Dancing with the Stars: A Show That Shines Bright

Scholastic Kid Reporter Evy Bingle attends a sold-out show of “Dancing with the Stars: Live” in Chicago (photo credit: Evy Bingle).

“Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) is a TV competition where celebrities team up with professional dancers to compete for the Mirrorball Trophy. Each week, the pairs perform different dance styles like the cha-cha or tango, to impress judges and viewers.

 Debuting in 2005, the show enters its 20th year in 2025, remaining highly popular, with an average of about 4 million viewers each week.

 Over the years, countless athletes, actors, and reality TV stars have joined the cast, including Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Shawn Johnson, whom I interviewed back in May 2024. During that conversation, I was also able to ask her about her time on DWTS.

An image from Evy's 2024 interview with Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Shawn Johnson

“DWTS is so much fun. It’s probably my favorite thing I’ve ever done outside of gymnastics,” said Johnson.

In 2009, Johnson won DWTS season eight with Mark Ballas, becoming the youngest champion until 2023. She returned in 2012, for the all-star season. Johnson and partner, Derek Hough, finished second. Judges praised her performances throughout the competition. “I was way out of my league. I was so nervous…but my training in gymnastics helped me prepare for it,” said Johnson.

DWTS Hits the Road

Since 2014, fans can attend “Dancing with the Stars: Live” a tour traveling around the United States and Canada. During this tour, dancers travel to different cities and perform for audiences who are used to watching DWTS only on TV. A 2025 Dancing with the Stars: Live tour was announced in October 2024 during a DWTS episode.

The tour includes 68 cities and features fan-favorite dancers performing incredible routines live on stage. An additional nine tour dates for the 2025 tour were added due to “unprecedented demand.”

This February, I attended a sold-out show in Chicago at the Rosemont Theatre. The iconic Mirrorball Trophy glittered in the lobby as fans stopped to take photographs. The event was co-hosted by Stephen Nedoroscik, who added both comedy relief and commentary to the program. A two-time Olympic medalist and the 2021 world champion on the pommel horse, Nedoroscik is no stranger to the spotlight. He also charmed audiences as a beloved dancer on the previous season, where he placed fourth alongside his partner, Rylee Arnold.

Two dancers from “Dancing with the Stars: Live” in Chicago (photo credit: Evy Bingle).

The event was filled to the brim with energy as the crowd danced along to songs, including “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen and “Yes, And?” by Ariana Grande. Viewers were treated to a showcase of dances, including ballroom, tango, waltz, and jazz, performed by dancing pros like Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko, and Britt Stewart. The show even included a pommel horse routine by Nedoroscik and concluded with a grand finale featuring intricate choreography, a dance medley, and confetti.

Whether you're cheering from your couch or experiencing the magic live on tour, Dancing With the Stars continues to prove that rhythm, dedication, and creativity can turn movement into pure enchantment.