DWTS Season 10 – Pro Shake Up??
Cheryl Burke is in, Lacey Schwimmer is out – and based on the timing of their announcements, I’m afraid Derek (and Karina) was jumping the gun. I hope I’m wrong. So far, the other pros haven’t said, except for Dmitry saying he hadn’t heard.
So, is it simply that they didn’t have a partner that fit Lacey? Or is something else going on here. With Julianne gone, she and Cheryl are arguably the two most popular female professionals. I guess we’ll know when the season starts. If there is a new female (or two) similar to Lacey in height, then there might be something else going on. Perhaps they’re replacing some of the more popular pros to bring the attention back to the celebrities? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. I know LOTS of people that won’t be inclined to watch if their favorite pro isn’t on the show.
I am not happy about Lacey she brought an edge and style that was refreshing and fun. Glad Cheryl is in but waiting to see what they do otherwise. the straight ballroom can be boring with out some fun people so we’ll see.
The trouble for Lacey is, as fun as her personality, she got nothing else to offer in her programs.She got the least expertise in ballroom dancing and it shows a lot no matter how awesome and capable her partner is.Yes her personality is great, but her stuff is undeniably one of the weakest.She hoggs away the spotlight too much from her partners and don’t have very much patience to deal with them and gain the progress they need.Her divalish attitude also hurting her.The producers were not too keen of her attitude last season and it explains why she was not used very much inspite of her availability for the result shows.
Cheryl on the other hand is already a pioneer for them.From the very start of their success, she’s been a part of it all.She is one of their most significant and important faces for them.One of the few guaranteed personnel to be there for them until they make a call that it’s time for them to hang up. The most sought after dance professional/partner by the celebrities.
They are attempting to bring back the old glory days where it all started for them.
I too believe they are going back to the basics. Focus on Ballroom dancing. Lacey was the weakest with overall ballroom and it did show. Especially in the pro dances with more than just one couple.
And her attitude last season did not help. Maybe a little Divaish and they showed her who had control. Can’t wait to see who is on this season.
Hallelujah!!! I can not stand Lacey. Horrible attitude and horrible dancing. And that’s coming from person experience, not the show where she was just as bad.
Maybe they brought back an older pro like Andrea Hale, or Elana Grimeko (which would be awesome)
While I agree with both Tarah, Linda and Katrina to a point, I have a bigger problem here. This is rather shitty behavior on the part of the producers – they left these people to wait around and keep three months open, only to bring in a NEW pro (Damian), tell him a WEEK before the regulars that he’ll be on and then tell one last minute she wont’ be on? Shitty.
As for them going back to basics – we don’t know that’s what they’re doing. I wouldn’t call Cheryl “basic”. It could be as simple as Lacey not having a match, it could be an attitude issue (which, if true, means that Mark Ballas should also be out – but I doubt it), it could be any number of things. But I really doubt they are going back to basics. If they are going back to basics, they would dump ALL the pros and start fresh, because like it or not, these pros have become the face of the show. Using twitter followers as a measure of popularity (and really, it’s the only one we can actually SEE), Lacey is number one, followed by Derek. But I don’t think they are getting rid of the famous and popular ones, because Cheryl is right up there too – lower twitter count only because she just recently joined.
And I seriously doubt they will bring back older pros – that is totally counter intuitive to successful TV programming. But then, so would be letting go of someone like Lacey, so who knows?
Heidi, You’ve made great points in your assessment and I agree with most of it. No need to jump the gun to make this a “ballroom versus hip-hop” polarization. Personally, I think any attitude problems and lack of skills are reasons enough for Lacey to be left out — she reveled in her rebel status, now is paying for it. She loved Lance and appeared to have disdain for Mark D. That’s childish.
Personally, when I hear “going back to basics” (and we’re only guessing what these foolish producers are doing), it could also mean more emphasis on beautiful pro dance productions (a la earlier seasons). Those can be great — a la Broadway — and far from boring. I would LOVE that.
I can see ABC/DWTS wanting fans that are with the purpose of the show. Pro’s who highlight and promote their “star” would be what they’re after. BTW, RIGHT ON HEIDI re Mark Ballas.
Oh Joanie, you had me up until the last paragraph.
The producers DON’T CARE WHY someone watches the show, as long as they watch the show. Why would they. Viewers are their bread and butter. I’m not in their brains, but I would bet money on that. Lots of money.
That’s why Lacey not being on is kinda counter intuitive and hard to figure. If they cared about the “basics” issue, they never would have hired her in the first place – and MOST people watching the show don’t know a good paso from a poor one – they only know what entertains them. Now, it’s possible that Katrina’s attitude comment is on target – I saw lots of people comment on Lacey’s treatment of Mark (and Mark B’s behavior when MJH wasn’t doing well) – but you also have to remember that there is an EDIT involved. And, what about Maks if it’s about attitude? These pros and their celebs are together many hours a day every single day – and we see 60 seconds of it (personally, I would like to see more).
See – I’m talking myself out of the attitude thing. At least as seen on the show.
I guess once we see who the full cast is, it might be easier to figure out what’s going on in their brains. And maybe there are many reasons. I sure do wish the men would TWEET already. 
In terms of Mark, He has the talent ans has been doing ballroom since he would walk and is good at it. Lacey? Not in a the slightest.
I don’t think they care – and now Jonathan is out and Louis doesn’t know. So, that kind of eliminates the “ballroom talent” aspect, doesn’t it?
No, there are still lots of pros that have “ballroom” talent.
