Dancing With The Stars Announces Season 35 Cast: Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan and More to Hit the Ballroom Floor

The annual announcement of the cast for Dancing With The Stars has become a staple of fall TV schedules. This year’s lineup, however, is anything but standard issue. A fresh crop of familiar faces, including Hollywood stars, social-media personalities, and even an exhibition baseball player, are trading in their day jobs for sequins and choreography.

Jenna Dewan’s inclusion seems like a no-brainer. As a former backup dancer with extensive experience working with top artists like Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera, she’s got the chops to hold her own on the ballroom floor. However, her prior training may give her an unfair advantage over her competition, according to some viewers. “That advantage is crazy,” tweeted one Twitter user.

Julia Stiles brings a certain level of cultural cache to the show. As a star of films like 10 Things I Hate About You and Save The Last Dance, she’s got a built-in audience that might be more interested in watching her dance than some of her co-stars. Her pairing with newcomer Ezra Sosa promises to be one for the ages.

The cast list also includes Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Giada De Laurentiis - all names familiar to fans of the show. But will they bring anything new to the table? Jackson Olson, the Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball player, is sure to bring some much-needed athleticism and possibly a healthy dose of chaos to the competition.

This season marks a big moment for Hailey Bills, who’s been promoted from troupe member to pro dancer. As part of the third same-sex pairing in Dancing With The Stars history, her connection to fellow pro Jenna Johnson (who just happens to be her aunt) adds an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.

As rehearsals get underway and the cast list is finalized, one thing is clear: this season promises to be a wild ride. Fans will likely tune in for the drama, romance, or pure spectacle of it all. Whatever the reason, Dancing With The Stars has got them hooked - and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

The show has struggled to attract a younger audience in recent seasons, but this crop of newcomers may just be the ticket to relevance. From social-media personalities like Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller to musicians like Taylor Hanson, the show is making a concerted effort to appeal to a new demographic.

However, some fans are already voicing concerns that the show has become too focused on novelty pairings and not enough on actual dance talent. With so many established performers taking part, it’s hard to see how anyone - let alone some of these newcomers - can possibly compete.

Hailey Bills’ promotion to pro dancer is just one example of the family connections that run deep in this season’s cast list. But with her aunt Jenna Johnson already a well-established pro on the show, it’s hard not to wonder if there’s any favoritism at play.

The trend towards family pairings (or at least family connections) raises questions about what’s best for the show as a whole. On one hand, it adds an extra layer of interest and drama - who doesn’t love a good family feud? But on the other hand, it takes away from what Dancing With The Stars should be about: the music, the dance, and the competition.

As we count down to the season premiere on September 15th and 16th, one thing is clear: this year’s cast of Dancing With The Stars promises to bring more drama, romance, and pure spectacle than ever before. But beneath all the glitz and glamour lies a question: what does this mean for the future of the show? Will it continue to evolve and adapt to changing audience tastes, or will it revert back to its roots as a showcase for top performers and established stars?