10 Shows To Watch if You Love 'Dancing with the Stars' (2025)

Dancing with the Stars continues to be a beloved American reality TV series that sees celebrities from different backgrounds learning the art of ballroom dancing. In over 30 seasons, Dancing With the Stars has featured professional athletes, singers, actors, and other public figures who have tried their hand at learning ballroom dancing under the guidance of professional ballroom dancers. The journeys of people with no dance background being taught the art and skill of dance are captivating to follow.

Fans of Dancing With the Stars have several similar shows to choose from if they enjoy the series' format or watching talented dancers perform. Some series, like So You Think You Can Dance? showcase the incredible skill that dance of all varieties requires. Other series, like Dancing on Ice, showcase celebrities in a different context, but they still have to learn new skills and art forms. Dancing With the Stars has so much that makes it compelling to watch, and there are several series that capture the best of the show.

Dancing with the Stars

TV-PG

Release Date

June 1, 2005

Cast

Carrie Ann Inaba , Bruno Tonioli , Len Goodman , Tom Bergeron , Cheryl Burke , Tony Dovolani , Derek Hough , Mark Ballas , Karina Smirnoff , Maksim Chmerkovskiy , Kym Johnson , Sasha Farber , Val Chmerkovskiy , Emma Slater , Sharna Burgess

Seasons

Main Genre

Reality

Studio

Watch on Disney+

10 'Making It' (2018–2021)

Co-created by Nicolle Yaron

Making It was hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. The series featured craft experts who competed in various challenges to be named Master Maker. Competitors used a variety of materials in these craft challenges to make Faster Crafts and Master Crafts each week. Professions of the contestants ranged from interior designers to felt artists. Projects were designed to show off contestants' artistry and technique. The series ran for three seasons and aired on NBC.

Making It and Dancing With the Stars both feature well-known celebrities having to learn new skills. While Poehler and Offerman are the only celebrities featured on Making It, it was clear they learned a lot from the professionals who were featured in the series. While they served as hosts, they always put themselves in the center of the action. Like Dancing With the Stars, Making It showcased the fact that celebrities can be passionate and enthusiastic about being taught new skills.

Buy on Apple TV

9 'Dancing on Ice' (2006–)

Created by ITV Studios

Dancing on Ice is a British reality series that features celebrities paired with professional figure skaters. Each week, each pair presents an ice dance routine. In the beginning, legendary British ice dance couple Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean would mentor skaters and their celebrity partners and would perform themselves at the beginning of each episode. The pair left the series in 2014. Each performance is awarded a mark between 0.0 and 10.0.

Both Dancing on Ice and Dancing With the Stars feature similar premises in that they showcase celebrities being paired with elite professionals. Each series highlights celebrities' abilities (or lack thereof) to learn technical skills from professionals. In addition to this, the celebrity contestants on both Dancing With the Stars and Dancing on Ice have to demonstrate an understanding of the artistry dance and skating require if they want to advance.

Dancing on Ice

Reality

Release Date

January 14, 2006

Producers

Jennifer Ducker

Cast

Antony Cotton , Corey Feldman , Emma Bunton , Gary Lucy , Gaynor Faye , Jason Donovan , Jayne Torvill , Myleene Klass , Phillip Schofield , Ryan Thomas , Sally Dynevor , Sarah Greene , Sharron Davies , Aggie MacKenzie , Danny Young , Andy Akinwolere , Louie Spence , Colin Jackson , Leona Lewis , Emily Symons , Bonnie Langford , Kay Burley , Oti Mabuse , Alexandra Burke , Roxy Shahidi

Watch on ITV

8 'Battle of the Blades' (2009–2013, 2019)

Created by Sandra Bezic and Kevin Albrecht

Battle of the Blades was a Canadian reality series that paired professional hockey players with professional figure skaters. Each week, each couple would perform a routine. Hockey players had to adjust to skating in figure skates to perform their routines. Top Canadian skaters, including Andrew Poje, Shae-Lynn Bourne, and Meagan Duhamel, were featured alongside well-known hockey professionals. These included Kristopher Versteeg, Jessica Campbell, and Craig Simpson.

Although Battle of the Blades featured a pairing of two people who came from the same respective professions, the hockey players had to learn an entirely new skill set. For fans of two popular sports, this series highlighted how well professionals from each can come together to create artistic programs. For those who enjoy watching celebrities find their artistry and technique on Dancing With the Stars, Battle of the Blades follows hockey players on a similar journey.

Battle of the Blades

Not Rated

Release Date

October 4, 2009

Creator(s)

Kevin Albrecht , Sandra Bezic

Seasons

6

Main Genre

Reality

Watch on Gem

7 'So You Think You Can Dance?' (2005–)

Created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe

So You Think You Can Dance? is a dance competition featuring dancers from various professional backgrounds. Once selected from the audition process, dancers advance to the main phase. Here, they perform solo, in pairs, and as a group. Contestants are expected to perform a variety of dance styles, including ballroom, classical, contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre. A panel of expert judges offers feedback during the final stages of the competition before a winner is ultimately chosen.

For those who enjoyed the dancing portion of Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance? has this in spades. Like Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance? features a wide variety of dance styles. This showcases the full talents of participants in both series. For those who aren't completely sold on the idea of celebrities being taught how to dance, So You Think You Can Dance? offers insight into how grueling dance is and how much effort it takes to make performances look effortless.

So You Think You Can Dance

Release Date

July 20, 2005

Seasons

16

Main Genre

Reality TV

Watch on Hulu

6 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders' (2024–)

Created by Greg Whiteley

America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is a docuseries that follows prospective cheerleaders for the Dallas Cowboys cheer squad. It follows the team's selection process, as well as the daily lives of those who are ultimately recruited to the team. It is an inside look at how the team is selected and highlights the demands that those who make the squad face. The series spotlights the fact that these professionals are paid quite low relative to the effort they are expected to put into their careers.

American Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders is a dark look at the realities of professional cheerleading. The docuseries is a sobering reminder that while professionals, like those featured on Dancing With the Stars, make their profession look effortless, much more often happens behind the scenes and off camera. American Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders highlight the fact that abuse can be rampant in sports, including those that appear glamorous from the outside.

Watch on Netflix

5 'Dancing Queens' (2023)

Created by Bravo TV

Dancing Queens is a Bravo series that follows amateur ballroom dancers as they partner with professionals. The dancers enter various competitions and speak about the time and financial commitment that amateur dancing requires. Specifically, the series follows a group of women who pursue amateur ballroom dancing while paying professionals to coach them and serve as their partners in competitions. Each amateur dancer faces personal and professional challenges while continuing to pursue their passion for dance.

Dancing Queens and Dancing With the Stars both showcase what it is like to pursue ballroom dancing for those who come to the sport as adults. The series is an honest look at what it takes to pursue ballroom dancing at such a high level, particularly when it comes to finances. While Dancing With the Stars has had its own brand of drama over the years, Dancing Queens highlights how messy things can get when there is such a high level of intimacy.

Dancing Queens

TV-14

Documentary

Reality

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

May 9, 2023

Producers

Daniel Adler , Matt Sharp , Matt Sharp

Cast

Sabrina Strasser , Leonie Biggs , Colette Marotto , Pooja Mehta , Donie Burch , Gaëlle Benchetrit

Seasons

1

4 'Dance Life' (2024)

Created by Jade Barnes and Luke Cornish

Dance Life is an Australian reality series that follows students of the Brent Street Academy, an elite dance school that trains dancers for their future careers. The series features students from various backgrounds as they prepare for professional careers. Dance Life highlights dancers at the very beginning of their careers, and what they need to do to set themselves up for success. The series consists of five episodes.

Dance Life and Dancing With the Stars highlight the training process that ballroom dancing involves. While Dancing With the Stars only features adults, both series show people learning the art of dance from the early stages. Both series feature commentary on the technical skills that are required to succeed as a dancer. Dancing With the Stars and Dance Life also highlight how difficult it is to make polished dance routines look effortless.

Dance Life

Release Date

January 19, 2024

Cast

Cassie Bartho , Lucas Newland , Tiana Vassallo , Arabella Meleo , Conor Bann-Murray , Archer Rose , Kim Naylor , Emily Smith , Max Ostler , Erin , Maxwell Simmons

Seasons

1

Main Genre

Documentary

Watch on Amazon Prime

3 'Cheer' (2020–2022)

Created by Greg Whiteley

Cheer is a docuseries that follows the members of the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team. Throughout the series, the team prepares for the National Cheerleading Championship, which takes place in Florida annually. The series focuses on the sacrifices and triumphant moments that are part of college-level cheerleading. Cheer also delves into the history of cheerleading as a sport, and how it has developed over time.

What makes Cheers and Dancing With the Stars similar is the fact that they both emphasize the challenges that come with pursuing such an artistic sport. Both series effectively build tension within each episode, following competitors as they prepare to show off their skills. Cheer and Dancing With the Stars also highlight the deeply personal stakes that are at play in sports, like ballroom dancing and cheerleading specifically.

Cheer

Documentary

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 8, 2020

Directors

Greg Whiteley

Cast

Monica Aldama

Seasons

2

2 'Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?' (2024–)

Created by Barry Poznick

Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? is an adaptation of the popular game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The series is hosted by Taylor Swift's boyfriend and Kansas City Chief's tight end Travis Kelce. The series sees celebrities, also from a variety of backgrounds, put their 5th-grade knowledge to the test. Like on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, contestants on Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? are quizzed on general knowledge.

For those who love watching celebrities out of their comfort zones on Dancing With the Stars, Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? has this in spades. Both shows highlight the fact that celebrities are still human beings who can be taught new things. Each series also gives these celebrities the chance to demonstrate their abilities in front of an audience. Dancing With the Stars and Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? both put celebrities under pressure, and give them a chance to shine.

Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?

Comedy

Reality

Game Show

Release Date

October 16, 2024

Producers

Mark Burnett

Cast

Travis Kelce

Watch on Amazon Prime

1 'Strictly Come Dancing' (2004–)

Created by Fenia Vardanis, Richard Hopkins, and Karen Smith

Strictly Come Dancing is the British reality series that started the franchise that would eventually include Dancing With the Stars. Strictly Come Dancing has always featured celebrities who are paired with professional dancers, who train the celebrities in ballroom and Latin dance. The viewers are able to vote for their favorite performances, with this audience feedback being combined with that of the judges to determine which partners advance through the rounds.

For fans of Dancing With the Stars who are interested in where the series came from, Strictly Come Dancing provides a unique education. This is a uniquely British series, with a look at what the world of ballroom dancing looks like in a British context. Like Dancing With the Stars, Strictly Comes Dancing leans into the drama of putting celebrities outside of their comfort zone to learn the fundamentals of a difficult sport.

Strictly Come Dancing

Release Date

May 15, 2004

Creator(s)

Fenia Vardanis , Richard Hopkins , Karen Smith

Cast

Tess Daly , Craig Revel Horwood , Alan Dedicoat , Bruno Tonioli , Len Goodman , Claudia Winkleman , Bruce Forsyth , Darcey Bussell

Seasons

21

Main Genre

Reality

Watch on BBC iPlayer

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