Executive Overview
As Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) launches its milestone 35th season, the long-running reality competition continues to redefine the boundaries of celebrity talent, resilience, and prime-time entertainment. The Sept. 16 premiere delivered a masterclass in spectacle, nostalgia, and high-stakes athletic performance, spearheaded by a diverse, headline-grabbing roster of competitors. From Hollywood royalty and reality television mainstays to Olympic icons and Paralympic trailblazers, the ballroom has transformed once again into an intense crucible of reinvention.
At the center of this season’s narrative momentum is actress, producer, and professional dancer Jenna Dewan. Paired with veteran pro Val Chmerkovskiy, Dewan’s entry into the competition brings a unique thematic duality: she is both a celebrated dance professional—having toured alongside global icons like Ricky Martin and Justin Timberlake and starred in the cultural touchstone film Step Up—and a mother pursuing a deeply personal milestone for her 13-year-old daughter, Everly Tatum.
Yet, Dewan’s casting is just the tip of the iceberg for Season 35. Featuring a dynamic ensemble that includes actors Julia Stiles and Harry Shum Jr., chef Giada De Laurentiis, Paralympian Ezra Frech, and a cavalcade of digital creators and reality stars, this season promises unprecedented competition. As the judges raise their scoring criteria and the pressure mounts, Season 35 is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested chapters in the franchise’s storied history.
Detailed Chronology: From Secret Revelations to the Grand Premiere
The journey to Season 35’s opening night is paved with private phone calls, clandestine household whispers, and months of rigorous physical preparation. For Jenna Dewan, the Genesis of her Dancing with the Stars journey began long before the official casting announcements hit the trade publications.
The Secret Revealed
Dewan’s eldest child, Everly Tatum—whom she shares with ex-husband Channing Tatum—emerged as the primary catalyst for her decision to step onto the ballroom floor. Following a family outing to the Season 34 finale, Everly’s passionate fandom planted a seed of inspiration that Dewan ultimately could not ignore.
When the official call from the production team finally arrived, Dewan faced the delightful challenge of maintaining confidentiality in a bustling household that also includes children Callum (6) and Rhiannon (2) with fiancé Steve Kazee. Rather than making a grand family announcement, the reveal happened in quiet, domestic intimacy.
Recounting the moment to E! News’ Will Marfuggi following the premiere, Dewan described creeping into the corner of Everly’s bedroom. Before she could even spell out the news, she saw her daughter’s head snap up with instant intuition. "Did you just get offered Dancing With the Stars?" Everly asked, quickly pivoting to a fervent plea: "Please, Mom, I love this."
Opening Night and the Weight of Expectations
On the night of the September 16 premiere, that private mother-daughter exchange manifested on a national stage. As Everly watched from the studio audience, Dewan made her entrance alongside Val Chmerkovskiy, executing a routine that balanced technical polish with raw emotional energy.
However, entering the competition with a professional dance background carries a double-edged sword. While Dewan’s fluidity and rhythm were immediately apparent, the judging panel and the audience naturally held her to a far more rigorous standard than novices with two left feet.
Addressing the implicit pressure of her resume, Dewan acknowledged that while outside expectations exist, the most severe critiques came from her own internal drive. "Of course, I feel some pressure for sure, and expectation to really bring it. But it’s also mostly my own," she explained. "I just wanted to live as much as I could live and feel as good as I could feel and give the best performance."
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Anatomy of Season 35
To truly understand the competitive ecosystem of Dancing with the Stars Season 35, one must examine the broader cast dynamics, historical precedents, and the unique psychological hurdles facing this year’s celebrity roster.
Scoring Benchmarks and the "Pro" Penalty
Partner Val Chmerkovskiy captured the overarching philosophy of the season’s adjudication during their joint post-show interview. Confronted with the reality of opening-night scores, Chmerkovskiy candidly remarked, "I don’t want those sixes," while simultaneously defending the judges’ right to view Dewan through a magnifying glass.
