Dancing With The Stars returns for its 15th season on September 24, and the participating couples are dancers you have seen on the show in the past. Yes, this season is an “all-star season,” so all of the celebrities and professional dancers are contestants from the previous years. And some of the celebrities get to keep their last partners while others form new teams.
The celebrities dancing with their former partners include Kristie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy; Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson; Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas; Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke; and Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani.
Palin, no stranger to controversy, is ready to face her critics this time around. “It’s hard to compose myself when you know they are on the attack, but I feel like they feel like they can ask me whatever they want,” she told Showbiz Tonight. “I’m not going to sit back and whine about it. I’m used to that kind of stuff and I’m tough.”
The other teams include Apolo Anton Ohno and Karina Smirnoff; Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough; Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy; Pamela Anderson and Tristan McManus; Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd; Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya; and Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower.
Smirnoff was excited to hear about her pairing with Ohno. “When I heard Apolo Ohno was my partner I thought, Apolo – oh yes!” Smirnoff said to People Magazine. “It’s going to be fun and exciting to see Apolo’s creativity, charm, drive and personality on the dance floor again. We will soon see how much dancing he has been doing and/or practicing in the off seasons.
Murgatroyd took to Twitter to express her excitement. “How lucky am I???? I m proud to announce I have @Gillesmarini for DwtS!!! This season will be spectacular yay!!!”
There will be another pairing but that one will be left up to the public to decide. Viewers will determine if Kyle Massey, Sabrina Bryan or Carson Kressley will be able to return to the dance floor. The winner will be announced on August 27.
