Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on "Dancing With the Stars," has addressed the debate surrounding contestants with prior dance experience, particularly those cast in the upcoming Season 35, including Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, and Harry Shum Jr. Inaba defended the inclusion of these performers, noting that transitioning from other dance styles to ballroom presents unique difficulties.
"What’s difficult — and I don’t think people realize this — is when you go from being a jazz dancer or a hip-hop dancer or all the other forms of dancing [to ballroom], the weight placement is so different," Inaba told Entertainment Weekly. She elaborated that while the body may retain memory of movement, adapting to the specific footwork and grounding required in ballroom dance necessitates "un-training" existing habits.
Inaba acknowledged that contestants like Dewan and Shum Jr. possess an advantage due to their rhythm, musicality, and ability to learn choreography quickly. However, she also pointed out that it has been several years since these individuals have actively engaged in professional dancing. Dewan, for example, has over 25 years of experience in commercial, hip-hop, and contemporary dance, having worked as a backup dancer for artists like Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera, and appearing in dance-focused films and series. Shum Jr. also has a substantial background in hip-hop and commercial dance, serving as a backup dancer for Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, and playing a dancer on the television show "Glee."
Fans have expressed concerns on social media about the perceived unfair advantage held by these seasoned dancers. Comments on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have ranged from calls of the competition being "RIGGED" if Dewan wins, to questioning the fairness of Shum Jr.'s participation. "They had legit successful dance careers before they made it as actors. Not in ballroom but it’s still a very unfair advantage," one user wrote.
However, others have defended the casting, drawing parallels to previous "DWTS" contestants with dance backgrounds, such as Heather Morris. Some fans expressed excitement about seeing these performers tackle ballroom, with one commenter stating, "I’m rooting for [Dewan] and Harry. I want to see you goats tackle ballroom!"
Dewan herself responded to the criticism, telling Entertainment Weekly that ballroom dancing is a "different language" and requires her to "unlearn" certain habits, despite her extensive dance background. Her "DWTS" partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, added that the show is more than just about dance itself.
Shum Jr. echoed these sentiments in a conversation with People, stating, "Everyone’s idea is like, ‘Oh, you dance, so you should be able to dance anything.’ And I mean, that’s just not true." He emphasized the vast number of dance styles globally.
Julia Stiles, known for her role in the 2001 film "Save the Last Dance," also addressed her casting. Stiles, who is paired with pro dancer Ezra Sosa, noted that her experience in the film, which required her to take dance lessons, might even be a disadvantage. "I stopped taking dance classes after that movie because people expected me to be a great dancer," she told Entertainment Weekly, clarifying that she has primarily been a "home dancer" for the past two decades.
Season 35 of "Dancing With the Stars" is scheduled to premiere with a two-night event beginning September 15.