Executive Overview
The glitz, glamour, and grueling competition of Dancing with the Stars returned with a resounding cultural impact as Season 35 premiered on September 16. Marking a milestone for the long-running reality franchise, the season-opener combined nostalgia, high-profile casting coups, and a heavy dose of familial pride. At the center of the opening night buzz was actress and professional dancer Jenna Dewan, whose debut alongside pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy captivated audiences both in the ballroom and at home.
Dewan’s decision to join the cast was driven largely by her 13-year-old daughter, Everly Tatum—whom she shares with ex-husband Channing Tatum—a dedicated super fan of the series. Yet, beyond the heartwarming family dynamics, Dewan’s entry into the competition injected an immediate layer of athletic intensity and professional expectation into the ballroom. Having previously toured alongside pop icons like Justin Timberlake and Ricky Martin, Dewan enters the competition under a microscope, facing a unique duality: the pressure of her professional dance background versus the vulnerable, real-time learning curve expected of every DWTS contestant.
As Season 35 unfolds, Dewan is far from the only headline-maker in a stacked roster of celebrity competitors. From reality TV royalty and social media sensations to Hollywood actors, decorated athletes, and culinary masters, the milestone season features an eclectic mix of talent vying for the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. With early frontrunners already establishing dominance on the leaderboard and high-stakes eliminations looming, the latest iteration of the ballroom phenomenon proves that after thirty-five seasons, the appetite for live, unscripted performance art remains unflagging.
Detailed Chronology: The Journey to the Season 35 Premiere
The path to the Season 35 premiere was paved with months of anticipation, secret casting negotiations, and grueling rehearsal schedules. The timeline of events leading up to the September 16 launch highlights the meticulous planning required to assemble one of the most diverse casts in the show’s history.
The Casting Coup and Secret Revelations
For Jenna Dewan, the journey to the ballroom began long before official contracts were signed. Following her attendance at the Season 34 finale alongside her daughter Everly, the seed was planted for her eventual participation. When the official offer for Season 35 finally arrived, keeping the news under wraps proved to be an immediate challenge.
In an exclusive post-premiere interview with E! News correspondent Will Marfuggi, Dewan recounted the exact moment she shared the news with her eldest child. Rather than making a grand announcement, Dewan retreated to a quiet corner of Everly’s bedroom. Before a word was spoken, the teenager’s instincts kicked in. Spotting the expression on her mother’s face, Everly instantly guessed the milestone offer, whispering a desperate plea for her mother to accept.
While Everly’s reaction cemented Dewan’s decision, the logistical reality of balancing a rigorous daily rehearsal schedule with a bustling household required careful coordination. Alongside Everly, Dewan shares six-year-old son Callum and two-year-old toddler Rhiannon with her fiancé, actor Steve Kazee. Juggling maternal duties with the intense physical demands of ballroom choreography required a delicate equilibrium from day one.
Opening Night: September 16
The premiere night on September 16 delivered high production values, electrifying opening numbers, and immediate tension between the judges’ scoring paddles and audience expectations. Paired with seasoned champion Val Chmerkovskiy, Dewan took to the dance floor as one of the evening’s most anticipated acts.
With her family—including her children and fiancé—watching eagerly from the live studio audience, Dewan delivered a polished performance that honored her roots as a trained dancer while stepping into the distinct world of partner-based ballroom technique. However, stepping onto the floor with a professional dance background immediately invited heightened scrutiny from the judging panel, setting the stage for a narrative of growth versus expectation that would define her early arc in the competition.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Anatomy of Season 35
To truly understand the weight of Season 35, one must examine the broader ecosystem of the cast, the competitive landscape, and the distinct statistical benchmarks that separate the frontrunners from the pack.
The Celebrity Roster: A Study in Diversity
Season 35 boasts one of the most culturally expansive lineups in recent memory, bridging multiple generations of entertainment, sports, and internet culture. The roster features:
- Hollywood & Television Icons:
- Julia Stiles (paired with Ezra Sosa), bringing her iconic cinematic presence from 10 Things I Hate About You to the ballroom floor.
- Harry Shum Jr. (paired with Jenna Johnson), leveraging his musical theater and Glee background to emerge as an early scoring powerhouse.
- Tatyana Ali (paired with Jan Ravnik), injecting classic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air energy into her routine.
- Athletic Excellence:
- Amber Glenn (paired with Pasha Pashkov), bringing her elite figure skating agility and balance from the ice to the hardwood.
- Ezra Frech (paired with Daniella Karagach), representing Team USA as a Paralympic track and field athlete.
- Jackson Olson (paired with Emma Slater), trading the baseball diamond of the Savannah Bananas for the ballroom.
