The glitter is polished, the ballroom floor is buffed, and the anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. As Dancing With the Stars prepares to celebrate its monumental 35th season, ABC has officially pulled back the curtain on the complete roster of celebrities ready to vie for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Premiering on September 15, the upcoming season promises a high-octane blend of Hollywood heavyweights, reality television icons, and elite athletes, all under the watchful eyes of the judges and a global audience.
The Full Cast Reveal: A Diverse Array of Talent
The recent announcement on Good Morning America solidified the final list of 12 additional contestants, completing a lineup that represents the pinnacle of pop culture diversity. The roster features a compelling mix of personalities, ranging from seasoned actors to internet sensations, each paired with professional dancers determined to mold them into ballroom experts.
The Headliners and Their Partners
The casting strategy for Season 35 appears to lean heavily into crossover appeal. The newly announced celebrities include:
- Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) paired with Jenna Johnson
- Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You) paired with Ezra Sosa
- Jenna Dewan (Step Up) paired with Val Chmerkovskiy
- Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) paired with Jan Ravnik
- Tyler Cameron (The Bachelor) paired with Sharna Burgess
- Conner Leavitt (The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) paired with Adele Zaikman
- Sarah Jane Nader (Love Thy Nader) paired with Hailey Bills
- Taylor Hanson (Musician) paired with Britt Stewart
- Giada De Laurentiis (Chef) paired with Alan Bersten
- Connor Wood (Comedian) paired with Rylee Arnold
- Ezra Frech (Paralympian) paired with Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn (Olympian) paired with Pasha Pashkov
These stars join the previously confirmed contestants: Ciara Miller (Summer House), who will dance with Brandon Armstrong; Maura Higgins (The Traitors), partnered with Mark Ballas; Guillermo Rodriguez (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), paired with Witney Carson; and Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas), dancing with Emma Slater.
A Chronology of the Casting Journey
The road to Season 35 has been marked by a series of strategic reveals designed to keep the audience engaged throughout the off-season.
The excitement began in April when Dancing With the Stars confirmed the participation of Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins. Both women expressed profound enthusiasm, viewing the opportunity as a transformative professional and personal milestone. For Higgins, the casting was the result of long-term manifestation. During a candid conversation with co-host Julianne Hough at Hulu’s Get Real House Live, Higgins revealed that she had placed the show on her vision board years ago. "I redo it every year," she explained. "This year, I stayed home, made a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine, and I didn’t just keep it on the board—I added it five more times."
Following the initial announcement, the momentum continued in May when Jackson Olson was revealed as a competitor. The Savannah Bananas star, known for his charismatic presence on the baseball diamond, represents a unique demographic shift for the show, bridging the gap between sports entertainment and traditional ballroom performance.
In June, the late-night world got involved when Jimmy Kimmel took to the airwaves to announce that his long-time sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, would be trading the studio office for the rehearsal studio. The announcement was met with overwhelming positive fan response, cementing Rodriguez as the season’s fan-favorite "underdog."
Supporting Data: The Evolution of the Pro Cast
A significant element of the upcoming season is the infusion of new blood into the professional roster. The introduction of Hailey Bills and Adele Zaikman marks a generational shift for the program. Bills, the niece of pro Jenna Johnson, brings her experience from the show’s troupe, while Zaikman arrives as the winner of the spinoff series The Next Pro, hosted by reigning champion Robert Irwin.
The partnership between Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills is particularly noteworthy, as it establishes a rare same-sex pairing in the show’s history—a move that reflects the production’s ongoing commitment to evolving the sport of ballroom dance.
Official Responses and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
The transition from celebrity life to the grueling demands of DWTS training is rarely seamless, and the contestants have been open about the physical and mental hurdles they face. Ciara Miller, in an exclusive interview, noted that she is currently focused on improving her cardiovascular health. "Looks are not indicative of being in shape," she admitted. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I have to get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Similarly, the professional dancers are adjusting to their new partners. Sharna Burgess, who is making a highly anticipated "comeback" after a five-year hiatus, has expressed her excitement about returning to the format that defined her career. Her partnership with Tyler Cameron is already generating buzz, as fans speculate on whether their combined screen presence will be enough to propel them to the finals.
Implications for the Future of Reality Television
The casting of Season 35 highlights a broader trend in reality television: the "omnichannel" celebrity. By drawing talent from sports, social media, reality soaps, and legacy acting roles, ABC is ensuring that Dancing With the Stars remains the center of the pop-culture conversation.
The Sports-Entertainment Nexus
With the inclusion of Paralympian Ezra Frech and figure skater Amber Glenn, the show is emphasizing physical discipline as a core theme for this season. The ability for high-level athletes to translate their specialized skills into the fluid, expressive requirements of the ballroom is consistently one of the highest-rated segments of any season.
The Influence of Spin-offs
The success of the Hulu-based The Next Pro spinoff has proven that the DWTS brand is extensible. By integrating the winner of that series directly into the main show’s professional roster, the producers have created a pipeline for talent that keeps the brand fresh. This cycle of talent discovery ensures that the show remains dynamic and capable of attracting new viewers who may have started with the digital-first spinoffs.
Strategic Casting for Longevity
By mixing established names like Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan with internet-native stars like Connor Wood, the production is carefully balancing nostalgia with contemporary relevancy. This dual-pronged approach is essential for a program entering its 35th season, as it must simultaneously satisfy long-term viewers while appealing to younger demographics who engage primarily through social media clips and streaming platforms.
Conclusion: The Road to the Mirrorball
As the cast members break in their new dancing shoes and the choreography rehearsals move into high gear, the narrative for Season 35 is already taking shape. It is a season of "manifestation," as Maura Higgins puts it; a season of "stepping up," as Jenna Dewan notes; and a season of "stamina," as Ciara Miller prepares for the grind.
With the premiere date of September 15 fast approaching, the stakes have never been higher. The integration of veteran pros, ambitious celebrity newcomers, and a refreshed professional cast suggests that Season 35 will be a landmark year. Whether it is the athletic prowess of our sports stars, the comedic timing of our social media favorites, or the dramatic flair of our Hollywood actors, Dancing With the Stars continues to demonstrate its ability to evolve, captivate, and dominate the television landscape. As the lights dim and the music starts, one thing is certain: the battle for the Mirrorball Trophy will be one for the history books.
