Why has the RTL dance show “Let’s Dance” been captivating audiences for 19 years now – and what makes the format so special? To get to the bottom of this question, Bertelsmann’s Social Media team attended the seventh live show of the current season on April 24. For an entire day, the MMC Studios in Cologne-Ossendorf opened their doors – from the basic preparations in the makeup room to the dress rehearsal to the final applause.
The resulting “Bertelsmann Global Voices” video “Why ‘Let’s Dance’ works – 19 years of success” takes viewers behind the scenes and shows how passion, precision, and teamwork come together to create a format that has been a success for nearly two decades. Interviews with the judges, production, and contestants offer insights into the mechanisms that make the show glamorous – and explain why “Let’s Dance” is much more than just entertainment.
Insights from Inga Leschek
One of the day’s key items on the agenda was an interview with Inga Leschek, RTL Deutschland’s Chief Content Officer. In the set that is familiar to many viewers from the “Let’s Dance” trailers, the discussion focused on the format’s strategic foundations. Topics discussed included the central promise to the audience, the balance between recognition and renewal, the high standards of quality and precision required for a live show, and the importance of casting and the judging panel members, which have ensured the format’s fresh appeal for 19 years now.
Leschek emphasized: “Next year, ‘Let’s Dance’ will celebrate its 20th anniversary, and we hardly see any signs of wear and tear – quite the contrary. What’s phenomenal is that ‘Let’s Dance’ manages time and again to build on the success and results of the previous year. This is owed to the fact that we absolutely love this format and everyone who works on it really gives their all to make every new season shine again.”
Behind the glamor: keys to success and teamwork
Nina Klink, Managing Director at Seapoint Productions, also provided insights from the production’s perspective. Seapoint has been producing “Let’s Dance” since the first season and, together with BBC Studios, is responsible for the German adaptation of the internationally successful BBC format “Strictly Come Dancing”. Klink has been producer since the format was launched and has been working with most of the team ever since.
When asked about the factors behind the show’s success over nearly two decades, she said: “The most important factor for the huge success of ‘Let’s Dance’ is that for 19 years we have offered a good balance of reliability and change. […] ‘Let’s Dance’ stands for big emotions, performance, competition, and, of course, plenty of humor, and yet viewers are surprised anew every single year!”
It becomes clear that what is crucial to the show’s success is not only what happens on stage but also the work behind the scenes. When asked what the audiences often underestimates, Klink said: “Just the scale of the organization behind the production of such a show. 250 staff members – full-time and part-time – work here every Friday and in some cases throughout the year to prepare this show. The intricacy and attention given to detail to ensure that everything runs smoothly at 8:15 p.m. is something that can only be understood by people who have had a chance to look behind the scenes.”
Nina Klink clarifies: a precisely coordinated interplay of numerous disciplines and a production culture that has been honed over the years lie behind the glamor and emotions of “Let’s Dance”.
“An absolute phenomenon!”
The “Global Voices” video not only highlights the key voices behind the scenes, but also popular faces from the dance show. The Bertelsmann team met with German-British TV presenter, musical actor, musician, and entertainer Ross Antony in the makeup room, just a few minutes before the live show. He spoke about what makes the format unique to him compared to other TV shows, and the experiences he’s taking away from his participation, from discipline and teamwork to new lessons learned on and off stage.
Motsi Mabuse, Jorge González and Joachim Llambi are among the defining faces of “Let’s Dance”. Their chemistry is virtually unparalleled on German television: Since the sixth season in 2013, the trio has served as the show’s permanent judging panel, ensuring continuity and recognizability with their blend of expertise, personality, and energy. In an interview, Leschek praised this achievement: “An absolute phenomenon! An incredible trio that you will never find anywhere else!” The interview focused not only on the role of the judges within the format, but also on the international success of “Let’s Dance”. The show is produced in over 60 countries and captivates millions of people worldwide. The judges emphasized that the basic concept of the format works universally – regardless of language or culture – and that the values on which it is based exist all over the world.
Showcasing international perspectives
Since its launch in February, “Bertelsmann Global Voices” has regularly provided insights into international projects and perspectives from across the Group – spanning media, entertainment, logistics, education, and investments. The videos are published via Bertelsmann’s central social media channels and reach an international audience. Together, the clips have already generated around two million views across Bertelsmann’s social media platforms, with more contributions planned.
