Emilie Enger Mehl Joins Skal vi danse Season 20
The 20th season of Norway’s popular dance reality show Skal vi danse premieres this Saturday with a glittering lineup that includes a familiar face from politics: former justice and emergency minister Emilie Enger Mehl, now 32. After spending the autumn campaigning for the Centre Party, Mehl tells Dagbladet that she is ready to shift her focus from politics to the dance floor as the season kicks off.
“I’ve been caught up in campaign duties this fall, so I started training a bit after the others began,” Mehl says, noting that she has trained daily in preparation for the show. She publicly stepped away from the Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament) just this week after eight years as a representative, marking a significant transition in her career and daily life.
A Major Career Turn
Mehl reflects on leaving Parliament after eight years. She entered the Stortinget in 2017 at the age of 24 and now finds herself at 32, looking back on a substantial chapter of her life. While she is grateful for the experiences and connections made—both in the justice and emergency ministries and as a member of parliament—she also acknowledges the excitement of what lies ahead. “I’m sure I’ll remain engaged in meaningful work, even if it’s in a different way,” she says, leaving the door open for future influence beyond traditional political channels.
Asked about her immediate plans, Mehl keeps a pragmatic tone. “I’ll come back to that,” she notes, but for now the priority is to become as proficient as possible on the dance floor. “The plan for the autumn is to focus on dancing, while figuring out the next steps for my path forward.”
A New Type of Challenge
For Mehl, daily life will shift drastically from policy-making to choreography. “Dancing is a new way to challenge myself,” she explains. While some contestants come to Skal vi danse with years of stage experience, Mehl emphasizes that she is entering relatively uncharted territory. The process promises a blend of joy and seriousness as she learns a brand-new craft and adapts to settings she hasn’t encountered before.
Timing, Training, and Team
Mehl emphasizes the timing of joining Skal vi danse feels right for this moment in her life. “Even though I would have liked to continue on the Storting, I’m happy to have a good day-to-day life ahead, together with my partner and the other cast members,” she says. In the weeks ahead, she will be sharing the dance floor with professional dancer Jørgen Nilsen, 31, as they work to translate tempo, rhythm, and expression into performances that resonate with audiences.
Her decision to pursue Skal vi danse now aligns with a broader career reorientation: a high-profile platform that could open doors to new opportunities, while offering a personal challenge that many athletes and public figures find compelling. As the premiere approaches, fans can expect a compelling narrative about leaving public service, embracing a new art form, and growing through a demanding, collaborative process.
As the show unfolds, Mehl’s journey will be watched closely by viewers who appreciate resilience, adaptability, and the courage to try something unfamiliar. Whether she ultimately makes a long-term career out of dancing or uses the experience as a springboard to other endeavors, her Skal vi danse chapter is set to become a memorable part of her public life.
