The glittering ballroom of Dancing With the Stars has once again opened its doors, welcoming a fresh cohort of celebrities for its highly anticipated 35th season. This year’s premiere unfolds over two nights, a strategic move designed to give each of the 16 competing couples ample time to showcase their burgeoning dance skills. The initial broadcast on Tuesday night spotlighted the eight male celebrities, with their female counterparts set to take the stage on Wednesday. This gender-split premiere format, a departure from some previous seasons, aims to provide a more focused introduction to the contestants and their professional partners, ensuring that every individual narrative and performance receives its due attention amidst the competitive landscape.
Coming off a successful and critically acclaimed 34th season, which garnered an Emmy nomination, Dancing With the Stars continues to draw a compelling mix of personalities from the realms of reality television, athletics, and established entertainment. The roster for season 35 includes a broad spectrum of talent, promising a season filled with both surprising performances and engaging celebrity stories. A key element of this season’s premiere is the theme for each celebrity’s dance: they will be performing to a No. 1 song from the year of their birth. This personal touch not only adds a nostalgic layer to the competition but also provides a unique challenge for the choreographers and dancers to interpret. Crucially, the premiere episodes will not be without consequence, as the first elimination of the season is slated to occur, setting the tone for the weeks to come and immediately raising the stakes for the remaining couples.
A Diverse Cast Takes the Floor
The lineup for Dancing With the Stars season 35 is a testament to the show’s enduring appeal and its ability to attract a wide array of public figures. The male celebrities who graced the ballroom on Tuesday night represent a variety of backgrounds:
- Tyler Cameron: Known for his role as a contestant on The Bachelorette, Cameron brings a strong fan base and a charismatic presence to the competition.
- Ezra Frech: A decorated Paralympic gold medalist, Frech’s inclusion highlights the show’s commitment to celebrating athletic achievement across all disciplines. His journey promises to be one of resilience and inspiration.
- Taylor Hanson: A beloved member of the iconic "Hanson" band, Hanson brings musical talent and a long-standing connection with audiences, potentially translating into strong viewer support.
- Conner Leavitt: Husband of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, Conner Leavitt enters the ballroom with a connection to the reality television sphere, aiming to carve out his own identity in the competition.
- Jackson Olson: A rising star from the Savannah Bananas baseball team, Olson represents the world of sports entertainment, bringing a different kind of athleticism and appeal to the dance floor.
- Guillermo Rodriguez: A familiar face from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Rodriguez is known for his comedic timing and engaging personality, which could prove advantageous in the performance aspect of the competition.
- Harry Shum Jr.: An accomplished actor with a background in dance, Shum Jr. is a formidable contender, bringing established performance skills to the forefront. His previous roles in shows like Glee and Shadowhunters have showcased his versatility.
- Connor Wood: An influencer and comedian, Wood represents the new wave of digital-native celebrities, tapping into a younger demographic that actively participates in online voting and social media engagement.
The female celebrities, who will make their debut on Wednesday night, also present a compelling mix of talent and recognition:
- Tatyana Ali: Best known for her role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali carries a significant legacy in television and is expected to bring grace and charm to her performances.
- Giada De Laurentiis: A celebrated celebrity chef and Food Network host, De Laurentiis is accustomed to the spotlight but will need to translate her culinary expertise into dance floor prowess.
- Jenna Dewan: An actress with a background in dance, Dewan is a strong contender from the outset, having previously starred in The Rookie and the Step Up film franchise. Her experience is likely to be a significant asset.
- Amber Glenn: An Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, Glenn’s transition to ballroom dancing will be closely watched, as she brings a high level of athletic discipline and artistry.
- Maura Higgins: A prominent reality star from shows like Love Island and The Traitors, Higgins has a proven track record of captivating audiences and will likely leverage her existing fanbase.
- Ciara Miller: A familiar face from Summer House, Miller is another reality television personality who will be looking to impress with her dance moves and personality.
