Inside ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35: Cast Reveals Ballroom Hopes & Rehearsal Updates

“I honestly needed some inspiration going into this season,” Dancing With the Stars pro Daniella Karagach admitted to TV Insider. “I feel like we’ve done so much since last season. It almost feels like we didn’t stop. But then, meeting Ezra [Frech] and seeing how hungry he is for this process and how much he respects dance, it’s inspiring me so, so much.”

On September 2, ABC revealed the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 cast of 16 celebrity and pro-dancer duos. Following the cast announcement on Good Morning America, some of the duos took TV Insider inside their pre-season rehearsals and revealed their biggest hopes for the season.

According to Alan Bersten, “Especially in the first few days, it’s about growing and learning about each other.” His partner, Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis, added, “And bending your knees, which I’m not doing. I’m straight like a spaghetti.”

While Guillermo Rodriguez of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Witney Carson were the only pairing revealed ahead of the full cast announcement, Witney assured us that they started training at the same time as the rest of the pairs. “We did not get any extra time because this show is very fair, and we had to follow the rules.” Now that they’ve gotten into the swing of rehearsals, Carson revealed, “We’ve had about a week of rehearsals so far, and it’s honestly just been so fun, like I’ve been laughing the whole entire rehearsal.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TV Insider (@tvinsider)

Taylor Hanson, who fans might remember from the boy band Hanson, told TV Insider, “I’m having a great time, but I’m a little sore. I really think Britt’s a phenomenal teacher.” As pro Britt Stewart put it, “Taylor is such a performer, and he’s been doing it for his entire life, but he’s always been behind his instruments.” This season, more than anything, Hanson revealed that he is rooting for Stewart to finally get her Mirrorball win.

Some stars are looking forward to bringing their own passions onto the dance floor. Conner Leavitt, whose wife and fellow The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt starred on Season 34, revealed alongside his partner Adele Zaikman, “I’ve asked Adele, can we please work in some magic routines into our dancing, and she said absolutely.” He teased, “Keep your eyes peeled. Week 1, we have a really cool trick up our sleeves.”

For others, heading onto the ballroom floor is the beginning of a new era. Julia Stiles, who starred in 10 Things I Hate About You but has worked behind the camera more recently, explained, “I have been a little bit more private, and this was definitely a conscious decision to be like, I’m gonna step forward into a show that I am obsessed with. With a partner that I am obsessed with, who’s a little freaked out at how much of a fan I am.” Her partner, Ezra Sosa, joked, “It’s starting to become a problem.”

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Another teaser came from pro Brandon Armstrong, who said that he and Summer House star Ciara Miller have a “great first song.” He noted, “I think right now, we’re trying to form all the basics, kind of get the foundation down, and then we can grow from there.”

Pro Pasha Pashkov, who’s taking the dance floor with skater Amber Glenn, revealed, “It’s been a pleasure. I think we have a good balance of locking in and working hard, and at the same time, sometimes taking a break and taping some fun TikToks. We usually lean towards the hard work. I have an Olympian over here, you know?”

Jenna Dewan, who will be pulling double duty on The Rookie and Dancing With the Stars, confessed that the first few days of rehearsal with her pro Val Chmerkovskiy have been “so hard.” That said, she revealed, “Honestly, it’s been so fun. It has to be fun. I mean, what are we doing if it’s not?”

One couple, pro Mark Ballas and reality TV star Maura Higgins, are entering the season with a preexisting connection as costars and fellow Faithfuls from The Traitors. However, fans who think this gives them a leg up are forgetting one thing: They weren’t aligned on the show. “We didn’t even trust one another,” Higgins admitted. Ballas even thought that his now-partner was a Traitor. Now, they’re ready to come together on the dance floor.

Related

How Giada De Laurentiis' Daughter Reacted to Her 'DWTS' Casting

Pro Emma Slater and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson are taking their training on the road, as Slater revealed, “Every game that Jackson has throughout the season, I’m gonna be there… As long as they don’t ask me to hit anything. You might lose a few games if I’m playing.”

Looking forward to their journeys this season, the cast revealed their hopes for the next few months in one word. While some, like Leavitt and Stiles, respectively, hope their DWTS journey will be “iconic” and “inspirational,” Tatyana Ali and Olson used the word “magical.”

Comment below with the Dancing With the Stars star you’re most excited to see hit the ballroom floor this season!

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35 Premiere, Wednesday, September 15, 8/7c, ABC