The contestants for the upcoming season of the popular TV show “Dancing With The Stars” have been revealed. The diverse lineup includes familiar faces from various backgrounds who will trade their usual roles for a chance to compete for the mirror-ball trophy.
The official announcement, made on “Good Morning America,” confirmed the participation of Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez. Additionally, twelve more stars were introduced, such as Julia Stiles and Jenna Dewan, who will showcase their dancing skills alongside Hollywood personalities, social-media influencers, an Olympian, a Paralympian, and even a baseball player from the Savannah Bananas team.
The new season of the show, which will be available on Disney+, is set to premiere on September 15 and 16.
The full cast and their professional dance partners are as follows:
– Tatyana Ali from “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” paired with Jan Ravnik
– Tyler Cameron from “The Bachelorette” paired with Sharna Burgess
– Giada De Laurentiis, celebrity chef and host, partnered with Alan Bersten
– Jenna Dewan from “The Rookie” and “Step Up” dancing with Val Chmerkovskiy
– Ezra Frech, Paralympian gold medallist, paired with Daniella Karagach
– Amber Glenn, Olympian gold medallist, teamed up with Pasha Pashkov
– Taylor Hanson, musician, dancing with Britt Stewart
– Maura Higgins from “Love Island” and “The Traitors” dancing with Mark Ballas
– Conner Leavitt, husband of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt, paired with Adele Zaikman
– Ciara Miller from “Summer House” and “Love Island USA: Aftersun” partnered with Brandon Armstrong
– Sarah Jane Nader from “Love Thy Nader” dancing with Hailey Bills
– Jackson Olson, Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball player, paired with Emma Slater
– Guillermo Rodriguez from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” dancing with Witney Carson
– Harry Shum Jr. from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Glee,” and “Crazy Rich Asians” dancing with Jenna Chmerkovskiy
– Julia Stiles from “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Save The Last Dance” with Ezra Sosa
– Connor Wood, comedian and podcaster, dancing with Rylee Arnold
The cast announcement sparked mixed reactions among fans on social media. While some praised the selection of contestants, others expressed concerns about contestants like Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. having prior dance experience, giving them an advantage in the competition.
The upcoming season will also feature new elements, such as the winner of “Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro,” Adele Zaikman, and the promotion of Hailey Bills to a professional dancer, marking the third same-sex pairing in the show’s history. Bills, who is the niece of pro dancer Jenna Johnson, will be competing alongside her uncle Val Chmerkovskiy.
This season promises to bring excitement and fierce competition to the dance floor, keeping viewers eagerly anticipating the premiere in September.