Honestly, looking back at Dancing With the Stars Season 30, it’s hard to believe everything that actually happened in that ballroom. It wasn't just another year of sequins and spray tans. 2021 was weird for everyone, and the show reflected that chaos. We had the milestone of a 30th anniversary, a brand-new hosting dynamic with Tyra Banks still finding her footing, and a casting list that felt like a fever dream. Jojo Siwa was making history. Iman Shumpert was defying gravity. It was a lot to take in.
People still talk about this specific season because it broke the traditional mold of what a "winner" looks like in ballroom dance. Usually, you expect a ringer—someone with contemporary training or a Broadway background—to take the Mirrorball. But Season 30 gave us something else entirely. It gave us a 6'5" NBA player who had never touched a dance floor in his life.
The Iman Shumpert Factor: How an Underdog Rewrote the Rules
When the cast was first announced, nobody—and I mean nobody—had Iman Shumpert on their finale bingo card. He was an athlete, sure, but he was lanky. His center of gravity was all wrong for Latin dance. Yet, his partnership with Daniella Karagach became the stuff of legend. If you haven't rewatched their "Us" themed contemporary routine from Horror Night, go do it. Now. It changed the trajectory of the season.
That performance wasn't just good for a basketball player; it was world-class choreography that used his height as an asset rather than a liability. Daniella basically treated him like a jungle gym, and the risk paid off. It was the moment the audience realized Dancing With the Stars Season 30 wasn't going to be a predictable win for the frontrunners.
The Jojo Siwa Revolution
On the flip side, we had Jojo Siwa. She was the heavy favorite from day one. Breaking decades of tradition, Jojo was part of the show's first-ever same-sex pairing, dancing with Jenna Johnson. The technical precision they brought was staggering. Because they were of similar heights and both had extensive dance backgrounds, they could pull off synchronized lines that a traditional male-female pair simply couldn't.
Some critics at the time argued Jojo had an "unfair advantage" because of her childhood on Dance Moms. It’s a tired argument we hear every season, but in Season 30, it felt louder. However, ballroom is a different beast than jazz or hip-hop. Seeing her adapt to the rigid frame of a Tango or the bounce of a Samba was fascinating. She didn't just coast; she worked.
✨ Don't miss: Elaine Cassidy Movies and TV Shows: Why This Irish Icon Is Still Everywhere
The Chaos of COVID and the Return of the Audience
We have to remember the context. Dancing With the Stars Season 30 was filming while the world was still navigating the "new normal." The previous season had been eerie—empty seats, canned applause, and judges spaced out behind massive plexiglass shields. Season 30 brought back a live audience, albeit a masked and limited one. You could feel the energy shift. The dancers finally had someone to play to again.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. COVID-19 nearly derailed the whole thing. Remember when Cheryl Burke and Cody Rigsby both tested positive? It was a mess. They had to perform a routine virtually from their respective homes. It was, frankly, a bit painful to watch. Cody, a Peloton instructor who lives for high-energy interaction, was stuck dancing in his living room while a green screen tried (and failed) to make it look professional. It was one of those "only in 2021" moments that makes this season so distinct.
Cody Rigsby’s Strange Journey
Cody's fanbase is rabid. The "Peloton Navy" showed up in droves to vote. Despite being sidelined by illness and having some of the lowest scores from the judges during that middle stretch, the sheer power of his following kept him in the competition until the very end. He finished third. This sparked a huge debate about whether the show is a dance competition or a popularity contest.
Spoiler alert: It’s both. Always has been.
Suni Lee and the Olympic Pressure
Coming straight off the Tokyo Olympics, Suni Lee was the sweetheart of the season. But people forget how much she struggled. Gymnasts often have a hard time on the show because they are trained to be rigid and perfect, while ballroom requires a certain "flow" and emotional vulnerability.
🔗 Read more: Ebonie Smith Movies and TV Shows: The Child Star Who Actually Made It Out Okay
Suni was open about her struggles with anxiety and the pressure of being in the spotlight. Watching her find her confidence was one of the more grounded, human arcs of the season. She didn't make the finale, which shocked some, but her journey felt more authentic than some of the more polished celebrities.
The Melora Hardin Brilliance
Can we talk about Melora Hardin for a second? Jan from The Office came out and absolutely crushed it. At 54, she was out-dancing people half her age. Her partnership with Artem Chigvintsev was sophisticated. They didn't rely on gimmicks. They just danced. It was a reminder that the show works best when it highlights the grace that comes with experience.
The Judging and the Tyra Banks "Era"
Season 30 was Tyra's second year as host and executive producer. To say she was a polarizing figure would be an understatement. The costume changes were... bold. The pacing was frantic. Longtime fans were still mourning the loss of Tom Bergeron, and the tension was palpable on social media.
The judges—Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough—were back to a four-person panel. Len was back in the ballroom after being stuck in the UK the previous year. His "grumpy" traditionalism was the perfect foil to Bruno’s theatrics. This balance is what keeps the show's technical standards high, even when the casting gets wild.
Why the Finale Mattered
The finale of Dancing With the Stars Season 30 felt like a cultural moment. You had the historic inclusion of Jojo and Jenna. You had the professional athlete underdog in Iman. You had the fitness icon in Cody and the talk show host Amanda Kloots, who had a deeply emotional story following the loss of her husband, Nick Cordero.
💡 You might also like: Eazy-E: The Business Genius and Street Legend Most People Get Wrong
When Iman Shumpert was announced as the winner, the ballroom erupted. It was the first time an NBA player had ever won. It proved that the "heart" of the show still lies in seeing someone transform. Jojo was technically better, but Iman was the story.
Lessons Learned from the Ballroom
If you're a fan of the show or just someone interested in how reality TV survives for decades, Season 30 is a masterclass in adaptation. It showed that the audience values growth over perfection. It also proved that the show could handle high-stakes production hurdles without completely falling apart.
What to take away from Season 30:
- Vulnerability wins over technique. You can be the best dancer in the room, but if the audience doesn't feel like they know you, they won't pick up the phone.
- The "Pro" matters as much as the "Celeb." Daniella Karagach’s choreography for Iman is what won him that trophy. She knew how to hide his weaknesses and highlight his strengths.
- Don't ignore the athletes. They have the discipline and the competitive drive that often outshines traditional entertainers.
- Community is everything. The way the cast supported each other through COVID scares and personal struggles made the season feel less like a competition and more like a collective effort.
If you're looking to rewatch a season that captures a very specific moment in time—one full of risks, history-making performances, and genuine surprises—this is the one. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s surprisingly heartfelt.
Go find the clip of Iman's contemporary routine. Seriously. It’s the only way to truly understand why this season was so special.