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Maksim Chmerkovskiy, a seasoned pro from Dancing With the Stars, has always been a standout on the ballroom floor. But behind the scenes, did any of that on-screen chemistry ever turn into something more?

During his 17 seasons on the show, Chmerkovskiy admits he only had one romantic relationship with a partner—though he describes it as a short-lived mistake.

Reflecting on His Time on DWTS

Speaking on the Sibling Revelry podcast on February 24, Chmerkovskiy reflected on his time on DWTS, sharing that while many enter the competition single, he rarely let emotions interfere with the job. “I personally had one relationship out of 17 seasons that I did,” he revealed. “It was very short-lived, and it was a mistake all the way in the beginning.”

Though he remained tight-lipped about the partner in question, fans, and internet sleuths quickly began speculating about who it might have been.

Who Was Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s Mystery Romance?...

Stars: Crystal J. Huang, Gilles Marini, Karina Smirnoff, Michael Madsen, Phoebe Ho, Scott Lea, Natalia Nikolaeva, Lan Kay, Kyosuke Mukai | Written by Jin Yao | Directed by Crystal J. Huang, Nicholas Ryan

Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha – co-directed by star Crystal J. Huang alongside Nicholas Ryan – is the kind of low-budget oddity that keeps me coming back to, and singing the praises of, indie genre cinema. It’s a bizarre blend of noir mystery, martial arts, and ballroom dancing, all wrapped in a narrative that doesn’t always make sense—but somehow, that’s part of its charm.

The film follows Kate, a ballroom dancer and photographer whose partners keep turning up dead, drawing the attention of brooding detective Remy (Gilles Marini). There’s an undercurrent of samurai lore, whispered conspiracies, and plenty of dramatic stares. Crystal J. Huang, who directs and stars, brings an intensity to the role, even...

Zendaya still thinks about her 2013 stint on “Dancing with the Stars.” The runner-up on Season 16 of the ABC dance competition series told W in a recent interview that she wished she had not taken the show as seriously as she did at the time.

“I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t,” Zendaya said. “I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”

The “Challengers” star was ultimately defeated by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough for the honor of the Mirror Ball Trophy. She danced with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and earned second place over NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff.

Zendaya continued, “Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old,...

Zendaya is still not Ok about her loss on Dancing with the Stars in 2013.

The Challengers star was the runner-up in Season 16 of the ABC ballroom dancing competition, and she lost the Mirror Ball Trophy to Kellie Pickler and her dance partner Derek Hough.

“Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss,” Zendaya told W after the interviewer said she should’ve won that season. “I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful. Being on live television every week? It’s so scary.”

She continued, “I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t. I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”

Zendaya said that she has not watched Dancing with the Stars...

Ballroom dancing and the gritty world of assassination clash in Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha, a surreal tapestry. The film, co-directed by Crystal J. Huang and Nicholas Ryan, is about a modern-day geisha named Kate who deals with dangerous tasks and romantic relationships. This premise encourages us to ponder the intersection of beauty and cruelty, reflecting societal expectations that frequently obscure darker realities.

Huang, who plays Kate, brings a lot of movement to the film from her background in dance. The juxtaposition of graceful waltzes with violent undertones creates dissonance, prompting us to think about the masks we wear. The narrative, which takes place within a Japanese hidden society, is based on the samurai way of life, which stands for honor and brutal efficiency. This cultural reference makes me wonder how Western fantasies change Eastern mystique and how tales are co-opted in art.

The film also explores aspects of female power.

It certainly seems like whoever is responsible for matching up celebrity contestants and dancing professionals on Dancing With the Stars knows what they're doing. Since the reality TV dance competition first aired in 2005, several contestants and pros have taken their chemistry from the dance floor to the real world, turning their partnerships into romantic relationships.

Season 33, which saw The Bachelor's Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson win the mirrorball trophy, also saw its fair share of showmances. There was the very intense and sometimes confusing romance between pro Gleb Savchenko and model Brooks Nader, as well as the ongoing rumored romance between pro Sasha Farber and The Bachelorette's Jenn Tran.

With over 30 seasons of Dancing With the Stars, there are a few romances that stick out more than others.

Related Are Danny Amendola And Xandra Pohl Dating? A DWTS Backstage Video Spills The Tea

There may be a...

Season 33 of Dancing With The Stars drew to a close just before Thanksgiving, and pro Val Chmerkovskiy recently and candidly spoke about something that seems to come to issue each and every season, "showmances."

Showmances are a broader entertainment and reality TV phenomenon, a portmanteau which is kind of self-explanatory — it refers to a romantic relationship between two cast members of a show, whether authentic and sincere or feigned for the cameras to drive audience interest.

