Introduction to Strictly Chicago 2019
Strictly Come Dancing Chicago 2019 was a one-off U.S. special that brought the format of the U.K. series to American audiences in the autumn of 2019. Filmed in London with a mix of British and American elements, the special featured celebrities paired with professional dancers competing in a condensed competition structure. This evergreen explainer outlines what the show was, how it worked, who competed, and how it related to the main U.K. series, focusing on format, production context, and outcomes rather than time-sensitive news.
What Was Strictly Chicago 2019
Strictly Come Dancing Chicago 2019 was a standalone special produced by the BBC and adapted for U.S. television by BBC Studios. It was not a full series but a limited event designed to test the Strictly format with a U.S. celebrity cast while retaining the core elements familiar to U.K. viewers: ballroom and Latin dances, live judging, and a final show. The special highlighted cultural differences in dancing standards and audience expectations, featuring a smaller celebrity roster and a condensed timeline compared to the main annual U.K. series.
Format and Structure of the Special
Competition Format
The format largely followed the U.K. template: celebrities learned standardized dances, were scored by judges, and faced public voting. However, the Chicago special compressed multiple weeks of the regular series into a shorter schedule. Each episode featured dance-offs, with one couple eliminated per episode until the finale. The scoring system and professional dancer pairings were similar, though broadcaster presentation and commentary reflected a U.S. audience sensibility.
Voting and Elimination
Voting was conducted via telephone, text, and an online app managed by the U.S. broadcaster. Judges’ scores were combined with public votes to determine eliminations. The terminology used—qualifying rounds, dance-offs, and sudden-death eliminations—remained consistent with the U.K. show, ensuring that regular Strictly fans could easily follow the action despite the transatlantic setting.
Judges, Hosts, and Production Team
Judging Panel
The judging panel for Strictly Chicago consisted of familiar names from the U.K. show, including Shirley Ballas, Bruno Tonioli, and Darcey Bussell. Their role was to score performances out of ten and provide critiques focused on technique, showmanship, and interpretation. The presence of established U.K. judges helped maintain continuity for viewers accustomed to the BBC’s adjudication style.
Hosts and Commentators
The event was hosted by a mix of presenters, combining personalities recognized from the U.K. Strictly franchise with American broadcast hosts. Commentary was provided by team members versed in both formats, explaining rules, dance styles, and scoring nuances for a U.S. audience while acknowledging the show’s British origins.
Celebrity Participants and Professional Partners
Celebrity Lineup
The celebrity roster included a mix of television personalities, actors, and musicians from the U.S. entertainment landscape. Each celebrity was paired with a professional dancer from the U.K. or international pool, creating combinations that balanced fame with dancing experience. Notable pairings were highlighted in promotional material, emphasizing the contrast between entertainment backgrounds and dance training.
Professional Dancers
Professional dancers brought the choreography and technical execution expected by Strictly fans. Many were veterans of the U.K. series, ensuring high production values and familiar routines adapted for the special. Their role extended beyond dancing to include mentoring celebrities and demonstrating proper technique during rehearsal and performance segments.
Results and Notable Moments
The competition culminated in a live final where the top remaining couples performed their showdances and faced a vote-off. The winner was crowned based on combined judges’ scores and public votes. Standout performances, emotional dedications, and challenging choreography were highlighted as memorable aspects of the special. While not as extensive as a full series, the event captured the intensity and glamour associated with Strictly in a condensed timeframe.
Comparison With the U.K. Series
| Attribute | Strictly Chicago 2019 | Standard U.K. Series |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Limited-event special | Season-long competition |
| Number of Celebrities | Smaller roster | Larger cast |
| Broadcast Scope | U.S. focused, BBC-branded | U.K. domestic and international |
| Competition Length | Compressed timeline | Multiple weeks to months |
| Judges & Hosts | U.K. judges, mixed presenting | Consistent U.K. panel and hosts |
Legacy and Reception
Strictly Come Dancing Chicago 2019 served as an experiment in transplanting a beloved U.K. format to an American context. Reception highlighted the entertainment value and the novelty of a transatlantic co-production. Although not repeated in subsequent years, it remains a notable entry in the franchise’s history, demonstrating the adaptability of the Strictly format while respecting its core appeal.
Evergreen Takeaways
- Strictly Chicago was a one-off special, not an ongoing series.
- It retained core Strictly elements: ballroom and Latin dances, judges, and public voting.
- The event featured a condensed timeline and smaller celebrity roster than the U.K. series.
- Judges and production values were consistent with the main franchise to preserve authenticity.
- The special showcased the flexibility of the Strictly format across markets.
Common Questions
Was Strictly Chicago part of the main U.K. series?
No, Strictly Chicago 2019 was a separate special produced for U.S. audiences and distinct from the flagship U.K. series. It used the same format and judges but operated as its own broadcast event.
How were winners decided in Strictly Chicago?
Winners were determined by combining professional judges’ scores with public votes, mirroring the methodology used in the main U.K. series. The couple with the highest combined score after the final vote-off was crowned champion.
Did any celebrities return for multiple years in Strictly Chicago?
Strictly Chicago was a single-edition special, so there was no multi-year celebrity participation across seasons as seen in the ongoing U.K. series.
Were the professional dancers the same as those on the U.K. show?
Many professional dancers were experienced participants from the U.K. series, ensuring continuity in choreography and teaching approaches, though some pairings were unique to the special.
Is Strictly Chicago available to watch today?
Highlights and full episodes may be available through the U.S. broadcaster’s archives or the BBC’s international catalog, subject to licensing and regional availability. Availability can change over time based on content agreements.