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Interesting Things to Learn About 'Dancing With the Stars' Fun Facts

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There are some things you might not know about "Dancing With the Stars." ABC
  • "Dancing With the Stars" premiered in 2005, but even die-hard fans probably don't know these facts.  
  • Presidents and first ladies have been considered for celebrity contestant spots on the show.
  • The contestants get spray tans so they are TV-ready throughout the week. 

The show almost took a presidential turn.

Bill Clinton has been invited to compete on the show. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The show's casting director, Deena Katz, has a wish list of guests she would love to see in the ballroom, and she told ABC News in 2016 that one person who's high on that list is former US President Bill Clinton.

She even went on to say that she's asked him to come on the show several times. 

The former president confirmed during an appearance on "The Rachael Ray Show" that the show has indeed reached out to him in the past. 

"This is interesting actually, they contacted me once about this," he said. "And I told them I didn't have the time to train for it. You know you actually go out there and train — you really work at it."

A few first ladies have been given invites, too.

The former first ladies declined to compete on the show. Win McNamee/Sam Raga/Business Insider

Former First Lady and previous presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Michelle Obama have also been asked to show off their dance skills on the popular show.

But they both declined, according to Us Weekly.

For contestants, Sundays are for spray tans.

The contestants reportedly get spray tans once a week. Adam Taylor/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

You may have noticed that the dancers and celebs all have the bronzed beachy glow of a tourist returning from an island vacation while they're competing on the show.

During a 2015 interview with InStyle, Emmy-winning head makeup artist Zena Shteysel shared the secret behind the contestants' tans.  

"We have what we call spray tan Sundays, where everyone comes in on Sunday to get tanned," she said. "We have two body makeup artists who take care of the whole cast, and we also use the South Seas Island Glow Body Bronzer to give shimmer at the base and make everything look flawless."

Pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy was almost a member of the judging panel

Maksim Chmerkovskiy has competed on several seasons of "Dancing With the Stars." Fred Prouser/Reuters

Former "DWTS" professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy may have had an opportunity to join the judges.

The ballroom dancer told "The Today Show" that on season 18, they offered him a different role on the show.

"I can't reveal a lot, but I was offered a judge's position on the show. This was my decision (to return as a pro),"  he said. 

All-star winner Melissa Rycroft almost never competed on "Dancing With the Stars"

Nancy O'Dell was slated to complete on season eight. AP images

On season 15, the show asked former contestants to return for another shot at the Mirrorball trophy — or in some cases, the chance to add a second one to the mantle.

TV personality Melissa Rycroft, who took third place when she first competed on season eight, took home the trophy during the all-star season.

But it almost never happened since she was an alternate on her original season.

Former "Access Hollywood" host Nancy O'Dell was already training for season eight when she was sidelined with a knee injury.

According to NBC Chicago, Rycroft replaced her during season eight, and the rest in "DWTS" history.

Laurie Hernandez is the youngest contestant to win "DWTS."

Laurie Hernandez was just 16 when she won "Dancing With the Stars." Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Season-23 winner Laurie Hernandez is the youngest champion in the show's history.

The Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast claimed the trophy with partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy when she was just 16 years old. 

Donny Osmond is the oldest "DWTS" champion.

Donny Osmond was 51 when he competed on the show. AP Images

Just two weeks before turning 52, singer Donny Osmond won the season-nine Mirrorball with partner Kym Johnson, and he's still the oldest "DWTS" champion to date.  

Kate Gosselin had some troubles with her partner.

Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani reportedly didn't get along. Kelsey McNeal/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

When reality star Kate Gosselin competed on season 10 of "DWTS," she reportedly didn't get along with her pro partner, Tony Dovolani.

Per Today, the professional dancer told Anderson Cooper that "there was a lot of therapy involved" after they competed together on the show, and he joked that he wouldn't call what they did dancing.

"Wait, wait. Anderson, did you just call it a dance? We didn't dance," he said. 

Bindi Irwin reportedly had to prove her father died to get paid for the show.

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough on the "Dancing With the Stars" season-21 finale. Adam Taylor/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

When wildlife conservationist and TV personality Bindi Irwin competed on "DWTS," she was only 17, so she was considered a minor for payment purposes.

As per California law, a Los Angeles County superior judge requested that both of her parents relinquish their rights to her money earned from the show, according to Entertainment Tonight. But Bindi's father, renowned crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, died in 2006.

Despite the fact that her mother, Terri, already signed the contract, the court reportedly still required proof of her father's death to finish the deal. 

Luckily the matter was sorted out and the season-21 champ was able to get paid.

