I wouldn't know, but I'd bet pulling off each season of Dancing With the Stars is no easy feat. In the past few seasons, there could be anywhere between 10 and 16 different couples, which means producers need to find that number of celebrities to join. Something like this is sure to take a lot of work and coordinating, so you'd think who their pro partners will be is also thought out well in advance. Well, surprisingly, that actually isn't necessarily the case.
In terms of the producers, I guess they probably know which pro dancers they want back. However, you'd be surprised when exactly those pros are actually notified about their participation in a new season. In speaking with CinemaBlend, dancer Daniella Karagach revealed that she and her fellow dancers don't find out whether they're going to be a part of the next season much earlier than us fans do. Here's what she told the news outlet:
"We usually learn about that like a few days [before it’s announced on] Good Morning America, like around that time. There's like a few days where we kind of start practicing with our partners, and when we do our first meet, like a few days before that, is when we find out. So, around August time."
Daniella Karagach reveals DWTS pros aren't guaranteed a spot
That's actually really surprising because like I said, the producers are sure to have those stars locked in way before that. So it's crazy to think the dancers learn they'll be working that season, and then who they'll be paired with, only a few days before all of us. So basically right now, Karagach and our other fan-favorites themselves don't know if they'll be putting on their dancing shoes in the ballroom in the upcoming Dancing With the Stars season 34, set to air in fall 2025 on ABC.
What's strange as well is the fact that their job assurance is basically up in the air for a while, even with the speedy renewal of a DWTS season by the network. I'm honestly just shocked. This I'm sure makes it very difficult for the dancers to plan anything out including whether they want to go do another job, or even take some personal time with their family. Karagach, who joined in season 29, is married to fellow pro dancer Pasha Pashkov, who joined in season 28.
What if the two want to have a little getaway or vacation? Well, they won't know until August. Let alone having to stay fit the entire time just in case they are asked to return. Well, obviously we, and the duo, don't know if they'll be back and who they could be potentially paired up with in Dancing With the Stars season 34. Last season, Karagach's partner was former NBA player Dwight Howard. For the upcoming season, celebs Robert Irwin and Alix Earle have already been announced. Hopefully both do come back this time around!
Dancing With the Stars premieres in fall 2025 on ABC.