Everyone thinks they know how it works. You take a B-list actor, a retired Olympian, or a controversial reality star, throw them into a room with a professional dancer, and hope they don't trip over their own feet. But the process of choosing partners for dwts is actually a massive, high-stakes puzzle that involves chemistry tests, height requirements, and—honestly—a lot of ego management. It’s not just about who can do a decent quickstep. It’s about who can survive ten weeks in a rehearsal studio without wanting to strangle their teammate.
Ever wonder why some pairs look like they've been best friends for a decade while others radiate pure, unadulterated awkwardness? It isn't an accident.
The Science (and Chaos) of Picking Partners for DWTS
Deena Katz is the name you need to know. She’s the casting director who has been the architect of the show's pairings for years. When she's looking at potential partners for dwts, she isn't just looking at a resume. She's looking at personalities. If you have a celebrity who is notoriously difficult or "diva-ish," you don't pair them with a pro who is equally stubborn. That’s a recipe for a mid-season meltdown that the producers actually don't always want. Usually, they pair a high-strung celeb with a calm, patient pro like Sasha Farber or Emma Slater. It's about balance.
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Height matters way more than you think. You can’t put a 6'4" NBA player with a 5'0" pro and expect a world-class Frame in the Ballroom. Well, you can, but it looks... different. Think back to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lindsay Arnold. The height gap was nearly two feet. While it makes for great TV, it makes the actual technical dancing a nightmare. This is why the show has a rotating roster of pros of different statures. If they sign a tiny gymnast like Simone Biles, they need a pro who won't make her look like a hobbit.
Then there’s the "Chemistry Test." Before the season starts, the producers often bring in the pros and the celebs for brief meetings. They’re watching how they interact. Is there a spark? Is there mutual respect? Or is the celeb looking at their phone while the pro talks about the Samba?
Why Some Pairings Fail Spectacularly
Not every pairing is a match made in ballroom heaven. We’ve seen it happen. Remember Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy? That was explosive, and not in the "we might win" kind of way. In her memoir, Solo claimed Maks was physically rough and difficult to work with. Maks, on the other hand, has never been one to bite his tongue about his frustrations. This is the dark side of selecting partners for dwts. When the personality match is wrong, it doesn't just hurt the scores—it makes the rehearsal footage painful to watch.
The pros have a lot of skin in the game too. Their career longevity depends on how far they get. If a pro gets "stuck" with a partner who has zero rhythm and a bad attitude three seasons in a row, they start looking for the exit. It’s a delicate dance of keeping the professional talent happy while serving the needs of the network.
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- The "Showmance" Factor: Producers are smart. If they have two single, attractive people, they are highly likely to pair them together. They know the audience loves a "will they, won't they" narrative.
- The Redemption Arc: Sometimes a pro who had a rough previous season is given a ringer—someone with dance experience—to keep them in the competition longer.
- The Comedic Relief: Let’s be real. Some celebs are cast specifically to be the "funny ones" who leave in week three. These folks usually get paired with pros who have a great sense of humor and won't get too depressed about an early exit.
The Role of the Pros in the Pairing Process
Do the pros get a say? Sorta. But not really.
The veteran pros, the ones who have been there for twenty seasons, might have a little more leverage. They can suggest the type of partner they want. But at the end of the day, the executive producers hold the deck. The pros usually find out who they're dancing with just a few days before the big reveal. Imagine being told you have to spend 40 hours a week in a sweaty room with a stranger you just met, and your entire reputation is on the line. It's intense.
The Hidden Logistics of the Ballroom
There is a massive amount of "behind the scenes" maneuvering that fans never see. For instance, geography plays a role. If a celebrity is filming a movie in Atlanta or has a residency in Las Vegas, the pro has to move there. The show pays for the travel and the rehearsal space. This influences which partners for dwts are chosen because some pros are more willing to travel than others, especially those with young children at home.
