Season twelve of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 21, 2011, on the ABC network.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and Kym Johnson were the winners of the competition, while actress Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy finished second, and Disney star Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas finished third.
Cast Couples This season featured eleven celebrity contestants. The cast was revealed on February 28, 2011, during The Bachelor, and the professional partners were revealed on March 2. Hip-hop artist Romeo, who had been slated to appear on season 2 before he had to withdraw due to an injury, was one of the contestants to compete this season. This was also the first season to feature a dance troupe, which consisted of six dancers: Oksana Dmytrenko, Tristan MacManus, Peta Murgatroyd, Kiki Nyemchek, Nicole Volynets, and Ted Volynets. Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Radio personality Eliminated 1ston March 29, 2011 Talk show host & author Eliminated 2ndon April 5, 2011 Professional boxer Eliminated 3rdon April 12, 2011 Supermodel Eliminated 4thon April 19, 2011 Professional wrestler and Musician Eliminated 5thon April 26, 2011 Model & reality television personality Eliminated 6thon May 3, 2011 Rapper & actor Eliminated 7thon May 10, 2011 Film actor Eliminated 8thon May 17, 2011 Disney Channel actress Third placeon May 24, 2011 Film & television actress Runners-upon May 24, 2011 NFL wide receiver Winnerson May 24, 2011 Future appearances Kirstie Alley returned for the All-Stars season, where she was again paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Host and judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as co-hosts.
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 12) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 1+2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hines & Kym1st21442527 30+36= 28+26=54 30+30=60 29+30= +30= Kirstie & Maks2nd23204321222326 30+30= 28+25=53 27+27=54 27+27= +30= Chelsea & Mark3rd2118392326 30+34=64 29+26= 28+30+15= 29+30= +30= Ralph & Karina4th21212524 30+36= 25+21= 25+23= Romeo & Chelsie5th1942202326 30+30= 27+25=52 Kendra & Louis6th1819372325 30+31=61 Chris & Cheryl7th1942212326 Petra & Dmitry8th18183623 Sugar Ray & Anna9th17342021 Wendy & Tony10th1431 Mike & Lacey11th Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: First Dances The couples danced either the cha-cha-cha or foxtrot. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Chelsea & Mark 21 (7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "King of Anything" — Sara Bareilles Wendy & Tony 14 (5, 4, 5) Cha-cha-cha "I'm Every Woman" — Chaka Khan Hines & Kym 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Club Can't Handle Me" — Flo Rida, feat. David Guetta Petra & Dmitry 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "Don't Know Why" — Norah Jones Romeo & Chelsie 19 (7, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Romeo" — Basement Jaxx Sugar Ray & Anna 17 (6, 5, 6) Foxtrot "The Power of Love" — Huey Lewis & the News Kendra & Louis 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "When Love Takes Over" — David Guetta, feat. Kelly Rowland Ralph & Karina 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" — Dean Martin Chris & Cheryl 19 (7, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Should I Stay or Should I Go" — The Clash Mike & Lacey 13 (5, 4, 4) Foxtrot "Cooler Than Me" — Mike Posner Kirstie & Maks 23 (8, 7, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Forget You" — Cee Lo Green
