The newest season of Dancing With the Stars is already starting to heat up, and it hasn’t even started yet!
On Sept. 12, DWTS pro Gleb Savchenko responded to rumors that he was romantically involved with his Season 33 partner, Brooks Nader, after the duo posted a series of flirty videos together on social media.
While it might appear the two are more than just dance partners, Savchenko set the record straight.
In an interview with TMZ on Sept. 12, Savchenko said that, while Brooks is “cool and fun,” he’s not into her romantically and isn’t “focused on dating anyone right now.” Their chemistry is strictly professional.
Savchenko, 41, echoed that sentiment in an interview with Page Six on Sept. 13. He described Brooks, 27, as “great” and praised their “amazing” chemistry on the dance floor, but shut down any dating rumors.
For now, the two dance partners are focused on one thing: winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader show off chemistry on TikTok
The dating rumors between Savchenko and Nader were ignited on Sept. 4, when ABC revealed the official lineup of celebrities and professional dancers for Season 33, which premieres on Sept. 17.
The partners were seen hugging and getting to know each other later that day in NYC, according to TMZ.
In an effort to promote the upcoming season, Savchenko and Nader have been posting videos and photos on social media of all the hard work they’ve been putting in, and they haven’t disappointed.
One video, posted on Sept. 8, shows Gleb Savchenko sitting on a chair in the dance room with Nader perched on his lap. It didn’t take long for social media to buzz, with one user commenting, “Let the rumors begin.”
@brooksnader LETS DANCE ???? ???? ???? ???? @glebsavchenko @Dancing with the Stars DWTS #dancingwiththestars
♬ original sound – leozmre
But despite their chemistry, Savchenko, who shares kids Olivia, 13, and Zlata, 7, with ex-wife Elena Samodanova, is “not focused on dating anyone right now and wants to be single for the time being.”
Nader, on the other hand, was married to advertising executive Billy Haire from 2019 to 2022.
Taking a look back at former flings between DWTS contestants
While Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader aren’t romantically involved, you can’t blame DWTS fans for getting excited. It has happened before between dance partners and it’s something fans look out for.
For example, Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant went public with their relationship just a few months after placing fifth in the 31st season of the dance show. They announced their engagement in December 2023.
And then you can’t forget about Sasha Farber and Emma Slater. The two DWTS pros dated on and off, but finally got engaged live on the show in October 2016. They got married in 2018, but divorced in 2022.
One more instance was WWE star Nikki Bella and dance pro Artem Chigvintsev, who were paired for Season 25. They started dating a couple of years later, had a son in 2020, and got married in 2024.
DWTS Season 17 premieres Sept. 17 on ABC and Disney+
If you’re like most of us and can’t wait for the new season to start, then don’t worry, we’re just hours away!
Season 33 of Dancing With the Stars premieres on Tuesday, September 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. Next-day streaming will also be available on Hulu, starting on Wednesday, September 18.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough return as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough return as judges. As always, the show includes a star-studded cast of dance pros and celebrities.
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As for Gleb Savchcenko and Brooks Nader, they’re set to perform a tango routine to “Piece of Me” by Britney Spears. Competition is high, but we’ll soon see if they have what it takes to win it all!