Couples

Nine professional partners — Derek Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Mark Ballas, Lacey Schwimmer, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, and Kym Johnson — returned this season. Maksim's brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, made his debut competing as a professional. Peta Murgatroyd and Tristan MacManus, part of season 12's troupe of dancers, also became professional partners for the first time.^[1] Louis van Amstel did not compete as a professional, but participated in a new segment called "Ballroom Battles",^[2] which was cancelled on November 7.^[3] The dance troupe consisted of six dancers: Sharna Burgess, Dasha Chesnokova, Oksana Dmytrenko, Sasha Farber, Kiki Nyemchek, and Ted Volynets, plus the first eliminated male and female pros, who ended up being Val Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd.

This season featured twelve celebrity contestants. The cast was revealed during an episode of Bachelor Pad on August 28, 2011.^[4] The twelve professionals were revealed on August 31, 2011 during Good Morning America. Actor Ryan O'Neal was planning on competing as a celebrity, but could not after knee surgery, so Carson Kressley took his place.^[5]

From the start, controversy erupted over the inclusion of Chaz Bono, the child of singers Sonny and Cher. His appearance resulted in backlash from conservative supporters of the show, who even threatened to boycott due to his transgender status.^[6][7] Despite the criticism, Bono received strong support from the LGBT community. It was stated in LGBT Weekly that "Bono has become the transgender community's living symbol of hope, strength and defiance against vitriolic hate. When ABC Television announced that Bono would appear on DWTS, he faced vile slurs and death threats from a group of trans-phobic women and men."^[8] The controversy did lead producers to hire extra security protection for his time on the show.^[9]

Host and judges

Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as the judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts.

Week 1: First Dances

Each couple performed either the cha-cha-cha or the Viennese waltz. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 2: Top 11

Each couple performed either the jive or the quickstep. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 3: Most Memorable Year Week

Each couple performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 4: Movie Week

Each couple performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 5: '80s Week

The couples performed one unlearned dance to a song released in the 1980s. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 6: Broadway Week

Each couple performed one unlearned dance and a group Broadway dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 7: Halloween Week

Each couple performed one unlearned dance and a team dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 8: Instant Choreography Week

Each couple performed two unlearned dances, one of which was the jive. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 9: Semifinals

Each couple performed two unlearned dances, one of which was the Argentine tango, and a cha-cha-cha relay. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Week 10: Finale

On the first night, the three couples performed two dances: a redemption dance selected by one of the judges, which was a style they had already performed earlier in the competition, and their freestyle routine. On the second night, each couple performed their favorite dance of the season, after which the couple with the lowest combined scores was eliminated. The two remaining couples then competed in a samba relay. Couples are listed in the order they performed.

Night 1

Night 2