- Reality TV & Social Media Heavyweights:
- Maura Higgins (paired with Mark Ballas), the Love Island UK standout who manifested her spot on the show through a meticulous New Year’s Eve vision board ritual.
- Ciara Miller (paired with Brandon Armstrong), the Summer House star open about the stamina challenges of transitioning from casual gym-goer to competitive dancer.
- Connor Wood (paired with Rylee Arnold), the digital creator widely known as Fibula.
- Conner Leavitt (paired with Adele Zaikman), the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives personality following in the footsteps of his wife, Whitney Leavitt, who competed in Season 34.
- Sarah Jane Nader (paired with Hailey Bills), carrying the family torch following her sister Brooks Nader’s run on Season 33.
- Pop Culture & Culinary Icons:
- Giada De Laurentiis (paired with Alan Bersten), turning up the heat in the kitchen-turned-dance floor.
- Taylor Hanson (paired with Britt Stewart), the ’90s teen heartthrob hoping to rhythmically channel his musical legacy.
- Tyler Cameron (paired with Sharna Burgess), trading Bachelor Nation roses for rumbas.
- Guillermo Rodriguez (paired with Witney Carson), the beloved Jimmy Kimmel Live! fixture ready to master unexpected choreography.
Early Leaderboard Benchmarks
The competition proved fierce right out of the gate. Standout performances from Harry Shum Jr. and Maura Higgins captured the attention of both judges and fans, with both contestants pulling in an impressive 21 out of 30 points during the premiere week—establishing the early statistical ceiling for the competition and setting a high bar for their fellow competitors to clear in subsequent weeks.
Official Statements and Industry Insights
The psychological and physical hurdles of competing on Dancing with the Stars are unique, requiring a balance of technical execution and raw emotional connection. Key insights from the competitors and professionals shed light on the inner workings of the ballroom.
Addressing the unavoidable elephant in the room regarding her dance background, Jenna Dewan opened up about the internal pressure she placed upon herself. Rather than feeling weighed down solely by external expectations from viewers or judges, Dewan emphasized a deeply personal standard:
"Of course, I feel some pressure for sure, and expectation to really bring it. But it’s also mostly my own. I just wanted to live as much as I could live and feel as good as I could feel and give the best performance. So, the pressure really was more coming from that place."
Val Chmerkovskiy echoed these sentiments, defending the judges’ rigorous scoring standards while reflecting on the journey ahead. Refusing to settle for mediocre scores, Chmerkovskiy bluntly noted, "I don’t want those sixes," while acknowledging that holding a former dancer to a higher standard is fundamentally fair within the context of the competition.
Chmerkovskiy further elaborated on the philosophy that dictates a successful run on the show, pointing out that technical proficiency alone is never enough to secure the Mirrorball Trophy:
"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."
The competitors themselves have also been vocal about the grueling physical transition required to master ballroom disciplines. Ciara Miller candidly shared her pre-season preparations with E! News, admitting that aesthetic fitness does not always translate to dance stamina:
"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."
Similarly, Maura Higgins detailed the spiritual and intentional dedication she applied to securing her spot, revealing that her spot on the show was literally mapped out:
"This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year’s Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year previous. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
Future Outlook: What Lies Ahead for Season 35
As Season 35 progresses past its high-energy premiere, the trajectory of the competition remains wide open. The unique blend of seasoned performers like Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. alongside unexpected dark horses like Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech and figure skater Amber Glenn guarantees a multifaceted contest.
Key Storylines to Watch in the Coming Weeks:
- The Professional Background Debate: How judges will score contestants with prior performance experience—such as Dewan and Shum Jr.—will remain a constant point of discussion. The challenge for these stars will be demonstrating visible, weekly evolution in traditional ballroom styles that differ vastly from commercial choreography or musical theater.
- Fan Engagement and Voting Power: While initial technical scores matter, the historic voting power of the viewing public often disrupts leaderboard standings. Reality TV figures and social media creators with massive digital footprints—such as Maura Higgins, Connor Wood, and the Nader-family contingent—possess built-in fanbases capable of altering elimination outcomes.
- Physical Endurance and Injury Prevention: As rehearsal hours escalate and routines become increasingly complex, stamina will become the ultimate sorting mechanism. Contenders like Ciara Miller and Tyler Cameron will need to rapidly adapt their cardiovascular conditioning to survive the grueling weekly elimination cycle.
Ultimately, Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars has established that after decades on the air, the franchise retains its cultural currency by continually reinventing its casting formulas while honoring the core narrative of personal transformation. Whether Jenna Dewan can carry her early momentum all the way to the finale—or if a surprise underdog will stage an upset—remains one of television’s most compelling unscripted dramas this season.
