As the reality television juggernaut Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) prepares to launch its milestone 35th season on September 15, the franchise finds itself engulfed in a familiar yet increasingly heated pre-premiere debate. The announcement of this year’s celebrity lineup has triggered substantial online pushback, with purists and vocal fans accusing production of stacking the deck in favor of contestants with extensive professional dance backgrounds. At the epicenter of the controversy are three high-profile names: Step Up star Jenna Dewan, Save the Last Dance actor Julia Stiles, and Glee breakout star Harry Shum Jr.
While critics argue that these established performers possess an unfair competitive edge over quintessential novices—citing their histories of box-office dance sequences, professional tours, and music video credits—longtime head judge Carrie Ann Inaba has stepped forward to mount a vigorous defense of the casting decisions. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Inaba dismantled the simplistic narrative that professional experience translates directly to immediate ballroom supremacy. She illuminated the punishing biomechanical and technical realities of transitioning from commercial styles like hip-hop, jazz, or ballet into the rigid, posture-heavy domain of competitive ballroom and Latin dance.
This article provides an exhaustive examination of the Season 35 "ringer" controversy. We explore the professional pedigrees of the contested contestants, analyze Inaba’s technical defense, contextualize historical precedents of trained dancers on the show, and weigh the ongoing debate over fairness versus entertainment value in modern reality television.
Detailed Chronology of the Controversy
The unfolding drama surrounding Season 35 began the moment ABC and Disney+ unveiled the official celebrity roster. Within hours, entertainment forums, social media channels, and dedicated fandom pages were flooded with commentary criticizing the inclusion of stars whose careers are fundamentally intertwined with dance.
The Unveiling and Initial Outcry
Historically, Dancing with the Stars has thrived on the charm of the "fish out of water"—actors, athletes, politicians, and internet personalities who must conquer two left feet live on national television. When the Season 35 cast list hit the airwaves, the presence of multi-hyphenate performers immediately disrupted this traditional dynamic:
Jenna Dewan: A veteran commercial dancer who worked alongside global superstars before headlining a generation-defining dance film.
Julia Stiles: An actress globally recognized for her cinematic portrayals of dancers, from rebellious hip-hop fusion to classical ballet.
Harry Shum Jr.: A virtuosic stage and screen dancer who transitioned from backing pop royalty to starring in major musical-comedy television.
Fans immediately voiced frustration, arguing that individuals who spent decades mastering rhythm, stage presence, and choreography retention occupy an unfair position next to complete amateurs. The term "ringer"—historically used in reality competitions for contestants with hidden professional advantages—began trending across platforms, setting the stage for defensive maneuvers from the production team and judging panel.
Carrie Ann Inaba’s Counter-Offensive
Recognizing the potential erosion of viewer trust, judge Carrie Ann Inaba stepped up to address the backlash head-on. Speaking directly to Entertainment Weekly, Inaba sought to reframe how the audience views professional training versus ballroom specialization.
Rather than dismissing the fans’ concerns outright, Inaba validated their observations while offering a nuanced physiological explanation. She noted that while stars like Dewan, Stiles, and Shum Jr. undoubtedly possess musicality and body awareness, their previous training could actually work against them in the early weeks of the competition. By breaking down the mechanics of weight distribution, core engagement, and posture, Inaba attempted to assure viewers that the ballroom playing field remains remarkably level, regardless of a celebrity’s past resume.
The Contested Contestants: A Closer Look at Their Dance Pedigrees
To fully understand the roots of the viewer backlash, it is necessary to examine the actual dance credentials of the three celebrities driving the Season 35 controversy. Far from being casual hobbyists, each of these stars boasts a deep, professional history within the performing arts.
Jenna Dewan: The Commercial and Cinematic Trailblazer
At 45 years old, Jenna Dewan’s professional trajectory is deeply rooted in the elite echelons of commercial dance. Before transitioning into acting and high-profile television hosting, Dewan built a formidable reputation as a top-tier backup dancer.
