The sixteenth season of ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...

'' premiered on 18 February 2019. Due to

Network 10 Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

obtaining the rights for the series, an overhaul to the cast and crew occurred, with

Grant Denyer Grant Craig Denyer (born 12 September 1977) is an Australian television and radio presenter and motor racing driver, who has worked for several television networks, including Seven Network and Network 10, mostly serving as a presenter. In 2018 ...

and

Amanda Keller Amanda Rose Keller (born 25 February 1962) is an Australian television and radio presenter, comedian, writer, actress, journalist and media personality, best known as the hostess of the popular Australian lifestyle program ''The Living Room''. ...

co-hosting the show, and ''

Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...

'' judge

Craig Revel Horwood Craig Revel Horwood (born 4 January 1965) is an Australian-British author, dancer, choreographer, conductor, theatre director, and former drag queen in the United Kingdom. He is also a patron of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Horwood is best k ...

and professional dancers

Sharna Burgess Sharna May Burgess (born 21 June 1985) is an Australian ballroom dancer who is best known for being a professional partner and troupe member on the ABC series ''Dancing with the Stars''. She is the winner of season 27 of American television sh ...

and

Tristan MacManus Tristan MacManus (born 23 July 1982) is an Irish dancer and television presenter. He best known for his professional appearances on ''Dancing with the Stars'', ''Strictly Come Dancing'' and '' Dancing with the Stars Australia''. In 2017, he wen ...

making up the judging panel.

Couples

revealed the first three celebrities participating in ''Dancing With the Stars'' to be

Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...

Curtly Ambrose Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose KCN (born 21 September 1963) is an Antiguan former cricketer who played 98 Test matches for the West Indies. Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, he took 405 Test wickets at a ...

& Cassandra Thorburn on 23 January 2019. All of the remaining celebrities were announced on 30 January 2019.

Scoring chart

: indicate the lowest score for each week : indicate the highest score for each week : the couple was eliminated that week : the returning couple was last to be called safe : the couple earned immunity, and could not be eliminated : the couple withdrew from the competition that week : the returning couple in the bottom two : the winning couple : the runner-up couple : the third-place couple

Averages

Extra points from the dance-offs are not included and scores by guest judge Bindi Irwin during the individual round of week 7 are excluded.

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' 30-point scale are as follows:

Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances

Scores are based upon a 30-point maximum.

Weekly scores

''Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right:

.''

Week 1

The couples performed

cha-cha-cha Cha cha cha may refer to: * ''Cha-cha-chá'' (music), a style of Cuban dance music * Cha-cha-cha (dance), a Latin American dance accompanying the music Film and television * ''Cha Cha Cha'' (film), a 2013 Italian crime film * ''Cha Cha Cha'' ...

tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...

viennese waltz Viennese waltz (german: Wiener Walzer) is a genre of ballroom dance. At least four different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in b ...

or jive. ;Running order

Week 2: My Jam Monday

The couples performed one unlearned dance to their favourite song.

Samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...

and

quickstep The quickstep is a light-hearted dance of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal a ...

are introduced. ;Running order

Week 3: Most Memorable Year

The couples performed one unlearned dance to celebrate the most memorable year of their lives. Contemporary, paso doble, rumba and foxtrot are introduced. ;Running order

Week 4: Latin Night

The couples performed one unlearned Latin routine. Salsa and Argentine tango are introduced. ;Running order

Week 5: Movie Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance and a team dance to a song from a famous movie.

Week 6: Dance-Off

The couples performed one unlearned dance. The couple with the highest score earned an immunity from elimination, while the rest of the couples participated in dance-offs for extra points. Jazz is introduced.

did not appear as co-host; he was absent due to being in hospital. Eliminated contestant

Denise Scott Denise Margaret Scott (born 24 April 1955) is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, television and radio presenter. Career Scott has appeared frequently on Australian television since her regular slot on ABC TV's ''The Big Gig'' in 1990, an ...

filled in for Denyer. For each dance-off, the couple with the highest remaining score picked the opponent against whom they wanted to dance; the chosen opponent was allowed to pick the dance style (samba, cha-cha-cha or jive). The winner of each dance-off earned three points. The couple who won immunity, Courtney and Josh, received a five-point bonus.

