You’ve seen them every season. The bright smiles, the flawless technique, and that unmistakable "sparkle." If you’ve ever sat on your couch watching Dancing with the Stars and thought, "Wait, is everyone on this show from Utah?" you aren't exactly wrong.
Basically, there is a massive, highly efficient pipeline moving dancers from the living rooms of suburban Salt Lake City straight into the ballroom of Television City in Los Angeles. It’s not a coincidence. It’s a culture.
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The presence of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)—often called Mormons—on DWTS has become a staple of the show's identity. From the legendary Hough siblings to the latest crop of influencers like the stars of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the connection is deep, weirdly fascinating, and perfectly explained by how the culture in Utah prioritizes "wholesome" performance.
The Utah-to-Hollywood Express
It starts in Orem. Specifically, a place called Center Stage Performing Arts. If you want to understand why the show looks the way it does, you have to look at this one studio. This is where Derek and Julianne Hough, Witney Carson, Lindsay Arnold, and Jenna Johnson all cut their teeth.
Why dance?
Honestly, in many LDS communities, extracurricular activities are more than just hobbies; they are a way to keep kids busy, disciplined, and out of trouble. Brandon Armstrong, a pro on the show, once joked on a podcast that people in Utah dance because there’s literally nothing else to do. While that’s a bit of an exaggeration, the infrastructure for ballroom dance in Utah is unmatched in the United States. Brigham Young University (BYU) has the largest collegiate ballroom dance program in the world.
It’s high-stakes. It’s competitive. It’s "the Mormon way" of excellence.
A History of Heavy Hitters
The list of LDS contestants and pros is long. Very long.
- Donny and Marie Osmond: The OGs of Mormon stardom. Marie competed in Season 5, and Donny famously won the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 9.
- The Houghs: Derek and Julianne were raised in the faith, though they’ve both spoken openly about moving away from the strict practicing side of it as adults. Still, their work ethic? Total product of that upbringing.
- Lindsey Stirling: The "dancing violinist" who served an LDS mission in New York before her career exploded. She finished as a runner-up in Season 25.
- David Archuleta: The American Idol alum appeared on the show and has recently been very public about his journey of reconciling his faith with his queer identity.
- The "Pro" Squad: Witney Carson, Lindsay Arnold, Rylee Arnold, Jenna Johnson, and Brandon Armstrong. Most of these pros are still active in the church or at least maintain very strong cultural ties to it.
The 2025 Shift: From Pros to "Mormon Wives"
By the time we hit the 2024–2025 seasons, the "Mormon on DWTS" trope took a wild turn. Enter Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt.
If you followed the viral chaos of the Hulu reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, you know things got messy. When Jen and Whitney joined the DWTS cast, it wasn't just about dance anymore. It was about the collision of traditional LDS values and the "Momtok" influencer culture that has taken over the internet.
During Season 34, we saw these two influencers sharing the floor with people like Robert Irwin. There was even a hilarious, semi-viral moment where it was reported (perhaps with a bit of "internet humor" attached) that the Mormon Wives were trying to give Robert Irwin a Book of Mormon on night one. Whether he's actually taking missionary lessons or not, the "missionary spirit" definitely follows these dancers into the rehearsal room.
The Modesty vs. Spandex Conflict
Let's be real: Dancing with the Stars isn't exactly a modest show. We’re talking about cut-outs, plunging necklines, and spray tans. For many practicing LDS members, this creates a weird tension.
The church has specific guidelines about clothing, often centered around the "temple garment" worn by adult members. You’ll notice that many of the LDS pros, like Witney Carson or Lindsay Arnold, have found a way to navigate this. They often wear the standard costumes, which has led to endless speculation in Reddit forums about whether they are "still active" or if there’s a special "ballroom exemption" for modesty.
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Lindsey Stirling addressed this head-on in 2025, basically telling people to stop gossiping about her coffee-drinking habits or her sleeveless shirts. She noted that she loves her upbringing and the connection to God it gave her, but she doesn't let "rules" govern her through shame anymore.
Why They Keep Winning (or Getting Close)
It isn't just the training. It’s the voting block. The "Mormon Vote" is a real thing in reality TV. When an LDS contestant is on a show like DWTS, the community (and the massive, interconnected families in Utah and Idaho) shows up. They vote. They tweet. They mobilize.
When Donny Osmond won, it wasn't just because he had great footwork; it was because he had a legacy of fans who felt a personal connection to his values. The same goes for the younger pros. They aren't just dancers; they are lifestyle influencers with millions of followers who see them as "one of us."
The Nuance of the "LDS Brand"
It's not all sunshine and rainbows. The show has also become a place where former members or "cultural Mormons" process their past. Julianne Hough has been candid about the "perfectionism" that comes with the culture and how she had to unlearn certain things to find her own identity.
Then you have David Archuleta, whose appearance on the show was part of a broader "coming out" journey. For a lot of LDS viewers, seeing David on screen—still kind, still "David," but living his truth—provided a level of representation that was previously non-existent in the "wholesome" ballroom world.
Key Takeaways for the Curious Viewer
If you're watching the show and trying to spot the connection, keep these points in mind:
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- The "Center Stage" Factor: If a pro is from Utah, they likely trained at the same studio in Orem.
- Work Ethic: The LDS culture prizes high achievement in the arts. These dancers aren't just talented; they've been practicing 40 hours a week since they were eight.
- The Pivot: We are seeing more "untraditional" Mormons on the show now—people who are questioning, deconstructing, or simply living a more modern version of the faith.
- Influencer Power: The current crop of Mormon contestants (like the Secret Lives cast) brings a digital-native fan base that changes the voting dynamics entirely.
The "Mormon pipeline" isn't going anywhere. As long as Utah keeps producing world-class ballroom dancers and the church culture continues to encourage performance as a "safe" way to express talent, you can expect the Mirrorball Trophy to spend a lot of time in Salt Lake City.
How to Follow the Next Wave
If you're interested in keeping track of the Utah connection on DWTS, your best bet is to follow the pros on social media. They are incredibly active and often post "behind the scenes" content that highlights their community ties.
- Watch for the season cast announcements in late summer; there is almost always at least one Utahn in the mix.
- Look at the choreography credits. Many of the creative directors and uncredited choreographers for the show's big group numbers come from the same Utah dance circles.
- Check out local Utah competitions. The next big DWTS pro is likely competing at the BYU Ballroom National Championships right now.