Dancing With The Stars Season 22 Cast: The Complete Roster, Champions, And Showdown
Ever wondered which celebrities laced up their dancing shoes and vied for the glittering mirror ball trophy in a particularly star-studded season of Dancing with the Stars? The dancing with the stars season 22 cast delivered a captivating mix of reality TV royalty, athletic prowess, and media personalities that made for one of the most discussed competitions in recent memory. Announced with fanfare and stepping onto the ballroom floor with high stakes, this season showcased a fascinating dynamic between seasoned performers and ambitious newcomers, all under the watchful eyes of judges and a live audience. From a model breaking barriers to a politician's daughter and a UFC fighter bringing intensity, the lineup was as diverse as it was talented. Let's pull back the curtain on the full ensemble that defined Season 22, from the initial announcement on Good Morning America to the final, dramatic dance-off that crowned a champion.
The Grand Announcement: Revealing the Season 22 Lineup
The anticipation for Season 22 built to a crescendo when the full cast was officially unveiled on Good Morning America. This annual tradition is a cornerstone of the DWTS launch, generating headlines and social media buzz. The announcement confirmed a roster that immediately sparked conversation for its eclectic blend of fame and backgrounds. As reported, the cast was a true cross-section of American pop culture, designed to appeal to a broad audience and keep viewers guessing week after week. The event itself was a spectacle, with celebrities and their professional partners making their first appearances in costume, already "well on their way to looking like pros," as the excitement became palpable. This season’s casting philosophy seemed to lean heavily into high-profile names with distinct public personas, ensuring that every episode would have a narrative beyond the dance floor.
A Cast of Contrasts: From Politics to Pop Culture
The dancing with the stars season 22 cast was notable for its lack of traditional A-list film stars, instead packing its ranks with figures from reality television, sports, news, and politics. This created a unique competitive environment where fame was measured in different currencies. The lineup included:
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- Reality TV Royalty: Marla Maples, former wife of Donald Trump and a Celebrity Apprentice alum, brought a mix of political connection and reality TV savvy.
- News & Media Personalities:Good Morning America's own Ginger Zee, a beloved meteorologist, stepped out from behind the weather map and onto the dance floor.
- Athletic Powerhouses: The season featured a "galore" of football stars, but the most striking athletic presence was Paige VanZant, a UFC fighter known for her toughness and striking looks. Her inclusion promised a fusion of combat sports discipline with ballroom grace.
- Entertainment Industry Veterans: Actors and performers like Geraldo Rivera (in his 11-episode stint) and Artem Chigvintsev (as a pro) added layers of established fame and dance expertise.
- The Breakthrough Star: Model and activist Nyle DiMarco, a deaf contestant, brought a profound and inspiring dimension to the competition, aiming to shatter perceptions and showcase dance as a universal language.
This deliberate mix ensured that the season would be about more than just perfect technique; it was about journeys, public images, and the challenge of mastering a new art form under immense pressure.
The Professional Partners: The Unsung Maestros of the Ballroom
Every celebrity's fate is inextricably linked to their professional dancer partner. The DWTS pros are the architects of the routines, the relentless coaches, and often the emotional anchors for their celebrities. For Season 22, the roster of professionals was a blend of returning champions and dynamic new faces.
- Peta Murgatroyd: A fan favorite and seasoned pro, Peta's partnership with Nyle DiMarco would become legendary. Her choreographic creativity and supportive style were pivotal in crafting their winning journey.
- Valentin Chmerkovskiy: The charismatic "Val" paired with Ginger Zee. His technical brilliance and showmanship were a perfect match for Ginger's determined, albeit sometimes technically challenged, efforts.
- Mark Ballas: The veteran pro, known for his innovative and sometimes risky choreography, was paired with Paige VanZant. Their partnership was a fascinating study in translating raw athletic power into controlled ballroom movement.
- Other Notable Pros: The season also featured stalwarts like Witney Carson (who had won the previous season with Alfonso Ribeiro), Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Emma Slater, and Keo Motsepe, each bringing their signature style to the floor.
The pros' ability to adapt their teaching to their celebrity's learning style—whether it was Nyle's reliance on visual cues and vibrations as a deaf dancer, or Paige's need to soften her fighter's instinct—was a central, unseen drama of the season. Their expertise is what transforms a novice into a competitor capable of performing complex routines live each week.
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The Champion Duo: Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd
The crowning moment of Season 22 saw model Nyle DiMarco and professional dancer Peta Murgatroyd hoist the coveted mirror ball trophy. Their victory was a landmark moment for the show, celebrated for its representation and sheer artistic merit. Nyle, who is deaf, danced primarily by feeling the vibrations of the music through the floor and watching his partner and other dancers for cues. This required an extraordinary level of trust and a different kind of communication between him and Peta.
Their journey was marked by consistently high scores, innovative choreography that incorporated elements of sign language and storytelling, and a palpable connection that resonated with viewers. They didn't just dance well; they danced meaningfully. In the final tally, they outperformed the formidable pair of UFC fighter Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas, who finished in a strong second place, and the resilient team of Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who secured third. The final results were a testament to the season's core theme: diverse backgrounds creating stunning art.
