Madison Meeks, Media Director
mvm7037@psu.edu

“Dancing with the Stars” has been a ballroom competition show on ABC since it premiered in June 2005. The ballroom competition was recently moved from ABC to the streaming service Disney Plus. DWTS began with the show’s 31st season on September 19, 2022. The show pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers to learn and compete in ballroom dancing each week.
“Dancing with the Stars” season 31 is hosted by Tyra Banks, who is a television personality and model, and Alfonso Ribiero, who is an actor and television personality. This season features famous faces like actor Wanye Brady and TikTok star Charlie D’Amelio. DWTS also is making history this season by having Shangela, “Rupaul’s Drag Race” star, as the show’s first drag performer to compete in the show.
Each week each duo will have to perform a different style of ballroom and even some weeks to a certain theme for the week like Disney or Elvis. Along with having TikTok Charlie D’Amelio dancing this season, her mom Heidi D’Amelio is also dancing this season competing against her daughter. Before the season started as reported by Seventeen and Page Six, Heidi D’Amelio wanted to quit the show. D’Amelio stated that “So, I was fine up until last Tuesday, and then Wednesday, rehearsal was awful, and I was on the verge of tears.” Heidi also told Page Six that the reason that she decided to continue with the show was that her daughter Charlie had encouraged her to continue.
During week one of the show, “Legally Blonde” star Selma Blair and her dance partner Sasha made the audience and judges tear up with their routine. In 2018, Selma Blair after experiencing unusual symptoms with her health was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, also known as MS. Blair stated on the show that her being on the show is to remind the world and others with MS that the disease will not stop her from enjoying life. Blair had done so well in her routine during the first week that one of the judges that usually only criticizes the routines, only had good things to say.
“Dancing with the Stars” season 31 looks like it is going to be a competitive season. The viewers will have to wait in anticipation to see who is going to take home the mirrorball trophy. Season 31 of DWTS premieres live Mondays at 8 ET/ 5 PT on Disney Plus.