The thirtieth 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 form ...

'' premiered on ABC on September 20, 2021, and concluded on November 22, 2021. This was the final season to air on ABC before the series moved to

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October 1 ...

in 2022.

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United ...

shooting guard

Iman Shumpert Iman Asante Shumpert ( ; born June 26, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Shumpert was selected by the New York Knicks with the 17th overall pick ...

and

Daniella Karagach Daniella Karagach Pashkova (née Karagach) is an American dancer. Karagach and dance partner Leonid Juashkovsky are three-time United States junior I and II Latin champions. They were the 2007 junior II 10 dance champions. Abroad, they reached ...

were crowned the champions, while

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...

personality JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson finished in second place,

Peloton In a road bicycle race, the peloton (from French, originally meaning 'platoon') is the main group or pack of riders. Riders in a group save energy by riding close (drafting or slipstreaming) to (particularly behind) other riders. The reductio ...

instructor

Cody Rigsby Cody Rigsby (born June 8, 1987) is an American fitness instructor, dancer, and television personality. Early life Rigsby was born in California but raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. In his freshman year of college at the University of ...

and

Cheryl Burke Cheryl Burke (born May 3, 1984) is an American dancer, model, and television host. She is best known for being a professional dancer on ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars''. She was the first female professional to win the show and the first prof ...

finished in third place, and '' The Talk'' co-host Amanda Kloots and Alan Bersten finished in fourth.

Cast

Couples

On August 26, 2021, during the virtual

Television Critics Association The Television Critics Association (TCA) is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian television critics, journalists and columnists who cover television programming for newspapers, magazines and web publications. The TCA accepts a ...

summer press tour, it was revealed that Suni Lee and JoJo Siwa would be celebrity participants. On September 1, it was reported that Olivia Jade, Amanda Kloots, and Matt James would join them. Before the cast was officially revealed, TMZ reported that ''

The Real Housewives of Atlanta ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' (abbreviated ''RHOA'') is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on October 7, 2008. Developed as the third installment of ''The Real Housewives'' franchise, it has aired fourteen seaso ...

'' star

Kenya Moore Kenya Summer Moore (born January 24, 1971) is an American actress, model, producer, author, television personality, and entrepreneur. She is best known for winning the Miss USA pageant in 1993 and being a main cast member on Bravo's reality seri ...

player

, and actor

Brian Austin Green Brian Austin Green (born Brian Green; July 15, 1973) is an American actor, rapper, television personality and podcaster, best known for his portrayal of David Silver on the television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (1990–2000). Green was als ...

would also compete.

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin Michael Gregory Mizanin (born October 8, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, actor, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name The Miz. Mizanin first gained fame ...

Jimmie Allen James Edward Allen (born June 18, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is signed to Broken Bow Records imprint Stoney Creek, for which he has released the two singles " Best Shot" and " Make Me Want To" and the 2018 albu ...

, and

Christine Chiu ''Bling Empire'' is an American reality television series released on Netflix on January 15, 2021. The series focuses on the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans, socialites based in the Los Angeles area, described ...

were also reported to be competing. The full roster of celebrity participants were officially revealed on ''

Good Morning America ''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. ...

'' on September 8. The season's 15 professional dancers, announced on September 2, had all performed on the show before, with Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson returning after pregnancies. The lineup dropped

Peta Murgatroyd Peta Jane Murgatroyd (born 14 July 1986) is a New Zealand-born Australian and American professional Latin dancer. She performed in the international tour of the dance production ''Burn the Floor'', including its Broadway run. She is best known fo ...

and

Keo Motsepe Keoikantse Motsepe (born 24 November 1989) is a South African dancer. His dancing styles are Latin and Ballroom. He is known for being the first black professional dancer on the ABC show ''Dancing with the Stars''. Life and career Motsepe sta ...