In 2001, she famously secured a spot on Janet Jackson’s grueling All for You Tour, showcasing her stamina and mastery of intricate choreography on a global stage. Following her time with Jackson, Dewan became a sought-after presence in music videos, lending her talents to visual projects for pop icons such as Christina Aguilera, Pink, Missy Elliott, and *NSYNC.
Her mainstream cultural breakthrough arrived in 2006 when she starred alongside Channing Tatum in the smash-hit romantic dance drama Step Up. The film required months of rigorous rehearsal, cementing her status as a premier cinematic dancer. Beyond her performance career, Dewan has stayed intimately connected to the dance industry behind the scenes and on screen. She hosted Jennifer Lopez’s ambitious NBC reality competition series World of Dance and served as a core judge on the 2022 CBS series Come Dance With Me, proving that her analytical eye for choreography is as sharp as her physical execution.
Julia Stiles: Cinematic Ballet and Contemporary Icon
Julia Stiles, also 45, holds a revered place in late-90s and 2000s pop culture largely due to her defining cinematic dance roles. While Stiles did not pursue a traditional path as a commercial backup dancer, her artistic training runs deep.
In the 1999 teen classic 10 Things I Hate About You, Stiles delivered a memorable, uninhibited tabletop dance sequence that remains a pop culture touchstone. Two years later, she cemented her legacy in the genre by starring in Save the Last Dance (2001). For the role of Sara Johnson—an aspiring Juilliard ballerina thrust into the world of Chicago hip-hop club culture—Stiles underwent intensive physical training. She performed the vast majority of her own demanding ballet and fusion sequences, bridging the gap between classical technique and urban rhythm.
While Stiles has spent the intervening decades primarily focusing on dramatic acting in film and television, her early exposure to rigorous movement disciplines gives her a foundational understanding of physical expression that distinguishes her from a traditional novice.
Harry Shum Jr.: From Pop Royalty to Musical Theater
At 44 years old, Harry Shum Jr. arrives on the Season 35 ballroom floor with arguably the most versatile contemporary dance background of the trio. Long before breaking out as the charismatic dancer-turned-actor Mike Chang on Fox’s mega-hit series Glee, Shum was an elite professional commercial dancer.
Much like Dewan, Shum’s career began in the trenches of the Los Angeles dance scene, where his explosive tumbling, popping, and lyrical capabilities landed him backup dancing roles for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Mariah Carey. He was also an integral part of the cinematic ecosystem that defined mid-2000s dance films, making notable appearances in the Step Up franchise (Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D).
Shum’s ability to seamlessly transition across hip-hop, krumping, contemporary, and theatrical styles makes him a formidable physical presence, amplifying concerns among fans that his choreography retention will be second nature.
Official Statements and Technical Analysis: Why Ballroom Is Different
In her defense of the Season 35 cast, Carrie Ann Inaba did not simply dismiss the public’s grievances; she offered an illuminating masterclass in the biomechanics of dance. According to the veteran judge, the assumption that "all dance is the same" ignores the grueling, counter-intuitive process of unlearning decades of muscle memory.
The Physics of Weight Placement
The core of Inaba’s argument rests on the fundamental differences in weight distribution between commercial/street styles and traditional ballroom techniques.
"What’s difficult — and I don’t think people realize this — is when you go from being a jazz dancer or a hip-hop dancer or all the other forms of dancing [to ballroom], the weight placement is so different," Inaba explained to Entertainment Weekly.
In commercial styles, hip-hop, and contemporary dance, performers often work with a low center of gravity, utilizing a grounded, relaxed posture that distributes weight broadly or sinks into the heels and hips. Conversely, international ballroom and Latin styles require an upright, highly elevated posture. Dancers must learn to project their weight forward over the toes and balls of the feet, maintaining core tension and skeletal alignment that defies natural, relaxed human movement.
The Curse of Muscle Memory
Inaba pointed out that a professional background can actually be a psychological and physical hurdle due to the phenomenon of bodily memory.