DWTS' structure pairs "pros" with celebrities for the season, and that necessarily close-knit setting is such that this particular show appears to generate a higher than average number of showmances, such as Season 33's "will they or won't they" chemistry between Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber.

Then there are Dancing With The Stars showmances gone awry — former pro Artem Chigvintsev wed former contestant Nikki Garcia, and the couple's marriage fell apart explosively in late August.

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When Dancing With The Stars celebrated its 500th episode, it brought back iconic dancers for an opening routine to celebrate its almost 20 years on air. Over 31 seasons, 50 professional dancers have partnered with celebrities and helped them win the mirrorball trophy.

There are many reasons pros quit Dancing With The Stars. From leaving for new career opportunities to not enjoying their time on the successful ABC dancing competition. Regardless of their reasoning, pros walking away from DWTS and not returning to the dancefloor is eye-opening considering the show's popularity.

Professionals Who Left Dancing With The Stars Due To Bad Blood

Dancing With The Stars has had its fair share of feuds over the years on air. Although contestants and professionals arguing hit the headlines, numerous pros have quit due to disagreements with the ABC show.

Edyta Śliwińska was a mainstay of the show,...

Controversial Moments On Dancing with the Stars (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Glitz, glam, and celebrities summarize the popular dance reality series Dancing with the Stars quite well. The competitive show first premiered on June 1, 2005, and 33 seasons later, it’s still a massive success. The most recent edition wrapped recently, with television star Joey Graziadei winning the title. Rugby union player Ilona Maher was the runner-up of the season.

The reality series has had its fair share of controversies and dramatic moments. Everyone has been embroiled in drama, from the hosts to the judges and the contestants. Here are 5 such moments from the show.

Hope Solo accused Maksim Chmerkovskiy of maltreating her.

Former soccer player Hope Solo participated in Dancing with the Stars in 2011, during the 13th season. She accused her choreographer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, of maltreating her during rehearsals. The athlete claimed that the dancer used to push her, whacking her stomach and roughly bending her arms.

“Dancing with the Stars” premiered in 2005 with a focus on teaching celebrities some fancy footwork. But along the way the professional dancers who teach and partner with those celebrity amateurs became stars in their own right. Many of them returned to the show year after year, and over a dozen have won the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy over the course of the series. Scroll down to see every single “DWTS” pro champion, listed by their number of victories.

It’s fitting that the “DWTS” pros have become fan-favorites because they’re not just dancers. They’re also trainers, choreographers and storytellers, and their chemistry with the stars fuels the show’s best routines, so they’re truly the lifeblood of the competition, especially when they bring talent and charisma out of unexpected places, from child stars to race car drivers to one male model, Nyle Dimarco, who won the Mirror...

Season 33 of Dancing With the Stars has been one of the reality TV dance competition's best season's yet. The show returns on November 12 after a two-week hiatus where the remaining six couples will pay tribute to DWTS' 500th episode. To honor the milestone, each couple will put their own twist on iconic past performances.

Rumor has it that former pros and previous stars who competed are likely to return (and possibly perform) for the special episode. Past pros like Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, and Sharna Burgess have all been rumored to make an appearance as fans anticipate a fun-filled night.

However, former pro and two-time mirrorball trophy winner, Cheryl Burke, made it known that she would not be present for the 500th episode. It is a total let down to fans, but Cheryl divulged why exactly she made the controversial decision not to be a part of such a special night.

Dancing With The Stars host Alfonso Ribeiro injured his ankle during a dance number at Disney World.

Alfonso was visible in several Disney World-based TikTok videos on Sunday, and he appeared to be rehearsing a parade dance number with DWTS' Julianne Hough.

In several of the clips, Alfonso and Julianne are seen from various vantage points, dancing along a parade route on the park's Main Street, USA.

Watching the clips with the knowledge Alfonso ultimately sustained a minor injury was a little stressful, as in each one, the reality TV host was filmed repeatedly dancing over trolley tracks in the center of the street.

It looked inevitable he would get hurt in exactly that way, which eventually occurred.

Related An Exclusive Interview With Dancing With the Stars Frontrunners Chandler Kinney And Brandon Armstrong

The duo spilled all the tea on their Dancing With The Stars journey so far.

Alfonso Leaned...

Although this week's Dancing With The Stars was Halloween-themed, the cast seems to be more in a Valentine's Day mood, if Jenn Tran's recent TikTok with Sasha Farber is what it looks like.

Before we get to Jenn's TikTok with Sasha, there's a significant amount of context to address first particularly if you're a DWTS fan who hasn't seen the most recent season of The Bachelorette.

Which honestly is probably for the best, considering how it all went down.

