The “Office” star tells EW that it took competing on “DWTS” to understand that “it’s not a dance competition show, it’s a reality show.”

Melora Hardin has a theory why she didn’t make it to the DWTS finale despite lifelong dance training

The "Office" star tells EW that it took competing on "DWTS" to understand that "it's not a dance competition show, it's a reality show."

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 2, 2026 3:00 p.m. ET

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Melora Hardin and Artem Chigvintsev on 'Dancing With the Stars'. Credit:

Eric McCandless/ABC VIA GETTY

- Melora Hardin is reflecting on her time competing on season 30 of *Dancing With the Stars *in a new interview with EW.

- Arriving into the competition with decades of ballet experience, Hardin told producers ahead of the semifinals, "If I got to the finals, I'd love to put my pointe shoe on."

- But after nine grueling weeks, Hardin decided against it. "I think if I said, 'Yes, I'm putting my pointe shoes on,' I think I would have danced in the finale," she says.**

Melora Hardin was just a step away from competing on the finale of *Dancing With the Stars *season 30 — and she believes she knows what held her back.

In a new, career-spanning interview with **, the star of films and series as various as *The Office*, *Transparent*, and *Hannah Montana: The Movie *reflects on her time waltzing and quickstepping toward the coveted Mirrorball trophy, which eventually went to NBA shooting guard Iman Shumpert and his pro partner, Daniella Karagach.

"I love a challenge. I love stretching. I love being pushed to the end. I love all of that," she says. "So in that regard, it was very much suited to my personality. I really wanted to learn all the dances. That was my wish at the beginning, because they ask you what your wish is. They want to try to make their celebrities happy."

Beginning her training in ballet as a young girl and continuing with dance class to this day, Hardin sailed straight to the semifinals, which means she was required to learn all the ballroom styles that ballerinas don't become acquainted with. "So I kind of got it — my wish came true." That was enough for Hardin. But she knows she could have achieved even more, and suspects the reason why her time on the show ended in the 11th hour.

Melora Hardin and Artem Chigvintsev compete on season 30 of 'Dancing With the Stars'.

Eric McCandless/ABC VIA GETTY

"I said, 'If I got to the finals, I'd love to put my pointe shoe on. One pointe shoe, and one bare foot.' They were excited about the idea of that. Then the time came around, and there was no way I was going to put my pointe shoe on," Hardin explains. "I was so exhausted. My ribs were hurting from this lift we'd done."

Hardin says that *DWTS *is always "feeling you out" to see "where you are with things" as a celebrity contestant. "I think if I said, 'Yes, I'm putting my pointe shoes on,' I think I would have danced in the finale."****

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Hardin kindly considers, "I don't want to disperse the magic for the audience, but I'm pretty certain that if I had said that, that I'd be putting my pointe shoes on, I would've been in."

Looking back, Hardin says it's inevitable that the "magic" of the show is dimmed for its contestants. "I had a great time. I loved learning the dances. You know, when you do *Dancing With the Stars — *I've never done any reality TV. I'm not a reality type of person. So it was eye-opening. I see now having done it once, it's not a dance show. It seems like it's a dance competition show, but it's not a dance competition show, it's a reality show."

Though *DWTS *producers "want their celebrities to be happy," Hardin understands that, of course, their main job is "crafting arcs... so a lot of what's happening is trying to create the right drama, the right chemistry for the group that's there. Playing out everybody's storylines. And they do it beautifully!"****

Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach, the winners of 'Dancing With the Stars' season 30.

Eric McCandless/ABC VIA GETTY

Hardin and her pro partner, Artem Chigvintsev, made it nine weeks on the show, and learned a whole medley of new dances along the way, including the rumba, the paso doble, and the Viennese waltz. Had she progressed to the finale, she would have joined the rare company of 50+ year olds to compete for the Mirrorball, including John O'Hurley (season 1), Donny Osmond (season 9), Jennifer Grey (season 11), Kirstie Alley (season 12), Bill Engvall (season 17), and Wayne Brady (season 31).

This past season, Elaine Hendrix became the sixth celebrity contestant to join that group — and only the third woman. Both Grey and Osmond won their respective seasons, with Osmond, at 51, beating Grey for the title of oldest winner by only one year.

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Source: “EW Dancing”