Contents

Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 31

Dancing with the Stars
Season 31
Promotional poster, featuring professional dancers
Hosted by	Tyra Banks Alfonso Ribeiro
Judges	Carrie Ann Inaba Len Goodman Bruno Tonioli Derek Hough
Celebrity winner	Charli D'Amelio
Professional winner	Mark Ballas
No. of episodes	11
Release
Original network	Disney+
Original release	September 19 (2022-09-19) – November 21, 2022 (2022-11-21)
Season chronology
← Previous Season 30 Next → Season 32

The thirty-first season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Disney+ on September 19, 2022,^[1][2] and concluded on November 21, 2022.^[3] This season marked the first live competition show to air on the streaming platform and the first season to not air on ABC.^[4] Tyra Banks returned as host, while season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro joined as co-host.

Social media personality Charli D'Amelio and Mark Ballas were crowned the champions, while The Bachelorette star Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place, comedian Wayne Brady and Witney Carson finished in third place, and drag queen Shangela and Gleb Savchenko finished in fourth.

This marked the last season for host Tyra Banks^[5] and longtime judge Len Goodman, who retired at the conclusion of the season, prior to his death five months later.^[6]

Cast[edit]

Couples[edit]

This season featured sixteen celebrity contestants. On August 25, 2022, it was reported that Charli D'Amelio and her mother Heidi D'Amelio would be competing as celebrity participants.^[7] Soon after, Joseph Baena, Wayne Brady, Daniel Durant,^[8][9] Jordin Sparks,^[10] Gabby Windey,^[11] and Trevor Donovan^[12] were all reported as celebrity participants as well. Charli and Heidi D'Amelio were officially announced as part of the season's cast on September 7,^[13] with the full roster of celebrity participants and their partnerships officially revealed on Good Morning America the following day.^[14][15] With sixteen couples, this season was tied with season nine as having the largest cast in the show's history.^[16]

A promo for the season released on August 18 featured professional dancers Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Artem Chigvintsev, Witney Carson, Brandon Armstrong, and Cheryl Burke.^[17] Britt Stewart, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, Koko Iwasaki, Val Chmerkovskiy, Alan Bersten, Gleb Savchenko, and Louis Van Amstel were later revealed to be the rest of the professional dancers for the season.^[18] Mark Ballas was announced as a pro on September 8.^[19] Sasha Farber was initially reported to be a troupe member this season, but was later revealed to also be returning as a pro.^[20][21] Jenna Johnson and Lindsay Arnold both sat the season out, due to Johnson expecting her first child and Arnold wanting to spend time with her family.^[22][23] Iwasaki, who was the runner-up on season 14ofSo You Think You Can Dance and performed as part of the Dancing with the Stars Live! – 2022 Tour, joined the show as a first-time pro.

On September 26, 2022, it was announced that Daniella Karagach had tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss that night's performance. Alexis Warr replaced her as Joseph Baena's dance partner for two weeks.^[24] On October 28, 2022, it was announced that Val Chmerkovskiy had tested positive for COVID-19 and would miss the October 31 episode. Alan Bersten took over for him as Gabby Windey's partner for the episode.^[25]

On November 20, 2022, professional dancer Cheryl Burke announced her retirement from the show after 26 seasons.^[26]

Host and judges[edit]

On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Tyra Banks would return as host, with Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli returning as judges. Additionally, it was announced that season nineteen champion Alfonso Ribeiro would be joining the show alongside Banks as co-host.^[14][38] On October 24, Michael Bublé served as a guest judge.^[39]

During the semifinals, Goodman announced that this would be his final season as a judge.^[40]

Dance troupe[edit]

The dance troupe returned for season 31 and consisted of returning pro Ezra Sosa and new pros Kateryna Klishyna, Alexis Warr, and D'Angelo Castro.^[41]

Scoring chart[edit]

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).

