Ballroom dance was brought to our TV screen when Dancing With the Stars season 1 kicked off in 2005.

Launched as the U.S. version of the U.K. series Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS saw three people sitting behind the judges table: Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman — and Inaba and Tonioli have remained in their posts throughout the entire series. (Goodman died in 2023 after a battle with prostate cancer.)

After six episodes, General Hospital’s Kelly Monaco and pro Alec Mazo were crowned the first-ever champions of the Mirrorball Trophy. Actor John O’Hurley and pro Charlotte Jørgensen placed second.

“The first season was only six episodes. It was a test run, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to tell anyone I’m doing it and hopefully I get voted off first and no one will ever see it

See Full Page