- Sarah Jane Nader: A star of the reality series Love Thy Nader, Nader joins the cast with a fresh presence, aiming to make her mark on the competitive ballroom scene.
- Julia Stiles: An acclaimed actress with a career spanning memorable roles in films like 10 Things I Hate About You and the Bourne franchise, Stiles brings a seasoned acting background and a potentially untapped dancing talent.
The Mechanics of Competition and Elimination
Dancing With the Stars operates on a dual scoring system: judges’ scores and viewer votes. At the conclusion of each episode, the couple with the lowest combined total from these two components is eliminated. This format ensures a dynamic competition where both technical skill and audience popularity play crucial roles. Live voting is a cornerstone of the show’s engagement strategy. For viewers in the Eastern Time Zone, voting opens during the East Coast broadcast and concludes shortly after the final performance. This compressed voting window creates a sense of urgency and encourages immediate participation. For viewers on the West Coast, this translates to an earlier voting period, typically from 5 p.m. PT to approximately 7:45 p.m. PT, underscoring the need for prompt engagement to support their favorite contestants.
The decision to simulcast the season premiere across ABC and Disney+ marks a significant shift in the show’s distribution strategy, reflecting the evolving landscape of media consumption. This move aims to broaden the show’s reach, tapping into the subscriber base of Disney+ while maintaining its traditional broadcast audience on ABC. The following day, episodes will be available for streaming on Hulu, offering another avenue for viewers to catch up on the competition at their convenience. This multi-platform approach is indicative of a broader industry trend towards making content accessible across a variety of digital and linear platforms, catering to diverse viewing habits.
Premiere Night Performances and Initial Scores
The first night of the season 35 premiere focused on the male celebrity contestants. While the full list of scores for all eight couples was not immediately available for every participant in the initial report, the performance of Jackson Olson and Emma Slater was highlighted with a score of 15 out of 30. This score, while a starting point, places them in a position where they will need to impress viewers and judges in subsequent weeks to avoid early elimination. The absence of full scores for the other male celebrity pairings in the initial reporting suggests that comprehensive results will be released as the season progresses, or perhaps were part of the subsequent night’s broadcast. However, the listed pairings provide insight into the professional-celebrity partnerships established for the season:
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
- Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
These partnerships bring together a mix of seasoned professional dancers and celebrities who may have varying degrees of prior dance experience. The dynamic between each pair will undoubtedly be a key factor in their success throughout the competition. The selection of songs from the year of each celebrity’s birth adds a personal narrative to each performance. For example, a contestant born in the 1990s might be dancing to a grunge anthem or a pop hit from that era, while someone born in the 1980s could be performing to a synth-pop classic or a rock ballad. This thematic constraint requires creative interpretation and can lead to diverse and often unexpected dance styles.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The continued success of Dancing With the Stars in its 35th season underscores its enduring appeal as a staple of broadcast television. The show’s ability to consistently attract a high-profile cast and adapt its format to maintain viewer engagement is a testament to its production team and its understanding of audience preferences. The Emmy nomination for season 34 further solidifies its critical standing within the television industry.
The strategic decision to split the premiere by gender and to simulcast across traditional and streaming platforms reflects a keen awareness of the evolving media consumption habits of its audience. This approach not only aims to maximize viewership but also to cater to a younger demographic that may be more inclined towards streaming services. The integration of live voting, with its immediate impact on eliminations, fosters a sense of interactive participation that has been a hallmark of the show’s success.
As Dancing With the Stars embarks on season 35, the blend of established stars, emerging personalities, and athletic talents promises a season filled with compelling performances, unexpected challenges, and the ever-present drama of competition. The initial performances have set the stage, and the journey to crowning a new champion has just begun, with the first elimination poised to narrow the field and heighten the stakes for the remaining couples. The show’s ability to blend entertainment, athleticism, and audience interaction continues to position it as a significant player in the competitive television landscape.
