PureDWTS Season 24 – Glee’s Heather Morris is Dancing this Season **POLL**
So yeah, remember that “ringiest ringer ever” I was hinting at on Twitter the other night? Well the cat’s outta the bag – it’s Glee‘s Heather Morris:
It’s Brittany, b–ch.
Glee star Heather Morris is set to join the Dancing With the Stars cast for its upcoming 24th season, sources exclusively tell E! News. Our sources also tell us The Bachelor‘s Nick Viall is set to compete as well, making him the franchise’s first lead to do DWTS since Chris Soules in 2015.
And because I’m feeling sort-of generous this morning, I’ll also reveal this: her partner is Maks.
Let’s address the elephant in the room here: as far as I can recall, Heather is the first legitimate professional dancer that has been cast as one of the celebs on DWTS. She tried out for season 2 of SYTYCD (but didn’t make the top 20), and she also danced backup for Beyonce. BEYONCE. She was not an actor or a singer when she was brought to the Glee set to teach the “Single Ladies” dance to Kurt – but Ryan Murphy liked her so much that he actually created the role of Brittany for her. But from what I can tell, she hasn’t done much acting or singing since Glee wrapped in 2015.
As I’ve said before – I’m all for ringers, as they (usually) guarantee we’ll see high-quality dancing from season to season. But is the show really so desperate that they’d cast an actual professional dancer??? Say what you will about Nicole Scherzinger – she was primarily a singer, and secondarily a dancer from her girl group days; as was Mya. But I don’t think we’ve ever had someone that was primarily a dancer and had only a bit of experience in some other medium.
Thoughts? Let us know in the comments, and vote in the poll below.
I like ringers. A lot. They up the standards of the snow and I like to see food dancing. Heather however is famous for being a dancer. It literally says “professional dancer/actor” in her bio…aka she’s a dancer first. Everybody said Amber was a ringer and she was placed in the back cause she couldn’t really dance. Heather was really just a dancer on the show. It’s just a bit much for me.
Sorry. Auto correct was not my friend on my last post!
She’s only trained in jazz. She has no ballroom or Latin experience. Yes dancing was her career before acting but she’s easily comparable to Nicole imo
This doesn’t seem right, her role on Glee was that she was the best female dancer on the team. And on her social media accounts she labels herself a professional dancer first and foremost. I’m okay with ringers but this doesn’t seem fair at all.
Yeah I feel like competing on a dance show is one line the show shouldn’t cross as far as casting ringers go. What will happen in future seasons…casting Maddie Ziegler?!?!
I’m definitely all for different talent levels, but this is a bridge too far.
A contestant with some dance background is ok because most stars are cross trained but this is ridiculous.
Sorry, this seems pretty desperate on her & the producer’s part. Why didn’t she just audition as a troupe member?
She’s only “easily comparable to Nicole” if you’re a Chmerkovskiy fan (many of whom were pissed before the reveal). She’s a PROFESSIONAL DANCER. Nicole was not.
I’d be willing to throw down real money that this was a stipulation set out by Maks. That he’d only agree to return if he was given a serious contender. I’ll be interested to know Peta’s partner. I’m sure TPTB would love to see a Maks Val Peta final three. Gag!
Gee, this just might explain how Maks went from “I am not returning to DWTS as I want to be a stay-at-home Dad”!!! Strong chance of getting another mirror ball put fatherhood down a peg. Guess Maks needs another mirror ball like Val. So desperate to make the C-brothers happen. Sickening.
Love her so im super excited for this one 🙂
Maks better step up his choreo this season. I think Heather would look great with Artem or Keo personally.
If she is a professional dancer, maybe she could do the choreography and teach Maks instead of the other way around!!!
@katrina – There was a few times in rehearsal where Maks was begging Meryl for help with ideas…wouldn’t be surprised if the same happened with Heather.
“I’m sure TPTB would love to see a Maks Val Peta final three. Gag!”
Couldn’t agree more, M8. This season is turning out to be so fam-heavy it’s about to turn me off. I’m holding out for Mark, Emma and Sasha to return as pros. If they aren’t back, I don’t think I’d be motivated to tune in. Unless they are able to cast Shemar Moore.
As for casting a professional dancer and pairing her with Maks? Yes, folks! Maks definitely has his work cut out for him this season. Poor guy!
