Connor Wood, known online as Fibula, is preparing to compete on Season 35 of "Dancing With the Stars," expressing excitement about partnering with Rylee Arnold for her fourth season as a professional dancer.
"This was a pipe dream for me," Wood, 30, told Page Six Radio. "You don’t say no to ‘Dancing With the Stars.’" Wood shared that he was relieved and pleased to learn Arnold, 21, would be his partner. "But seeing [Arnold], it’s just like, ‘OK, we’re gonna be OK.’"
Wood, who previously had limited dance experience primarily on wedding dance floors, has been surprised by his progress in ballroom rehearsals. "I’m surprising myself a lot with practice," he said. "All we’ve done is train. You practice every single day. I’m really shocked by the progress."
Despite his progress, Wood described the rehearsals as intense, noting that he experiences soreness in previously unknown areas. He often leaves practice "drenched" in sweat and feeling "defeated." Wood contrasted his experience with that of fellow contestant Maura Higgins, who he observed appeared unfazed after rehearsals.
Wood gained internet fame through comedic TikTok videos posted during the COVID-19 pandemic, accumulating over 900,000 followers. He launched the podcast "Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast" with Brooke Averick in 2022 and began performing live stand-up comedy in 2024, selling out over 70 shows and opening for comedians like Tiffany Haddish and Bill Burr.
Wood joins a cast that includes Ciara Miller, Julia Stiles, and Jenna Dewan, among others. The new season is set to premiere with a two-night event on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.