Jenna Dewan is officially joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars for Season 35, and the "ringer" debate is already hitting a fever pitch before the first sequin has even been sewn.
TL;DR
Jenna Dewan is set to compete in the upcoming Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, sparking controversy over her professional dance background. As a former backup dancer for Janet Jackson and the star of Step Up, she enters the ballroom with more experience than almost any contestant in the show’s history. For families, this season—which also features Save the Last Dance star Julia Stiles—is shaping up to be a masterclass in performance that’s perfect for kids interested in competitive dance or theater.
In DWTS parlance, a "ringer" is a contestant who has professional dance training, making the "journey from novice to pro" narrative a bit of a stretch. Jenna Dewan isn't just someone who took a few ballet classes as a kid; she was a high-level professional dancer long before she was an actress. We’re talking about someone who toured the world with Janet Jackson and anchored one of the most influential dance movies of the 2000s, Step Up.
The internet is already arguing that her casting is unfair to the "regular" celebrities—the sitcom stars and retired athletes who actually have to learn how to find the beat. But from a purely entertainment perspective, having a ringer like Dewan means the floor quality is going to be through the roof. If your kid is into dance, watching someone with her technical base tackle ballroom is actually more educational than watching a football player struggle through a Samba.
The casting department clearly had a theme in mind this year. Alongside Dewan, we’re expected to see Julia Stiles join the roster. For parents, this is a heavy dose of nostalgia—you’ve got the stars of Step Up and Save the Last Dance competing against each other.
It’s worth noting that while Stiles has dance history, she’s not a "pro" in the same way Dewan is. This creates an interesting dynamic: the natural talent vs. the trained professional. It’s the kind of meta-narrative that makes the show worth watching with kids who are starting to understand that "talent" is often just a word for "thousands of hours of practice."
If you’re watching this with your kids, the "ringer" debate is the perfect entry point for a conversation about fairness and different starting lines.
- The "Unfair" Argument: It’s a competition. If one person starts at level 1 and another starts at level 90, the person at level 1 can never realistically "win" on merit alone.
- The "Entertainment" Argument: People tune in to see great dancing. Watching Dewan and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, will likely produce some of the best choreography the show has ever seen.
Instead of just complaining about it, ask your kid: Who would you rather vote for—the person who improved the most, or the person who performed the best? There’s no right answer, but it helps them see the difference between a "growth" competition and a "talent" showcase.
Dancing with the Stars remains one of the safest "big tent" reality shows for family viewing. It’s high-energy, it celebrates hard work, and the "drama" is usually limited to rehearsal-room frustration or judging-table snark.
The only real "watch-out" is the standard reality TV costume aesthetic—lots of mesh, sequins, and spray tans. If your family is already in the world of competitive dance or cheer, you’ve seen it all before. If not, it’s just part of the ballroom theater.
If the Season 35 hype has your kid wanting to see more of what Jenna Dewan can actually do, skip the gossip columns and go to the source material.
- Watch the classics: Step Up is still the gold standard for the "street meets ballet" genre. It’s a great Friday night watch.
- Check the competition: If they love the performance aspect of DWTS, point them toward our best reality competition shows list to find more shows that reward skill over snark.
- Analyze the technique: When Dewan performs, point out her "lines"—how she extends her arms and legs. That’s the "pro" difference that makes her a ringer.
Q: Is Jenna Dewan a professional dancer? Yes. Before her acting career took off, she was a professional backup dancer for Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, and Christina Aguilera. She also trained extensively in ballet and contemporary dance.
Q: Why are people calling Jenna Dewan a "ringer" on DWTS? A "ringer" is a contestant with significant professional experience in the field they are competing in. Because Jenna was a pro dancer before becoming an actress, many fans feel she has an unfair advantage over contestants with zero dance background.
Q: Is Dancing with the Stars Season 35 okay for kids? Yes, it’s generally considered very family-friendly. It focuses on athletic performance, teamwork, and personal growth. The most "mature" elements are typically just the form-fitting costumes and occasional mild bickering between partners or judges.
Q: Who else is in the Season 35 cast? While the full roster is still being finalized, heavy hitters like Julia Stiles have been confirmed. The season is expected to lean heavily into stars with existing ties to the dance and performance world.
Jenna Dewan joining Dancing with the Stars is going to make Season 35 a polarizing one, but also a technically brilliant one. Whether you think her professional history is "cheating" or just an excuse to see world-class dancing on a Tuesday night, it’s a great excuse to gather the family and talk about what it actually takes to be that good at something.
