Nana Wu
For twenty years, the ballroom has been a sanctuary of sequins, heartbreak, and high-octane choreography. As Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) celebrated its monumental 20th anniversary with a birthday-themed extravaganza, the production required a creative visionary capable of bridging the gap between the show’s humble 2005 origins and its current status as a cultural phenomenon. That visionary was Derek Hough.
A stalwart of the ABC franchise since 2007, Hough has evolved from a formidable professional dancer into a judge and host, uniquely positioning him to curate a performance that functioned as both a love letter to the past and a bold statement for the future.
The Architecture of Nostalgia: A Choreographic Vision
The challenge for Hough was multi-faceted: he needed to honor the veterans who laid the groundwork for the show’s success while showcasing the raw talent of the new guard. The resulting opening number was a technical triumph, set to a high-energy, remixed iteration of the iconic DWTS theme song.
“The theme song is the one constant that’s been a throughline of all these seasons,” Hough explains. “I thought, ‘Why don’t we dance to the theme song? But let’s mix it up and honor the different genres and styles that Dancing With the Stars showcases.’ It was really important to embody this idea of passing the torch from the pros that really began this all to this new cast of dancers.”
The sequence began with a poignant nod to the show’s inaugural season, featuring original pros Edyta Sliwinska, Ashly DelGrosso, Louis van Amstel, Jonathan Roberts, Charlotte Jorgensen, and Alec Mazo. Their presence provided the emotional bedrock for the performance, grounding the high-energy spectacle in the history that made the show a household name.
Chronology: A Journey Through Two Decades
To understand the significance of this milestone, one must look at the trajectory of the series. Since its debut in 2005, Dancing With the Stars has defied the typical shelf-life of reality television, moving from ABC to a multi-platform distribution model that has kept it relevant in the streaming age.
- 2005: The premiere of Dancing With the Stars introduces ballroom dancing to a primetime audience.
- 2007: Derek Hough joins the professional roster, eventually becoming the show’s most decorated champion.
- 2020: The show undergoes a major shift, with Hough transitioning from the dance floor to the judges’ table, and later, the hosting role.
- 2025/2026: The show marks its 20th anniversary, punctuated by a season-long celebration of its legacy and the impact of the late judge Len Goodman.
The anniversary episode was not merely a retrospective; it was a carefully curated experience designed to evoke the specific emotional textures of each era of the show. By segmenting the choreography into distinct dance styles—from the rigid precision of the Waltz to the explosive energy of the Jive—Hough mapped out the stylistic evolution of the program over its twenty-year lifespan.
Honoring the Patriarch: The Len Goodman Tribute
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the evening was the tribute to the late head judge, Len Goodman, who passed away in 2023. Goodman was the soul of the ballroom, and his absence remains a palpable presence on the set.
Hough choreographed a delicate, ethereal sequence performed by pros Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold. As they moved in white gowns and tuxedos to an instrumental cover of Lady Gaga’s “Always Remember Us This Way,” the production design shifted. The ballroom lights dimmed, focusing a single, brilliant spotlight on Goodman’s empty chair—a stark, silent reminder of the man who held the show’s standards for nearly two decades.
“The way I described it was this moment where we’re thinking of Len and we’re thinking of this beautiful ballroom show,” Hough says. “And then there’s this figure that walks through that’s backlit with smoke, and we’re not sure who it is, because we’re in our Len feelings, and then we see Tom.”
The "Tom" in question was none other than original host Tom Bergeron, whose return served as the emotional climax of the tribute. The reveal was carefully timed to follow the solemnity of the Goodman tribute, allowing for a transition from grief to celebration. The audience response, captured in the live broadcast, underscored the deep-seated affection the fanbase holds for the figures who built the foundation of the series.
Supporting Data: The Impact of the DWTS Ecosystem
The longevity of Dancing With the Stars is an anomaly in an industry that frequently cycles through formats. With a record-breaking 34th season in the books, the show’s success can be attributed to several key performance indicators:
- Audience Retention: The show consistently maintains a demographic that spans generations, as families watch together—a rarity in modern fragmented media.
- Professional Development: The series has effectively created a pipeline of talent, with professionals like Hough, Witney Carson, and others becoming celebrities in their own right, driving interest far beyond the actual dancing.
- Adaptability: By embracing themes, celebrity casting choices that range from athletes to viral internet sensations, and evolving production values, the show has successfully navigated the shift from linear broadcast to digital consumption.
Official Perspectives: Looking Toward Season 35
While the 20th anniversary served as a capstone for two decades of history, the focus has already shifted to the future. With season 35 on the horizon, the production team is under pressure to maintain the momentum generated by the recent anniversary festivities.
Hough is optimistic about what lies ahead, noting that the "secret sauce" of a great season remains unchanged: the celebrity’s desire to win. “We’re having this momentum from the past two seasons,” Hough notes. “The celebrities are so excited to be on the show, to dance, to compete, to really get the full experience. That dynamic of a celebrity who is wanting to win and really embracing it—that’s what creates great seasons.”
He teases that the casting for the upcoming cycle is already generating excitement behind the scenes. “We have a really good cast. There are some people that I know are waiting in the wings. I’ve been told some of the people that are going to be on the next season. It’s going to be a great one.”
Implications: The Future of Reality Competition
The success of the 20th-anniversary celebration has significant implications for the future of the reality competition genre. Dancing With the Stars has proven that nostalgia, when executed with high production value and genuine emotional connection, can be a potent engine for viewership.
As the show looks toward its next decade, it faces the challenge of remaining "of the moment" while respecting its history. The ability to integrate legacy performers like Bergeron and the original pro cast with the current roster indicates that the show’s "brand" is no longer just about the dancing—it is about the community.
For Derek Hough, the responsibility is clear: keep the torch burning. His role has evolved from that of a competitor to a guardian of the show’s essence. Whether through choreography or hosting, his influence ensures that as the show enters its next chapter, it retains the elegance, the humor, and the technical excellence that have defined its 20-year run.
In an era where content is increasingly disposable, Dancing With the Stars stands as a testament to the power of ritual and the enduring appeal of the ballroom. As the music fades and the lights go down on another season, the show proves that while the dancers may change, the magic of the dance remains constant.
Rifan Muazin
Raul Delapena Setiawan