All of the contestants get a base salary for competing, but the champion can reportedly win up to $295,000.

The base salary for "Dancing With the Stars" is reportedly $125,000. Adam Larkey/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

In years past, the standard contract for the show has stipulated a base salary of $125,000 for the rehearsal period and the first two episodes of the show, according to multiple reports.

After that, bonuses are added incrementally for the contestants who make it through to the next round. Sources told Variety in 2019 that contestants could make up to $295,000.

But contestants reportedly used to be able to make a total of $345,000. 

In 2010, Gawker reported that, in addition to their base pay for the first two episodes, contestants got $10,000 each for the next two episodes, $20,000 each for the two after that, $30,000 each for the next two, and $50,000 for appearing in the final two episodes. 

Valentin Chmerkovskiy holds the record for the most "first perfect scores."

Valentin Chmerkovskiy was partnered with Zendaya on season 16. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Perfect scores don't happen every week on "DWTS," but every season there is a race to see which couple will get the first one. 

Pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy currently holds the record for the most first perfect scores throughout his run on the show.

He accomplished the feat with Zendaya on season 16, Elizabeth Berkley-Lauren on season 17, Janel Parrish on season 19, Rumer Willis on season 20, Ginger Zee on season 22, Hernandez on season 23, and Heather Morris on season 24.

Of the seven, Willis and Hernandez went on to win the Mirrorball. 

Keo Motsepe has had some bad luck over the years.

Keo Motsepe has often been eliminated early. ABC/Eric McCandless

Pro Keo Motsepe has the unfortunate distinction of the most early eliminations on "DWTS." He's been sent home in the early weeks seven out of the nine seasons he's competed as a professional dancer. 

Derek Hough won even when he lost.

Derek Hough has won Emmy awards for his performances on "Dancing With the Stars." ABC

Derek Hough won a record six titles between 2007 to 2016. But two of his biggest wins came during seasons where he didn't take home the Mirrorball. 

He won an Emmy for his quickstep with gymnast Shawn Johnson on season 15 and another for a routine performed with sister, Julianne, during the season-20 finale.

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Dancing with the Stars (TV Series 2005– )

Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia

IMDbPro

  • TV Series
  • 2005– 2005–
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h

IMDb RATING

4.8/10

10K

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POPULARITY

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U.S. reality show based on the British series "Strictly Come Dancing," where celebrities partner up with professional dancers and compete against each other in weekly elimination rounds to d. .. Read allU.S. reality show based on the British series "Strictly Come Dancing," where celebrities partner up with professional dancers and compete against each other in weekly elimination rounds to determine a winner.U.S. reality show based on the British series "Strictly Come Dancing," where celebrities partner up with professional dancers and compete against each other in weekly elimination rounds to determine a winner.

IMDb RATING

4.8/10

10K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

  • Stars
    • Carrie Ann Inaba
    • Bruno Tonioli
    • Tom Bergeron
  • Stars
    • Carrie Ann Inaba
    • Bruno Tonioli
    • Tom Bergeron
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 137User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 18 Primetime Emmys
      • 40 wins & 175 nominations total

    Episodes488

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    TopTop-rated

    32 seasons

    3231302928272625242322212019181716151413121110987654321See all

    19 years

    2023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005See all

    Videos7

    Trailer 2:50

    Watch Meet Milo Manheim and Witney Carson

    Trailer 0:31

    Watch Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Trailer

    Trailer 0:16

    Watch Dancing With The Stars: Season 26

    Trailer 0:21

    Watch Dancing With The Stars

    Trailer 0:16

    Watch Dancing with the Stars Mondays 8/7c on ABC | Stream on Hulu

    Video 0:31

    Watch Season 27 Pros and Celebrities Reveal

    Video 2:17

    Watch 10 Athletes Who Won "Dancing With the Stars"

    Photos4937

    Top cast

    Carrie Ann Inaba

    • Self - Judge

    Bruno Tonioli

    • Self - Judge

    Tom Bergeron

    • Self - Host

    Len Goodman

    • Self - Judge…

    Cheryl Burke

    Derek Hough

    Mark Ballas

    Driton 'Tony' Dovolani

    Maksim Chmerkovskiy

    Karina Smirnoff

    Kym Johnson Herjavec

    Val Chmerkovskiy

    • Self - Partner: Kelly Monaco…

    Brooke Burke

    • Self - Co-Hostess…

    Sharna Burgess

    • Self - Troupe Dancer, Choreographer…

    Samantha Harris

    • Self - Host…

    Louis van Amstel

    Julianne Hough

    Erin Andrews

    • Self - Host…
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia

      Derek Hough was the first professional dance partner to win three seasons. He and model/show host Brooke Burke won Season 7. After that, he won two seasons consecutively. In Season 10, he and Pussycat Dolls front-woman Nicole Scherzinger were victorious. In Season 11, he and movie star Jennifer Grey laid claim to the Mirror Ball Trophy. In Season 16, he won with country singer Kellie Pickler. In Season 17, he won the trophy with 'Glee' star Amber Riley. In Season 21, Derek Hough went on to win his 6th mirrorball trophy with wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Steve Irwin.

