ABC's massively successful reality dancing competition series Dancing with the Stars is entering its 34th season this fall and one would think that a show with over 500 episodes and 30+ seasons wouldn't have many "firsts" left to conquer. But there is at least one hurdle that remains. Dancing with the Stars still hasn't featured a couple comprising two men.
JoJo Siwa and pro Jenna Johnson were the first same-sex couple to compete regularly in season 30, and the show has featured same-sex dances, usually just in group numbers, but there hasn't been two males paired together competing week to week yet.
Professional dancer Ezra Sosa, who already made waves last season when he was teamed up with convicted con artist Anna Delvey, remains hopeful that he can eventually be part of a same-sex couple at some point in his Dancing with the Stars journey.
Sosa's involvement in the show marked the first casting of a Latin pro in more than a decade and the fact that he is openly queer is always a plus in shows like this one. He talked more about the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and what he hopes for his future on the series in a new interview with Queerty.
This Pride Month is a special time for the dancer as June 4 marked his third "Pride birthday," or the third anniversary of his coming out day.
Continuing to talk about his hopes for potentially being in a same-sex coupling on the show, Sosa said, "For me, it’s not just about representation. It’s about showing people that love, connection, and partnership come in many forms, and all of them are valid. Being able to share that on a stage as big as DWTS would be powerful. I think it could help a lot of people feel seen and bring more acceptance to an audience that is still learning."
Despite that, he also says his "dream" dance partner would be singer and actress Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. He credits her work ethic and ambition with the reason he'd like to dance with her.
Luckily for Sosa, the possibility of having two men compete together on Dancing with the Stars is something that could still happen. Previously, BBC President of Unscripted TV, Ryan O'Dowd, shared that it is an ongoing discussion, meaning there is a chance.
Personally, I think it is a little bit silly that Dancing with the Stars has featured all manner of controversial figures, from politicians to convicted felons, and yet progress on adding more same-sex pairings is moving at a glacial pace. Still, I guess it's a good thing that O'Dowd didn't completely shut down the idea.
For now, the only two-man dances that have taken place were between Mark Ballas and Derek Hough when they performed the Argentine tango in season 33, and a brief dance between Keo Motsepe and Nyle DiMarco during a group number in season 22.
The show's 34th season will debut this fall on ABC and Disney+. So far, the only stars announced have been Robert Irwin and Alix Earle.
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