2012 to 2014: Competitive dancing and breakthrough

Aged 18, Carson auditioned for season nine of the Fox Broadcasting show So You Think You Can Dance. She made it through to the top 20 finalists. Her partner was ballet dancer and season-winner Chehon Wespi-Tschopp. As she advanced to the top six dancers, Carson partnered with Nick Lazzarini, Stephen "Twitch" Boss and Marko Germar before she was eliminated after the week-seven round in September 2012.^[7]

She returned in season ten, partnering with Paul Karmiryan and season-winner Du-shaunt "Fik-shun" Stegall.^[8]

Carson was announced as a troupe dancer on the reality-television series Dancing with the Stars in March 2013.^[9] Carson, partnered with Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Lindsay Arnold, was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance season nine.^[9] She continued dancing and choreographing for the troupe on season 17.

On season 18, Carson was promoted to professional dancer, partnering with singer Cody Simpson.^[3] They were eliminated on April 14, 2014, finishing in ninth place.^[10] The following season, Carson returned as a professional dancer, partnering with actor Alfonso Ribeiro and winning the competition on November 25, 2014.^[11]

2015 to present: Subsequent success

In 2015, Carson starred in Dancin': It's On!, directed by David Winters and also starring other winners and runner ups of So You Think You Can Dance, as well as Gary Daniels.^[12]

Carson returned for season 20 as partner for season 19 Bachelor, Chris Soules. They were the eighth couple to be eliminated, finishing in fifth place.^[13]

For season 21, Carson was paired with Big Time Rush singer and actor Carlos PenaVega. They reached the Finals but were eliminated on Night 1 and finished in fourth place.^[14]

For season 22, Carson was paired with NFL player Von Miller. During a double elimination on week 7, the pair were eliminated and finished in 8th place.^[15]

For season 23, Carson was paired with rapper Vanilla Ice. During a double elimination on week 4, they were eliminated and finished in 10th place.^[16]

For season 24, Carson was partnered with comedian Chris Kattan. They were first eliminated on March 27, 2017, her earliest exit.^[17]

For season 25, Carson was partnered with Malcolm in the Middle actor Frankie Muniz. They reached the finals and ultimately finished in third place.^[18]

For season 26, Carson was paired with Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer. They were eliminated on the third week of competition, tying in fourth place with Jennie Finch Daigle and Mirai Nagasu and their partners Keo Motsepe and Alan Bersten.^[19]

For season 27, Carson was partnered with actor Milo Manheim.^[20] They reached the finals of the competition and finished in second place behind Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess.^[21]

For season 28, Carson was partnered with Nickelodeon actor and comedian Kel Mitchell. They reached the finals and finished in second place behind Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten.^[22]

For season 30, Carson returned to the show and was partnered with WWE wrestler Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. They finished in 9th place after being eliminated week 7.^[23]

For season 31, Carson was partnered with comedian, actor & television personality Wayne Brady. They reached the finals and the couple finished in third place.^[24]

Carson became the co-host of the game show Catch 21 in November 2019, which reunited her with Ribiero.^[25]

With Cody Simpson

¹ Score given by guest judge Robin Roberts.

² For this week only, as part of the "Partner Switch-Up" week, Simpson performed with Sharna Burgess instead of Carson. Carson performed with Drew Carey.

³ Score given by guest judge Julianne Hough.

⁴ Score given by guest judge Donny Osmond.

With Alfonso Ribeiro

Footnotes:

1. Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.
2. The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.
3. This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Ribeiro performed with Cheryl Burke instead of Carson. Carson performed with Michael Waltrip.
4. Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.
5. Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.

With Chris Soules

With Carlos PenaVega

This season returned having three judges.

¹ Score given by guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro.

² This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, PenaVega performed with Lindsay Arnold instead of Carson. Carson performed with Nick Carter.^[30]

³ Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

⁴ Score given by guest judge Olivia Newton-John.

With Von Miller

¹ Score given by guest judge Zendaya.
² For this week only, as part of "America's Switch Up", Miller performed with Lindsay Arnold instead of Carson. Carson performed with Wanyá Morris.
³ Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

With Vanilla Ice

With Chris Kattan

With Frankie Muniz

¹ Score given by guest judge Shania Twain.

² Score given by guest judge Julianne Hough.

With Chris Mazdzer

¹ Score given by guest judge Rashad Jennings.

² Score given by guest judge David Ross.

With Milo Manheim

With Kel Mitchell

¹ Score given by guest judge Leah Remini.

² Score given by guest judge Joey Fatone.

With Mike "The Miz" Mizanin

¹ Derek Hough was absent so score was given out of 30.

With Wayne Brady

¹ Score awarded by guest judge Michael Bublé.