‘Dancing With the Stars’: Every Season 34 Theme Revealed After Epic Premiere
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars is officially underway! The show premiered on Tuesday, September 16, and just two days later, the show’s official Instagram account revealed all the themes that the pairs will be dancing to in the weeks to come.
This season will feature 11 episodes in total. Week 1 featured all 14 contestants dancing to their “personal anthem” songs. For the next nine weeks, there will be a different theme for each episode (which we lay out below). Plus, of course, the epic finale will feature the freestyle dances and more.
Now that it’s been 20 years since the show premiered, the stakes are higher than ever this season! (Check out our exclusive Season 34 Fall TV preview here.) From the premiere date to the Season 34 pros and themes, here’s what we know about Season 34 of DWTS.
When will Dancing With the Stars Season 34 premiere?
Dancing With the Stars returns on Tuesday, September 16, at 8/7c. ABC confirmed the premiere news on July 17 after previously revealing that the show will air in a two-hour time slot on Tuesdays at 8/7c. It is followed in the lineup by High Potential.
Who is in the DWTS Season 34 cast?
The full cast list was announced on September 3. However, ahead of the big reveal, ABC confirmed four celebrities who would be putting on their dancing shoes: wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, social media star Alix Earle, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Whitney Leavitt and Jennifer Affleck. “Crikey! The first celebrity for the new #DWTS season is here! Who else do you want to see in the ballroom this fall? 🪩✨” the DWTS page posted on April 22. The video revealed Irwin as the first celebrity.
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Exactly one month later, news of Earle’s casting was made on Good Morning America. She appeared live on the morning show to share the news.
“I’ve always been a fan of Dancing With the Stars. I used to watch it when I was so young with my grandma and she always used to say to me, ‘Maybe one day you could be on there.’ I was always so in love with dance. When this opportunity came to me, it was like, what can I do next? Where can I take this? I’m ready to challenge myself. I think it’s going to be fun. It was a very obvious answer to say yes.”
Meanwhile, Affleck and Leavitt’s casting was revealed during The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Reunion Special. At first, host Nick Viall only named Affleck as a contestant, but noted that both she and Leavitt wanted it the most. “I cannot tell you how excited I am,” Affleck gushed through tears. Later, Viall added that Leavitt would also be part of the show.
The rest of the cast includes Dylan Efron, Corey Feldman, Hilaria Baldwin, Andy Richter, Danielle Fishel, Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Elaine Hendrix, Scott Hoying, and Lauren Jauregui. On GMA, Jauregui revealed that she had just joined the show two days earlier!
Which pros are on DWTS Season 34?
The list of pros on Dancing With the Stars changes every season based on various circumstances. The first pro confirmed for Season 34 was actually the only rookie: Jan Ravnik. Ravnik was previously a dancer on Taylor Swift‘s Eras tour.
The rest of the pros on Season 34 are: Alan Bersten, Emma Slater, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Britt Stewart, Daniella Kargach, Brandon Armstrong, Jenna Johnson, Pasha Pashkov, Witney Carson, Gleb Savchenko, Rylee Arnold, Ezra Sosa, and Mark Ballas. This is Ballas’ first time returning to the ballroom since Season 31, which he won with Charli D’Amelio.
Noticeably missing from the list is Sasha Farber, who has been part of the show since 2012, first as a member of the troupe, and then as a pro. Interestingly, Savchenko first said he wasn’t returning as a pro for the new season, but he, indeed, is part of the cast.
The dancers in the troupe this year are: Hailey Bills, Onye Stevenson, Carter Williams, and Jaxon Willard.
Judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli are coming back to the judges’ table for Season 34, as well as co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. Inaba and Tonioli have been with the show since its first season.
What are the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 pairings?
Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik
Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa
Baron Davis and Britt Stewart
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach
Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten
Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson
Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
Andy Richter and Emma Slater
What are the themes for Dancing With the Stars Season 34?
Tuesday, September 23 — One-Hit Wonders Night
Tuesday, September 30 — TikTok Night
Tuesday, October 7 — Disney Night (in celebration of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary)
Tuesday, October 14 — Dedication Night
Tuesday, October 21 — Wicked Night
Tuesday, October 28 — Halloween Night
Tuesday, November 4 — Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night
Tuesday, November 11 — A 20th Birthday Party (in celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary)
Tuesday, November 18 — Prince Night (Semifinals)
Tuesday, November 25 — Three-Hour Finale
Dancing With the Stars Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC, Disney+ (next day on Hulu)
For more Dancing With the Stars, pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine’s Dancing With the Stars: 20th Anniversary Special Collectors Issue, on stands now or available at DWTS.TVGM2025.com.
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Conversation59 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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B
Love the show but Julianne Hough is annoying. Bring back Erin Andrews.
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C
you are forgetting that they used to do spring and fall each year. so 34 SEASONS they never said years.
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I don't agree, she is an amazing co host!
