According to reports, the "Dancing with the Stars" showroom is getting a makeover. The hit ABC reality show is revamping its ballroom for the 13th installment, with a triple-tiered balcony and an on-stage staircase. The dance floor will be slightly elevated. And the show, which has a reputation for drafting "C- List" celebs for the competition, is said to be "upgrading" its cast with more notable celebrities.
"Dancing with the Stars" execs like keeping it fresh. In the past, they've kept audiences on their toes by incorporating new challenges in the competition. For example, during the Instant Dance challenge the contestants don't know to which song they'll be dancing. This makes the competition more difficult, as they will be relying solely on their technical knowledge of the routine, instead of listening for cues in the music. But we're certain that execs could come up with some other interesting ideas to trip up the contestants.
Partner Swap
Since all of the professionals are pretty great, wouldn't it be a hoot if the contestants were required to swap partners for at least one dance during the show? It wouldn't be the first time a contestant danced with a different partner (due to an injury). But never have all the couples swapped partners in the middle of competition.
Blindfolded Routines
At least one dancing couple has used the blindfold gimmick before to entice audiences. But requiring each of the contestants to perform a dance from beginning to end while completely blindfolded would certainly put a spin on the competition. To make things even more interesting, the judges (or perhaps voters) could choose the competitors' Blindfold Dance for them. Wouldn't you just love to see Chaz Bono's attempt to Rumba in the dark?
All Hip-Hop Week
If there's anything that judge Len Goodman hates, it's a dance routine that gets a little too "cheeky" for his taste. To that effect, the contestants who toss in a few hip-hop moves most often suffer a backlash in front of the judges' table, for straying too far from ballroom dance's very technical roots. So, wouldn't it be fun to see Hip-Hop week come to DWTS? And not any of that "happy rap" either. Hard-core classic Wu Tang, a few retro Tupac hits, perhaps some Notorious B.I.G., and some Lil Wayne tossed in for good measure. Surely, the dance routines would depend upon how well the DWTS orchestra interprets "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "How Do U Want It?"
Mirror Ball Winner Rematches
Just in case ABC wanted to really up the ante on ratings, it could incorporate "rematches"---former Mirror Ball winners taking each other on in a Super Duper Ball Room Challenge. Who wouldn't want to see Emmitt Smith challenge Kristi Yamaguchi and Nicole Scherzinger for the ultimate win? It would also be interesting to note whether the previous winners have kept up their trim figures and ballroom dancing abilities.
SOURCES:
www.omg.yahoo.com
More From This Contributor:
Ten "Dancing With the Stars" Celebrities Who Probably Should Have Won
Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own articles.
