Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think that back in 2012, everyone thought Rokdim Im Kokhavim was dead in the water. Low ratings, zero buzz—it basically just vanished from the airwaves. But flash forward to right now, and Dancing with the Stars Israel has become the absolute heavyweight of Keshet 12's primetime lineup. It’s not just a TV show anymore; it’s basically the only thing people talk about at the water cooler on Monday mornings.
You’ve probably seen the clips. Those high-octane routines that look more like a Cirque du Soleil audition than a ballroom competition. The show came back in 2022 after a ten-year hiatus and somehow managed to reinvent itself for a social media age. It’s faster, the production value is through the roof, and the celebrities are actually... well, celebrities.
The 2025 Shakeup: Who Really Took the Trophy?
If you missed the finale last August, you missed one of the most intense showdowns in the show's history. Amir Shurush, the guy everyone knows as the hyper-energetic supermarket manager Ramzi from the hit sitcom Checkout, ended up taking the whole thing. He wasn't just a "funny guy" trying to dance; he was actually incredible.
Shurush and his partner Sanna Sokol clinched the win with a Viennese Waltz that literally brought the judges to tears. It earned them a perfect score. But what really sealed the deal was Shurush himself. He’s the son of a Jewish mother and an Arab father, and in a country that's constantly dealing with heavy tension, seeing him win felt like a rare moment of pure, uncomplicated joy for everyone watching.
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It wasn't an easy win, though. The 2025 season was stacked. We’re talking about a level of athleticism that makes the old seasons look like a high school talent show.
What's Changing for 2026?
Everyone is already asking about the next season. While Keshet is usually pretty secretive about the official cast until the last second, the rumors are already flying around Tel Aviv. The word on the street is that producers are looking for more "unexpected" athletes. After seeing what Olympic gymnast Alex Shatilov did a couple of seasons ago, the bar for physical performance has been set impossibly high.
There’s also talk about the judging panel. While Eli Mizrahi remains the "tough love" veteran, there’s been some pushback lately. Critics—and a lot of grumpy people on Twitter—have complained that the judges are getting "too nice."
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"If everyone is amazing, then nobody is amazing," one critic famously complained after a particularly high-scoring episode.
Whether or not they’ll bring in a new, meaner judge to balance things out is still a big "maybe," but the chemistry between Anna Aharonov, David Dvir, and Rona-Lee Shimon is usually what keeps the show grounded. They have this way of bickering that feels like a family dinner gone slightly off the rails.
Why This Version Hits Different
Why did the revival work when the original run fizzled out? It’s mostly about the "Keshet touch." They realized that Israelis don't just want to see a Waltz; they want drama, they want a story, and they want to see people actually sweat.
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- The Lucy Ayoub Factor: Let’s be real, Lucy Ayoub is the glue. Her transition from Eurovision host to the face of Dancing with the Stars Israel was seamless. She brings a certain class to the show that keeps it from feeling like "trashy" reality TV.
- The Training Is Brutal: These celebs aren't just showing up for two hours a week. We’re talking 10-hour days in the studio. You can see the weight loss and the bruises, and that vulnerability makes the audience root for them.
- The "Check Your Ego" Policy: The show has been successful in casting people who are actually willing to look silly. When you see a serious news anchor or a high-ranking doctor (remember Prof. Idit Matot?) struggling with a Samba, it humanizes them in a way nothing else can.
The Cultural Impact You Can't Ignore
It’s easy to dismiss a dance show as fluff. But in Israel, entertainment often serves as a necessary escape. During the most recent seasons, the ratings have peaked at nearly 30% share, which is massive for a small market. It’s one of the few times the whole country—secular, religious, young, old—is actually watching the same thing at the same time.
The 2024-2025 cycle also leaned heavily into TikTok. They started filming "behind-the-scenes" content specifically for Gen Z, which is why you see teenagers actually caring about a Fox Trot. They turned the pro dancers, like Artem Liaskovski and Matanel Konevsky, into genuine social media influencers.
Thinking of Following Along?
If you’re new to the fandom or just trying to keep up with the 2026 rumors, here is the best way to handle it:
- Watch the rehearsals, not just the live show. Most of the real "human" moments happen in the packages before the dance. That’s where you see the frustration and the real personality.
- Follow the pros on Instagram. The professional dancers usually leak more "hints" about their celebrity partners than the official accounts do.
- Don't trust the early scores. The judges always start low in the first three weeks to create a "growth arc." If someone gets an 8 in week one, they’re basically a pro already.
The show is slated to return for its next big cycle soon, and if the momentum from Amir Shurush’s win is any indication, it’s going to be even bigger. Just don't expect it to be a quiet affair. In Israeli TV, if there isn't a little bit of shouting and at least one standing ovation per episode, you’re probably watching the wrong channel.
To stay ahead of the next cast reveal, keep an eye on the official Keshet 12 social media pages around late spring, as that’s usually when the first "paparazzi" shots of celebrities entering the rehearsal studios start to leak.