Updated

Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 3

Dancing With the Stars Unveils 11 Season 35 Contestants Ahead of Sept. 15 Premiere

Updated

Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 3

Dancing With the Stars Unveils 11 Season 35 Contestants Ahead of Sept. 15 Premiere

Q: Which unexpected celebrity is already being viewed as the ultimate threat by their Season 35 rivals?

Jenna Dewan appears to be the unexpected celebrity many Season 35 rivals already view as the biggest threat. The reason is straightforward: while she is entering as an actress from *The Rookie*, competitors and coverage around the cast reveal have zeroed in on her substantial dance background. Dewan rose to fame through dance-heavy projects such as *Step Up* and also worked professionally as a backup dancer, giving her a level of movement training that stands out even in a cast with performers and athletes. That made her an immediate name to watch as rehearsals began. Supplemental coverage of the cast launch specifically highlighted Dewan, along with Harry Shum Jr. and Julia Stiles, as contestants with prior performance advantages. But Dewan’s résumé made her the clearest early favorite in the eyes of many observers and, by extension, a likely rival target. At the same time, both Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy stressed that ballroom is a very different discipline from stage or commercial dance, arguing that prior experience does not guarantee success on *Dancing With the Stars*. Even so, among the newly announced celebrities, Dewan is the one most readily being treated as the early frontrunner — and therefore the ultimate threat.

2 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 3

Eleven Season 35 contestants spoke on the red carpet after the cast reveal, outlining early rehearsal plans, pre-show advice and the dances they most fear tackling.
The interviewed lineup included Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Taylor Hanson, Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Guillermo Rodriguez, Julia Stiles and Connor Wood, alongside their pro partners.
The broader 2026 cast also includes Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Dewan, expanding the celebrity field heading into the competition.
Season 35 opens with a 2-night premiere on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming on Disney+.

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Yahoo! Voices3h ago

DWTS Season 35 Cast Interviewed by TVLine's Ryan Schwartz Ahead of September Premiere

tvline.com3h ago

Dancing With The Stars - TVLine

Which unexpected celebrity is already being viewed as the ultimate threat by their Season 35 rivals?

With professional dancers in the mix, will the true amateurs stand a chance at the Mirrorball Trophy this season?

How will the show's third-ever same-sex pairing shake up the traditional ballroom dynamics this year?

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2 total

Yahoo! Voices3h ago

DWTS Season 35 Cast Interviewed by TVLine's Ryan Schwartz Ahead of September Premiere

tvline.com3h ago

Dancing With The Stars - TVLine

Dancing With the Stars Unveils 11 Season 35 Contestants Ahead of Sept. 15 Premiere

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