Champion Profile: Nyle DiMarco
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nyle DiMarco |
| Profession | Model, Actor, Activist |
| Claim to Fame | Winner, America's Next Top Model Cycle 22 (2015); Deaf activist |
| DWTS Season | 22 (2016) |
| Pro Partner | Peta Murgatroyd |
| Signature Strength | Exceptional physical expressiveness, powerful connection with partner, innovative use of vibration and visual cues |
| Impact | First deaf contestant to win DWTS; used platform to advocate for Deaf culture and accessibility |
The Competition Unfolds: Highlights, Themes, and Eliminations
Each week of Dancing with the Stars is a mini-spectacle built around a theme—Disney Night, Latin Night, Team-Up Challenge—which tests the celebrities' versatility. Season 22 was no exception, with themes that pushed the couples out of their comfort zones. While specific week-by-week scores and eliminated couples for Season 22 require archival research, the general structure is consistent: nine couples start, with one or two eliminated each week based on a combined score of judges' points and public votes.
The season was noted for being a close race, particularly in the later weeks. Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas consistently delivered high-energy, technically impressive performances that earned them perfect scores and a huge fan following. Ginger Zee showed remarkable improvement, often overcoming her nerves with Valentin's guidance. The middle of the pack saw various couples fluctuate, creating suspense about who would secure the final spots in the semifinals and finals.
A key element of the show's enduring appeal is the leaderboard. Each dance is scored on a 30-point scale by the judges (typically 10 points each for technique, performance, and choreography). These scores are then combined with the public vote to determine the bottom two couples each week. The couple with the lowest combined total is eliminated. This system means a couple with mediocre scores but a massive fanbase can survive, while a technically superior couple with less public appeal can be in danger—a dynamic that fueled much of the drama in Season 22.
A Look at Later Seasons: Evolution of the Franchise
To understand the place of Season 22 in the DWTS canon, it's helpful to see how the show has evolved. The key sentences reference seasons up to 34, illustrating a long-running format with consistent tweaks.
- Season 31 (2022): Saw the victory of NBA player Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach. Their win was a surprise to many, highlighting how a celebrity with no prior dance experience but immense charisma and improvement can triumph.
- Season 33 (2024): The most recent season at the time of some references, described as being "underway" with a TikTok-themed episode. This shows the show's continued effort to stay culturally relevant by integrating modern trends and music.
- Season 34 (2025): Aired in October 2025, featuring a Disney Night. The show's longevity is proven by its ability to refresh themes while keeping the core competition intact. Witney Carson had won the previous season (Season 33), demonstrating the rotating cast of pros and the cyclical nature of victory.
- Season 35 Preview: The announcement of a special celebration gathering past and present cast members before Season 35 underscores the show's legacy and its status as a reality TV institution. It’s a family reunion of sorts, celebrating 35 seasons of dance, drama, and glitter.
The show's format, established in its Season 1 in 2005, remains fundamentally the same: pair celebrities with pros, have them perform ballroom and Latin dances weekly, judge them, and eliminate based on scores and votes. What changes are the celebrities, the pros' choreography, and the weekly themes, which keep the franchise fresh.
Addressing Common Questions: The DWTS Viewer's Guide
Fans old and new often have similar questions about the show's mechanics and history.
Q: How are the professional dancers chosen?
A: The show employs a core troupe of professional ballroom dancers who are contracted season-to-season. Some are long-term fixtures (like Derek Hough, Mark Ballas), while others rotate in and out. Casting considers their competitive dance backgrounds, teaching ability, and on-camera charisma.
Q: What is the "mirror ball trophy" really made of?
A: It's a iconic symbol, but not solid gold! It's a trophy with a mirrored surface, designed to catch the studio lights and sparkle dramatically during the finale. Its design has remained largely consistent for years.
Q: Do the celebrities really do all their own dancing?
A: Yes, with one major exception: during certain group numbers or highly acrobatic lifts, a stunt double or additional dancer might be used briefly for safety, but the core routine and all spotlight moments are performed by the celebrity-pro pair. The judges score what they see that night.
Q: How do deaf or hard-of-hearing contestants like Nyle DiMarco compete?
A: This is where the pro partner's role is magnified. Nyle relied on feeling bass vibrations through the floor, watching his partner's body movements meticulously, and using visual cues from the orchestra conductor. The production team also ensured lights and staging were synchronized to help. It required a completely different training regimen.
Q: Why do some pros leave or return sporadically?
A: Pros are independent contractors. They may take seasons off to tour with Dancing with the Stars: Live!, pursue other dance projects, or simply for personal rest. The show's producers also mix up the pairings to create new dynamics, so a pro might not be paired with their preferred celebrity or might be asked to sit out a season.
The Enduring Legacy of a Groundbreaking Season
Dancing with the Stars Season 22 stands as a pivotal chapter in the series. It proved that a contestant with a disability could not only compete but could win by redefining what dance excellence looks like. It pitted the raw power of a UFC fighter against the refined grace of a model and the earnest determination of a morning show meteorologist, creating a narrative trifecta that captivated audiences week after week. The season reinforced the show's core formula: pair compelling people with incredible dancers, give them challenging themes, and let the journey unfold.
From the initial buzz of the cast announcement on Good Morning America to the final mirror ball lift, Season 22 delivered on entertainment, inspiration, and genuine dance spectacle. It sits alongside champions like Iman Shumpert (S31) and Witney Carson (S33) as part of a continuum of surprising and satisfying outcomes. As the franchise barrels toward Season 35 and beyond, with special celebrations and new Disney Nights, the memory of Nyle and Peta's triumphant, wordless story told through movement remains a high watermark. It demonstrated that in the world of Dancing with the Stars, the most powerful performances often come from the most unexpected places, and the mirror ball trophy is a prize that can, and should, reflect the beautiful diversity of its competitors.
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'Dancing With the Stars' Unveils Season 22 Cast Pairings - ZergNet
'Dancing With The Stars' Season 22 Official Cast Revealed - ZergNet
Dancing With the Stars Season 22 Cast
