Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
NPR News

Behind the Scenes with 'Dancing with the Stars'

Scott Simon learns how to tango from Elena Grinenko, a professional dancer and contestant on ABC's <em>Dancing with the Stars.</em>
Scott Simon learns how to tango from Elena Grinenko, a professional dancer and contestant on ABC's <em>Dancing with the Stars.</em>

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

Listen 0:00

The ABC hit Dancing With the Stars spun back into primetime this week with its biggest cast to date.

The show's fifth season includes Marie Osmond, Melanie ("Scary Spice") Brown and Wayne Newton, among other celebrities.

Long after reality shows seemingly hit their peak, Dancing With the Stars captivated millions of viewers, as celebrities transformed into ballroom dancers — with major guidance from their professional partners.

Viewers get weekly glimpses of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into each dance. The dynamic between dance partners can largely determine how successful a pair is on the show. A new book, Dancing With the Stars: Jive, Samba, and Tango Your Way into the Best Shape of Your Life, gives fans a peek into contestants' intense preparation before they hit the dance floor.

Scott Simon visited Dancing With the Stars in New York and learned how to tango from professional dancer Elena Grinenko and actor Joey Lawrence, a former Dancing contestant.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today