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The stars have been picked. Now they just need to learn the steps.
The cast of Season 35 of Dancing With The Stars was officially announced on Wednesday, with a fresh lineup of familiar faces trading their famous day jobs for sequins, choreography and a shot at the mirror-ball trophy.
Before Wednesday’s announcement on Good Morning America, Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson and Guillermo Rodriguez had already been confirmed as part of the cast.
Twelve more stars were then named to the roster on the ABC morning show — including Julia Stiles, trading in her Save The Last Dance flats and 10 Things I Hate About You acting chops for the cha-cha-cha, and The Rookie star Jenna Dewan.
With Hollywood heavyweights, social-media personalities, an Olympian, a Paralympian and even a banana stepping onto the dance floor (Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball player Jackson Olson), it’s shaping up to be one very busy ballroom.
The show, which airs in Canada on Disney+, will have a double premiere on Sept. 15 and 16.
Here’s the full cast and the professional dancers they’ve been paired with:
Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and Jan Ravnik
Tyler Cameron (The Bachelorette) and Sharna Burgess
Giada De Laurentiis (celebrity chef and Food Network host) and Alan Bersten
Jenna Dewan (The Rookie, Step Up) and Val Chmerkovskiy
Ezra Frech (Paralympian gold medallist) and Daniella Karagach
Amber Glenn (Olympian gold medallist) and Pasha Pashkov
Taylor Hanson (musician) and Britt Stewart
Maura Higgins (Love Island, The Traitors) and Mark Ballas
Conner Leavitt (husband of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt) and Adele Zaikman
Ciara Miller (Summer House, Love Island USA: Aftersun) and Brandon Armstrong
Sarah Jane Nader (Love Thy Nader) and Hailey Bills
Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball player) and Emma Slater
Guillermo Rodriguez (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and Witney Carson
Harry Shum Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy, Glee and Crazy Rich Asians) and Jenna Chmerkovskiy
Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You, Save The Last Dance) and Ezra Sosa
Connor Wood (comedian, podcaster) and Rylee Arnold
Fans have thoughts
Fans on social media have voiced mixed opinions of the lineup.
That includes casting Dewan, who, unlike many others in the lineup, has an extensive dance background. Before starring in the 2006 dance film Step Up, Dewan worked as a backup dancer for stars including Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott and Christina Aguilera.
Harry Shum Jr., also brings a ton of dance experience to the cast. He’s performed alongside major artists like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna, before going on to star in several films in the Step Up franchise.
“That advantage is crazy,” one user wrote on X.
“DIABOLICAL. Give someone else a chance 😭,” another said.
But other fans were quick to praise the choice of incoming ballroom competitors, particularly Julia Stiles.
“That’s literally MOTHER. This partnership is going to change lives,” one user declared on X. “yeah so this is my team,” said another.
A new pro and a family connection
The upcoming season will be the first to feature the winner of Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro, Adele Zaikman. The competition was hosted by last season’s mirror-ball champion and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin.
This season also marks a big moment for Hailey Bills and the start of a potential fun family feud.
After spending Season 34 as a troupe member on the show, Bills has been promoted to pro and will be part of the third same-sex pairing in Dancing With the Stars history.
Bills is also no stranger to the show’s ballroom — she’s the niece of pro Jenna Johnson, who is married to fellow pro Val Chmerkovskiy.
