 episodes Kelly Monaco as Self - Contestant 29 episodes Kristi Yamaguchi as Self - Audience Member 24 episodes Cody Linley as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Donny Osmond as Self - Musical Guest 22 episodes Kellie Pickler as Self - Contestant 20 episodes Joey Fatone as Self - Contestant 27 episodes Shawn Johnson as Self - Audience Member 41 episodes Derek Hough as Self - Partner: Amy Purdy 174 episodes Ezra Sosa as Self - Ensemble 24 episodes Britt Stewart as Self - Ensemble 33 episodes Pasha Pashkov as Self - Partner: Danielle Fishel 22 episodes Brandon Armstrong as Self - Partner: Kenya Moore 34 episodes Gleb Savchenko as Self - Partner: Chrishell Stause 38 episodes Jenna Johnson as Self - Guest 28 episodes Sasha Farber as Self - Partner: Snooki 35 episodes Alan Bersten as Self - Partner: Giada De Laurentiis 45 episodes Lindsay Arnold as Self - Dancer 26 episodes Daniella Karagach as Self - Partner: Jason Mraz 35 episodes Ashly DelGrosso as Self - Partner: Joey McIntyre 21 episodes Keo Motsepe as Self - Partner: Charo 21 episodes Peta Murgatroyd as Self - Audience Member 27 episodes Maksim Chmerkovskiy as Self - Partner: Amber Rose 94 episodes Witney Carson as Self - Partner: The Miz 58 episodes Artem Chigvintsev as Self - Partner: Patti LaBelle 27 episodes Sharna Burgess as Self - Partner: Tyler Cameron 31 episodes Emma Slater as Self - Partner: Jackson Olson 46 episodes Val Chmerkovskiy as Self - Partner: Normani 63 episodes Louis Van Amstel as Self - Partner: Kelly Osbourne 70 episodes Kym Johnson as Self - Partner: Warren Sapp 107 episodes Chelsie Hightower as Self - Partner: Romeo 37 episodes Cheryl Burke as Self - Partner: Wayne Newton 148 episodes Anna Trebunskaya as Self - Partner: Steve Guttenberg 44 episodes Alec Mazo as Self - Partner: Paulina Porizkova 36 episodes Driton 'Tony' Dovolani as Self - Partner: Sara Evans 123 episodes Mark Ballas as Self - Partner: Candace Cameron Bure 120 episodes Karina Smirnoff as Self - Partner: Jacoby Jones 107 episodes Edyta Śliwińska as Self - Partner: Cody Linley 107 episodes Jonathan Roberts as Self - Partner: Rachel Hunter 51 episodes Melissa Rycroft as Self - Contestant 22 episodes Lacey Schwimmer as Self - Partner: Mike Catherwood 47 episodes Dmitry Chaplin as Self - Partner: Holly Madison 28 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Camera Operator
Daryl Studebaker Matthew Gay Andrew Gerety Kary D'Alessandro
Makeup Artist
Alison Gladieux April M. Chaney Tyson Fountaine Lois Kawasaki-Harriman
Production Design
Florian Wieder James Yarnell
Thanks
Whitney Houston
Hairstylist
Joe Matke Ryan Randall
Assistant Camera
Kerry Clemens
Director of Photography
Chris Furukawa-Burgon
Costume Supervisor
Howard Sussman
Makeup Department Head
Zena Green
Costumer
Sophia Phonsavahn Serra Geris
Set Decoration
John Sparano
Key Costumer
Eric J. Van Wagoner
Assistant Costume Designer
Candice Rainwater Juliette Kendall Polina Roytman
Costume Designer
Daniela Gschwendtner
Art Direction
Steve Morden Natasha Hatch
Set Costumer
Bianca Harrison Nicole D. Jones
Choreographer
Sasha Farber
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Dancing with the Stars overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

competition celebrity dance competition admiring
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
June 01, 2005
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
137