, who had competed in the previous season. For the first time in the series' history, one of the couples was same-sex:

pansexual , meaning "all" , definition = Sexual or romantic attraction to people regardless of gender , classification = Sexual identity , parent = Bisexuality , synonyms = , associated_terms = Polysexual, queer, heterof ...

celebrity participant Siwa and professional dancer Jenna Johnson. On September 10, 2021, it was announced that Sofia Ghavami and Ezra Sosa would be joining the show as professional dancers. Both dancers were showcased as part of the competing couples' dances throughout the season as well as opening numbers, and were also prepared to step in if a pro were unable to compete. On September 26, professional dancer

announced that she had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...

before the season's second episode and had to stay home and

quarantine A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been ...

for 10 days. In the episode, Burke and her celebrity partner

were judged on rehearsal footage. Rigsby tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later, though the two continued to compete, dancing together via live feed in their respective homes during week three. As of October 6, Burke was cleared to return to the ballroom, and Rigsby returned in-person during the first "Disney Week" episode.

Hosts and judges

Alongside the season renewal announcement on March 30, 2021, it was revealed that

Tyra Banks Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973), also known as BanX, is an American television personality, model, producer, writer, and actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she began her career as a model at the age of 15, and was the first Africa ...

would return as host, with

Len Goodman Leonard Gordon Goodman (born 25 April 1944) is an English professional ballroom dancer, dance judge, and coach. He has appeared as head judge on the television dance programmes ''Strictly Come Dancing'', a programme where various celebrities c ...

Derek Hough Derek Bruce Hough (; born May 17, 1985) is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. From 2007 to 2016, Hough was a professional dancer on the ABC dance competition series ''Dancing with the Stars'', w ...

, Carrie Ann Inaba, and

Bruno Tonioli Bruno Tonioli (; born 25 November 1955) is an Italian choreographer, ballroom and Latin dancer, and Television personality. He has appeared as a judge on the British television dance competition ''Strictly Come Dancing'' and American adaptation ...

returning as judges. For this season, each of the four judges was allowed a single vote on which dancer they would like to save. In the event of a tie vote amongst the four judges, Len's vote was considered the tie-breaker. This rule change has caused some controversy in the way it's been explained on the show, as many saw this as Len having an unfair advantage in determining which dancer is eliminated. On November 16, a day after the semi-finals, Hough announced that he tested positive with a breakthrough case of COVID-19. On November 22, 2021, it was announced

Julianne Hough Julianne Alexandra Hough (; born July 20, 1988) is an American dancer, actress, and singer. In 2007, she joined the cast of ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars'' as a professional dancer, winning two seasons with her celebrity partners. After leavin ...

would fill in for her brother Derek as a guest judge for the finale.

Scoring charts

The highest score each week is indicated in . The lowest score each week is indicated in . ;Notes * : The couples were scored on a 30-point scale due to

's absence. * : This was the lowest score of the week. * : This was the highest score of the week. * : This couple finished in first place. * : This couple finished in second place. * : This couple finished in third place. * : This couple finished in fourth place. * : This couple was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated. * : This couple was eliminated.

Highest and lowest scoring performances

The best and worst performances in each dance according to the judges' 40-point scale are as follows:

Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances

Scores are based upon a potential 40-point maximum.

Weekly scores

''Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba,

.''

Week 1: First Dances

The couples danced the cha-cha-cha,

foxtrot The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a ti ...

, jive,

paso doble Pasodoble (Spanish: ''double step'') is a fast-paced Spanish military march used by infantry troops. Its speed allowed troops to give 120 steps per minute (double the average of a regular unit, hence its name). This military march gave rise r ...

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 ...

, salsa or

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 ...

. Couples are listed in the order they performed. For the third time in the show's history, the official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast.

Week 2: First Elimination

The couples danced one unlearned dance; the

rumba The term rumba may refer to a variety of unrelated music styles. Originally, "rumba" was used as a synonym for "party" in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba. ...

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. Havi ...

, and

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 ...

were introduced. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

tested positive for

the day before the live show. As a result, Cody & Cheryl did not dance live and were instead judged on their studio rehearsal footage. ;Judges' votes to save *Derek: Christine & Pasha *Bruno: Christine & Pasha *Carrie Ann: Christine & Pasha *Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Christine & Pasha''

Week 3: Britney Night

''Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba,

.'' The couples danced one unlearned dance to songs by pop artist

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...