I won’t base their popularity from Twitter..Remember that majority of their viewers are middle aged peeps and older.these are the type of people who is not tech savvy and do not tweet. Younger dancers do have the same people following them. The older the pros the fewer followers. Julianne derek mark and other younger dancers are being followed by the same people. I don’t think it translate to being more popular than the others. Recognizability by the public and ability to get attention from the medias is what I consider popular. Likability is different though.I agree I think they are trying to get back to basics. They try so hard to get the young peeps attention by hiring younger dancers like Lacey. They lose their ballroom fanatics in return. This show will always be for adult’s tastes. Sorry using iPhone here.
I absolutely think Twitter followers is indicative of the popularity with the younger crowd. And, sadly, the younger crowd is what you need to go forward in this business. If you can only count the younger pros twitter pages, then you still have huge differences in followers. Lacey is 4k ahead of Derek, and Derek is nearly 11k ahead of Mark and Mark is much farther ahead of everyone else. Coincidentally (not), these are the same pros who have won design a dance. While DaD allows multiple votes – you can only follow someone ONCE. BTW, the “older” pros are still largely under 30 or close to 30. Hardly the same age group as those you say don’t twitter and aren’t tech savvy.
And just how old do you think I am? I have a feeling by your judgement, not only would I not be tweeting, but I would be technically unable to write for this website. Do not underestimate the talents and “savvy” of people over 35 or even over 40 – you would be seriously misguided in doing so. In working on Pure Derek Hough I can safely say that Derek has a huge number of fans that are well out of their 20′s and even 30′s – and they tweet just fine.
I agree w Katrina, Derek mark and Chelsie have competed in ballroom and knowledgeable enough. Lacey never did. That’s why maks was taking a jab at her of all the dancers. Smutty maybe another in trouble for his qualifications as a legit ballroom dancers.
Dmitry I mean.
Smutty? Where does that come from?
And he’s never competed in ballroom? I’ve never paid him much attention so I wouldn’t know.
I’m saying majority not all. My mom is a ballroom fanatic and no way in he’ll she’ll be doing this stuff. So as my aunt. That’s exactly what they were trying to do to capture the younger genre. But they didn’t realize that ballroom is not and will never be for younger peeps. Usually people who can afford and retired are the ones that are very much into it. Some of laceys fans are not necessary watching the show and only following her from her sytycd days. Same goes for Julianne who gets flocks of followers from her singing. Same goes w Derek and mark.
Sorry using phone here. It’s tough to make a point and spell. Lol
No, your original comment was that you don’t count twitter followers as a sign of popularity. That’s what I was talking about, not where they get their followers from.
And if you are right that Ballroom is not for younger people, then there wouldn’t be so MANY professional ballroom dancers who are in their 20′s and their teens. I think you’re being extremely ageist in both directions and not giving people any credit. Next you’ll be telling me that only gay men ballroom dance – if you’re going to generalize and stereotype, might as well go all the way, right?
I think Belski has a point… to an extent. Ballroom generally before DWTS was not all that popular. Thanks to the rise of DWTS (and no not just because of Derek, Mark and Julianne, though they helped), Ballroom is again becoming popular.
As for Dmitry, he has competited in ballroom:
- He competed with Benji and Lacey’s cousin (also a SYTYCD alum) Heidi:
o Finalists (6th), World Class Latin, 2006 New Jersey Spring Fling
o Finalists (4th), Latin Championships, U.S. National Amateur Dancesport Championships
o Runners Up, Open Amateur Latin, Northeastern Open
o Finalists (3rd), Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Holiday Dance Classic
o Finalists (6th), Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Ohio Star Ball
o Runners Up, Open Amateur Latin, 2005 Constitution State Challenge
o And several other results in adult and youth division championships[5]
* Partnered by Ilona Mayzenberg
o Semi-Finalists, 2005 US National Junior and Professional Dancesport Championships
o Finalists (3rd), Open Amateur Latin, 2004 Holiday Dance Classic
o And numerous other results in adult and youth division championships[6]
Just have to piggyback on those points, Heidi. There seems to be some kind of belief system that what a few teens like, all teens like, and a reliance on simplistic either/or thinking.
The basic premise is that last season was a disaster and needs to be overcome. We do not yet know how the usually-not-bright producers are going to try to do that, yet.
Clearly they need (a) fewer couples so fans can get to know them, and (b) fewer more known dance types. Many, many fans have protested that the beautiful pro dances are sorely missed, simply because the pro’s dance beautifully, while the “stars” cannot achieve that. Those pro dances can be of any type of dancing.
There’s nothing in any of this that has to cast “old” against “young” and “ballroom” against “whatever.” Candidly if we can’t get beyond such simplistic categories, the discussion isn’t worth it.
That was before DWTS, though, and I still wonder. Cheryl, Maks, Tony, Fabian, Louis – don’t they all have pretty successful studios? We’re talking NOW though – and DWTS is the number 2 show on Television.
And I wouldn’t lay it all on Derek, Mark and Julianne, although I think they took it to another level. I think Cheryl, Maks, Tony, Louis….even Alec….the whole of the pros on the show played a huge part in it becoming more popular.
I agree with you Heidi, I was just saying that they weren’t the only reason it became popular.
You use Twitter Heidi? What’s that? Can you share with me;-)
I’m a little sad for Lacey since DWTS is a really great opportunity for her. However, her attitude kills me. Her comments about SYTYCD (which opened up the DWTS opportunity) really irked me. Plus, she was a jerk about it when people called her out on it. I’ll miss the little unique element that Lacey brought to the dance floor, but she’s gone downhill since her first season.
Yeah, John, I have to put my walker aside though to be able to use this new fangled contraption, the com pew tor. Do these younguns not realize how old Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are?? Older than ME, by a lot, fer god’s sake.