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#1 Drake Bell
#2 Brian McKnight
#3 Daymond Johns
#4 Katharine McPhee
#5 Chloe Kim
#6 Robert Irwin
#7 Drew Barrymore
#8 Russell Wilson
#9 Pierre Edwards
#10 T-Pain
#11 Bella Thorn
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G
twenty year anniversary! no way this show started in 1995 😂
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J
YEA!! DWTS is my favorite & I love the ballroom. the pro's are so awesome & I really enjoy every week a new dance. I love the judges & Bruno is hilarious & Carrie Ann Is fabulous & Derek is awesome as a judge but I do miss him on the dance floor. & since Len passed away its not the same in a funny sort of way.
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G
Camila Banus from Days of our Lives is a pro ballroom dancer I want her on DWTS for Season 34 Pair her up with a really really good male Dancer & they will definite win for sure
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Erin Andrew's and Tom !!
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R
That's not true. The article clearly states, "The dance competition series has been an ABC staple since 2005. This year will mark 30 years since the show premiered." This is an error and @bbbb is correct. Hopefully TVinsider will make a correction.
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This will be an amazing show!!!!!!
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Dancing with the Stars is an American dance competition television series that premiered on ABC on June 1, 2005. It is the American version of the British reality TV competition Strictly Come Dancing and is part of the Dancing with the Stars franchise. The show pairs celebrities with professional dancers.
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G
I totally agree. I cannot stand her voice.
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Bring on Taylor Lautner he is gonna be amazing dancing with the stars
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G
I love dancing with the stars. I love watching it. Bring in Disney Channel Stars let them do.
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G
I what Disney Channel to try do dancing with the stars
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G
Play Disney Channel people will do anything else what they do to you let them dance
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Doesn’t matter how Any age Including Disney people
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G
Hello Disney, zombies four Dawn of the vampires
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B
20 years, season 34.
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2005 to 2025 is NOT 30 years -- it is 20! Yes, they used to have two shows a year, so 34 seasons.
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G
By far, I adore her more than Tyra Banks. Julianna, you are doing fantastically. And Erin Andrews was awful.
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O
It started in 2005
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R
Yes, but the article also states, "This year will mark 30 years since the show premiered."
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G
I think they made a mistake putting that in. Because it hasn't been on television for thirty years.
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B
Nooooooo….. Erin Andrews is so more annoying! Having to watch her announce for the NFL is already to much screen time. IMO
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C
Turning into the IRWIN show. Enough with them. And robert, stop smiling. Makes you look like a dork.
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It is turning into the IRWIN show. Enough with them and Robert's smiling. Makes him look like a dork.
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C
Could they scrape the bottom of the barrel any lower. what a group🤮
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C
The hair, too. I just dont get how stylists keep missing the mark with her. She has to be easy to dress
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B
I think they are great together and they both are great dancers
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G
I want people out there, including twilight castle dancing with the stars, including Disney Channel. Let them try to be the best.
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G
I want more people to dancing in the stars, including people in Disney channel. Let them get a chance. Let them be heard to inspire people out there, let them dance.
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R
It should turn out to be an interesting season!!!!!!!!!
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tracey on general hospital a classy lady.
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B
maybe they could do something a little different for next year and name 40 famous people to be on it and let the viewers vote the top ones get chosen just before the show starts in 2026.
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steve burton, dominic zmprogna
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nathan fillion
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dirty jobs guy
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keep on abc.
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giovanni mazza a great musician maybe a good dancer too.
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some years had 2 shows.
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It would be fantastic if it could stream on networks other than ABC and Disney and air on channels other than Disney. Since not everyone has access to Disney, it would be fantastic for your ratings. So please think about this and put it on more channels
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O
If it's true
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See it to believe it
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R
But they would have to have real stars on to do those pairings,lol.
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She also needs someone to give her fashionadvice, some of her outfits are ridiculously ugly 🤷♀️
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Since they dress her there, I suppose it depends on the event and what they are hosting that evening.
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Or if season 34 dwts is a 2 chance winner all stars I hope that. Derek hough and that blond oplympin Shawn is paried toghther. Lindsay androld and. The person she won with
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laura wright or maurice benard.
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B
cheryl burke should be a judge or the mc of it and what happen to the soap stars being on it. not all the foot ball players. Maybe a hockey player or two.
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O
Imo it would be great to see some actors and actresses from daytime soaps.
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Wish they would get rid of alfonso
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G
I think DWts should have a Soap Opera star on Season 34 like Camila Banus From Days of our Lives
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I think they should put a soap Opera star s
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I hope for season 34 dwts that Alan is paried with Mondonna Brandon paried with Lindsay loghan. Jenna paried with Tom cruise peta paried with. The last golden bachelor star Val paried with. Ophra the tv host whitney paried with James Franco’s
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I hope that Shasha gets paired with a dinsey star for season 34 Lindsay androld paired with A Taylor Swift boyfriend football. Sharna paried with. Vitctoria Beckham husband. Derek hough paried with. Talyor swift.
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I wish that judge Tonioli wasn't there, he is so disgusting.
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Julianne is best female host. Derek best judge time to get rid of Carrie Ann and Bruno
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I love Julianne Hough, let her stay, please!
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