The fifth season of Bulgarian dancing reality competition Dancing Stars premiered on February 20, 2024, on bTV. The show returned nine years after the last season aired. The new hosts were Aleksandra Raeva and Krasimir Radkov and the judges were Galena Velikova, Iliana Raeva, Frantsiska Yordanova - Papkala and Tomash Papkala. The show aired each Tuesday from 20:00 to 23:00 and the companion show "Dancing Stars: Extra" aired each Friday from 22:30 to 23:00.
Nedelya Shtonova was crowned as the winner with her professional partner Atanas Mesechkov on May 14, 2024.
Cast This season presented new hosts on January 24, 2024 – actress and TV host Aleksandra Raeva and comedian and actor Krasimir Radkov, who also finished as runner-up on the second season of the show. This season introduced the companion show "Dancing Stars: Extra", hosted by actress and TV host Stanislava Gancheva (who is also Radkov's spouse and also participated on the second season of the show), which featured backstage interviews with the participants and other people involved with the show.
The celebrities were revealed on January 30 – the women consisted of TV hosts Nedelya Shtonova and Natali Trifonova, pop singers Dara and Mila Robert, pop-folk singer Emanuela, Olympic karate champion Ivet Goranova and actresses Nona Yotova and Boryana Batashova (wife of the former Andrey Batashov, who participated in the first season), while the male part of the cast included actors Filip Bukov and Daniel Peev – Dundi, pop singer Papi Hans, stuntman Valeri Grigorov, fitness instructor Viktor Stoyanov, boxer Serafim Todorov, musician Svilen Noev and pop-folk singer Emrah Storaro.
The jury was revealed on February 4 to consist of returning judges from the previous season Galena Velikova and Iliana Raeva, who were joined by dancing professionalists and family Frantsiska Yordanova - Papkala and Tomash Papkala.
The professional partners included returning dancers Ani Doncheva, Atanas Mesechkov, Dorina Stoyanova, Kaloyan Ivanov, sisters Ralitsa Merdzhanova and Elena Merdzhanova, Mihaela Pavlova and Todor Atanasov and also Daniel Denev, Dimitar Georgiev – Jimmy, Dimitar Stefanin, Ivan Karastoyanov, Kristian Yordanov, Tanya Baltova, Veselina Daneva and Yovita Georgieva.
Format Each week all of the participants would perform their dance and would be scored by the judges on a scale from 1 to 10 and by the viewers who voted via SMS. Then the scores would be converted in two rankings with the couple that got the lowest score getting 1 point and the best scoring couple getting the maximum points for the night, depending of the number of the couples left on the show. The points from both rankings would then be combined and the couple with the least points would be eliminated.
From the eight week the two couples with the least votes would participate in an elimination duel, where only the viewers voted. The couple who got the least amount of votes from the public would get eliminated.
