Which reality series follows celebrities performing choreographed dances with professional partners?

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Dancing with the Stars is the reality series in which celebrities perform choreographed dances with professional partners.

The American programme premiered on ABC in 2005. Each celebrity is paired with a professional dancer who teaches and performs routines with them. The couples are evaluated by a judging panel, and viewers contribute votes that help determine which pair is eliminated.

The competition includes styles such as ballroom, Latin, jazz and contemporary dance. Scores from the judges are combined with public voting, with the exact scoring system changing over the years. The season ends with a final, where the remaining couples compete for the championship trophy.

The programme is based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing, which premiered in 2004. The two shows share the same underlying format but use different titles, presenters and judging panels. The US programme has featured celebrities from acting, music, sports, politics and reality television.

Professional dancers who have become especially associated with the US version include Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke, Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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