The Dancing With The Stars Season 35 cast is out ā and fans already have thoughts. On Sept. 2, ABC announced the 16 stars competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, along with their partners for the season. From beloved comedians to gold medalists, the DWTS Season 35 cast is absolutely stacked ā and the internet is pumped.
Before the Sept. 2 announcement, several stars were already revealed as contestants on Season 35: Love Island UK legend and TraitorsĀ runner-up Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas baseball player Jackson Olson,Ā Summer HouseĀ icon Ciara Miller, and late-night comedian Guillermo Rodriguez (who wasĀ announced as the partnerĀ of pro Witney Carson, who took home the Mirrorball last season with Robert Irwin). However, aside from Rodriguez and Carson’s partnership, DWTS fans didn’t know who these celebs would be dancing with. That is, until the official cast and pairings were released on Good Morning America: Higgins will be dancing with Mark Ballas, Olson with Emma Slater, and Miller with Brandon Armstrong.
The Season 35 contestants feature some major ’90s and 2000s icons: There’s Save The Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You star Julia Stiles (paired with Ezra Sosa), Hanson lead singer Taylor Hanson (partnered with Britt Stewart), Step Up actress Jenna Dewan (partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy), and Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star Tatyana Ali (paired with Jan Ravnik). Additionally, the cast features Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech ā who is dancing with Daniella Karagach ā as well as Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn, who will be paired with Pasha Pashkov.
The cast also features Glee and Grey’s Anatomy actor Harry Shum Jr. (paired with Jenna Johnson), comedian Connor Wood (paired with Rylee Arnold), and former Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives cast member Conner Leavitt, paired with new pro Adele Zaikman. Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is also joining the season with partner Alan Bersten, and Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron will be dancing with Sharna Burgess, who is returning to the ballroom as a pro for the first time since 2021.
Season 35 also features a same-sex couple: influencer and model Sarah Jane Nader (who is the sister of DWTS alum Brooks Nader) with Hailey Bills ā the second female couple in DWTS history after Jenna Johnson and JoJo Siwa. Hype.
Naturally, it didn’t take long for fans to flock to the internet to share their thoughts on the cast. And, for the most part, they’re pretty excited.
But others… aren’t too convinced.
Still, tons of fans are already picking out who they’re rooting for this season. (Me, personally? I’m rooting for Cierra and Brandon ā get my boy a Mirrorball! Now!)
Season 35 of DWTS will officially premiere with a special two-night event on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. You know where I’ll be.