I couldn’t decide between the first choice and the last choice. However, what will Maks choreo be like? Also, what will his attitude be like towards her which could mess it all up for them?
So I was thinking about it and Heather’s training/experience isn’t THAT far off from Allison. Obviously, Allison has choreography experience that Heather doesn’t and made it farther on SYTYCD. But Heather studied contemporary, tap, and jazz starting at age 9, danced on a tour, was on SYTYCD, etc. From what I’ve read of Allison, she’s been training in pretty much the same styles as Heather (plus ballet) from the same age.
Every way you look at it, Courtney’s description is right IMO…the ringiest of ringers.
Heather has actually been steadily working since Glee wrapped even during her second pregnancy unlike several other ex Glee kids. She’s ambitious, I guess. I’m a Glee fan so I can tell you, HeMo has a killer body, even after 2 kids, and she’s got moves! Plus, Heather Morris isn’t really her Glee character, Brittany. Her interviews have been controversial but I don’t think she’s dumb or more importantly, a push over. This will be a partnership to watch!
But hey, if MAKS is getting the ringiest ringer ever to be on DWTS, probably surpassing Meryl, who is baby brother Val getting?
Wow. Just wow. And I think if SYTCYD has taught us anything, it’s that Jazz/Contemporary dancers generally pick up other styles of dance rather quickly. It’s not always that they’re exceptional at other styles, but something about their training and technique allows them to be able to learn another style.
Maks has been handed a route to the finals, as long as he doesn’t get in his own way.
@Laura: They’re not that different, no, but you could say that about a lot of jazz/contemporary dancers, including that most have done some ballet. I think the only difference is whether Heather has kept up with her dance training on some level since she left Glee. Then again, Jenna Dewan-Tatum proved that’s not really a factor either.
For this season I am not sure it matters. Since going on past performances their are several good dancers. Call me crazy but the majority of viewers still value a growth curve. With the way voting goes in the later weeks (all 10s) it most probably will come down to the fan vote. The poll I would like to see is who do you think will win? I do not think it will be like season 23.
Not that I am any good at this but i would vote for Simone, she is the star, will be able to things that other dancers can not and probably improve to the untrainned eye of the TV audience.
I personally get so tired of the bad dancers that it’s nice to have more good ones. Sure the journey is nice, but sometime that’s so contrived (thanks production) that they aren’t even that fun anymore
On Heather, I have a feeling I’m going to be more annoyed when they gloss over her dance experience and we are subjected to Maks’ choreo.
With the female celebs in general- no male pro has any excuses this year. Every single male pro better bring their A game. Every single one of these female celebs can move to some degree and the choreo better be there.
And isn’t that pathetic, M8?? They can’t handle a real competition on this show – always trash talking Derek for having good dancers, even when they weren’t actual dancers – yet they MUST have a shot at winning.
Dudes, it ain’t really winning if the game is rigged in your favor.
It will be kinda hard to avoid the fact that she danced for BEYONCE, but I suspect they will try in the interest of keeping Maks on the show. Sad that he still needs that kind of help.
I can see Maks crumbling under the pressure of having to come up with great routines week in and week out, because that is what everyone will expect from two professional dancers. That’s what they undoubtedly are.
She’s the biggest ringer since Riker Lynch. Possibly the biggest female ringer ever? Certainly in terms of actual dance experience. I count someone dancing for Beyonce as a far bigger ringer than someone whose been on Broadway like say Alfonso.
Absolutely the biggest female ringer ever. I think she’s on par with Riker, since his experience was more as a kid while hers was as an adult.
I’ve always been of the opinion that ringers in general are inevitable. Between a whole host of factors (age, athletic ability, experience taking dance classes as a child/teen, professional experience in acting and selling a performance, etc.) it would be completely ridiculous to think that they’d ever be able to assemble a cast in which there weren’t people at an inherent advantage and people at an inherent disadvantage. Even if you could, that would be the most boring season ever because all the contestants would be from the same walk of life. However, when I’ve said this in the past, my caveat has always been that while it would be hard to draw lines about what kind of advantage is too much because that would be pretty arbitrary, the one and only advantage I thought was clearly out of line and unfair was being an actual professional dancer. I thought it was a forgone conclusion that a person who would reasonably be qualified to be a pro or troupe member was obviously not eligible to be a contestant. Apparently the producers disagree…
Exactly, m. And I think the token line we’re going to be fed when Heather’s dance experience comes into question is “But I didn’t train in ballroom – only in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, etc.!”
