The Five Danciest Contestants in "DWTS" History
If you feel like “Dancing with the Stars” has been on hiatus for a veritable lifetime, you’re not alone. Our lives (and our hearts) have felt a little empty without the unique combination of NFL stars dressing in sparkly costumes, Bachelor contestants attempting to samba, and professional ballroom dancers trying not to laugh at said NFL stars or the Bachelor contestants.
Luckily, we won’t have to wait much longer to get back in the ballroom. The new season of “DWTS” premieres Monday, September 28. And, even more exciting, the new cast (which is rumored to be one of the most star-studded casts in the show’s history) is set to be announced on “Good Morning America” *this* Wednesday.
Until then, though, we decided to bless your computer screens with five of our all-time favorite “DWTS” numbers featuring the danciest “DWTS” contestants. We plan on watching these videos on repeat until the new season airs.
Jordan Fisher—Season 25
From the moment Jordan Fisher stepped into the studio, we could only think one thing: ringer. The Hamilton standout, Disney Channel alum, and pop star seemed bound for ballroom greatness. Plus, that smile. It was no surprise when he won the Mirrorball Trophy, and he stands out as one of the best male contestants to date.
Since then, Fisher has continued to show off his dancing skills, be it by starring in the dancetastic production of “Rent: Live” (choreographed by the queen, Sonya Tayeh), or getting cast in the upcoming Netflix dance flick Work It.
Heather Morris—Season 24
Dancers everywhere rejoiced when it was announced that Morris, a former Beyoncé backup dancer and “Glee” cast member, would be joining “DWTS” for Season 24. Dancers everywhere cried when Morris was eliminated in the sixth week, almost immediately following her drool-worthy rumba, featured above, which was awarded the first perfect score of the season.
Though Morris was clearly disappointed by the surprise elimination, she returned to the dance world without missing a beat, appearing in the movie All Styles alongside Fik-Shun Stegall and Christopher Scott, and founding the new podcast “The Dance Room.”
Corbin Bleu—Season 17
We’ve loved Corbin Bleu ever since his Disney Channel days, when he stole our collective hearts as Chad Danforth, the basketball/baseball player who “doesn’t dance.” But we loved Bleu even more when he proved once and for all that he definitely does dance in Season 17, performing iconic numbers week after week, and even helping partner Karina Smirnoff with choreography.
After “DWTS,” Bleu took his dance skills back to Broadway. Most recently, he starred in the revival of Kiss Me, Kate, and raised the bar for performers everywhere by tap dancing on the ceiling. And, as a bonus, he returned to “DWTS” in 2017 to perform a trio with Fisher and his partner, Lindsay Arnold.
Mackenzie Ziegler—”DWTS: Juniors”
We’ll always have a soft spot in our hearts for any “Dance Moms” alumni, and Mackenzie Ziegler is no exception. After she and older sister Maddie left the show in 2016, Mackenzie focused on her singing career, and “Dance Moms” lovers everywhere wondered if we would ever see the Little Ziegler dance again. Luckily, in 2018, Mackenzie returned to television and dance as a cast member of the first ever season of DWTS juniors, delivering week after week of crisp, technical ballroom perfection alongside partner Sage Rosen.
Following her time on “Juniors,” Mackenzie returned her focus to her music career, dancing mostly in her own music videos and on her tour, “Kenzie 2019.” Every now and then, though, she’ll drop an insane dance video on her Instagram to remind us that Abby Lee Miller raised her well.
Normani—Season 24
Admittedly, Normani got her start not as a dancer, but as a singer, in the “X Factor”-born girl-group Fifth Harmony (R.I.P). However, after her performances in Season 24, alongside “DWTS” and ballroom legend Val Chmerkovskiy, there is no doubt that Normani Kordei is a dancer. Her tango, which you can watch above, was just one of the many dances she tackled with passion and a clear commitment to ballroom technique.
Though Normani finished up her “DWTS” season in third place, her career has since skyrocketed. She’s collaborated with artists like Calvin Harris, Kehlani, and Sam Smith, opened for Ariana Grande on Grande’s “Sweetener” tour, and, most notably (at least for us) just released the amazing, dance-filled music video for her new single “Motivation.”