Week 2: First Elimination The couples danced either the jive or quickstep. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Jive "Sweet Soul Music" — Arthur Conley Safe Kendra & Louis 19 (7, 6, 6) Quickstep "Gotta Work" — Amerie Safe Chelsea & Mark 18 (6, 5, 7) Jive "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" — Panic! at the Disco Safe Chris & Cheryl 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "I Got Rhythm" — Judy Garland Safe Petra & Dmitry 18 (6, 6, 6) Jive "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" — Queen Safe Kirstie & Maks 20 (7, 6, 7) Quickstep "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" — KT Tunstall Safe Mike & Lacey 17 (6, 5, 6) Jive "The Boys Are Back in Town" — Thin Lizzy Eliminated Romeo & Chelsie 23 (7, 8, 8) Quickstep "You're the One That I Want" — John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Safe Wendy & Tony 17 (6, 5, 6) Quickstep "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx Safe Ralph & Karina 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "Nobody But Me" — The Human Beinz Safe Hines & Kym 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "Part-Time Lover" — Stevie Wonder Safe
Week 3: Personal Story Week The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Wendy & Tony 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" — Indeep Eliminated Chelsea & Mark 23 (7, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Chelsea" — The Summer Set Safe Chris & Cheryl 21 (7, 7, 7) Rumba "Let It Be" — The Beatles Safe Kendra & Louis 23 (8, 7, 8) Rumba "You and Me" — Musiq Soulchild Safe Romeo & Chelsie 20 (7, 6, 7) Rumba "I'll Be There" — The Jackson 5 Safe Hines & Kym 25 (9, 8, 8) Samba "Fantasy" — Earth, Wind and Fire Safe Petra & Dmitry 25 (8, 9, 8) Waltz "You Raise Me Up" — Josh Groban Safe Sugar Ray & Anna 20 (7, 6, 7) Paso doble "My Prerogative" — Bobby Brown Safe Kirstie & Maks 21 (7, 7, 7) Rumba "Over the Rainbow" — Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Safe Ralph & Karina 21 (7, 7, 7) Rumba "Stay Gold" — Stevie Wonder Safe
Week 4: Classical Week The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceClassical MusicResult Romeo & Chelsie Paso doble "Palladio" — Karl Jenkins Safe Kendra & Louis 18 (6, 6, 6) Viennese waltz "Con te partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)" — Katherine Jenkins Safe 21 (7, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "Waltz of the Flowers" — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Eliminated Petra & Dmitry 23 (8, 7, 8) Paso doble "March of the Toreadors" — Georges Bizet Safe Ralph & Karina 25 (8, 8, 9) Waltz "Romeo and Juliet" — Nino Rota Safe Hines & Kym 25 (9, 8, 8) Paso doble "Explosive / Adagio for Strings" — Bond Safe Chelsea & Mark 26 (9, 8, 9) Viennese waltz "Hedwig's Theme" — John Williams Safe Chris & Cheryl 23 (8, 7, 8) Paso doble "I Dovregubbens Hall" — Edvard Grieg Safe Kirstie & Maks 22 (7, 7, 8) Waltz "The Flower Duet" — Katherine Jenkins Safe
Week 5: American Week The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Ralph & Karina 22 (8, 7, 7) Samba "Sweet Home Alabama" — Lynyrd Skynyrd Safe Chris & Cheryl 26 (9, 8, 9) Viennese waltz "America the Beautiful" — Whitney Houston Safe Petra & Dmitry 22 (7, 7, 8) Quickstep "Viva Las Vegas" — Elvis Presley Eliminated Romeo & Chelsie 26 (9, 8, 9) Foxtrot "New York, New York" — Frank Sinatra Safe Hines & Kym 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "God Bless The USA" — Lee Greenwood Safe Kirstie & Maks 23 (8, 7, 8) Foxtrot "American Woman" — The Guess Who Safe Kendra & Louis 22 (8, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Yankee Doodle Dandy(The Yankee Doodle Boy)" — James Cagney Safe Chelsea & Mark 26 (9, 8, 9) Samba "Party in the U.S.A." — Miley Cyrus Safe
Week 6: Guilty Pleasure Week The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Kirstie & Maks 26 (8, 9, 9) Samba "Baby One More Time" — Britney Spears Safe Chris & Cheryl 22 (7, 8, 7) Tango "Don't Stop Believin'" — Journey Eliminated Waltz "My Heart Will Go On" — Celine Dion Safe Chelsea & Mark 28 (10, 9, 9) Quickstep "Walking on Sunshine" — Katrina and the Waves Safe Kendra & Louis 25 (8, 8, 9) Samba "Livin' la Vida Loca" — Ricky Martin Safe Hines & Kym 27 (9, 9, 9) Viennese waltz "End of the Road" — Boyz II Men Safe Ralph & Karina 24 (8, 8, 8) Paso doble "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" — C+C Music Factory Safe
