Season eleven of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 20, 2010. The cast was announced during the August 30 episode of Bachelor Pad during a live press conference that included a Q&A session with host Tom Bergeron and co-host Brooke Burke and the new cast. There are twelve celebrity cast members this season. The pairs were announced on September 1.
Corky Ballas returned to the show for the first time since season seven. This is the first season to feature no new professional dancers, as each of the 12 pros has appeared on at least one previous season. Edyta ΕliwiΕska, the only pro to have appeared throughout the entire run of the series, did not return this season. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba continued as the judges.
Several changes were introduced this season including an "Acoustic Week," in which couples performed either the Rumba or the Argentine Tango, while the audience was brought closer to the dance floor, which was elevated and made circular, a "TV Theme Week" and a "Rock n' Roll Week", in which couples performed the Paso Doble or the Tango and danced in a Rock n' Roll marathon. Fan favorites from previous seasons also came back to judge the couples, who re-created their most memorable routines on the 200th episode; these guest judges were HΓ©lio Castroneves, Kelly Osbourne, Emmitt Smith, Drew Lachey, Gilles Marini, and Mel B. Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Ohno also served as team captains for the team dances. Yamaguchi's team consisted of Rick & Cheryl, Kyle & Lacey and Bristol & Mark, while Brandy & Maksim, Jennifer & Derek and Kurt & Anna were on Ohno's team. Also scheduled was a week dubbed "Instant Choreography" in which the couples practiced their routines for a week and received the music for their Latin dances only 45 minutes before their live routines.
Episode 1
Dancing with the stars returns with a new group of stars ready to take to the dance floor. Couples dance the Viennese Waltz or the Cha-Cha this week.
Episode 2
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 3
The remaining eleven couples perform for America's votes and the judge's scores.
Episode 4
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 5
The remaining ten couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 6
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 7
The remaining nine couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 8
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 9
The remaining eight couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 10
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 11
The remaining seven couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 12
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 13
The remaining six couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 14
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 15
The remaining five couples perform for America's votes and the judges' scores.
Episode 16
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 17
The remaining four couples perform to win America's votes and high scores from the judges.
Episode 18
One couple is eliminated from the competition. Special guest performances and dancing round out the evening.
Episode 19
The final three couples perform to try to win America's votes and the judges' scores as the competition enters its final stage.
Episode 20
Contestants perform the judges' favorite dances from the season and the winner is revealed!