Most DWTS fans will know from Season 33 that Jenn's season of The Bachelorette ended on September 3, and that Jenn joined the cast of Dancing With The Stars immediately thereafter.

Some might not know that Jenn's finale was a nightmare for nearly everyone involved, including viewers and Jenn herself, and it culminated in a "needlessly cruel" on-screen breakup.

Jenn has her own stable of loyal fans, all of whom were dismayed...

Dancing With The Stars pro Rylee Arnold has a new boyfriend, and this time around, fans are far more approving than they were of her alleged "showmance."

On Sunday (October 27), Rylee shared a photograph with University Of Southern California freshman football player Walker Lyons on Instagram.

Rylee, now 19, was previously the subject of controversial "showmance" rumors involving Too Hot To Handle's Harry Jowsey during Season 32.

Those rumors resurfaced earlier this month, when Harry was spotted skulking around the DWTS set on October 1 Dancing With The Stars was preempted on that date to accommodate the 2024 vice presidential debate, but an episode was filmed nevertheless.

Even though DWTS was not on the reality TV schedule that night, fans caught some on-set action via social media, spotted Harry, and went ballistic.

At the time, we explained why fans were peeved at seeing Harry on-set (and near Rylee):

"To make a long story short,...

Star and co-director Crystal J Huang plays a ballroom-dancing geisha assassin in this preposterous LA melodrama

If the erotic thriller’s task is to seduce its audience, this preposterous film instead subjects you to a sexy ordeal that your mind will attempt to blot out later. It’s almost a match for Tommy Wiseau’s infamous The Room in the car-crash Californian melodrama stakes. But a kind of visual floridness, resulting from its penchant for the unspeakably kitsch, nudges it vaguely in the direction of competence and away, sadly, from unmitigated disaster.

Kate (played by co-director Crystal J Huang) is a modern-day geisha in Los Angeles assigned assassination jobs by a Japanese secret society. Prolonged meditation would be needed to divine what the poor souls have done to deserve it. Or how anyone could be driven to kill themselves, as is apparently the case with the first victim we see,...

Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber have been experiencing an incredible journey on Dancing with the Stars Season 33 so far. Their most recent performance during Disney Rumba Night was nothing short of incredible and judge Carrie Ann Inaba went as far as calling it the best dance performance of the season as well. The DWTS pair danced to “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid.

Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber | Credits: @jenntran via Instagram

Well, based on their social media posts it’s quite apparent that the former lead of The Bachelorette and Farber have been developing quite the bond off-stage. But a recent comment that Tran made insinuates that they might just be more than friends. Honestly, the 26-year-old television star deserves someone as caring as him too!

Jenn Tran might’ve accidentally revealed a big secret about her and Sasha Farber Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber performing to “Kiss...

Dancing with the Stars may be a positive experience for many of its celebrity competitors, but Anna Delvey (born Anna Sorokin) is not among them. Delvey was eliminated during the ongoing 33rd season's September 24 episode, making her and Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Tori Spelling the first two stars to exit the ballroom. While Spelling has spoken positively about her experience, Delvey's comments tell a different story. While speaking with NBC News, Delvey, whose casting was met with plenty of criticism from show fans, said she felt Dancing with the Stars exploited her for attention:

"I feel that the show so obviously used me to drive up the ratings, that they never had any plans to give me any chance to grow and only cared about exploiting me for attention. It was predatory of them to try [to] make me feel inadequate and stupid all while I did get progressively better yet they chose to disregard that.

As ABC’s Dancing With The Stars gears up for the premiere of its 33rd season, let’s take a look back at all the soap stars who competed in the ballroom.

Gh Paves The Way

The very first season of DWTS aired a six-week run in 2005 and featured Kelly Monaco, who is set to depart from Gh next month. Not only did the actress take home the mirrorball on the show’s first season, but she later returned for the All-Star season in 2012 where she came in third place with Val Chmerkovskiy, who would later make a guest appearance on Gh.

Between Monaco’s two runs on the show, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco), and then-All My Children star Cameron Mathison all competed on the show, while Ingo Rademacher appeared on the season following the All-Stars.

All My Dancers

Mathison wasn’t the only familiar face from...

Season 33 of Dancing With the Stars is set to premiere this fall. Like previous seasons, viewers will get to see the likes of professional athletes, Bachelor Nation stars, and Hollywood actors put on their dancing shoes and compete for the coveted mirrorball trophy. In over 30 seasons, there have been hundreds of celebrities that have shown they've just got two left feet or surprised us with their dynamic dance moves.

