It’s me again everyone! This week the new cast for season 35 of Dancing with the Stars was announced and boy are we in for a treat! I am so excited for this season and to see so many familiar faces. The cast lineup sounds incredibly entertaining and promising. Consisting of a Paralympian, actors, chefs, and many more, this season is jam-packed with irresistible star power. I am most excited about seeing Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. take on the ballroom. Now I know there will be lots of criticism on their dance backgrounds, but again, professional ballroom dance is a new territory for them. I also feel like the partnerships they have will fit them and the personalities they give off very well.
Some of the other pairs that also caught my eye as potentially great pairings were Ezra Frech with Daniella, Tyler Cameron with Sharna, and Ciara Miller with Brandon. As far as the Ezra and Daniella pairing, I will admit that I didn’t know of him before the announcement because I’m not much of a sports person. I do, however, feel that this pair will be a good one. For one, they definitely look good together, but I also believe in Daniella’s teaching skills. I mean they don’t call her the Ferrari for nothing! Daniella also has this innate ability to connect with her partners and build strong friendships with them. She is also all about creating iconic moments, and I feel as though Ezra might be the type to be down to try everything. This would make a recipe for dancing gold. With Tyler and Sharna, I feel like he fits the mold of a lot of her past partners’ background and vibe, but I also feel that even though he has the looks, Sharna will be able to bring out an incredible dancer in him. At first, the Ciara and Brandon pairing threw me, and I didn’t know how to feel about it because I thought for sure she would be paired with Val. With the year that she had and all of the popularity she gained, I thought that pairing was a no-brainer. After watching some interview snippets however, I do see how this pairing can work and become a fan favorite. With Brandon’s technique and infectious personality and Ciara’s fierceness, they definitely will be a team to beat.
As far as the pros go, it should come as no surprise that I watched the inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. Coming fresh off her well-deserved win, I am most excited to see Adele. Being able to see her journey to get to this moment and now finally get to live out this dream feels like I get to see the end of one journey, yet the beginning of a new one. I am excited to see her growth and personality on the show and see what she brings to the table for viewers. Though I am glad Rylee still has her job secured (unemployment is definitely not desirable), I feel that maybe having Jan sit this one out and maybe bringing back Sasha should’ve been considered too. However, there is no hate towards Jan, and I will still judge his choreography the same as everyone else’s. I will say that I am curious to see Hailey begin her journey as a pro and how she holds her own on the show as well. I am also happy to see Sharna back in the ballroom for her return after a five-year hiatus. You all know I love a bit of nostalgia, and her return just reminds me of what the show looked like when I first started watching. Last but not least, concerning the pros, one of the big topics is Witney’s pregnancy! Now the last time we saw this was Allison Holker (and technically Peta Murgatroyd), so I am interested to see what type of modifications to her choreography she may do, especially since she is already in her second trimester.
If you couldn’t tell by now, I am super excited to watch this new season in two weeks! The season premiere will be a two-part event airing on Tuesday, September 15th and Wednesday, September 16th at 8 pm ET on ABC and Disney+. Though I didn’t list all of the celebrities competing for the mirror ball this season, you can check out the full list here. Maybe you guys agree with the couples on my radar, or maybe there are some different ones you have your eyes on. I highly recommend you guys tune in or even watch the next day on Hulu. See you all again next week!