Even before the “celebrity” dancers for season 31 of “Dancing with the Stars” it promised to be a historic season with the show moving from the ABC network to the streaming service Disney+.
After numerous complaints by fans over host Tyra Banks, producers added a second host with DWTS Mirrorball champion Alfonso Ribiero.
Original judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and head judge Len Goodman will be returning for another season. And former pro dancer Derek Hough returns to the judge’s table this season.
Season 31 features more actors and artists than in recent years; along with fewer social media “stars”. Season 31 will also include a third dancer who is deaf and for the very first time a Drag Queen joins the show.
Originally DWTS paired celebrities with previous dance experience with professional ballroom dancers for a competition of who could learn the dances and show the most improvement. In recent seasons, the show has disregarded the “no dance experience” mandate and included dancers of all levels from novice to pro as a part of the cast.
Let’s meet the season 31 “Dancing with the Stars” cast…
Charli D’Amelio is a social media “Star” who posts her dance videos online.
DWTS has seen spouses compete against each other and even siblings, but there has never been a mother/daughter pairing until now when. Charli’s mom Heidi D’Amelio also joins the cast for the new season.
WABC and “Good Morning America” Emmy and Peabody Award winning weatherman Sam Champion joins the cast.
“American Idol” season six winner Jordan Sparks. Hubby Dana and her four year old son will certainly be cheering her on.
Following in the footsteps of Marlee Matin and DWTS winner Nyle DiMarco, Daniel Durant – an actor who is deaf and most recently starred alongside Marlin in the award winning film “CODA” – is the third person with a hearing disability to join the cast of DWTS.
Not wishing to play off of his famous father’s name, Joseph Baena is an actor, bodybuilder, and real estate man who also happens to be the son of actor, body builder, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Country music singer Jesse James Decker is more than just a pretty face. Along with singing, she is a songwriter, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and reality star.
This season’s “The Bachelor” franchise contribution is Gabby Windey who is an intensive care nurse that has appeared on both “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette”.
Model and actor Jason Lewis is best known for his role as Smth Jerrod in the “Sex and the City” franchise who played the love interest of Samantha played by Kim Cattrall.
While Trevor Donovan has appeared in a number of productions, he is best known for his appearance in the drama “90210” as Teddy Montgomery.
He was born DJ Pierce, but to the world he has become known as the drag queen and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Shangela. Shangela was also a part of the remake of “A Star is Born” starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Emmy Award winning entertainer Wayne Brady is a comedian, actor, and singer who has also hosted talk and game shows.
Actor Cheryl Ladd is best known for her role on the police/detective series “Charlie’s Angels” starring alongside Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Ladd replaced Farrah Fawcett when she left the series after the first season. The oldest celebrity in the show this season, the 71 year old Ladd admits that she has been asked a number of times to be a part of the show; adding that now was “just the perfect time”.
“Jersey Shore” alum Vinny Guadagnino has also appeared in the spin off shows “Jersey Shore Family Vacations” and “Seaside Heights, New Jersey”.
Teresa Guidice is known for her role on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ where she has appeared in all 13 season; but may be even more well known for spending time in jail for fraud.
An actor who has appeared in a number of movies including “Legally Blonde” and “Hellboy”, Selma Blair also appeared in the first season of “American Crime Story”. She was diagnosed with MS – multiple sclerosis – in 2018 but says that she is currently in remission.
DWTS Por and celebrity pairings:
Jason Lewis and two time Mirrorball champion Peta Murgatroyd
Jordin Sparks and Brandon Armstrong
Heidi D’Amelio and Mirrorball champion Artem Chigvintsev
Shangela and Gleb Savchenko
Trevor Donovan and Mirrorball champion Emma Slater
Joseph Baena and reigning Mirrorball champion Daniella Karagach
Teresa Guidice and Pasha Kovalev
Gabby Windey and two time Mirrorball champion Val Chmerkovskiy
Wayne Brady and Mirrorball champion Witney Carson
Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart
Jessie James Decker and MIrrorball champion Alan Bersten
Vinny Guadagnino and new DWTS pro Koko Iwasaki
Cheryl Ladd and a returning Louis van Amstel
Charli D’Amelio and two time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas
Selma Blair and Sasha Farber
Sam Champion and two time Mirrorball champion Cheryl Burke