Additional Coverage:
Bobby Bones, winner of Dancing with the Stars season 27, recently weighed in on the ongoing debate about casting celebrities with dance backgrounds on the show. While he’s perfectly fine with experienced dancers joining the competition, he finds it “insulting” when they claim to be on equal footing with other contestants.
Following the announcement of DWTS season 35’s cast, some fans expressed concern that participants like former Janet Jackson backup dancer Jenna Dewan and Glee star Harry Shum Jr. might have an unfair edge due to their dance experience. Both Dewan and Shum emphasized that ballroom dancing presents a whole new challenge for them, despite their training.
Bones, however, challenged that notion in a candid video recorded at the studio of his Netflix podcast, The BobbyCast. He pointed out that while ballroom dance has its unique elements, those with years of dance experience already possess key skills that give them a clear advantage.
“I keep hearing people with years of dance training say, ‘I’ve never done ballroom, so it’s really hard for me,’” Bones said. “It’s not.” He explained that dancers inherently understand rhythm, balance, posture, and body control-skills that beginners simply don’t have.
Bones likened it to a professional baseball player being asked to play slow-pitch softball. While the rules and equipment differ, the fundamentals of swinging a bat and tracking a ball remain the same.
“You already know how to swing a bat and track a ball,” he said. “You have hand-eye coordination and understand timing and balance.”
Importantly, Bones isn’t calling for a ban on experienced dancers. Instead, he urges celebrity contestants to be honest about the advantages their backgrounds bring.
“Everybody has a different advantage,” he noted, whether it’s dance skills, stage presence, or TV charisma. But pretending that prior dance experience doesn’t help is, in his words, “a total load of bullcrap.”
Bones himself had no dance experience when he won the competition in 2018 with pro partner Sharna Burgess. Although their scores were often low, their fan votes carried them to victory.
After former host Tom Bergeron called their win “the most shocking” moment in the show’s history, Bones returned his Mirrorball Trophy to ABC in 2025, feeling undeserving. However, after making peace with Bergeron, he happily received the trophy back in 2026.
Dancing with the Stars season 35 will premiere with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.