Apple cider vinegar Is Pilates for you? 'Ambient gaslighting' 'Main character energy'
TV
Carrie Ann Inaba

Stars help 'Dancing' celebrate 10 years

Bill Keveney
USA TODAY
First-season winner Kelly Monaco and pro Val Chmerkovskiy re-create an earlier dance.

LOS ANGELES – For its 10-year anniversary, ABC's Dancing with the Stars is celebrating by — what else? — putting on a ballroom spectacular.

The special, taped last week and airing Tuesday (8 p.m. ET/PT), includes a group dance with seven NFL stars and a gold football, to the rearranged tune of Monday Night Football's opening theme; first-season winner Kelly Monaco and pro Val Chmerkovskiy re-creating an earlier dance, stripping to a bikini and Speedos, as they splash on a water-soaked platform; and Patti LaBelle singing Lady Marmalade, backed by fellow Dancing alums Amber Riley and Lil' Kim.

Dancing history was made with the show's largest opening number, featuring over 45 stars including the judges, hosts, and Season 20 pro dancers performing alongside 15 celebrity alums and seven returning pros on "Dancing with the Stars: 10th Anniversary Special."

The taping closed with a group finale that featured more than 50 stars, pros and judges from the series' 20 seasons crowding the dance floor.

"It was wonderful to look across from the judges (table) and see all the alumni from previous seasons. I forgot that so many people had been on our show," says judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who has been present for every Dancing show. "It was fun to see Marlee Matlin out there again, what a wonderful woman. Having Amy Purdy back in the ballroom, she's one of my all-time favorites. Apollo Anton Ohno sitting next to me."

Celebrities say they also enjoyed the reunion for a one-time huge hit that still draws a solid audience.

Patti LaBelle, center,  is backed up by Lil' Kim, left, and Amber Riley for a performance of "Lady Marmalade."

"Next time they shouldn't wait so long. We love each other. When you do that show, you become a family," says singer Gladys Knight, who took a leap of faith to compete in Season 14. "It was totally out of my comfort zone. The Pips were the dancers. But it was an awesome experience."

Longtime pro Karina Smirnoff, who performed in the football dance, says she choreographed it in a way to honor Dancing's long run.

Donald Driver takes Karina Smirnoff for a spin on the gridiron dance floor.

"I wanted to pay homage to moments that were memorable within their seasons, so that's why I had Jacoby (Jones) jump over my head and had the move with Donald (Driver) where I held my ankles and he twirled me around, says Smirnoff, who is not competing this season. "It allows people to not only enjoy their dancing on the (anniversary special) but it reminds them of what these guys did on the show during their seasons."

Actress Lea Thompson, a former dancer who participated in Season 19, says the series has done a wonderful job promoting the art form.

"It's brought dancing back to the forefront of being cool. Now that people binge-watch TV, I think a live program is an advantage for a network to have," she says, adding that it was fun to attend an episode where no one was eliminated. "It's always so sad."

Shows like Dancing and Fox's So You Think You Can Dance have created greater awareness, Inaba says.

"When I go out, people talk to me about dance. They talk about dance now as if they talked about football or basketball. They know the terminology," she says. "As far as the emotional aspect, the show has really inspired people. It's scary to try something new. I think Dancing with the Stars has consistently reminded people that it's OK to try something and it's OK to fail. This is a valuable lesson."

Featured Weekly Ad