The Dancing With the Stars Season 35 cast reveal sent social media into a spiral after fans noticed some serious dance credentials on the roster. Jenna Dewan, who has over 25 years of experience including backup work for Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, is competing. So is Harry Shum Jr., a former Beyoncé backup dancer and Glee star. And Julia Stiles, known for her dance-heavy film roles, rounds out the controversial trio. Fans immediately took to social media calling the casting unfair and questioning how anyone else stands a chance.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba is pushing back on that narrative. In her defense of the cast, she explained that transitioning from styles like jazz or hip-hop to ballroom is deceptively difficult because muscle memory works against you. The technical requirements of ballroom dancing are so specific that years of training in other styles can actually hinder performance rather than help it. Inaba insists it’s“not as easy as people think.”The contestants agree, with Dewan describing ballroom and commercial dance as“two different languages”and Stiles going as far as calling her film dance background a“disadvantage.”
The debate raises a bigger question: what does fairness even mean in celebrity competition shows? Everyone comes in with different life experiences and skill sets. Some have acting training, some have athletic backgrounds, and some have dance experience. The real test will be who can adapt, learn, and grow under pressure. Season 35 premieres September 15th on ABC, and only then will we get actual answers. Do you think dance-trained celebrities should be allowed on DWTS, or should the show restrict contestants with professional experience?
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Local Lawton
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