Week 7: Ballroom Greats Week Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Donnie Burns, Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
The six couples were divided into two teams to perform a cha-cha-cha team dance, and each couple also performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Chelsea & MarkRalph & KarinaRomeo & Chelsie 30 (8, 8, 7, 7) TeamCha-cha-cha"Born This Way" — Lady Gaga Hines & KymKendra & LouisKirstie & Maks 30 (7, 7, 8, 8) TeamCha-cha-cha"We R Who We R" — Ke$ha Chelsea & Mark 34 (8, 9, 8, 9) Paso doble "Ghosts 'N Stuff" — Deadmau5, feat. Rob Swire Safe Kendra & Louis 31 (8, 8, 7, 8) Tango "Jalousie" — Billy Fury Eliminated Kirstie & Maks 30 (9, 7, 6, 8) Jive "La Bamba" — Ritchie Valens Safe Ralph & Karina 36 (10, 9, 8, 9) Quickstep "Pencil Full Of Lead" — Paolo Nutini Safe Hines & Kym 36 (9, 9, 8, 10) Tango "Tango Misterioso" — Pedro Gomez Safe Romeo & Chelsie 30 (7, 8, 7, 8) Samba "Say Hey (I Love You)" — Michael Franti & Spearhead Safe
Week 8: Instant Choreography Week Each couple performed two dances. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultChelsea & Mark 29 (10, 9, 10) Waltz "My Love" — SiaSafe 26 (8, 9, 9) Instant Salsa "Get Busy" — Sean PaulHines & Kym 28 (9, 9, 10) Foxtrot "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" — Natalie ColeSafe 26 (9, 9, 8) Instant Jive "Chantilly Lace" — Jerry Lee LewisRomeo & Chelsie 27 (9, 9, 9) Tango "Hold It Against Me" — Britney SpearsEliminated 25 (8, 9, 8) Instant Salsa "Tequila" — Xavier CugatRalph & Karina 25 (8, 8, 9) Viennese waltz "Maybe I Maybe You" — ScorpionsSafe 21 (7, 7, 7) Instant Cha-cha-cha "Stuck in the Middle With You" — Stealers WheelKirstie & Maks 28 (9, 9, 10) Argentine tango "Cité Tango" — Ástor PiazzollaSafe 25 (8, 9, 8) Instant Salsa "Cobrastyle" — Teddybears, feat. Mad Cobra
Week 9: Semifinals Each couple performed two unlearned dances, plus competed in a "winner takes all" cha-cha-cha dance relay. Two couples faced off against each other, with the winners from each match competing against each other for fifteen bonus points. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResultRalph & Karina 25 (8, 9, 8) Argentine tango "Violentango" — Astor PiazzollaEliminated 23 (8, 7, 8) Salsa "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" — PitbullKirstie & Maks 27 (9, 9, 9) Viennese waltz "One and Only" — AdeleSafe 27 (9, 9, 9) Paso doble "White Room" — CreamChelsea & Mark 28 (9, 9, 10) Argentine tango "Assassin’s Tango" — John PowellSafe 30 (10, 10, 10) Rumba "Eyes On Fire" — Blue FoundationHines & Kym 30 (10, 10, 10) Argentine tango "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" — Doris DaySafe 30 (10, 10, 10) Salsa "Hello" — The Cat Empire
+"Winner Takes All" Cha-cha-chaCoupleDanceMusicResult Hines & KymCha-cha-cha "Boogie Shoes" — KC and the Sunshine Band Winners Ralph & Karina "Mustang Sally" — Wilson Pickett Losers Chelsea & MarkCha-cha-cha "Makes Me Wonder" — Maroon 5 Winners Kirstie & Maks "Walkin' On The Sun" — Smash Mouth Losers Chelsea & MarkCha-cha-cha"Just Dance" — Lady Gaga, feat. Colby O'Donis Winners Hines & Kym Losers
Week 10: Finals On the first night, the three couples performed two dances: a redemption dance selected by one of the judges, which was a style they had already performed earlier in the competition, and their freestyle routine. On the second night, each couple performed their favorite dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Night 1 CoupleJudgeScoresDanceMusicChelsea & Mark Carrie Ann Inaba 29 (10, 9, 10) Samba "Hip Hip Chin Chin" — Club des Belugas 30 (10, 10, 10) Freestyle "Latinos" — Proyecto UnoKirstie & Maks Bruno Tonioli 27 (9, 9, 9) Samba "Magalenha" — Sérgio Mendes, feat. Carlinhos Brown 27 (9, 9, 9) Freestyle "Perfect" — PinkHines & Kym Len Goodman 29 (10, 9, 10) Quickstep "Puttin' On The Ritz" — Irving Berlin 30 (10, 10, 10) Freestyle "Dancing Machine" & "I Want You Back" — The Jackson 5 Night 2