Sunita Somvanshi
Discovery Channel launched its 37th Shark Week on July 20, 2025, with a novel approach that blends entertainment and education. “Dancing With Sharks” features five professional handlers performing choreographed routines with various shark species off the Bahamas coast, part of the network’s strategy to balance viewer engagement with marine conservation messaging.
“‘Jaws’ helped introduce this country and this world to a predator we’re all fascinated with,” says Joseph Schneier, Senior Vice President of Production and Development at Discovery. “But we also feel ‘Jaws’ went too far. These are not creatures that are out to hurt humans by any means.”
The Production Details
“Dancing With Sharks” features five expert divers including Jamie Ferguson and Janelle Van Ruiten guiding various species—from hammerheads to tiger sharks—through underwater performances. The competition is judged by dancer Allison Holker, comedian Pete Holmes, and conservationist Kinga Philipps, who notes the interactions are “so fluid and beautiful, all they really had to do is put a little bit of music to it and they’re actually dancing.”
Tom Bergeron, formerly of “Dancing With the Stars,” hosts while remaining safely on land due to what he calls his “coward clause” in his contract. In an interview with People magazine, Bergeron stated: “I had a coward clause in my contract, so I stayed on the shore. Having said that, though, if we ever do this again, I could see myself going down in one of those cages for a while.”
The handlers use bait to encourage the sharks’ movements, with safety protocols including the use of nerf shark dummies during training.
Scientific Foundation
Discovery’s programming is supported by scientific data about the threatened status of many shark species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 37.5% of chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) are now threatened with extinction, primarily due to overfishing.
Dr. Tristan Guttridge, featured on Shark Week’s podcast, explains that shark intelligence varies widely across species. His research, published in journals including Animal Cognition, has documented social learning in lemon sharks, challenging the perception of sharks as “dumb fish.”
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Paul de Gelder, a shark attack survivor appearing in a separate Shark Week special, offers practical advice for viewers: “Don’t act like food and they won’t treat you like food.” He specifically advises against punching sharks during an encounter, saying you’ll just “hurt your own hand.”
Cross-Platform Strategy
Discovery’s approach includes:
- Television broadcast on Discovery Channel (8 p.m. ET/PT)
- Streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) and Discovery+
- International distribution via Discovery networks in the UK, Asia, and partnerships with broadcasters like Foxtel (Australia)
Additional programming includes “Air Jaws: Hunt for Colossus” (July 20), “Great White Sex Battle” (July 21), “Jaws vs. Mega Croc” (July 21), and “How to Survive a Shark Attack” (July 22).
Conservation Context
Kendyl Berna of Beyond the Reef notes that this year’s programming highlights sharks as “keystone species signaling oceanic health” and addresses climate change impacts on shark migration and feeding patterns.
For viewers interested in conservation efforts, options include supporting organizations like the IUCN Shark Specialist Group and participating in citizen science through platforms like iNaturalist.
The “Dancing With Sharks” format exemplifies what Bergeron calls the “vegetables in dessert” approach—delivering ecological education through engaging entertainment content.
