Tyra Banks is returning to be the host and executive producer of Dancing with the Stars for a third consecutive season Disney has announced. This year she is being joined by co-host and Dancing with the Stars season 19 Mirrorball Champion Alfonso Ribeiro. Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough will be returning as judges as well. This new season will be broadcast on Disney+, although a date has not been announced yet.
“I’ve known Alfonso since I was 19 years old and he always puts a smile on my face whenever I see him,” said Banks. “Having such a fun-loving, longtime friend as co-host warms my heart. Plus, he’s won the competition before, so he knows exactly what the stars are going through. Bantering back and forth with him live is going to be so much fun!”
“‘Dancing with the Stars’ has been such an important part of my life for so many years, and I am ecstatic to officially re-join this tight-knit family as co-host,” said Ribeiro. “Tyra and I have a longstanding friendship that I hope will resonate with all of the fans at home as we kick off this new season on Disney+.”
Dancing with the Stars has been around for 30 seasons and is moving to Disney+ this season. It is hosted by supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks along with actor and television personality Alfonso Ribeiro. In the show, celebrities are partnered with trained ballroom dancers to compete in choreographed dance routines that have specific themes. These are then judged by renowned balled room experts that include Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
Dancing with the Stars is moving to Disney+ where it will premiere this fall in both the United States and Canada. It will be the first live series to debut on Disney’s streaming service.
Alfonso Ribeiro Bio
Alfonso Ribeiro currently hosts ABC’s “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and the show returns this fall for season 33. His iconic television personality danced its way into our hearts with his talents as an actor, TV director, award-winning dancer and Broadway star. Ribeiro has spent over 30 years leaving his unique mark on television, theater and pop culture worldwide.
Ribeiro also hosts the longtime ABC hit’s successful spinoff, “America’s Funniest Home Videos: Animal Edition,” that airs on Nat Geo WILD and brings lots of laughs into homes across America with hilarious clips of cats, dogs and other animals. In addition, he hosted Game Show Network’s reboot of “Catch 21.”
Ribeiro began his career as a child actor, most notably on Broadway playing the lead role in the Tony®-winning musical “The Tap Dance Kid.” As news of Ribeiro’s dancing and singing skills spread, he was offered a recording contract with Island Records, for whom he released several dance/pop singles, as well as his role in Michael Jackson’s 1984 Pepsi commercial.
Ribeiro was then cast in the long-running NBC sitcom “Silver Spoons,” making him an instant teen idol. After earning a theater arts education from Cal State University, Los Angeles, he was given the opportunity to choose a role on the established sitcom “A Different World” or a new pilot called “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Showing an adventurous streak, he chose the latter and created the iconic character of Carlton Banks for which he is known throughout the world.
Having grown up in front of the camera, he also knew opportunities existed behind the scenes. His diverse resumé as a TV director includes popular programs like “In the House,” “Shake It Up,” “Are We There Yet?,” “The Wannabes,” “Meet the Browns,” “Cuts,” “Eve,” “One on One” and “All of Us.”
Ribeiro continued to make good use of his dancing skills in 2014 when he won the 19th season of “Dancing with the Stars.” After finishing in first place, he hosted the countrywide “Dancing with the Stars” tour.
Golf is also one of Ribeiro’s passions and he is currently a PGA TOUR Champions Ambassador.
He resides in California with his wife and four children.
What do you think of the changes coming to Dancing with the Stars this fall? Are you excited about them? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