Curious to see what maks we get since she seems like the kind of celeb that is going to do well. more
Of the fun he had with Mel b and Kirstie and less of the phone it in would be nice
@Courtney Ugh, I totally agree that we’re going to be beat over the head with that line, to which we’ll all be saying: “Yes, and so did Allison and Hayley.”
I’m obliged to point out that all the Maks/Val fans now making excuses howled with rage when Derek got Jennifer Grey (50-yr old ACTRESS), Amber Riley (SINGER) and particularly Nicole (SINGER, girl band). NONE of whom qualified as a “professional dancer” and none of whom would make it on stage behind Beyonce and certainly would never even dream of trying out for SYTYCD!!
Fact is, Val has gotten a ringer of some level every season but 1 – and he’s the ONLY pro on the show to be coddled in such a manner. At least Maks paid dues…but apparently he’s made it a condition that he should get ringers also. Something lured him back from “stay at home dad” and I doubt very much it was the promise of another dancer with no chance at winning.
Well of course, if the ringer isn’t given to Val, she has to go to Maks. She shouldn’t be dancing at all. So what if she hasn’t done much dancing since Glee went off the air. She’s still a professional, she still was a back up dancer for Beyonce, who I can’t see having anyone dancing for her unless you’re extremely good. This show WAS about celebrities who didn’t have any knowledge of dancing learning how to dance. We watched their progress each week. And, for me, that’s what made the show enjoyable.
Now it’s become too much of show focused on showmances and celebrities that have dance experience, female gymnasts that know dance, celebrities that dance on their shows and/or have had dance lessons in the past.
It’s not as much fun to watch anymore. I agree with PH, Maks made it quite clear he wouldn’t dance another season, and here he is. And there cannot be any doubt in anyone’s mind that he made it clear he wanted a contender. And he got one.
I’m hoping Val doesn’t get Simone, I want to see her with Sasha. You know who I hope he gets? If it’s true she’s doing the show, I want him to have Charo. Let’s see what he can do with her. And give Peta Mr. T.
But they’ll both be given someone good and the likelihood of a Val/Maks/Peta finals could happen. TPTB would love promoting that. If that happens, I won’t watch it. I’ll probably give up watching if gets anywhere near the possibility that it can happen.
I like this! Although I think Val would’ve been the better partner since he’s more hip hoppy than maks and so is heather. From what I’ve seen of her on YouTube.
I am all for ringers, because I love great dancing. It’s also cool that we have more people with some dance experience. I think they should bring back the half points from all-star season. They’ll need it.
Holy crap!! I suppose he feels he hit the jackpot lol. Question is will his dances with her live up to the hype that everybody is expecting from them? B/c if she’s supposed to be THAT GOOD then I better see some damn good dancing coming from the two of them-Maks better step it up!!
I’m all for ringers, but feel a professional dancer is a bridge too far. If Max wastes his normal time at the beginning and end of each dance, I guess that could be seen as handicapping Heather ;). I honestly didn’t recognize her name, as I wasn’t a Glee watcher. If they gloss over her dance experience, most casual viewers won’t likely realize her dance qualifications. It’s funny to think about the outrage Maks, Val and Tony would be expressing if anyone else had gotten her as a partner…
I really like Heather Morris on Glee but she was literally hired as a dancer for the show and hardly had any solos or singing parts until later on so it just seems a bit ridiculous to have an actual trained dancer (she also danced for Beyonce at the VMAS for single ladies in 2008 or 2009). I’m not even saying this because I have a dislike for the “fam”, if Derek was on or Mark, I would say the same thing about her being on the show.
Not only is HeMo a professional dancer, she’s had experience teaching, that’s what she was originally hired by Glee for and her sister has a studio where she works from time to time. I can’t say for sure but it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s done some choreo too. Zach Woodlee was always credited with Glee’s choreography but he wasn’t their only one.
Gee whiz why don’t they just give Jenna a chance at a mirror ball and pair her with Val? Yes I’m kidding (sort of). Unbelievable