As the cast for the upcoming 35th season of "Dancing with the Stars" was revealed, backstage murmurs and criticisms have emerged among contestants and insiders regarding perceived advantages held by certain celebrities. The discussions center on professional dancers and those with significant prior dance experience being cast in a competition that pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers.
Actress Jenna Dewan, who is set to compete, has faced significant backlash and accusations of having an "unfair" edge due to her extensive dance background. Dewan began her career as a backup dancer, touring with artists like Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera, and later starred as a talented ballet dancer in the 2006 film "Step Up." "Everyone thinks Jenna Dewan has a very unfair advantage because she is a professional dancer. That is how she began her career," one source told the Daily Mail. "It's like, 'Duh, we all know she's going to win.'"
Dewan acknowledged the criticism, stating in an interview that she does not know how to ballroom dance and that it's a different discipline from her prior training. "There's parts of my dance training that's helpful, obviously. I've learned choreography, I can perform, but there is a certain sense of unlearning for me," she said.
Her professional partner, three-time Mirrorball trophy winner Val Chmerkovskiy, acknowledged the external opinions. "The world is going to have an opinion, and that's fine and [that's] their right, but we can also just enjoy each other and do our best and live in that gratitude," he commented. Sources also note that Dewan's friendship with judge Derek Hough, with whom she worked on the show "World of Dance," has raised concerns among other contestants about a potential advantage.
Other Casting Concerns
The casting of other celebrities has also sparked discussion. Tatyana Ali, known for her role as Ashley Banks in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is partnered with professional dancer January Ravnik. Her connection with "DWTS" co-host Alfonso Ribeiro, who played her brother Carlton Banks on the sitcom, has led to speculation about potential favoritism. "They can compare notes and he can talk her up. Having that connection will help her," a source suggested.
Ali, however, downplayed any advantage, telling Us Weekly, "I haven't even really thought about it in that way. I'm excited to be on stage with him... The last time I worked with him I was 17 years old."
Beyond specific contestants, there is reportedly some "eyerolling" behind the scenes at celebrities expected to become "fan favorites." This includes "Summer House" star Ciara Miller, "The Traitors" alum Maura Higgins, Paralympian Ezra Frech, and "The Bachelor" contestant Tyler Cameron. The show is also featuring Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn, musician Taylor Hanson, baseball player Jackson Olson, and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" personality Guillermo Rodriguez.
New Talent and Producer Intentions
Season 35 will also introduce new professional dancers, including Adele Zaikman and Hailey Bills, as producers assess audience reception to potentially integrate them into future seasons. Longtime dancer Gleb Savchenko will be absent after 12 seasons. Producers aim for the upcoming season, which premieres September 15 on ABC and Disney+, to be highly competitive, emphasizing skill and performance over drama.
"They've stressed this to the pros to bring their A-game and to bring competition," a source stated. "In fact, they prefer to have less drama this season and more competitiveness."