In a competition that prizes character arcs just as much as technical execution, professional dancers or performers with rhythmic backgrounds often face a structural disadvantage: the "growth narrative." As Chmerkovskiy astutely noted:
"Yes, it’s a dance show, but it’s also a human experience that people want to see growth. They want to see participation. They want to see expansion of one’s abilities, and they want to see it in real time, live every single week."
Early Leaderboard Frontrunners
While Dewan works to navigate her unique expectations, the broader leaderboard has established early benchmarks of excellence. Notable early standouts include:
- Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson: Scoring an impressive 21 out of 30 points, the Glee alum demonstrated how theatricality and musicality seamlessly translate to the ballroom floor.
- Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas: The Love Island UK breakout matched the night’s high score with 21 out of 30 points, validating years of strategic manifestation. Higgins revealed that she meticulously redesigned her vision board on New Year’s Eve, entirely dedicating her focus to securing a coveted spot on the franchise.
Official Statements & Cast Profiles
Season 35’s roster is a fascinating cross-section of pop culture, athletic achievement, and digital influence. Here is a comprehensive look at the pairings defining this historic season:
The Entertainment Heavyweights
- Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa: The iconic 10 Things I Hate About You star proves that she is more than ready to save her best dance for last, bringing cinematic elegance and poise to the ballroom floor.
- Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten: The celebrated culinary artist is trading her chef’s knives for Latin heat, promising audiences a cha-cha-chapping masterclass in kitchen-to-floor stamina.
- Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik: Bringing the infectious energy that made her a household name in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali injects fresh, timeless moves into the competition.
- Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess: The beloved Bachelor Nation alumnus is trading in roses and cocktail parties for structured rumbas and intense cardiovascular conditioning.
The Athletic Powerhouses
- Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov: Transitioning from the high-stakes world of competitive figure skating, the 2026 Olympic star is translating her pristine ice technique into hardwood elegance.
- Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach: Representing Team USA with extraordinary pride, the Paralympic track and field athlete is shattering barriers and showcasing elite athletic prowess under the glittering studio lights.
- Jackson Olson & Emma Slater: Bringing the viral, high-octane energy of the Savannah Bananas baseball phenomenon straight from the diamond into the ballroom.
The Social Phenoms and Reality Royalty
- Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold: Widely recognized by his digital moniker Fibula, the comedian is transitioning from internet applause to live studio standing ovations.
- Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman: Following directly in the footsteps of his wife, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt (who competed on Season 34), Leavitt is eager to carve out his own ballroom legacy.
- Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills: Continuing the family tradition set by sister Brooks Nader in Season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is stepping up to test her own limits.
- Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson: The irreplaceable comedic heartbeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! brings his trademark charm and a willingness to master completely foreign physical disciplines.
- Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong: The Summer House star entered the competition with brutal honesty regarding physical conditioning. Reflecting on her preparation, Ciara shared: "Looks are not indicative of being in shape. I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead for Season 35
As Dancing with the Stars Season 35 progresses past its dramatic premiere, the strategic landscape of the competition will inevitably shift. The early dominance of competitors like Harry Shum Jr. and Maura Higgins establishes a high ceiling for weekly scores, forcing underdog competitors to lean heavily into audience engagement, personality resonance, and dramatic weekly improvements.
For Jenna Dewan, the path forward requires balancing her undeniable dance acumen with the vulnerable, human storytelling that viewers demand. By keeping her children—Everly, Callum, and Rhiannon—at the emotional core of her journey, Dewan secures not only a powerful personal narrative but an authentic connection with the viewing public.
As eliminations loom and the technical demands of the routines escalate from standard ballroom basics to complex Latin and freestyle fusions, Season 35 solidifies its place in television history. It is no longer just a dance competition; it is a high-stakes arena where legacy, reinvention, and familial inspiration collide on live national television every single week.