The short-lived spin-off that brought ballroom competition to a younger generation of stars

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Dancing with the Stars: Juniors premiered on ABC in 2018, pairing celebrity children with professional junior dancers. Mentored by adult pros, these young competitors faced a panel of judges and studio audience voters. Despite its unique format, the series concluded after just one season, leaving behind a legacy of rising talent.

Launched on October 7, 2018, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors served as a spin-off to the long-running Dancing with the Stars, which itself drew inspiration from the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show featured a distinct structure: celebrity children, either famous in their own right or through their parents, were paired with professional junior ballroom dancers. These teams were guided by adult professional mentors, including Morgan Larson, who led the show's dedicated troupe.

The competition mechanics mirrored the parent series, with eliminations determined by a 50-50 split between judges' scores and audience votes. However, the voting process was restricted to studio audience members, excluding family members and eliminating the at-home voting component common in the main show. The judging panel featured Valentin Chmerkovskiy, choreographer Mandy Moore, and Adam Rippon, while the hosting duties were handled by Jordan Fisher and Frankie Muniz.

Over the course of nine weeks, the couples performed a variety of styles, ranging from the cha-cha-cha and foxtrot to the Charleston and contemporary. The season progressed through themed nights, including Disney Night, Halloween, and a Time Machine episode, culminating in a finale that showcased favorite dances and holiday-themed freestyles. Although the series was cancelled by ABC in September 2019, it served as a launchpad for several dancers who later appeared on the main series, such as Rylee Arnold and Hailey Bills.

The show's production timeline was tightly managed, with junior professionals and mentors revealed on August 1, 2018, followed by the announcement of the celebrity cast on September 25. While the competition was brief, it highlighted the technical proficiency of young dancers and provided a platform for future stars of the franchise. The legacy of the show persists through the career trajectories of its participants, many of whom have continued to evolve within the broader Dancing with the Stars ecosystem.

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