DWTS is one of the most popular reality TV shows, so it's surprising when a celebrity turns down the opportunity to compete. Even the biggest stars, like Kim Kardashian and Zendaya have joined a season of the show, proving that no matter how big a celeb is in Hollywood, it's a fun way to show another side of yourself.

Related These Are The Richest Dancing With The Stars Contestants Of All Time

While the 'Dancing with the Stars' pros have gained nobility,...

Just like any other reality show, Dancing With the Stars has had its fair share of drama and controversy. While the reality series focuses on professional dancers and their celebrity partners showcasing their footwork, sometimes, there's a lot more going on between these partners than just learning the foxtrot.

The DWTS pairing process is very thoughtful, with producers even pairing people up in hopes that they possibly explore a deeper connection. With two people forming a close bond on the dance floor week after week, it's inevitable that they also find themselves getting a lot more intimate in the real world. The show has since become known for its hook-ups between pros and celebrities.

Related New Season Of Dancing With The Stars Cast Revealed

A plethora of celebrities, athletes and even a con artist will compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy this season.

Mario Lopez And Karina Smirnoff

VIa: Instar...

What makes a reality TV show like Dancing With the Stars so great is the wide array of celebrity contestants that compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. With the show having announced its Season 33 celeb cast, which will consist of the latest The Bachelorette, Jenn Tran, it's certain to be yet another glorious season of seeing celebrities with two left feet showcase their dance moves.

With a new season airing this fall, it makes fans think about all the controversial contestants of previous seasons. DWTS isn't all about the footwork, as it's had its fair share of drama since airing back in 2005. The show has faced backlash for allowing contestants from the political sphere to compete. In addition, viewers have also complained about former contestants who have disturbing arrest records. Despite this, it looks like Season 33 is also moving forward with a controversial figure.

Related Dancing With The Stars Fan...

It seems that Billy Ray Cyrus wasn’t always kind and friendly during his run on Dancing With The Stars Season 4.

Amid recent abuse allegations from his ex, Firerose, old memories of Cyrus’ violent behavior are bubbling to the surface. Now, one former Dancing With The Stars cast member is sharing her own experience with the country star. And it wasn’t at all pleasant.

In fact, Cyrus reportedly engaged in violent, abusive behavior during a confrontation on the set of DWTS. What exactly happened?

A Former Pro Alleges Billy Ray Cyrus Kicked The Stage Manager

Dancing With The Stars Season 4 aired in the spring of 2007 on ABC. It’s been quite some, but the memories of Billy Ray Cyrus’ horrible behavior are still fresh in one former pro dancer’s mind.

Live! With Kelly & Ryan/ABC

In an episode of Cheryl Burke’s podcast, Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans,...

Karina Smirnoff and others from the Dancing with the Stars family are reacting to the loss of former contestant Jacoby Jones.

Smirnoff, a professional dancer on DWTS for 18 seasons, has teamed with numerous celebrities, including reality TV star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, singer Aaron Carter, and actor Ralph Macchio.

Jones, a former NFL star and Super Bowl winner was Smirnoff’s partner for Season 16 of the show.

In an Instagram post on July 16, she paid tribute to Jones, indicating she was “heartbroken and shocked” upon news of his death.

Smirnoff shared a carousel post of images from their time together on and off the dancefloor.

“The world lost one of its finest. Coby was one of the funniest, coolest, kindest people I’ve met. He was always in a great mood. Loved his momma and family, football and dancing. Big Moe, I’ll miss u soooo much! I’ll miss ur jokes!

It was a dance so moving, that it captured the hearts of Emmy voters: a waltz that paid tribute to the late Len Goodman during week five of last season’s Dancing with the Stars just earned a nomination in the Outstanding Choregraphy category.

Valentin Chmerkovskiy and his pro/wife Jenna Johnson choreographed the waltz to “Moon River.” It featured performances by current pros and past faves Kym Johnson, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas.

Other nominees in the category are Alison Faulk for the “Step In Time” routine for Dick Van Dyke, 98 Years Of Magic; Mandy Moore for the “I’m Just Ken” routine for the Oscars; Jamal Sims for the Queen of Wind/Power routine on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Karla Puno Garcia for the opening number and lifetime achievement numbers for the 76th Annual Tony Awards.

Related:...

Across the country, many felt shocked and saddened to learn of Jacoby Jones’ death on July 14, 2024. The NFL player was only 40 years old and seemed to be the picture of health. So far, official details surrounding his death remain scarce.

While Jones was well-known for his time in the NFL, many Dancing With The Stars fans fondly remember his time in the ballroom. He competed in Season 16 with former pro dancer, Karina Smirnoff. The pair finished in third place out of 12 couples.

Now, many of Jacoby Jones’ fellow competitors on the show are sharing their memories of him. See what they had to say.