Color key:

Notes

Weekly scores[edit]

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: Premiere Night Party[edit]

Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Teresa & Pasha
• Derek: Teresa & Pasha
• Bruno: Teresa & Pasha
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Teresa & Pasha

Week 2: Elvis Night[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song by Elvis Presley. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Daniella Karagach tested positive for COVID-19, so Joseph Baena performed with Alexis Warr instead.^[24]

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Teresa & Pasha
• Bruno: Teresa & Pasha
• Carrie Ann: Cheryl & Louis
• Len: Cheryl & Louis (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Cheryl & Louis.)

Week 3: 60 Years of James Bond[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song from a James Bond film. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Joseph Baena again performed with Alexis Warr due to Daniella Karagach recovering from COVID-19.^[46]

Judges' votes to save

• Bruno: Sam & Cheryl
• Carrie Ann: Sam & Cheryl
• Derek: Sam & Cheryl
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Sam & Cheryl

Week 4: Disney+ Night[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to a song from a film or television series featured on Disney+. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Jenifer Lewis performed "Dig a Little Deeper" live for Shangela's Charleston.

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Trevor & Emma
• Bruno: Trevor & Emma
• Derek: Trevor & Emma
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Trevor & Emma

Week 5: Stars' Stories Week[edit]

Night 1 (Most Memorable Year)

Each couple performed one unlearned dance to celebrate the most memorable year of their lives. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Selma Blair announced that she had to withdraw from the competition for medical reasons, although she and Sasha Farber still performed their waltz. As a result, no one else was eliminated at the end of the night.^[31]

Night 2 (Prom Night)

Each couple performed one unlearned dance recalling their high school prom nights, and a dance marathon to the hustle and Lindy Hop for bonus points. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Due to Selma Blair's withdrawal,^[31] the judges' scores and viewer votes from both nights were combined.

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Heidi & Artem
• Carrie Ann: Joseph & Daniella
• Bruno: Heidi & Artem
• Len: Heidi & Artem (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Heidi & Artem.)

Week 6: Michael Bublé Night[edit]

Individual judges' scores are given in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Michael Bublé, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Each couple performed one dance to a song by Michael Bublé, who was also a guest judge.^[39] Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Bublé also performed "Sway" for the dance troupe, and "Higher" for Derek Hough and his fiancée, Hayley Erbert, who performed a dance.^[53]

Judges' votes to save

• Bruno: Trevor & Emma
• Derek: Jessie & Alan
• Carrie Ann: Trevor & Emma
• Len: Trevor & Emma (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Trevor & Emma.)

Week 7: Halloween Night[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned dance and participated in a team dance to Halloween themes. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Val Chmerkovskiy tested positive for COVID-19, so Gabby Windey performed instead with Alan Bersten.^[25]

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Heidi & Artem
• Derek: Jordin & Brandon
• Bruno: Jordin & Brandon
• Len: Heidi & Artem (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Heidi & Artem.)

Week 8: '90s Night[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned dance and a dance relay to songs from the 1990s. Couples are listed in the order they performed. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination.

Vanilla Ice, En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa, and Kid 'n Play performed their respective songs during the dance relays.^[58]

Notes

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Trevor & Emma
• Bruno: Trevor & Emma
• Carrie Ann: Trevor & Emma
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Trevor & Emma

Week 9: Semifinals[edit]

Each couple performed one unlearned ballroom dance and one unlearned Latin dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed. Two couples were eliminated at the end of the night in a double elimination.

Len Goodman announced that he would be retiring from the series at the end of this season.^[40]

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Shangela & Gleb
• Derek: Shangela & Gleb
• Bruno: Shangela & Gleb
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Shangela & Gleb

Week 10: Finale[edit]

Each couple performed one redemption dance coached by one of the judges, and their freestyle routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Dance chart[edit]

The couples performed the following each week:

• Weeks 1—4: One unlearned dance
• Week 5 (Night 1): One unlearned dance
• Week 5 (Night 2): One unlearned dance & dance marathon
• Week 6: One unlearned dance
• Week 7: One unlearned dance & team dance
• Week 8: One unlearned dance & dance relay
• Week 9 (Semifinals): One unlearned ballroom dance & one unlearned Latin dance
• Week 10 (Finale): Redemption dance & freestyle

Color key:

Notes

References[edit]