    • Connections

      Featured in Your World w/Neil Cavuto: Episode dated 3 February 2006 (2006)

    User reviews137

    Review

    Featured review

    3/

    10

    Why?

    Bring back Tom! This isn't about the dancing anymore it is about Tyra and her wardrobe. Why is her face the face of DWTS? Tom's never was. I want to see the dancing, so I have learned to fast forward thru Tyra's STUPID open ended questions! And when she makes blunder....its everyone's else fault. At least when Tom made a blunder he owned it and was also very family friendly. Tyra is a model...if only she could shut her mouth like a model,, it might be tolerable. She is not a skilled commentator. Even Erin was better than this. Back to the fast forward button....My opinion may not mean anything ,but there it is.

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    • Oct 20, 2020

    Details

    • Release date
      • June 1, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • ABC (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dancing with the Stars: Athletes
    • Filming locations
      • Studio 46, CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • BBC Worldwide Americas
      • BBC Worldwide Productions
      • BBC Worldwide
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    • Runtime

      1 hour

    • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1. 33 : 1

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    On "Russia 1" the new season of "Dancing with the Stars" starts

    January 12, 2022 12:18

    Already this Sunday on the TV channel "Russia 1" - a grandiose premiere of the new season of the show "Dancing with the Stars"! Spectators will again see how popular theater, film and stage artists conquer the main dance floor of the country.

    On TV channel "Russia 1" everything is ready for the grandiose premiere of the new season of the show "Dancing with the Stars". Spectators will once again have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of dance together with theater, film and pop stars. The first episode is on the air this Sunday, January 16, at 17:50!

    Serious tests and a real test of strength await the participants. They have no right to make a mistake, because only a week is given for preparation. In the rhythm of tango, rumba and jive, the contestants will strive to win and master completely new styles. Someone will be able to reach the end, and someone will have to be out of the standings. This will be decided by the viewers and the jury, which includes Daria Zlatopolskaya, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Yegor Druzhinin and Vladimir Varnava.

    The new season of "Dances" promises to be bright in terms of the list of participants. This time, theater and film actors Maria Mironova, Dmitry Kharatyan, Marina Zudina, Alexandra Rebenok, Olga Medynich, Alexandra Revenko, Anatoly Bely and Valery Nikolaev, host Vladimir Markoni, and musician Vanya Dmitrienko will conquer the main dance floor of the country. A couple of them will be professional dancers - winners of international competitions.

    Alexandra Rebenok admits that she has always been good at dancing, but has long dreamed of getting to know each other better. "Dancing is a special niche. You get an incredible surge of happiness hormones after a workout!" - says the star of the series "Resident". As part of the show, she hopes to master completely new styles: samba, rumba, cha-cha-cha... and attracts," the actress emphasizes.

    But Anatoly Bely frankly declares that he goes through life with a dance! That is why he, without hesitation, agreed to take part in the project. The actor is especially close to jive, but he had never encountered ballroom dancing before. Together with his partner Inna Svechnikova, he patiently masters the basic steps and, of course, counts on victory. "I have a wonderful partner who just makes you fall in love with dancing," Bely assures, adding that the most important thing for him is to enjoy the process.

    Well, the prima of the Moscow Art Theater Marina Zudina challenged herself with her participation in "Dances". The actress has always argued that dance is the destiny of the young. But, having received an invitation to the project, she suddenly decided on a "crazy" act. "So many years have passed, I realized that now is probably the right time to start dancing," explains Zudina. Step by step, discovering a new world of choreography, she suddenly realized what she had been deprived of all these years. “I have a feeling that I will continue to do this, for me this is the most important thing. It will be in my life,” Marina promises.

    The show "Dancing with the Stars" is a worldwide hit that year after year attracts the attention of viewers around the world. For 15 years now, viewers of the Rossiya TV channel have been watching how popular artists take their first steps on the floor and overcome themselves in order to show real mastery in the final!

