Overview
- As of Friday, July 24 the summer series is midseason with nine contenders still competing to become a new Dancing With the Stars pro for Season 35.
- Executive producers publicly praised Shirley Ballas’s authority and said she would make a strong guest judge on the main DWTS panel, comparing her presence to the late Len Goodman.
- Mark Ballas and other judges stress that the show is vetting more than pure technique and will weigh teaching ability, on-camera presence and adaptability when choosing the winner.
- Producers cast influencers and built the format for cross-platform reach, with next-day streaming on Disney+ and Hulu and social clips aimed at driving TikTok engagement.
- Behind the push is a broader casting strategy tied to DWTS’s recent Emmy nomination and a desire to make pro recruitment more public so viewers know new pros’ stories before fall season casting.