Should Dancers Compete on Dancing with the Stars?

 

As someone who has been a dancer for over twenty years and has a degree in dance, I know that dance technique never leaves you. Whether you have stopped dancing for one week or ten years, you will have muscle memory and naturally be able to perform. 

I don't think this should determine whether or not celebrities are allowed to compete on Dancing with the Stars, and I haven't thought that was going to make a difference until this year. In past seasons of Dancing with the Stars, celebrities have had prior dance experience, such as Zendaya, Jordan Fisher, Heather Morris, Joey Fatone, and many more. Dance is a universal experience and training for many people, whether or not they are celebrities. This has never been a determining factor in voting for people or against people until this season. 

Hilaria Baldwin is a reality personality who previously competed in ballroom dance and even beat Dancing with the Stars pro Emma Slater back in 2004 at the Blackpool Dance Festival. Hilaria, formerly known as Hilary Hayward-Thomas, placed 245th while Emma Slater placed 252nd. 

You can tell from her dances that she naturally fell back into the technique she knew for so many years. I am not a trained ballroom dancer, so I would struggle to learn ballroom technique, but if I were competing in a competition that fell under my expertise, I would think I had an unfair advantage. 

The new fans of Dancing with the Stars have become quick to point out this fact about all of the celebrities who are trained in some type of dance. Whitney Leavitt, Alix Earle, and Elaine Hendrix also have former dance training, but what separates them from Hilaria Baldwin? No one seemed to have a problem when Charlie D’Amelio won season 32 back in 2022, and she was a competitive dancer growing up. What is the difference between Charlie D'Amelio winning versus Whitney Leavitt becoming the new victim for fans to vote out? They both have previous dance experience, not to the extent of being ballroom dancers like Hilaria, but enough to be comfortable dancing on stage. 

The show is about teaching celebrities ballroom dance and allowing them to discover how to connect their movement to their stories. It’s also a great way to spread the love of dance to people who might not have experience with it. I wonder how the end will pan out. I personally do not think that having dance experience means you will win the competition. It may make their weeks easier because they can pick things up faster, but it doesn't guarantee that the viewers will be voting for you. I hope that TikTok does not influence the voting too much like it did on Love Island. People vote to just be messy and petty. When will it be about watching celebrities dance journeys again? Leave your comments below on what you think about celebrities with dance experience competing.