You’re watching the show, the lights dim, and suddenly a blur of sequins and high-speed footwork fills the floor during a commercial transition or a musical guest’s set. They aren’t the celebrities. They aren't the main pros either. They’re the Dancing with the Stars troupe dancers, and honestly, they do a lot of the heavy lifting that keeps the production from falling apart.
Most people think of the troupe as just backup. Like, they’re just there to fill space, right? Wrong.
In reality, these dancers are the bench. They’re the understudies waiting in the wings. If a pro gets COVID, breaks an ankle, or has a family emergency, a troupe member is expected to learn a full routine in about four hours and perform it live in front of millions. It’s high-stakes stuff. You’ve probably seen it happen more than once over the last few years.
The Brutal Reality of the Dancing with the Stars Troupe Dancers
The troupe hasn't always been a permanent fixture. It was introduced back in Season 12 to add some scale to the results shows and give the producers a "farm team" for future pros. Think of it as the minor leagues of ballroom. If you’re a dancer like Sasha Farber or Emma Slater, you likely spent years in the troupe proving you could handle the cameras, the choreography, and the sheer chaos of a live TV set before getting your own celebrity partner.
It’s an exhausting gig. They don't just dance; they assist the main pros with choreography, they help the celebrities find their footing during rehearsals, and they perform in almost every bumper and pro number.
Why the Troupe Keeps Disappearing (and Coming Back)
Fans get really vocal whenever the troupe gets cut. Because of budget shifts or "creative reimagining" by the network—especially during the move from ABC to Disney+ and back again—the troupe has been axed and reinstated multiple times. For instance, in Season 28, the show famously ditched the troupe entirely to focus on a "back to basics" approach. Fans hated it. The stage felt empty. The energy was... off.
By the time Season 31 rolled around, the producers realized their mistake. They brought the troupe back with fresh faces like Alexis Warr and Ezra Sosa. It turns out, you need that extra layer of professional-grade movement to make the show feel like a "spectacle" rather than just a community center dance recital.
The Audition Process is Nightmare Fuel
Getting a spot as one of the Dancing with the Stars troupe dancers isn't just about being a good dancer. You have to be "TV ready." This means you need a specific look, a massive personality, and the ability to switch between a Viennese Waltz and a Hip-Hop fusion in the blink of an eye.
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The casting directors, often including longtime staples like Kristyn Burtt (who tracks the casting moves closer than anyone else in the industry), look for versatility. Most of these dancers come from the world of So You Think You Can Dance or high-end touring shows like Burn the Floor. They are world-class athletes who are basically being paid to wait for their "big break" while working 12-hour days.
Who Are These Dancers, Anyway?
Let’s talk about the people who actually made the troupe famous.
Take Lindsay Arnold or Witney Carson. They were young, hungry, and incredibly talented when they joined the troupe. They didn't just stay in the background; they forced the audience to look at them. Within a couple of seasons, they were promoted to pros and eventually won Mirrorball Trophies.
Then you have someone like Sasha Farber. Sasha was in the troupe for years. He became the "reliable guy." He was the one the producers trusted to handle the most difficult celebrities or step in at the last second. That’s the real value of the troupe—it’s a safety net.
- Ezra Sosa: A fan favorite who finally made the jump from troupe to Pro in Season 33. His journey is the perfect example of why the troupe matters; he built a massive social media following and became "essential" to the show's modern vibe before he ever got a celebrity partner.
- Alexis Warr: She won So You Think You Can Dance and then immediately landed in the DWTS troupe. Her precision is so high that she often makes the celebrities look better just by being in their general vicinity during group numbers.
- Britt Stewart: She was the first Black female pro, but before that? She was a standout in the troupe and a featured dancer in the High School Musical franchise.
The Pay and the "Pro" Promotion
There’s a lot of gossip about how much the Dancing with the Stars troupe dancers actually make. While the top-tier pros can pull in six figures per season, troupe members are generally on a much lower tier. They’re paid a weekly salary, but they don't get the same bonuses or "perks" that the celebrities and their partners get.