    "Dancing with the Stars" is back on TV this Sunday! Don't miss the grand premiere on the Russia 1 channel on January 16 at 17:50.

    television premiere Dancing with the Stars Russia 1 show society news

    Previously related

    • Choreographer Vladimir Varnava: "Dance is my absolute religion"
    • Dancing with the Stars winner Revenko faced hate because of her appearance
    • "Not enough movement": Revenko about life after winning "Dancing with the Stars"
    • How "Dancing with the Stars" is filmed: subtleties that no one knows about
    • Maria Mironova about participation in "Dancing with the Stars": "How much strength and pain"
    • Anatoly Bely could not hold back his tears in the final of "Dancing with the Stars"

    Dancing with the Stars | Radio "Komsomolskaya Pravda"

    21:31 | March 20, 2022

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    The final series of the project was released today.

    09:31 | February 16, 2022

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    As the TV star noted, the artist is in a state of war.

    02:14 pm | February 09, 2022

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    11:27 | February 02, 2022

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    The actress performed spectacularly at the dance show.

    10:24 | February 01, 2022

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    The actor first trains in the gym, and then goes to the floor.

    22:03 | January 31, 2022

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    According to the artist, he would prefer not to express his opinion.

    08:08 | January 31, 2022

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    The actor admitted that he wants to bathe in the love of the audience.

    18:43 | January 30, 2022

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    The jury member once again gave the 16-year-old boy a low mark.

    18:39 | January 30, 2022

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    Jury member Yegor Druzhinin criticized the new performance of the actress.

    18:14 | January 25, 2022

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    In the new season, the participants are very unlucky.

    18:02 | January 25, 2022

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    The new season of the show is missing more and more participants.

    18:00 | January 25, 2022

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    The 16-year-old singer performs with Lyubina Kuznetsova.

    17:14 | January 23, 2022

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    The artist hopes to continue fighting for the victory.

    20:28 | January 17, 2022

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    The couple received high ratings.

    20:27 | January 17, 2022

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    The couple received extremely low ratings.

    20:24 | January 17, 2022

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    The actress performed together with Maxim Petrov.

    19:58 | January 17, 2022

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    The couple arranged a romantic waltz on the floor.

    19:45 | January 17, 2022

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    The actor performed to Alla Pugacheva's song.

    12:06 | December 28, 2021

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    The artists will devote the holiday weekend to rehearsals.

    09:14 | December 27, 2021

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    Choreographer Maxim Petrov acted as a partner of the star.

    05:48 | November 17, 2021

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    According to acquaintances, Kristina Asmalovskaya did not vaccinate herself against the coronavirus.

    15:07 | August 22, 2021

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    The singer demonstrated his skills together with Daria Paley.

    16:20 | 07 March 2021

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    It was not easy for them to choose a name for the baby.

    09:34 | February 27, 2021

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    Choreographer and actress dance together on the show "Dancing with the Stars".

    20:38 | February 22, 2021

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    One of Sergei Lazarev's ardent fans accidentally poured hot coffee over herself.

    18:13 | February 22, 2021

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    Music critic Evgeny Babichev has no doubts that each of these parties got what they wanted.

    15:11 | February 22, 2021

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    Not everyone liked the appearance of the TV presenter.

    12:09 pm | February 22, 2021

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    Special words of gratitude, logically, went to the singer's partner Ekaterina Osipova.

    11:39 | February 22, 2021

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    Milena Davtyan admitted that the singer lost a lot in her eyes.

    10:02 | February 22, 2021

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    The Radio KP website has prepared a photo gallery from the superfinal of the show.

    09:24 | February 22, 2021

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    The first place was taken by a couple of Sergey Lazarev and Ekaterina Osipova.

    21:00 | February 21, 2021

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    Dava could have been the first, but the outcome was decided by one point.

    08:26 | February 20, 2021

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    The artist excited the Network with an unusual video.

    17:14 | February 19, 2021

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    The singer noted that during the project he did not have any free time at all.

    10:51 | February 19, 2021

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    The TV presenter was frank in a conversation with choreographer Egor Druzhinin.

    16:45 | February 18, 2021

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    A member of the Dancing with the Stars project is tired of fighting off the rumors surrounding his person.

    13:00 | February 16, 2021

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    Now the blogger shows his feelings only in dancing.

    06:18 | February 16, 2021

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    The choreographer courageously endured the “procedure”.

    21:33 | February 15, 2021

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    The former premier of the Bolshoi Theater admitted that he makes excessive demands on the singer.

    20:26 | February 14, 2021

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    The King of Pop came to the project to support the couple.

    19:51 | February 14, 2021

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    He admitted that he was very attached to Buzova.

    10:09 am | February 12, 2021

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    The star was eliminated from the show "Dancing with the Stars" in the third edition.


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