Beloved ‘DWTS’ Pros Confirmed, Rumored to Return to the Ballroom For the Series Milestone 500th Episode
Dancing with the Stars is celebrating a major milestone. The dance competition series will mark its 500th episode with the return of some beloved pros to the ballroom. Who’s returning? Will they be dancing? Here are all the details of the DWTS‘ 500, featuring 33 seasons of mirrorball-worthy performances.
The confirmed and rumored pros returning to for ‘DWTS’ 500
Dancing with the Stars shared details of the special episode, featuring some of the series’ most iconic dances. However, they didn’t reveal any details about returning pros joining the celebration. But some pros appeared to spill the beans on their social media pages.
Sasha Farber shared a video on his Instagram story. In it, he took fans behind the scenes of the episode’s stage blocking.
Peeking her head around pro Gleb Savchenko was Sharna Burgess. The season 27 mirrorball winner looked directly at the camera and smiled in the video clip.
Burgess has not appeared in the series since season 30. She danced alongside her fiance, former Beverly Hills 90210 actor Brian Austin Green. She was not asked back for a pro tribute to the late Len Goodman in season 32.
A Reddit post shared details of other former pros who will likely also return for the milestone episode. These include Mark Ballas, Lindsay Arnold, Karina Smirnoff, and Allison Holker, but ABC has not confirmed their attendance.
The rumored returning pros are connected to 6 tribute dances
To honor DWTS‘ longevity, the remaining six stars will perform dances made famous by pros and stars throughout its history. Each couple will pay tribute to past performances while adding their unique reinterpretation and flair.
Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola and Witney Carson will perform a quickstep to “Hey Pachuco” by Royal Crown Revue, inspired by Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough’s performance in season 5. The Bachelor‘s Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson dance contemporary to “Work Song” by Hozier, inspired by Riker Lynch and Allison Holker’s performance in season 20.
NBA champion Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach will perform an Argentine tango to “Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)” by Gotan Project, inspired by James Hinchcliffe and Sharna Burgess’s performance in season 23. TV star Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong will dance the same style to “Para Te” by Appart in a routine inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s performance in season 16.
Olympian rugby player Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten will perform a quickstep to “Chuck Berry” by Pharrell Williams, inspired by Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold’s performance in season 25. Finally, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold will Viennese waltz to “Glimpse of Us” by Joji, inspired by Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’ performance in season 3 .
The first dance of the evening uses the same song as ‘DWTS’ first episode
DWTS 500 will kick off with an electrifying opening number, choreographed by married pros Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach. As a thrilling nod to the past, the dancers perform a routine showcasing the very same song that opened the first episode of Dancing with the Stars in season one; “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Dancing with the Stars premiered on June 1, 2005, as a summer replacement series. The first celebrities to compete were Kelly Monaco (who would win the season’s mirrorball), Trista Sutter, Evander Holyfield, Rachel Hunter, Joey McIntyre, and John O’Hurley.
Since then, 394 stars have competed and the series has earned 124 Emmy nominations. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been with the series since day one. They judged alongside the late Len Goodman and are now joined by Derek Hough, a six-time mirrorball winner.
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney. The series’ latest episode airs the next day on Hulu.
