The ballroom is getting crowded again, and Dancing with the Stars is bringing an unusually wide-ranging group of celebrities along for Season 35.
Sixteen stars are preparing to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, with the new lineup stretching from Hollywood veterans and reality television personalities to Olympic athletes, musicians, online creators and a celebrity chef.
Among the most recognizable Hollywood names are Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr. and Tatyana Ali. Stiles brings a long film and television career to the competition, while Dewan and Shum enter the ballroom with an interesting advantage: both have substantial dance experience.
Dewan, who broke through to movie audiences with Step Up, will compete alongside professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. Shum, whose career has included Glee, Step Up 2: The Streets and professional dance and choreography work, has been paired with Jenna Johnson.
Stiles will dance with Ezra Sosa, while Ali, known to generations of television viewers from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will compete with Jan Ravnik.
The sports world will also be well represented. Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech is partnered with Daniella Karagach, while Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn will trade the ice for the ballroom alongside Pasha Pashkov.
Music fans will recognize Taylor Hanson, who rose to international fame as part of the sibling band Hanson. He will compete with Britt Stewart.
Reality television contributes several contenders. Tyler Cameron is paired with returning pro Sharna Burgess, Maura Higgins will dance with Mark Ballas, Ciara Miller is teamed with Brandon Armstrong and Conner Leavitt will compete with Adele Zaikman.
The lineup gets even more eclectic from there.
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis will dance with Alan Bersten. Savannah Bananas personality Jackson Olson is partnered with Emma Slater, comedian and podcaster Connor Wood will compete with Rylee Arnold, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality Guillermo Rodriguez will take the floor with Witney Carson.
Sarah Jane Nader rounds out the celebrity field with professional partner Hailey Bills.
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are returning to guide viewers through the competition, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will once again occupy the judges’ table.
Season 35 will begin with a two-night premiere on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
The franchise is also adding more surrounding programming this season. Former contestant Andy Richter will host the Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast, while reigning Mirrorball champion Robert Irwin will host the new DWTS After Party following the second night of the premiere.
With experienced performers, elite athletes, reality favorites and a few contestants entering completely unfamiliar territory, Season 35 has plenty of ingredients for an unpredictable race.
And as Dancing with the Stars has demonstrated repeatedly, having the biggest name or the strongest résumé before the music starts does not necessarily mean you’ll be holding the trophy when it stops.
