Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 30

Season thirty of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 20, 2021, on the ABC network and streamed on Hulu and concluded on November 22, 2021. This was the final season to air solely on ABC before the series moved to Disney+ in 2022.

NBA shooting guard Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach were crowned the champions, while YouTube personality JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson finished in second place, Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby and Cheryl Burke finished in third place, and The Talk co-host Amanda Kloots and Alan Bersten finished in fourth.

Cast

Couples

This season featured fifteen celebrity contestants. On August 26, 2021, during the virtual Television Critics Association summer press tour, it was revealed that Suni Lee and JoJo Siwa would be celebrity participants. On September 1, it was reported that Olivia Jade, Amanda Kloots, and Matt James would join them. Before the cast was officially revealed, TMZ reported that The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore, NBA player Iman Shumpert, and actor Brian Austin Green would also compete. Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, Jimmie Allen, and Christine Chiu were also reported to be competing. The full roster of celebrity participants were officially revealed on Good Morning America on September 8.

The season's fifteen professional dancers, announced on September 2, had all performed on the show before, with Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson returning after pregnancies. The lineup dropped Peta Murgatroyd and Keo Motsepe, who had competed in the previous season. For the first time in the series' history, one of the couples was same-sex: celebrity participant JoJo Siwa and professional dancer Jenna Johnson.

On September 10, 2021, it was announced that Sofia Ghavami and Ezra Sosa would be joining the show as professional dancers. Both dancers were showcased as part of the competing couples' dances throughout the season as well as opening numbers, and were also prepared to step in if a pro were unable to compete.

On September 26, professional dancer Cheryl Burke announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 before the season's second episode and had to stay home and quarantine for 10 days. In the episode, Burke and her celebrity partner Cody Rigsby were judged on rehearsal footage. Rigsby tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later, though the two continued to compete, dancing together via live feed in their respective homes during week three. As of October 6, Burke was cleared to return to the ballroom, and Rigsby returned in-person during the first "Disney Week" episode.

Hosts and judges

Alongside the season renewal announcement on March 30, 2021, it was revealed that Tyra Banks would return as host, with Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli returning as judges. For this season, each of the four judges was allowed a single vote on which dancer they would like to save. In the event of a tie vote amongst the four judges, Len's vote was considered the tie-breaker. This rule change has caused some controversy in the way it's been explained on the show, as many saw this as Len having an unfair advantage in determining which dancer is eliminated. On November 16, a day after the semi-finals, Derek Hough announced that he tested positive with a breakthrough case of COVID-19. On November 22, 2021, it was announced Julianne Hough would fill in for her brother Derek as a guest judge for the finale.

Scoring chart

The highest score each week is indicated in bold green. The lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red.

Color key:

Notes

Weekly scores

Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli.

Week 1: Premiere

The official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 2: First Elimination

The couples performed one unlearned dance, and are listed in the order they performed.

Cheryl Burke tested positive for COVID-19 the day before the live show. As a result, Cody & Cheryl did not dance live and were instead judged on their studio rehearsal footage.

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Christine & Pasha
• Bruno: Christine & Pasha
• Carrie Ann: Christine & Pasha
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Christine & Pasha

Week 3: Britney Night

Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.

The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs by pop artist Britney Spears. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Due to both Cody Rigsby and Cheryl Burke testing positive for COVID-19 and being in quarantine, their dance was performed via live feed from their respective homes. Derek Hough also missed the live show "out of an abundance of caution" because he had a "possible COVID-19 exposure," although his test came back negative.

Judges' votes to save

• Bruno: Kenya & Brandon
• Carrie Ann: Kenya & Brandon
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Christine & Pasha

Week 4: Disney Week

The couples had to prepare two new dances to be performed on two consecutive nights. On Monday, they performed routines inspired by heroes of Disney films, and on Tuesday, they performed routines inspired by villains. Each couple was also given the Mickey Dance Challenge, where they had to incorporate dance moves that were given to them from Mickey Mouse. The judges decided at the end of the night who they thought incorporated the moves the best in their dance. The winners, Jimmie and Emma, were awarded two extra points. No elimination took place on the first night, but a double elimination occurred on the second night. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Heroes Night

Villains Night

Judges' vote to save

• Bruno: Matt & Lindsay
• Derek: Kenya & Brandon
• Carrie Ann: Matt & Lindsay
• Len: Kenya & Brandon (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len, as head judge, made the final decision to save Kenya & Brandon.)

Week 5: Grease Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs from the musical Grease. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Olivia & Val
• Carrie Ann: Melanie & Gleb
• Bruno: Melanie & Gleb
• Len: Olivia & Val (Since the other judges were not unanimous, Len made the final decision to save Olivia & Val.)

Week 6: Horror Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance inspired by a horror film or television series. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Suni & Sasha
• Derek: Suni & Sasha
• Bruno: Suni & Sasha
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Suni & Sasha

Week 7: Queen Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance, and a dance relay with two other couples for extra points, to songs by Queen. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Notes

Judges' votes to save

• Bruno: JoJo & Jenna
• Carrie Ann: JoJo & Jenna
• Derek: JoJo & Jenna
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save JoJo & Jenna

Week 8: Janet Jackson Night

The couples performed one unlearned dance, and a dance-off for two extra points, to songs by Janet Jackson. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

• Derek: Melora & Artem
• Bruno: Melora & Artem
• Carrie Ann: Melora & Artem
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Melora & Artem

Week 9: Semifinals

During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the four judges. In the second round, they performed one unlearned dance. Two couples were sent home at the end of the night in a double elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Judges' votes to save

• Carrie Ann: Amanda & Alan
• Derek: Amanda & Alan
• Bruno: Amanda & Alan
• Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Amanda & Alan

Week 10: Finale

Individual judges' scores in the chart below are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.