Dancing With The Stars Pros Honor Jacoby Jones

It’s been a particularly rough weekend for celebrity deaths. Charmed actress Shannen Doherty passed away, as well as fitness guru Richard Simmons. Sadly, Baltimore Ravens player Jacoby Jones joined that list.

Jimmy Kimmel/ABC

Dancing With The Stars...

Super Bowl champion Jacoby Jones, a former wide receiver and kick return specialist for the Baltimore Ravens, has died, the National Football League (NFL) confirms. He was 40 years old.

A cause of death has not been disclosed as of press time.

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“We are completely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Jacoby Jones,” the Baltimore Ravens said in a statement. “Jacoby had the unique ability to connect with everyone he encountered.

From the film's description: The Geisha ladies of Japanese culture have long been revered for their beauty and entertaining skills of singing, dancing and conversation. Some are known to possess special love-making abilities that can drive men crazy. Crystal J. Huang shoots a film based on the concept, while adding some “Kill Bill” notions and the concept of dancing in order to come up with a rather unusual film.

Dark Feathers: Dance of the Geisha review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative

As the movie begins, we are introduced to Kate, an Asian-Japanese woman, who meets her boyfriend on a terrace, just before he commits suicide. It turns out though, that this is not the first of her romantic interests to do so, with the photographer and ballroom dancer Kate starting to gain a femme fatale hypostasis, which soon ticks detective Remy Gilles interest. Remy is actually married to Kate's dance instructor,...

Jenna Johnson has revealed her dream dance partners as Dancing With the Stars Season 33 approaches.

Johnson appeared in DWTS Season 32, where she tried to guide model Tyson Beckford to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Unfortunately, Beckford was eliminated earlier than Johnson’s previous dance partners due to an average score of 15.0 per dance.

Before that, Johnson and her celebrity partners for the five previous seasons finished among the top eight contestants.

That included a Season 26 win alongside Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and back-to-back second-place finishes in Seasons 29 and 30.

She recently talked about who she’d love to work with, whether it’s DWTS’ regular format with new celebrity contestants or an All-Star edition.

DWTS star has multiple celebs on her ‘dream’ partners list

As fans speculate and suggest who they want on DWTS, pro dancers also have some celebs in mind. Jenna Johnson shared the names of several she...

“Len was just charming, and that’s how I remember him even at 12-years-old,” said ballroom dancer, six-time Mirror Ball champion and now “Dancing with the Stars” judge Derek Hough on “Most Memorable Year Night.” He was reminiscing about Len Goodman, who had judged “DWTS” since its very first season in 2005. But he decided to retire from the show at the end of the 2022 season, and then he passed away in April 2023. The show paid tribute to the late, great Goodman with a special group dance. Watch the entire segment above.

“He’s been in my life since the very beginning,” remembered Mark Ballas. Indeed, for many “DWTS” pros Goodman’s influence began well before the dance competition series first came on the air almost two decades ago. “He was very well respected within the ballroom community,” explained Kim Johnson-Herjavek. Ballas added, “He was a big-time judge when we were all starting to compete.

ABC's Dancing With the Stars aired its highly-publicized tribute to Len Goodman on Tuesday.

Goodman died earlier this year at 78.

DWTS alums Maks Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Louis van Amstel, and Mark Ballas returned.

They danced alongside the pros competing on Dancing With the Stars Season 32 with a beautiful tribute for the former head judge.

Goodman brought years of experience to both DWTS and its British iteration, Strictly Come Dancing, and appeared on both shows since their inception.

The emotional footage kicked off with a pre-recorded package featuring the pros speaking about their memories of Goodman.

"Getting criticized by Len was never easy but getting that 10 made it all worth it," Maks said.

"One of the things I'm most thankful for is being able to judge alongside Len," Derek said through his tears.

"I was able to spend a little more extra time with him and for that,...

[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for Dancing with the Stars] The 10 couples left on Dancing with the Stars took a dance down memory lane for Monday’s “Most Memorable Year” show. For the occasion, the celebs and their partners performed routines inspired by a pivotal time in their lives. NFL great Adrian Peterson and pro Britt Stewart’s straight 7 scores were not enough to keep them safe last week. This further cemented how important viewership voting was to keeping duos alive.  Outside the competition, DWTS formally paid tribute to Len Goodman with a special waltz choreographed by Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy to the sounds of Henry Mancini’s “Moon River.” Current pros, as well as Derek and Julianne Hough, joined returning faces to honor the late lead judge. Among them Val’s brother Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Karina Smirnoff, Louis van Amstel, and Mark Ballas. But there was no sign ...

