The ballroom is officially filling up again, and the Dancing With the Stars Season 35 cast is already discovering that the road to the Mirrorball Trophy comes with sore muscles, unexpected challenges and plenty of laughs.

ABC unveiled all 16 celebrity-pro partnerships on Good Morning America on September 2, giving fans their first full look at the new lineup. Ahead of the two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, several contestants and professional dancers shared how rehearsals are progressing — and what they hope to accomplish once the competition begins.

Early rehearsals bring nerves, laughter and sore muscles

For longtime pro Daniella Karagach, working with Paralympian Ezra Frech has given her fresh motivation. After a demanding stretch since last season, Karagach said Frech’s enthusiasm and respect for dance have helped inspire her as they begin preparing together.

Giada De Laurentiis, meanwhile, is quickly learning how different ballroom movement can feel. Her partner Alan Bersten said the opening days are largely about understanding each other and building fundamentals, while De Laurentiis joked that even remembering to bend her knees has been a challenge. Separate reports have also described her first days of training as emotionally and physically demanding, though Bersten has praised her commitment.

Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson may have been announced as a pairing before the complete cast reveal, but Carson stressed that they received no extra rehearsal time. After roughly a week of training, she said their sessions had been filled with laughter.

Singer Taylor Hanson is also feeling the physical effects of training with Britt Stewart. Although he has spent much of his life performing with Hanson, Stewart noted that he is accustomed to performing behind instruments rather than dancing in the center of the floor. Hanson, for his part, has already made one goal clear: He wants to help Stewart finally win the Mirrorball Trophy.

Stars hope to bring their personalities into the ballroom

Several contestants are looking for ways to make their performances feel uniquely their own.

Conner Leavitt, husband of former The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives contestant Whitney Leavitt, has already asked partner Adele Zaikman to incorporate magic into their routines. The pair teased that viewers should watch closely during Week 1 for a special trick.

For Julia Stiles, joining DWTS represents a different kind of challenge. After spending more time behind the camera in recent years, the 10 Things I Hate About You star said competing marks a deliberate decision to step back into the spotlight.

Stiles is also entering the ballroom as a devoted fan of the show — something her partner Ezra Sosa has already been joking about during rehearsals.

Elsewhere, Brandon Armstrong and Summer House star Ciara Miller are concentrating on establishing the fundamentals before adding more ambitious elements. Armstrong also teased that they have a strong song lined up for their first performance.

Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov are mixing serious training with occasional breaks for TikTok videos, while Pashkov joked that working with an Olympian naturally means their sessions tend to lean toward hard work.

Jenna Dewan has also acknowledged just how difficult rehearsals with Val Chmerkovskiy have been. Despite balancing Dancing With the Stars with her work on The Rookie, Dewan said keeping the experience enjoyable remains essential.

Familiar faces find new chemistry

Mark Ballas and Maura Higgins enter the season with an unusual advantage: They already know each other from The Traitors.

That does not necessarily mean trust comes naturally.

Higgins admitted that the two hardly trusted one another during their previous reality television experience, with Ballas even suspecting she might have been a Traitor. This time, however, they will have to learn to operate as partners rather than competitors.

Emma Slater and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson face a different logistical challenge. Because Olson will continue traveling for games during the season, Slater plans to take rehearsals on the road whenever necessary.

The cast also includes partnerships featuring Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Harry Shum Jr., Sarah Jane Nader and Connor Wood, contributing to a 16-celebrity lineup spanning television, sports, music, food and social media.

One season, very different ambitions

As rehearsals continue, the celebrities are already thinking about what they want their ballroom experience to become.

Asked to describe their hopes in a single word, Leavitt chose “iconic,” while Stiles said she wanted her journey to be “inspirational.” Tatyana Ali and Jackson Olson both landed on “magical.”

Those answers reflect just how differently each contestant is approaching Season 35. Some arrive with performance experience, others with elite athletic backgrounds, and several are stepping far outside their usual worlds.

They will soon find out how well that preparation translates when Dancing With the Stars Season 35 begins with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/