Maks Chmerkovskiy Posts Behind The Scenes Photos of Him Judging on ‘SYTYCD’
CR: Nathan Bolster /FOX Reading Time: 2 minutes
Former Dancing With The Stars pro dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy is taking on a new role in the dance competition world. This week, Chmerkovskiy posted several behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram revealing that he is one of the judges for the upcoming Season 18 of So You Think You Can Dance.
Maks Chmerkovskiy Shares SYTYCD Set Pictures
In the photos, Chmerkovskiy is seated at the judges’ table next to guest judge Comfort Fedoke, returning judge Nigel Lythgoe, and new judge Allison Holker Boss, wife of the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss. Chmerkovskiy is dressed in a grey collared long-sleeved shirt and dark pants with black boots, his hair neatly slicked back.
He went on to express excitement over the upcoming talent that will be unveiled on the show, which premieres in March 2024. Judging on SYTYCD is a fit for Chmerkovskiy, who appeared as a pro dancer on 17 seasons of DWTS. He won the Mirrorball trophy with Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis in Season 18.
Known for his commanding presence and outspoken delivery at times, Chmerkovskiy promises to provide honest, insightful feedback to SYTYCD contestants. His ballroom dance expertise will also add a fresh perspective to the judging panel.
Chmerkovskiy is no stranger to judging, having made guest appearances behind the table on shows like Dance Showdown and Canada’s Greatest Dancer. However, landing a full-time spot on SYTYCD marks a thrilling new chapter in his evolving dance career.
“I’m super grateful. Ecstatic, to say the least,” Chmerkovskiy then said on his Instagram stories. “It’s a privilege and an honor.”
SYTYCD Season 18 Will Have a New Documentary Filmmaking Approach
When SYTYCD returns for Season 18, viewers can expect an inside look at the personal lives of contestants. The show is adopting a documentary-style format that will pull back the curtain to spotlight the real-world experiences of competitors.
Along with providing masterful dance performances on stage each week, contestants will now be followed by cameras behind the scenes. This approach will showcase their daily struggles, budding relationships, clashing personalities, and certainly more. Audiences have gotten to know dancers primarily through their routines in the past. However, the new stylistic shift aims to offer a raw, unfiltered view of their complete stories.
Executive Producer Lythgoe also explained that the revamped format will allow fans to truly invest in contestants as people, not just dancers.
“By drawing back the curtain and showing viewers the grittiness behind the glamour, we hope to forge deeper connections between the audience and incredible performers they’re cheering on each week.” Lythgoe said.
