Live from CNY, it’s the premiere of Dancing with the Stars on tour! Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is as old as most students here at Le Moyne since it debuted in June 2005. As many TikTok viewers have noticed, the show has generated a major Gen Z following, but believe it or not the show, the tour wasn’t always popular with young people.

Eight years ago, DWTS was struggling with funds/viewers and tried rebranding to attract a younger audience— and it worked. With many trendy contestants from TikTok stars, to Bachelor contestants, to athletes, to even con artists, DWTS sure grabbed the attention of Gen Z with its popular participants.

According to a recent New York Times article, DWTS’ median audience age was 62 in 2022, but a combination of TikTok exposure and the casting of young celebrity contestants like Stephen Nederosik and pros Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold created a Gen Z following.

Syracuse University students Ashley and Beans attended the Dancing With the Stars Tour show on Feb. 2 at Turning Stone Casino in Verona. Both students said they often skipped their night class to tune in. Having watched the show for 10 years, they also shared their love for all of the contestants last season.

Stephen Nederosik, who gained popularity over the summer as “Pommel Horse Guy” on the U.S. Olympic men’s gymnastic team, was the celebrity to join the Verona show. Performing his week-one jive, he treated the audience to his signature pommel horse Superman move. The DWTS cast was “Born to Hand Jive” with  their “Greasy” performance! From Ezra and with Rylee’s Vogue performance, DWTS gave Gen Z a real twirl around the stage!