Contestants № Celebrity Notability Professional partner Result 1 Nedelya Shtonova TV host Atanas MesechkovWinners 2 Dara Pop singer Dimitar Georgiev – JimmyRunners-up 3 Natali Trifonova TV host Dimitar StefaninThird place 4 Ivet Goranova Olympic karate champion Todor AtanasovFourth place 5 Papi Hans Pop singer & writer Ani DonchevaEliminated 12th 6 Valeri Grigorov Stuntman &participant in Desafío Bulgaria 4 Dorina Stoyanova – KovachevaEliminated 11th 7 Viktor Stoyanov Fitness instructor &participant in The Bachelor Bulgaria 1 Mihaela PavlovaEliminated 10th 8 Emrah Storaro Pop-folk singer Veselina DanevaEliminated 9th 9 Mila Robert Pop singer & actress Kristian YordanovEliminated 8th 10 Emanuela Pop-folk singer Ivan Karastoyanov (Weeks 1–3)Kaloyan Ivanov (Weeks 4–7)Eliminated 7th 11 Daniel Peev – Dundi Actor Elena MerdzhanovaEliminated 6th 12 Filip Bukov Actor Ralitsa MerdzhanovaEliminated 5th 13 Svilen Noev Musician Yovita GeorgievaEliminated 4th 14 Nona Yotova Actress, singer & former politician Daniel DenevEliminated 3rd 15 Serafim Todorov Boxer Tanya BaltovaEliminated 2nd 16 Boryana Batashova Actress & singer Kaloyan IvanovEliminated 1st
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 Stars season 5 – Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9+10 11 12 13 Nedelya & Atanas 1st 25 26 26 32 35 33 30+38=68 32 100 35+7=42 36+5=39+39= Dara & Jimmy 2nd 29 30 28 37 30 39 37 32+38=70 110 37+6=43 40+5=40+40= Natali & Dimitar 3rd 23 27 34 31 36 39 38 38 35+38=73 39 112 40+3=43 40+5=40+39=79 Ivet & Todor 4th 22 27 29 28 36 33+40=73 37 110 40+2=42 38+5=4338+40= Papi Hans & Ani 5th 24 30 32 38 33 32+40=72 35 107 40+5=38+5=43 Valeri & Dorina 6th 23 24 31 30 29 35 38 35+40= 38 33+4= 39+5=44 Viktor & Mihaela 7th 22 21 32 27 33 28 37 30+40=70 39 109 36+1= Emrah & Veselina 8th 22 27 23 29 29 34 25+38= Mila & Kristian 9th 27 22 27 25 32 35 30 Emanuela & Ivan/Kaloyan 10th 20 27 23 35 32 34 Dundi & Elena 11th 22 20 28 29 Filip & Ralitsa 12th 26 22 27 25 30 Svilen & Yovita 13th 17 23 21 Nona & Daniel 14th 20 23 21 Serafim & Tanya 15th 23 Boryana & Kaloyan 16th
Weekly scores Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Frantsiska Yordanova - Papkala, Tomash Papkala, Galena Velikova, Iliana Raeva.
Week 1: Premiere night (February 20) Draw Couple Dance Judges scores Result 1. Viktor & Mihaela Foxtrot 22 (6, 6, 4, 6) Safe 2. Natali & Dimitar Foxtrot 23 (5, 7, 5, 6) Safe 3. Boryana & Kaloyan Cha-cha-cha 11 (2, 4, 2, 3) Eliminated 4. Nedelya & Atanas Samba 25 (7, 6, 7, 5) Safe 5. Dundi & Elena Samba 22 (6, 6, 5, 5) Safe 6. Emrah & Veselina Viennese waltz 22 (5, 6, 5, 6) Safe 7. Emanuela & Ivan Cha-cha-cha 20 (4, 6, 4, 6) Safe 8. Dara & Jimmy Samba 29 (8, 7, 7, 7) Safe 9. Papi Hans & Ani Viennese waltz 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Safe 10. Nona & Daniel Samba 20 (4, 5, 5, 6) Safe 11. Mila & Kristian Cha-cha-cha 27 (7, 6, 7, 7) Safe 12. Svilen & Yovita Cha-cha-cha 17 (4, 5, 4, 4) Safe 13. Ivet & Todor Waltz 22 (5, 6, 5, 6) Safe 14. Serafim & Tanya Cha-cha-cha 23 (5, 6, 5, 7) Safe 15. Valeri & Dorina Cha-cha-cha 23 (5, 6, 5, 7) Safe 16. Filip & Ralitsa Cha-cha-cha 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) Safe