Dancing With the Stars paid tribute to late head judge Len Goodman with a special dance during tonight’s (October 24) “Most Memorable Year” episode.

The special tribute was choreographed by Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, and featured 24 pro dancers who have appeared on the show through it’s 32 seasons.

Find out more and watch the tribute inside…

The couple choreographed a routine to Henry Mancini‘s “Moon River,” which was famously featured in the hit movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Eight former pro dancers returned to the ballroom for the dance, including Maks Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Louis van Amstel and Mark Ballas.

They joined former pros and current co-host and judge Julianne Hough and Derek Hough, as well as this season’s pros Alan Bersten, Sasha Farber, Emma Slater, Val Chmerkovskiy, Brandon Armstrong, Pasha Pashkov, Daniella Karagach, Jenna Johnson, Rylee Arnold, Britt Stewart,...

A dance tribute to the late Len Goodman left his fellow judges in tears on Tuesday night’s episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”

After a heartfelt clips package remembering the beloved but often critical scorer, pro dancers took the floor in black tuxes and flowing white ball gowns for a Waltz set to Henry Mancini’s “Moon River.” The Oscar-winning song was a favorite of Goodman’s.

The number was choreographed by Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson and performed by past pro dancers Kym Herjavec, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas.

A beautiful tribute to the one and only, Len Goodman #DWTS pic.twitter.com/vyq6MK6W55

— Dancing with the Stars #DWTS (@officialdwts) October 25, 2023

At the end of the routine, a spotlight shined on the seat left empty by Goodman’s death as the dancers held out a hand in a graceful homage.

It’s been six months beloved judge Len Goodman passed, but Dancing with the Stars isn’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

Though Tuesday’s theme was Most Memorable Year, the Week 5 episode was really meant to honor Goodman, who died from prostate cancer in April at the age of 78. After airing a sentimental package featuring past pros talking about what an honor it was to be both complimented and criticized by Goodman, the episode then featured a dance tribute to “Moon River” that was waltzed to perfection by current pros and past faves Kym Johnson, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas.

It ended with the troupe gesturing to an empty middle chair on the judges’ dais. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli wept.

Reality TV star Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle) with partner Rylee Arnold. 2020 was quite...

“Dancing With the Stars” is honoring their forever head judge.

During the show’s “Most Memorable Year” week, multiple former pro dancers reunited with current pros for a number dedicated to Len Goodman. The dance was choreographed by married duo and current pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson.

The number, which paid homage to Goodman’s love for ballroom, was set to Henry Mancini’s classic “Moon River” and included returning dancers Kym Herjavec, Anna Trebunskaya, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Louis van Amstel, Maks Chmerkovskiy and Mark Ballas. Current judge Derek Hough and host Julianne Hough also joined the number, which took place after a mashup video of all the dancers sharing their favorite memories with Goodman.

The number ended with Goodman’s voiceover saying “All good things have to come to an end.” Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli were shown crying.

Goodman died in April...

Bring on the tears! Tonight is “Most Memorable Year Night” on “Dancing with the Stars,” when the celebrities perform routines commemorating their most life-changing experiences. It’s always a moving occasion because dance is such an emotional art form, and because the contestants are able to relive some of their most heartwarming or heartbreaking moments. Follow along below with our live blog for all the minute-by-minute developments and commentary throughout the night.

Last week NFL football player Adrian Peterson was the fourth celebrity eliminated from the competition, leaving 10 to compete for the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy: actress Xochitl Gomez, actress Alyson Hannigan, “Too Hot to Handle” star Harry Jowsey, “The Bachelorette” alum Charity Lawson, “Vanderpump Rules” star Ariana Madix, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, social media personality Lele Pons, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Mauricio Umansky and “Brady Bunch” actor Barry Williams.

Further ramping up the emotion,...

An exclusive list of past pros have been invited to celebrate former head judge Len Goodman on Tuesday — but Cheryl Burke wasn’t one of them.

In a recent social media post, Burke revealed she wasn’t asked to participate in a spectacular dance tribute for Goodman that will be set to “Moon River” by Henry Mancini. The beloved judge died in April at the age of 78.

“For those of you asking if I’ll be a part of Len Goodman’s tribute next week on DWTS, unfortunately, I wasn’t invited however, I’ll be there in spirit and can’t wait to cheer my former colleagues on!” she wrote. “Sending love and light to everyone.

Dancing With the Stars is paying tribute to the late judge Len Goodman as part of its Most Memorably Year night this week (October 24), with “Og” pros returning as part of the special event. For the tribute, the dance to Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” is choreographed by pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy. The professional dancers who are back in the ballroom for the tribute with the current pros, judge Derek Hough, and co-host Julianne Hough, are Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Karina Smirnoff, Louis van Amstel, and Mark Ballas. Not part of that list of Cheryl Burke, who has participated in 26 seasons (starting with the second and most recently seen in the 31st). “Unfortunately, I wasn’t invited,” Burke wrote on Threads. “However, I’ll be there in spirit ...