. The

Argentine tango Argentine tango is a musical genre and accompanying social dance originating at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. It typically has a or rhythmic time signature, and two or three parts repeating in patterns such as ABA ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

were introduced. Couples are listed in the order they performed. Due to both

and

testing positive for

and being in quarantine, their dance was performed via live feed from their respective homes.

also missed the live show "out of an abundance of caution" because he had a "possible COVID-19 exposure", although his test came back negative. ;Judges' votes to save *Bruno: Kenya & Brandon *Carrie Ann: Kenya & Brandon *Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Christine & Pasha''

Week 4: Disney Week

The couples had to prepare two new dances to be performed on two consecutive nights. On Monday, they performed routines inspired by the heroes of

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...

films, and on Tuesday, they performed routines inspired by the villains.

Contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

and

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the w ...

were introduced. Each couple was given the Mickey Dance Challenge where they had to incorporate dance moves that were given to them from Mickey Mouse. The judges decided at the end of the night who they thought incorporated the moves the best in their dance. The winners, Jimmie and Emma, were awarded two extra points. No elimination took place on the first night, but a double elimination occurred on the second night. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Heroes Night ;Villains Night ;Judges' vote to save * Bruno: Matt & Lindsay * Derek: Kenya & Brandon * Carrie Ann: Matt & Lindsay * Len: Kenya & Brandon ''(Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Kenya & Brandon.)''

Week 5: Grease Night

The couples danced one unlearned dance to songs from the musical '' Grease''. The

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoun ...

was introduced. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Judges' votes to save *Derek: Olivia & Val *Carrie Ann: Melanie & Gleb *Bruno: Melanie & Gleb *Len: Olivia & Val ''(Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len made the final decision to save Olivia & Val.)''

Week 6: Horror Night

The couples dance one unlearned dance inspired by a horror film or TV series. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Judges' votes to save * Carrie Ann: Suni & Sasha * Derek: Suni & Sasha * Bruno: Suni & Sasha * Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Suni & Sasha''

Week 7: Queen Night

The couples danced one unlearned dance, and a dance relay with two other couples for extra points, to songs by

Queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Notes ;Judges' votes to save * Bruno: JoJo & Jenna * Carrie Ann: JoJo & Jenna * Derek: JoJo & Jenna * Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save JoJo & Jenna''

Week 8: Janet Jackson Night

The couples danced one unlearned dance, and a dance-off for two extra points, to songs by

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Judges' votes to save *Derek: Melora & Artem *Bruno: Melora & Artem *Carrie Ann: Melora & Artem *Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Melora & Artem''

Week 9: Semifinals

During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the four judges. In the second round, they danced one unlearned dance. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed. ;Judges' votes to save *Carrie Ann: Amanda & Alan *Derek: Amanda & Alan *Bruno: Amanda & Alan *Len: ''Did not vote, but would have voted to save Amanda & Alan''

Week 10: Finale

''Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba,

.'' During the first round, the couples performed a fusion dance of two dance styles. In the second round, the couples performed a freestyle dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed. Because

tested positive for COVID-19,

filled in as guest judge.

Dance chart

The celebrities and professional partners danced one of these routines for each corresponding week: * Week 1 (First Dances): One unlearned dance * Week 2 (First Elimination): One unlearned dance * Week 3 (Britney Night): One unlearned dance * Week 4 (Night 1, Disney Week: Heroes Night): One unlearned dance * Week 4 (Night 2, Disney Week: Villains Night): One unlearned dance * Week 5 (Grease Night): One unlearned dance * Week 6 (Horror Night): One unlearned dance * Week 7 (Queen Night): One unlearned dance & dance relay * Week 8 (Janet Jackson Night): One unlearned dance & dance-off * Week 9 (Semifinals): One dance & redemption dances * Week 10 (Finale): Fusion dance & freestyle ;Notes * : This was the highest scoring dance of the week. * : This was the lowest scoring dance of the week. * : The couple gained bonus points for winning this dance-off. * : The couple gained no bonus points for losing this dance-off.

Ratings

References

External links

* {{italic title, string=Dancing with the Stars 2021 American television seasons Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)