Week 7: Judges' Team-up Challenge

''Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Craig Revel Horwood, Bindi Irwin, Sharna Burgess, Tristan MacManus'' The couples performed one unlearned dance and also had to team-up to dance with another couple with one of the three judges. The judges designed and coached their teams and performed with them on the night, while the two non-performing judges and guest judge Bindi Irwin scored their routine. The 2 couples with the lowest score would participate in an elimination dance-off where the judges chose who would continue to the next week.

did not appear as co-host for the second week in a row; he was absent due to being in hospital. The Loop host &

Studio 10 ''Studio 10'' is an Australian morning talk show on Network 10. The show airs between 8:30am and noon on weekdays and a highlights show airs between 9:30am and noon on weekends. ''Studio 10'' is broadcast live from Network 10 Studios in Pyrm ...

reporter

Scott Tweedie Scott may refer to: Places Canada * Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec * Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380 * Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Saska ...

filled in for Denyer. Judges' votes to save * Horwood: Jimmy & Alexandra * Burgess: Jimmy & Alexandra * MacManus: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Jimmy & Alexandra''

Week 8: Trio Night

On April 8, 2019, it was announced a few hours before the show that Jimmy Rees had voluntarily left the competition due to personal reasons. As a result, no celebrity was voted out.

did not appear as co-host for the third week in a row show; he was absent due to being in hospital. He is expected to be back for the semi-finals;

co-host and eliminated contestant

filled in a second time for Denyer.

Week 9: Semifinals

After a three-week absence recovering from a back injury,

returned as co-host. In the first round, the contestants performed a redemption dance. In the second round, the contestants performed a fusion dance of two dance styles dedicated to a meaningful person in their life. Judges' votes to save * Horwood: Samuel & Jorja * Burgess: Samuel & Jorja * MacManus: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Jett & Lily''

Week 10: Grand Finale

In the first round, the couples performed an 'encore dance' which is their favourite dance of the season. In the second round, they performed a freestyle routine. The show also included a 'special guest' appearance by Australian singer and songwriter

Conrad Sewell Conrad Ignatius Mario Maximilian Sewell (born 31 March 1988) is an Australian singer and songwriter. Sewell is best known for his vocals on Kygo's single " Firestone" and his number-one single " Start Again". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, h ...

, who sang his songs '' Love Me Anyway'' & '' Healing Hands'' before the winner of the show was announced.

Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week: * Week 1: Cha-Cha-Cha, Jive, Tango or Viennese Waltz * Week 2 ("My Jam Monday"): One unlearned dance (introducing Quickstep and Samba) * Week 3 (Most Memorable Year Night): One unlearned dance (introducing Contemporary, Foxtrot, Paso Doble and Rumba) * Week 4 (Latin Night): One unlearned dance (introducing Salsa and Argentine Tango) * Week 5 (Movie Night): One unlearned dance and team dances * Week 6 (Dance-off): One unlearned dance (for immunity) and a dance-off (Jive, Samba or Cha-Cha-Cha, as chosen by opponents) * Week 7 (Judges' Team Up Challenge): One unlearned dance and team up challenge * Week 8 (Trio Night): One unlearned dance and a 'trio' dance with their partner & one of the eliminated professionals * Week 9 (Semifinals): Redemption and fusion dance * Week 10 (Grand Finale): Encore dance (repeat of favourite dance) & a freestyle routine : Highest scoring dance : Lowest scoring dance : Not performed or scored : Won Immunity challenge : Lost Dance Off : Won Dance Off : Withdrew from the competition

Ratings

Notes

References

{{Dancing with the Stars (Australia) Season 16 2019 Australian television seasons