"Dancing with the Stars" -- Season 31 Is Already Making News

While the show will undergo a venue change moving from ABC39s linear channel to streamer Disney host Tyra Banks will return and the judging panel will remain intact with Len Goodman Carrie Ann Inaba Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough all returning to the fold There is also a new cohost Alfonso Ribeiro who as a competitor won the season 19 mirror ball trophyInvite job candidates to apply live during the Media and Advertising Communityamp8217s Black Talent Outreach Week at MediaVillagecom and AdvancingDiversityorg October 1720 Apply for jobssubmit your resume hereHaving previous dance experience has always been a topic of conversation regarding anyone competing on the show and how this might provide an unfair advantage Unless you are Sean Spicer who competed on season 28 and whose only dance experience was sidestepping questions from reporters as White House Press Secretary having no dance experience hasn39t proved problematic for winners like Bindi Irwin season 21 and Bobby Bones season 27 But for those that do being seen as having an unfair advantage isn39t altogether fair Consider Charlie39s Angels star Cheryl Ladd who is no stranger to the world of variety show television after hosting her own specials and appearing as a guest on numerous others throughout her career quotIt doesn39t help very much because this is an entirely new animalquot she shared of her prior experience after the cast reveal quotEach cha cha or whatever the dance is is so specific to execute properly that it is going to be a challenge But we39re having a lot of funquotReality star Teresa Giudice enters the competition with a clean slate having never danced at all But she hopes some of the experiences enjoyed by her four daughters whom she enrolled in dance school at a young age rubs off quotI wouldn39t say no experience is an advantagequot she said quotBut I39m gonna try my best and give it my all I did place third in my bikini fitness competition so if I make it that far I39d be happyquotLast season saw JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson make history competing as the show39s first samesex couple This season the addition of drag superstar Shangela only furthers the series39 embrace of inclusivity quotI was like sign me in I39m gonna live my best lifequot beamed pro dancer Gleb Savchenko of his partner quotI was absolutely thrilled and still amquot echoed Shangela quotMy jaw was literally on the floor I mean to be on Dancing with the Stars Growing up and always loving to dance to now have this amazing platform to compete and do something I39m living my best life like Glebquot However there39s one amendment to Shangela39s contract she would like changed concerning the possibility of keeping the wardrobe quotIf that39s not in there I need it amended I39ve seen the costumes on this show and they are right up Shangela39s alleyquotThis season also adds inspirational contestants courtesy of Selma Blair and Daniel Durant Blair has been very public regarding to her battle with multiple sclerosis and hopes her participation inspires others quotI39m feeling greatquot she revealed quotI don39t have dance experience but once I decided it wasn39t dangerous I thought 39I can do this39 We do things we want to find joy in I have to be careful with stamina as it is a chronic illness There39s a learning curve for all of us whether we have a disability or not when trying something new These are all things that I am embracing and I hope others can learn tooquotDurant star of the Academy Awardwinning movie CODA who is deaf did reach out to his costar Marlee Matlin for advice as she had previously competed as the show39s first deaf contestant in season six quotI love Marlee and we39re so closequot he revealed quotShe39s like my mom so when I got on Dancing with the Stars I secretly told her She was so thrilled and we got on FaceTime right away She started telling me 39You need to do this and this you need to work out and get dance classes I took all her advice I feel like she39s my biggest fan on this show right now and she39s greatquotSeason 31 of Dancing with the Stars will debut live on Disney on Monday September 19Click the social buttons to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writers

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"Dancing with the Stars" -- Season 31 Is Already Making News

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Steve Gidlow

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"Dancing with the Stars" -- Season 31 Is Already Making News

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