"It’s weird because your body has memory, so it remembers how to dance, and it thinks it already knows how to do these moves, but it doesn’t. It takes a lot of time to un-train the body to put your weight on the front more over your toes instead of back and down and grounded. It’s not as easy as people think."
Furthermore, Inaba acknowledged the psychological advantages that trained performers bring—such as rhythm, musicality, and the ability to digest complex sequences quickly—while simultaneously contextualizing those traits within the timeline of the contestants’ lives. "It’s been a few years since they’ve all danced, right?" she noted, reminding skeptics that a hiatus from professional training dulls physical stamina and technical precision.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Historical Precedents on Dancing with the Stars
The debate over ringers is by no means new to Dancing with the Stars. Across its 34 previous seasons, the production has frequently cast actors, singers, and athletes with varying degrees of prior performance experience. Looking back at historical data reveals a fascinating trend: prior dance training does not guarantee a mirrorball trophy, though it certainly correlates with competitive longevity.
The Hit-and-Miss Reality of Trained Contestants
History shows that raw professional experience does not always translate to fan adoration or flawless execution under the unique pressures of live ballroom television:
Heather Morris (Season 24): As a former backup dancer for Beyoncé—most notably featured in the iconic "Single Ladies" music video—Morris entered her season as the ultimate ringer. Despite consistently high technical scores, she struggled to connect emotionally with the viewing public, resulting in a shocking elimination in eighth place.
Amanda Kloots (Season 30): The Broadway veteran and former Radio City Rockette brought elite technical precision to the ballroom. While she displayed breathtaking lines and impeccable rhythm, her journey ended in fourth place, proving that technical mastery alone cannot conquer a competitive public vote.
When Ringers Take the Crown
Conversely, there are undeniable instances where contestants with prior movement experience leveraged their skills to dominate the competition and secure the ultimate victory:
Charli D’Amelio (Season 31): The TikTok superstar leveraged her lifelong competitive dance training to dominate the leaderboard week after week, ultimately cruising to a decisive victory with partner Mark Ballas.
Jordan Fisher (Season 25): A triple-threat performer with a strong background in musical theater and dance, Fisher delivered some of the most memorable routines in the show’s history, securing a well-earned mirrorball trophy.
Meryl Davis (Season 18): As an Olympic ice dancer, Davis possessed extraordinary poise, balance, and musicality, translating her on-ice mastery into an unstoppable ballroom run that resulted in a first-place finish.
Contestant
Background
Season
Final Placement
Heather Morris
Beyoncé Backup Dancer
Season 24
8th Place
Amanda Kloots
Broadway / Radio City Rockette
Season 30
4th Place
Jordan Fisher
Musical Theater / Dancer
Season 25
1st Place (Winner)
Meryl Davis
Olympic Ice Dancer
Season 18
1st Place (Winner)
Charli D’Amelio
Competitive Dancer / TikToker
Season 31
1st Place (Winner)
Future Outlook: What to Expect in Season 35
As the countdown to the September 15 premiere ticks down, the casting controversy serves as free publicity for a franchise that continues to evolve in an increasingly fragmented television landscape. By leaning into the discourse rather than shying away from it, producers have ensured heightened public engagement before a single step is danced on live television.
Will Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, and Harry Shum Jr. dominate the leaderboard, or will the notoriously difficult biomechanics of ballroom expose their past training as a double-edged sword? If history is any indicator, the audience will ultimately decide. Dancing with the Stars has always operated at the intersection of technical excellence and populist appeal; viewers frequently reward personal growth, vulnerability, and charisma far above flawless technique.
Carrie Ann Inaba’s defense has set the tone for the judging panel’s expectations: while the "ringers" will be held to an exceptionally high standard of performance, they will receive no algorithmic charity when it comes to the punishing mechanics of the Latin and ballroom disciplines. As the curtains rise on September 15, the world will watch to see whether muscle memory can conquer the unyielding geometry of the ballroom floor.
