Why is “Rocky” considered to be a “classic” when it comes to American culture? Maybe it’s because the theme song is an earworm or the image of him on the steps with his hands raised makes for a nice picture. However, there’s a depth to the stories that may be overlooked upon first glance. Generation after generation loves the story because there is nothing more inspiring than a true underdog story. Watching perseverance is invigorating to the audience. People walk away feeling the desire to go out and do something to improve their life or the lives of those around them. At the very least, audiences feel there is some possibility that they have the ability to triumph over the odds and live that comeback story in their own lives.
Following the journey of those competing in “Dancing with the Stars” is as vital to the show as the actual dancing is. Some competitors begin their time on the show with very little, if any, dance experience. Watching these stars grow and improve week after week, dance after dance, ignites a similar feeling in audiences to those who enjoy “Rocky”. Seeing the development of not just their dancing skills, but their individual styles is a huge component of why people all across America are tuning in every Tuesday night from September to November.
Although, there are some contestants who waltz into the first day on set with a good deal of prior knowledge of how to move around the dance floor. It is in these cases that the development of the dancer is missing for audiences to enjoy. Crowds are robbed of the opportunity to watch a star develop into the best dancer they can possibly be because they may have already reached that point in their abilities. This sorely defeats the purpose of airing the show in the first place.
A story of perseverance, growth, and determination is what people crave when watching competition shows. For there to be any semblance of these qualities in “Dancing With The Stars”, it is pivotal that the audience is able to see the lowly beginning of some of the stars only to see them flourish by the end. An overwhelming feeling of “anything is possible” is present as finish the show with and yet this feeling may be absent entirely if too many stars appear who never have to face the struggles of learning to dance because they’re seasoned in the expression of dance.
Julia Frantz ’26
Every season of Dancing with the Stars [DWTS] brings the same debate: should celebrities with prior dance experience be allowed to compete? Many viewers argue that contestants who have danced before, even in unrelated areas like musical theatre, have an unfair advantage and dominate the competition. This viewpoint overlooks what the show is actually about. Many celebrities who have prior experience with dance can pick up choreography quickly; however, ballroom dancing has its own complete set of rules, styles of dance and techniques. Even if someone was a professionally trained ballerina, they still need to put in immense amounts of work to do well in the competition.
When the DWTS cast includes contestants of multiple backgrounds, it allows the prodancers to creatively choreograph for their partner’s difficulty level, leading to standout moments rather than unfair advantages. One contestant on the most recent season, Whitney Leavitt, was criticized for her dance experience during college. Her ability to quickly pick up ballroom dancing allowed her partner, Mark Ballas, to create a “Hamilton” inspired foxtrot that became a fan-favorite, and quickly gained attention on social media.
Many celebrities are multi-faceted and often have had dancing, singing and acting experience at some point in their career. Disney Channel performers are typically trained across multiple mediums, and past DWTS contestants Chandler Kinney and Milo Manheim were required to dance in their “Zombies” films. Both stars made it far into the competition, but with an influx of votes for other contestants, they didn’t win. Experience alone doesn’t guarantee victory, especially when the show prioritizes audience engagement.
Dancing With the Stars is built upon having the celebrities improve throughout the season, connection with the audience, judges and perfecting the art of ballroom dancing. A key component of the show is fan voting. In order to see who continues farther into the competition, judges scores are combined with votes directly from viewers. If the fans didn’t want a celebrity with dance experience to win, then the results would reflect that. Ultimately, DWTS isn’t about who starts with the least training, it’s about growth. Contestants with dance backgrounds don’t undermine the show, they help elevate it and keep viewers invested.
Alison Janson ’26