When Dancing With the Stars this Tuesday pays proper tribute to the late Len Goodman, one of the competition series’ most prolific pros — Cheryl Burke — will be oddly absent.

Goodman, who judged both DWTS and BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing for many years, died in late April after a battle with bone cancer, at age 78. In last month’s season premiere, DWTS hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro paid a brief tribute to Goodman, and announced that the show’s Mirrorball Trophy was now named after the former head judge.

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The October 24 episode of Dancing With the Stars is more than the traditional “Most Memorable Year” show. Eight, count ‘em, eight “Og” dance pros are coming back to the program to take part in a special dance to honor late lead judge Len Goodman, who passed away in April at the age of 78. Pro dancers Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy are choreographing the tribute dance, set to the iconic Henry Mancini song “Moon River.” Returning for the special occasion are Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska, Karina Smirnoff, Louis van Amstel, and (last season’s mirror ball champion) Mark Ballas. TV Insider chatted exclusively with van Amstel and Śliwińska (as well as a few current pros) about their returns and the dance that will honor Goodman. “[Co-executive producer] Deena Katz reached out to us personally and asked us to participate,” shares van Amstel, whose celebrity partners have included Trista Sutter,...

Written by Lisa Pellegrene

Dark Feathers is a feature thriller produced and co-directed by Crystal J. Huang. It is inspired from real life events in her life. Huang stars in the film as the leading lady, Kate. Dancer Gilles Marini portrays the male leading role of Remy in Dark Feathers and his wife Amelia in the film is portrayed by world class dancer Karina Smirnoff. As summarized on the production's IMDb page, depicting the storyline of the film's protagonist, Kate must choose loyalty to a historical Asian clan, and her non-traditional love, amidst the deaths of her dance partners being investigated by her new lover. Michael Madsen portrays Kensei, the operator of an underground society.

Director and actress, Crystal J. Huang states, “The preparation for this project started two years ago. I have always loved acting and storytelling, and have been involved in many performance based projects from childhood.The...

Official reports from the coroner's office reveal Dancing With The Stars alum Aaron Carter's cause of death five months after his passing. Aaron, who competed in DWTS season 9 alongside Karina Smirnoff, was declared dead on November 5, 2022, after he was discovered unresponsive in the bathtub of his California home. Following his death, social media was flooded with messages mourning his loss, including from his brother, Nick Carter. In his touching tribute, Nick referenced addiction and mental health issues as possible leading contributors to his brother's death. Despite the absence of an official cause of death, Aaron's family believed he died of a drug overdose.

Months later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office has determined Aaron's official cause of death. The coroner's report, obtained on Tuesday, April 18, ruled former DWTS contestant Aaron's death an accident, per Us Weekly. According to the report, Aaron drowned in the bathtub from the effects of difluoroethane and alprazolam.

"I want to know how I'll die." An official trailer is out for an indie film titled Dark Feathers, described as a psychological thriller involving samurai set in California. It's co-directed, produced by, and stars a Chinese actress named Crystal J. Huang, playing a woman named Kate. Michael Madsen also dons a Japanese Kimono as a "white samurai" operating a traditional clan in modern San Francisco. "With an elegant plot about dancing and martial arts, and a gorgeous cast including multiple world class Dancing with the Stars, the film raises the question about if the mystery of a murder can possibly be solved by logical reasoning." Also with Gilles Marini, Karina Smirnoff, Lan Kay, Scott Lea, and Kyosuke Mukai. A woman must choose loyalty to a historical Asian clan, or her non-traditional love, amidst the deaths of her dance partners being investigated by her new lover. This looks rather strange,...

Dancing With The Stars lost some celebrated alumni in 2022, and they have been remembered as the year came to a close. Dancing With The Stars has aired for 31 seasons, and some of the most beloved celebrities have competed for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Since the show began, several contestants have passed away, including Florence Henderson, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, and Mary Wilson. Each of these women brought their unique talents to the dance floor, and impressed audiences with their routines.

In 2022, the DWTS cast suffered several terrible and shocking losses, including So You Think You Can Dance alum and judge Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who took his own life at the age of 40. Although he never appeared on DWTS, his wife Allison Holker was a professional dancer on the show, and he had many friends there. He also knew several of the dancers from their time on Sytycd. The DWTS cast...