The contract negotiations are also a hurdle. A celebrity might sign on only if they are guaranteed a certain pro they’ve followed on Instagram. It doesn’t happen often, but it has happened. The power dynamics are constantly shifting.
The "ringers" are the most controversial part of the pairing process. When the show casts someone like Heather Morris (who was a professional dancer for Beyoncé) or JoJo Siwa, the fan base loses its mind. The logic from the production side is that you need at least two or three high-level performers to make the finale look professional. If everyone is terrible, the show loses its "prestige" feel. But pairing a ringer with a top-tier pro like Derek Hough (back in the day) or Val Chmerkovskiy almost feels like cheating to the casual viewer.
What to Look for in a Winning Pair
If you’re betting on who will take home the Mirrorball Trophy, stop looking at the celebrity’s Instagram followers. Look at the pro.
A pro who is a good teacher is worth ten times more than a pro who is just a good dancer. Mark Ballas was a genius at this. He could take someone with the grace of a refrigerator and choreograph a routine that hid every single flaw. That’s the secret sauce. When you see partners for dwts where the pro is constantly outshining the celeb, that pair is doomed. The pro has to be a mentor, a psychologist, and a drill sergeant all at once.
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- Trust: If the celeb is afraid to do a lift, the season is over.
- Work Ethic: Some celebs think this is a two-hour-a-week commitment. It’s more like sixty.
- The Narrative: Every winner has a story. The "journey" is more important than the Jive.
The Evolution of Diversity in Pairings
One of the biggest shifts in how the show handles partners for dwts happened in Season 30 with JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson. It was the first same-sex pairing in the U.S. version of the show. It changed the game. It proved that the "traditional" ballroom roles of a male lead and a female follow weren't the only way to get high scores. Since then, the show has been more open to breaking the mold. We saw it again with Shangela and Gleb Savchenko. These pairings aren't just about "representation"—they actually bring a totally different energy and choreography style to the floor, which keeps the show from feeling stagnant after thirty-plus seasons.
How to Spot a "Fake" Partnership
Let’s talk about the cameras. Sometimes, the "feuding" you see in the packages is a bit... exaggerated. Editors are masters at taking a three-second sigh and making it look like a three-hour argument. On the flip side, some pros and celebs who seem to adore each other can't stand each other the second the red light goes off.
You can usually tell the truth by looking at their social media after the season ends. Do they still hang out? Do they comment on each other's posts? If they vanish from each other's lives the Monday after the finale, that "bond" was strictly professional.
Taking Action: How to Evaluate the Season’s Best Pairs
If you want to watch the show like an insider, stop focusing on the costumes and start focusing on the feet. But more importantly, look at the "Lead." In ballroom, the Lead (usually the male) is supposed to guide the Follow. When a male celebrity is paired with a female pro, he has to learn to lead, which is incredibly difficult for a beginner. This is why female celebrities often have an easier time early on—they can be "guided" by a professional male lead.
To really understand the dynamics of partners for dwts, do this:
- Watch the unedited rehearsal clips: The show posts these on YouTube or social media. Look for how the pro explains a move. If they are losing patience in week two, they won't make it to week eight.
- Check the height and frame: See if the pro is constantly compensating for the celeb's posture. If the celeb's chin is always on the pro's shoulder, the pairing is struggling with the physical logistics.
- Follow the choreographers: Some pros are great dancers but mediocre choreographers. Look for the pros who create "moments"—those are the ones who understand how to make their partners shine.
- Ignore the judges' scores for a second: Listen to the critique about "connection." If the judges say they don't "feel" the dance, it means the partnership lacks the underlying trust needed to sell the performance.
The magic of the show isn't the dancing. It’s the human connection. When the right partners for dwts click, it’s some of the best reality television on the planet. When they don't, it's a fascinating train wreck. Either way, you can't look away. Now, pay attention to the next cast reveal—look past the names and look at the "why" behind the pairing. You’ll see the strings being pulled almost immediately.