Week 2: Second night (February 27) Draw Couple Dance Judges scores Result 1. Papi Hans & Ani Jive 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) Safe 2. Valeri & Dorina Jive 24 (7, 6, 6, 5) Safe 3. Serafim & Tanya Foxtrot 12 (2, 3, 3, 4) Eliminated 4. Dara & Jimmy Jive 30 (8, 7, 8, 7) Safe 5. Nona & Daniel Foxtrot 23 (6, 6, 5, 6) Safe 6. Dundi & Elena Foxtrot 20 (5, 6, 4, 5) Safe 7. Natali & Dimitar Jive 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) Safe 8. Emanuela & Ivan Foxtrot 27 (6, 6, 8, 7) Safe 9. Filip & Ralitsa Jive 22 (6, 6, 5, 5) Safe 10. Ivet & Todor Jive 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Safe 11. Nedelya & Atanas Foxtrot 26 (6, 7, 6, 7) Safe 12. Svilen & Yovita Foxtrot 23 (5, 6, 6, 6) Safe 13. Mila & Kristian Jive 22 (5, 6, 5, 6) Safe 14. Emrah & Veselina Foxtrot 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) Safe 15. Viktor & Mihaela Jive 21 (5, 6, 4, 6) Safe
Week 3: Movie night (March 5) Draw Couple Dance Judges scores Result 1. Emrah & Veselina Freestyle 23 (5, 6, 6, 6) Safe 2. Dundi & Elena Charleston 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) Safe 3. Viktor & Mihaela Paso doble 32 (8, 8, 7, 9) Safe 4. Papi Hans & Ani Cha-cha-cha 30 (7, 7, 8, 8) Safe 5. Nedelya & Atanas Salsa 26 (6, 6, 7, 7) Safe 6. Nona & Daniel Quickstep 21 (5, 5, 5, 6) Eliminated 7. Ivet & Todor Samba 27 (6, 7, 7, 7) Safe 8. Natali & Dimitar Quickstep 34 (9, 8, 8, 9) Safe 9. Svilen & Yovita Paso doble 19 (4, 5, 5, 5) Safe 10. Mila & Kristian Viennese waltz 27 (6, 6, 7, 8) Safe 11. Valeri & Dorina Charleston 31 (7, 7, 8, 9) Safe 12. Emanuela & Ivan Jive 23 (5, 6, 6, 6) Safe 13. Dara & Jimmy Paso doble 38 (10, 9, 9, 10) Safe 14. Filip & Ralitsa Quickstep 27 (7, 7, 7, 6) Safe
Week 4: Latino night (March 12) Draw Couple Dance Judges scores Result 1. Mila & Kristian Samba 25 (6, 6, 6, 7) Safe 2. Ivet & Todor Salsa 29 (8, 7, 7, 7) Safe 3. Filip & Ralitsa Mambo 25 (6, 6, 6, 7) Safe 4. Dara & Jimmy Cha-cha-cha 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) Safe 5. Viktor & Mihaela Salsa 27 (7, 6, 6, 8) Safe 6. Nedelya & Atanas Cha-cha-cha 32 (8, 7, 8, 9) Safe 7. Natali & Dimitar Rumba 31 (8, 8, 8, 7) Safe 8. Papi Hans & Ani Salsa 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Safe 9. Svilen & Yovita Samba 21 (5, 6, 5, 5) Eliminated 10. Valeri & Dorina Salsa 30 (8, 7, 7, 8) Safe 11. Emrah & Veselina Cha-cha-cha 19 (4, 5, 4, 6) Safe 12. Dundi & Elena Salsa 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) Safe 13. Emanuela & Kaloyan Rumba 35 (8, 9, 9, 9) Safe
Week 5: In the world and at us [Dances from around the world] (March 19) Draw Couple Dance Judges scores Result 1. Dundi & Elena Indian dance 27 (7, 7, 6, 7) Safe 2. Viktor & Mihaela Tango, sirtaki 33 (8, 8, 9, 8) Safe 3. Valeri & Dorina African dance 29 (7, 8, 7, 7) Safe 4. Mila & Kristian Foxtrot 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Safe 5. Nedelya & Atanas Bulgarian folk dance 35 (8, 9, 9, 9) Safe 6. Natali & Dimitar Viennese waltz 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) Safe 7. Emrah & Veselina Charleston 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) Safe 8. Dara & Jimmy Foxtrot 37 (9, 9, 9, 10) Safe 9. Filip & Ralitsa Indian dance 30 (7, 7, 8, 8) Eliminated 10. Papi Hans & Ani Argentine tango 38 (10, 9, 9, 10) Safe 11. Emanuela & Kaloyan Viennese waltz 35 (9, 8, 9, 9) Safe 12. Ivet & Todor Bulgarian folk dance, paso doble 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) Safe