In the midst of their treacherous rehearsal hours and busy schedules, many of the Dancing With The Stars pro dancers are also parents to their own mini-dancers, while others are getting ready to become parents for the first time. Over the years, many professional dancers have come and gone from the ballroom. This past fall, many fan favorites returned for yet another season while some new dancers gave the competition a try as well.

During the DWTS season 31 semi-finals, longtime pro dancer Witney Carson revealed she is currently expecting her second child. She and her husband, Carson McAllister, already have a one-year-old son Leo together. This was Witney's first season back since having her son. Both she and fellow pro, Lindsay Arnold, were pregnant together with their first children. Now, Lindsay is also pregnant again, making her oldest daughter Sage a big sister. While Lindsay was not a part of...

As a spin-off of Say Yes to the Dress, the Georgia-based series Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta had a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint with its elegant gowns. The show had 11 seasons and countless wedding dresses that took the viewers' breath away. Brides were trying on everything from extravagant ballgowns with beading to the floor to simple mermaid dresses. With the help of fan-favorites Monte Durham and the bridal shop owner Lori Allen, hundreds of brides found their dream wedding dresses on the show.

Syttd: Atlanta provided the best Monte moments, beautiful dresses, and sometimes family drama. There were times brides were brought to tears by harsh criticisms from their entourage. Other times, there were emotional backstories that left viewers just as eager to see the bride happy as the consultants were. Lori differentiated herself from the original Syttd by bringing that southern flair to her gowns.

The Dancing With The Stars Live 2023 tour kicks off in January, and fans cannot wait to find out everything about this spectacular celebration of dance. The first DWTS tour began in December 2006 after season 2, and continued until February 2007. Celebrities on that first tour included season 1 star Joey McIntyre, season 2 winner Drew Lachey and co-star Lisa Rinna, and season 3 winner Emmitt Smith, with co-stars Joey Lawrence and Harry Hamlin. The professional dancers were Kym Johnson, Karina Smirnoff, Edyta Å.liwiÅ.ska, Louis van Amstel, and Cheryl Burke.

The most recent DWTS Live 2022 tour included professional dancers Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Pasha Pashkov, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Britt Stewart, and season 30 winner Daniella Karagach. Her partner, Iman Shumpert, and season 29 winner Kaitlyn Bristowe also made appearances on the tour. According to the DWTS Live 2023 official web site, at the tour fans will "see the ballroom brought to life...

Dancing With The Stars ended season 31 with TikTok queen Charli D'Amelio and her partner Mark Ballas as the crowning champion. Ballas' choreography not only set D'Amelio apart from the other celebrity contestants, but their playful chemistry made them a fan-favorite couple.

The chemistry isn't the only thing seen on the dance floor, as the evolution of the partner/dancer bond is shown with the behind-the-scenes footage in preparation for each week. In thirty-one seasons, there have been quite a few couples that set the stage on fire with their chemistry.

Laurie Hernandez & Val Chmerkovskiy (Season 23)

Romance is not the only applicable element when it comes to chemistry, but true camaraderie is also an important factor. This is quite accurate with Olympic gymnast, Laurie Hernandez, and her partner, Valentin "Val" Chmerkovskiy.

Val and Lori immediately hit it off, with audiences feeling a sibling bond between the two of them. Their combined talents sparked a wonderful,...

Melanie Martin said her heart is completely broken following the death of her fiancé and Dancing With The Stars alum Aaron Carter. Melanie and Aaron both share an 11-month-old son, Prince. The singer participated in DWTS season 9 with partner Karina Smirnoff. They competed against Kathy Ireland, Melissa Joan Hart and Kelly Osbourne, among others, with Donny Osmond being crowned the winner.

Melanie has been devastated by the news of Aaron's passing, as she wonders how to raise their son as a single mom. She recent spoke out about Aaron's death. "My heart is completely broken over the passing of my fiancé Aaron,” the mom of one told People in a statement. She went on to admit that she tried all she could to help the singer as she was fully aware of his struggles with addiction and his mental health. However, she also claimed she could not help him the...

Carrie Ann Inaba recently joined families and friends to pay a heartfelt tribute to late Dancing With The Stars alum Aaron Carter, who passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Carrie is one of the series judges on the dance show. Aaron competed on DWTS season 9 and was partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff.

On Monday night via zoom, Carrie had a conversation with Page Six where she shared her heartfelt tribute to Aaron. Carrie revealed that she would usually think about Aaron and wonder how he was faring, as Aaron was quite open about his struggles. “When he was on Dancing With the Stars, he was one of the brightest lights,” Carrie said of Aaron who passed away at 34. She went on to recall that Aaron used to break the rules of not talking to the judges, and he would usually come up to her behind the scenes. “I will always...