Lacey Schwimmer didn't just walk into the ballroom; she basically kicked the door down. Back in 2008, when she first appeared on Lacey Schwimmer Dancing with the Stars, the show was a bit more... let's say "stiff." It was very traditional. Then came this 19-year-old fireball from So You Think You Can Dance who decided that ballroom didn't always need to be so polite.
She was the first "crossover" pro. People forget that now because it’s so common, but at the time, moving from a contemporary/swing background to the DWTS pro ranks was a huge deal. It changed the DNA of the show. Suddenly, we had West Coast Swing and hip-hop influences bleeding into the Fox Trot.
Why Lacey Schwimmer Dancing with the Stars Was Different
Lacey stayed for six seasons, and honestly, she never quite "fit in" with the judges' expectations. That was her magic. While the stalwarts were arguing about heel leads and frame, Lacey was choreographing routines that felt like mini-movies.
Remember Season 7 with Lance Bass? They were incredible. They finished third, but they should’ve arguably been higher. They did this Jitterbug to "Jim Dandy" that still stands up as one of the most energetic things the show has ever seen. She took a boy bander and made him look like a swing king.
Then came the partnership with Kyle Massey in Season 11. That was the "Tootsee Roll" season. They were the runners-up, losing only to Jennifer Grey. It was the peak of Lacey’s "cool factor" on the show. She and Kyle had this infectious energy that made you forget they were doing technical ballroom. It just felt like a party.
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The Partners Nobody Expected
Lacey often got the "challenging" or "unconventional" celebrities. Sometimes it felt like producers were testing her.
- Steve-O (Season 8): This was chaotic. Pure chaos. Steve-O wasn't a dancer, and he was dealing with injuries, but Lacey managed to keep him afloat until Week 6.
- Mark Dacascos (Season 9): An Iron Chef and martial artist. They had a great run, finishing 6th, even though Lacey had to sit out a week with the flu.
- Chaz Bono (Season 13): This was historic. Chaz was the show's first transgender contestant. The backlash from some viewers was intense, but Lacey was a total rock. She defended him constantly against "inconsistent" judging and focused on the joy of him being there.
The Stuff the Cameras Didn't Always Catch
It wasn't all glitter. Lacey has been very open lately about how hard those years actually were. On Cheryl Burke’s podcast, she talked about the body shaming she faced. Imagine being a world-class athlete and being told by coworkers that you need to lose weight because "the camera adds ten pounds." She was 19. That stuff leaves a mark.
She also dealt with endometriosis while filming. There was a point where she was in immense pain but had to keep smiling through a Samba. It’s that behind-the-scenes grit that fans didn't see until years later.
She wasn't invited back after Season 13, and the show definitely lost some of its edge when she left. She was the rebel. The one who wore the "wrong" shoes or put a hip-hop break in a Waltz because she thought it looked better.
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Where is Lacey Now?
If you're wondering what she's up to in 2026, she's basically a dance mogul. She didn't need the ballroom to stay relevant.
She’s currently engaged to singer Frankie Moreno—they’ve been together for over 13 years! Career-wise, she’s a heavy hitter in the convention world. She runs The Ballroom Project, which is the first ballroom-only convention in the States. She’s also worked with everyone from Christina Aguilera to Taylor Swift on choreography.
Lacey recently opted out of the DWTS 20th Anniversary special due to work commitments, which bummed out a lot of longtime fans. But she’s busy. She’s teaching, choreographing for symphonies, and running her own dance studio in Redlands.
What We Can Learn From the Lacey Era
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from Lacey Schwimmer Dancing with the Stars is that being "technically perfect" is boring. The judges—Len, Carrie Ann, and Bruno—often hammered her for breaking rules. But the fans loved her because she was authentic.
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If you're looking to follow in her footsteps or just want to appreciate the art more:
- Watch her Season 11 Freestyle. It’s a masterclass in personality over posture.
- Don't ignore the "Crossover" styles. Lacey proved that West Coast Swing has a place in traditional ballroom.
- Support her current projects. If you're a dancer, look for The Ballroom Project tour dates; she’s still one of the best teachers in the game.
Lacey Schwimmer was the "cool older sister" of the DWTS pro room. She pushed the show to grow up, and even if she isn't in the ballroom every Tuesday night anymore, her influence is baked into every "risky" routine you see today.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to dive deeper into the "Lacey style," your best bet is to check out her NRG Dance Project tutorials or catch one of her workshops at The Dance Center in California. She also frequently shares high-level choreography tips on her social media that are way more practical than anything you'll hear from a reality TV judge. For those who miss her on screen, her YouTube channel still hosts some of her most iconic "unfiltered" interviews where she breaks down the reality of pro life.