The real "payment" for many is the exposure. If you’re in the troupe, you’re on the radar for the DWTS Live Tour. The tour is where the real money is made for many of these dancers. It’s months of consistent work, traveling across the country, and performing for die-hard fans.
But the path to becoming a Pro is narrowing.
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In the early days, you could spend one season in the troupe and get promoted. Now, because the show has such a "legacy" cast of pros who have been there for decades (think Val Chmerkovskiy or Peta Murgatroyd), the troupe members often get stuck in "developmental hell." They stay in the troupe for four, five, or six seasons, waiting for a veteran pro to retire or take a maternity leave.
It creates a weird tension. You’re part of the family, but you’re still sitting at the kids' table.
The "Sidelined" Problem
What’s interesting—and kinda sad—is when a former Pro gets demoted back to the troupe. It doesn't happen often, but it’s a gut punch. It’s usually framed as a "creative decision," but it’s basically the show saying, "We don't have a partner for you, but we still want you around as a backup."
Sharna Burgess, a literal winner of the show, was famously left off the roster in Season 28. While she didn't join the troupe, it highlighted how volatile these spots are. For dancers in the troupe, every Tuesday night is a live audition for next year’s job.
The Technical Side: Why Choreography Depends on Them
If you see a complex group number involving 12 dancers, the troupe is doing the heavy lifting. The pros are often too busy teaching their celebrities how to walk in a straight line to spend 20 hours a week learning a group jazz routine.
The troupe dancers arrive early. They learn the "skeleton" of the choreography. They stand in as "markers" so the lighting directors and camera operators know where to aim the lens. When the pros finally show up to rehearse the group number, the troupe members are the ones who actually teach them the steps.
They are, quite literally, the teachers of the teachers.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Troupe
The biggest misconception? That they aren't as good as the Pros.
Honestly, in many cases, the troupe dancers are technically better than the pros. Why? Because they are usually younger and still actively competing in the ballroom circuit or coming off major commercial dance tours. The pros are often more "TV personalities" who happen to be great dancers. The troupe is where the raw, technical fire is.
If you watch a pro number closely, look at the dancers in the back. Their lines are often sharper, their kicks are higher, and their energy is more desperate. They have to be. They’re fighting for a job.
The Social Media Shift
In 2026, being one of the Dancing with the Stars troupe dancers is as much about TikTok as it is about the Cha-Cha. The show has leaned heavily into the "behind the scenes" content. Dancers like Rylee Arnold (who went from troupe-adjacent to Pro superstar overnight) show how much the audience craves that "relatable" younger energy.
The troupe members are often the ones filming the "day in the life" videos that keep the show relevant to a Gen Z audience that might not care about whatever B-list actor is trying to Paso Doble.
How to Follow the Journey of Your Favorite Dancers
If you actually want to understand how the show works, stop watching the celebrities and start watching the troupe. Here is how you can track who is likely to be the next big star:
- Watch the Live Tour: The dancers who get the biggest solo spots on the winter tour are almost always the ones being groomed for a Pro spot in the fall.
- Check the Choreography Credits: Look for troupe members who are assisting the main pros. This shows they have the "brain" for the show, not just the legs.
- Follow the Industry Insiders: Sources like Dance Spirit magazine or Kristyn Burtt’s "To The Pointe" are much more reliable than the official DWTS press releases, which usually hide casting changes until the last second.
The troupe is the heartbeat of the ballroom. Without them, the show would lose its scale, its safety net, and its future. They are the hardest-working people on that stage, and it’s about time they got the credit for being more than just "background."
To stay truly updated, pay attention to the casting calls that typically happen in late summer. When new names appear in the troupe lineup, you’re looking at the future of the show. Watch their technique during the "bumper" dances—the 15-second clips before commercials—as that’s where they really get to show off their uninhibited skill without a celebrity holding them back. Keep an eye on the official social media handles for the "Troupe Takeovers," which usually signal which dancer the producers are testing for a permanent role. If a troupe member starts appearing in more than three scripted skits per season, they’re almost certainly being promoted next year.