DWTS Season 35 Premiere
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Premieres With 16 Celebrities in Two-Night Event
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Key Points
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Each celebrity will perform to a No. 1 song from the year they were born, adding a specific musical theme to the two-night premiere.
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Ezra Frech, 21, was born without most of his left leg and fewer fingers on his left hand; after undergoing an amputation of the rest of his left leg at age 2, he went on to win Paralympic gold in the high jump and 100-meter race and set a Paralympic high-jump record of 1.94 meters in 2024.
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Frech will be the 13th disabled contestant and the fourth Paralympian to compete on the show; previous Paralympic contestants included Amy Purdy, who finished second in Season 18, and Victoria Arlen and Danielle Umstead.
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The two-night premiere and subsequent episodes will be available live on ABC and Disney+, with episodes arriving on Hulu the following day; the After Party will include eliminated contestants, alumni and behind-the-scenes footage.
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The cast includes several less prominent pairings and reality-TV figures, including Maura Higgins with Mark Ballas, Ciara Miller with Brandon Armstrong, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson with Emma Slater, and Guillermo Rodriguez with Witney Carson.
Dancing With the Stars returns for Season 35 on September 15 with 16 celebrities competing for the Mirrorball Trophy, including Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech, Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn, and actors Tatyana Ali, Julia Stiles, and Harry Shum Jr. The season opens with a special two-night premiere split by gender, with male contestants performing first and female contestants the next night, followed by one elimination each night based equally on judges' scores and viewer votes.
Frech, 21, will make history as the 13th disabled contestant and fourth Paralympian to compete on the show. Born without most of his left leg and fewer fingers on his left hand, he won Paralympic gold in the high jump and 100-meter race, setting a record high jump of 1.94 meters in 2024. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli return, with Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianna Hough serving as co-hosts.
A Premiere Built Around Nostalgic Hit Songs
Each of the 16 celebrities will perform to a No. 1 song from the year they were born, adding a personalized musical theme to the two-night premiere. This twist gives the performances deeper meaning — linking each dancer to the hits that defined their birth year. The approach makes opening night more intimate and gives viewers insight into each contestant's era.
Experienced Dancers Spark Fairness Debate
The casting of Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Dewan has sparked discussion among fans about whether they have an unfair advantage. Both are experienced dancers with professional backgrounds, raising questions about whether Season 35 will favor those with prior training. The show's producers chose to include them anyway, suggesting they value star power alongside competitive fairness.
A Diverse Cast Spanning Sports and Reality TV
Beyond the headline stars, Season 35 includes reality-TV figures and athletes. Jackson Olson, a Savannah Bananas player, will dance with Emma Slater. Maura Higgins pairs with Mark Ballas, and Ciara Miller dances with Brandon Armstrong. Former Bachelor star Tyler Cameron and radio personality Guillermo Rodriguez complete the 16-celebrity roster, representing everything from athletics to late-night talk radio.
How to Watch and What Comes After
The two-night premiere and all Season 35 episodes air live on ABC and Disney+ on September 15 and 16. Episodes will be available on Hulu the next day. Season 34 winner Robert Irwin will host a new after-show following the premiere, featuring eliminated contestants, alumni, and behind-the-scenes footage before the show returns to its regular Tuesday schedule.
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