Week 6: World hits (March 26) Draw Couple Dance Judges vote Public vote Total points Result Scores Points Percentage Points 1. Ivet & Todor Cha-cha-cha 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) 3 15,6% 10 13 Safe 2. Dundi & Elena Rumba, paso doble 24 (6, 6, 6, 6) 1 7,4% 6 7 Eliminated 3. Emanuela & Kaloyan Argentine tango 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) 6 6,6% 4 10 Safe 4. Nedelya & Atanas Viennese waltz 33 (8, 8, 9, 8) 7 16,3% 11 18 Safe 5. Dara & Jimmy Salsa 30 (7, 8, 7, 8) 5 14,7% 9 14 Safe 6. Emrah & Veselina Viennese waltz 29 (7, 7, 7, 8) 4 8,8% 8 12 Safe 7. Viktor & Mihaela Rumba 28 (7, 7, 6, 8) 3 8,7% 7 10 Safe 8. Mila & Kristian Tango 35 (9, 8, 9, 9) 8 5,8% 3 11 Safe 9. Valeri & Dorina Rumba 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 11 5,1% 2 13 Safe 10. Natali & Dimitar Argentine tango 39 (10, 10, 9, 10) 9 6,9% 5 14 Safe 11. Papi Hans & Ani Charleston 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 11 4,1% 1 12 Safe
Week 7: All trumps [Chosen dances] (April 2) Draw Couple Dance Judges vote Public vote Total points Result Scores Points Percentage Points 1. Nedelya & Atanas Showdance 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) 2 18,2% 10 12 Safe 2. Emrah & Veselina Street fusion 34 (8, 8, 9, 9) 4 10,2% 6 10 Safe 3. Mila & Kristian Showdance 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) 2 10,6% 7 9 Safe 4. Valeri & Dorina Hip-hop 35 (9, 8, 9, 9) 5 6,8% 3 8 Safe 5. Ivet & Todor Hip-hop 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 10 7,8% 4 14 Safe 6. Natali & Dimitar Jazz 38 (9, 9, 10, 10) 6 5,8% 2 8 Safe 7. Emanuela & Kaloyan Freestyle 34 (9, 8, 8, 9) 4 4,6% 1 5 Eliminated 8. Papi Hans & Ani Foxtrot, jazz 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 10 8,7% 5 15 Safe 9. Viktor & Mihaela Paso doble 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) 10 11,0% 8 18 Safe 10. Dara & Jimmy Showdance 39 (9, 10, 10, 10) 7 16,3% 9 16 Safe
Week 8: New round (April 9) Draw Couple Dance Judges vote Public vote Total points Result Scores Points Percentage Points 1. Dara & Jimmy Waltz 37 (10, 9, 9, 9) 6 8,2% 2 8 Safe 2. Ivet & Todor Charleston 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) 4 11,6% 7 11 Safe 3. Natali & Dimitar Salsa 38 (9, 10, 9, 10) 8 8,1% 1 9 Safe 4. Emrah & Veselina Jive 28 (7, 7, 7, 7) 1 10,9% 6 7 Bottom two 5. Valeri & Dorina Paso doble, samba 38 (9, 10, 9, 10) 8 8,9% 4 12 Safe 6. Papi Hans & Ani Paso doble 33 (8, 9, 8, 8) 3 13,4% 8 11 Safe 7. Mila & Kristian Paso doble 30 (7, 8, 8, 7) 2 9,8% 5 7 Bottom two 8. Viktor & Mihaela Ballet 37 (9, 9, 9, 10) 6 8,8% 3 9 Safe 9. Nedelya & Atanas Rumba 39 (10, 9, 10, 10) 9 20,3% 9 18 Safe Elimination duel 1. Mila & Kristian Cha-cha-cha Public vote: 49,1% Eliminated 2. Emrah & Veselina Foxtrot Public vote: 50,9% Safe
Week 9: Dances for loved people (April 16)