Ballroom dance has always been a small community in the grand scheme of dance.
But in 2005, something changed.
ABC decided to take a risk and air an American version of the British show “Strictly Come Dancing.” The show follows celebrities as they learn to dance with ballroom professionals. The celebrity with the best scores combined and the most votes from the viewing audience wins the competition.
It was a massive success and has seen winners including the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, singer Donny Osmond and influencer Charli D’Amelio.
But as the show is currently coming toward the end of its 33rd season, “Dancing with the Stars” is seeing its highest ratings in the show’s history.
The answer to the show’s increase in success is pretty clear: Social media.
Seemingly every contestant is posting TikToks from the practice room, giving fans of the show a peek behind the curtain and a glimpse into their partnership.
Sure, the program does regularly show footage of them practicing for the week’s competition, but viewers didn’t really have access to the behind-the-scenes footage until this season.
And the numbers are backing that claim.
According to TV Series Finale, the program is averaging over four and a half million viewers from the beginning of the season, to the episode aired on Oct. 29.
In an era of traditional television seemingly heading for the toilet when compared to streaming, those numbers are really encouraging.
Aside from athletic events, primetime broadcast programming is in danger of heading to streaming due to restrictions from network TV.
But Dancing with the Stars has adjusted to connecting with a younger audience with its social media presence.
Shows that are doing well in ratings, according to Nielsen, that compete with “Dancing with the Stars” include NBC juggernauts “The Voice” and the “Chicago” franchise. However, they don’t really seem to have that outreach like ABC’s Tuesday night marquee show does.
It also helps with the cast of celebrities and professionals that the show has on as well.
Just coming off an Olympic year, the show managed to get rugby player Ilona Maher and gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, two athletes at the games that have stolen the hearts of Americans on the playing field with their determination and perseverance, are doing the same a few months later on the dance floor, as they’re letting their personalities show.
Keeping things in sports, NBA champion and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard and 2-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Danny Amendola are lighting up the floor as well.
Bachelor Nation is well represented as for the first time, both the past Bachelor and Bachelorette are contestants on the show with Joey Graziadei and Jenn Tran, respectively.
Actors Reginald VelJohnson, whose claim to fame comes from playing the dad on the hit ‘90s sitcom, “Family Matters” and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts are the headline actors that participated this season.
And Sports Illustrated cover girl Brooks Nader, who was partnered with professional Gleb Savchenko, caught the attention of many due to them appearing friendlier than most couples on the show.
In a world dominated by streaming and sports headlines, “Dancing with the Stars” has put themselves in a position to succeed, appealing not only to its typical target audience but also to a whole new crowd of fans.
Matt Kiraly is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].
