Dancing With the Stars Gears Up for Season 35 Amidst Emmy Aspirations and New Spinoffs
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars proved to be a significant chapter for the long-running reality competition, marked by a surge in viewership and a renewed push for industry recognition, particularly from the Television Academy. As the show navigates the competitive landscape of Emmy season, executive producers Deena Katz and Conrad Green are already deeply immersed in the planning and casting process for Season 35, aiming to build upon the momentum generated by the show’s recent success.
The sentiment was palpable at a Dancing With the Stars For Your Consideration (FYC) event held on Sunday at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. This exclusive gathering provided an intimate look into the creative machinery that drives the beloved program, offering attendees a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the dedication and artistry required to produce a live, weekly entertainment spectacle. The event underscored the show’s aspirations not just for continued popular appeal, but for critical acclaim, as evidenced by its renewed pursuit of Emmy nominations.
A Season of Resurgence and Emmy Ambitions
The Season 34 finale of Dancing With the Stars achieved its highest ratings in a decade, a statistical benchmark that has injected a fresh wave of optimism into the production team. This resurgence in viewership has coincided with a strategic effort to position the show for greater recognition within the prestigious Emmy Awards. While Dancing With the Stars has historically been a consistent nominee in technical and craft categories, securing a nomination in the coveted "Outstanding Reality Competition Program" category has proven elusive for the past ten years.
This competitive drought has seen shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Traitors – a program for which Katz also serves as an executive producer and casting director – dominate the unscripted television landscape. However, Green, the showrunner, articulated a compelling case for Dancing With the Stars‘s unique position in contemporary television. He emphasized the sheer scale and weekly demands of producing a live, two-hour entertainment program for an 11-week run.
"I think the Emmy voters understand and appreciate that there’s very little like this on television anymore apart from those big award shows," Green stated during the FYC event. "There’s very little production of this level on television, certainly not routinely, week after week. For comedy, you’ve got Saturday Night Live; for dancing and entertainment, you’ve got Dancing With the Stars. It’s a similar process: It’s a weekly turnaround where you have to hit that excellence every time."
The sentiment is echoed by Katz, who shared her perspective on the show’s creative challenges and its potential to capture the attention of Emmy voters. "We’re deep into it," Katz commented regarding Season 35 preparations. "We’re already deep into casting, we’re talking themes – we’re talking everything." This proactive approach signifies a clear intent to not only maintain but elevate the show’s production values and creative direction.
Casting the Spotlight: Season 35 Takes Shape
The FYC event provided an early preview of the caliber of talent being considered for the upcoming season, with professional dancers delivering captivating performances that showcased their exceptional skills. Following the performances, a Q&A panel, moderated by DWTS alumna and Love Island host Ariana Madix, delved into the show’s enduring strengths. A key highlight was the series’ remarkable ability to foster a strong sense of community with its audience each week, a feat amplified by its live viewing and interactive voting model.
Adding to the anticipation for Season 35, two prominent figures have already been announced as part of the celebrity cast: Maura Higgins, the runner-up from The Traitors, and Ciara Miller, a star from Bravo’s Summer House. Their selections, unveiled at Hulu’s Get Real House 2026 event, signal a continued strategy of casting individuals who are currently generating significant public interest and possess a strong media presence.
Higgins’s inclusion is a testament to her persistent desire to join the show, a goal she had openly expressed to The Hollywood Reporter in previous interviews. Katz confirmed that Higgins had actively pursued the opportunity, stating, "Maura has literally manifested this. She texts me every time she’s coming to L.A. She wants to have lunch. She’s been dying to do the show, and she’s fantastic. She’s great television. She’s funny. She’s entertaining." Katz further elaborated on Higgins’s appeal, noting her authenticity and unpredictability, qualities that are highly valued in live television. "She’s exactly what our show is, and she’s having a moment right now, so that was a no-brainer. And knowing what was going to happen with Traitors and seeing the buzz about her, she was fantastic. She’d be one of those people that Conrad is going to love that you’re not sure what she’s going to say at any moment on live television." Green concurred, praising her "authentic, and gorgeous and likable" demeanor, adding, "likable goes a long way."
Miller’s casting is also a timely and strategic decision, directly linked to recent significant events in her personal life. Katz described her selection as an "of the moment" choice, referencing the public attention surrounding the ongoing Summer House drama involving her ex-boyfriend West Wilson and best friend Amanda Batula, who recently revealed they are now dating. "I already knew Ciara. She was on Traitors, and she’s wonderful. She’s stunning, she’s gorgeous; she’s all these things," Katz said. "And then the stuff that happened to her, it was a really of the moment thing that we all felt like it was the right time. We really wanted her on the show, but it was also the right time to announce her."
This casting strategy echoes that of Ariana Madix, whose participation in Dancing With the Stars followed her prominent role in the widely publicized "Scandoval" on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules. Green suggested that for Miller, the opportunity to compete on Dancing With the Stars could serve as a therapeutic and positive outlet. "Sometimes you have challenges in your life, but you always have something that could make it better," he remarked. " [ DWTS ] could heal, as in she’s so excited about the idea of doing it, taking on that challenge, being able to focus on something positive, a new skill in her life, a new thing."
Katz also shared a poignant anecdote highlighting the full-circle nature of Miller’s journey. "What we didn’t know is in [Ciara’s] grandmother’s house in North Carolina, that she just bought, there was a room where she used to do MTV videos pretending she was going to be an MTV Veejay," Katz revealed. "She had this kind of passion and wanted to do this kind of thing as a young kid. It’s so great, full circle, to be able to give her this [opportunity] at this time."
Introducing "The Next Pro": A New Frontier for Talent Discovery
Beyond the celebrity casting, a significant development for the franchise is the upcoming extension, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. This new series aims to spotlight the rigorous journey of aspiring professional dancers, offering an in-depth look at the multifaceted skills required to succeed in the demanding world of competitive ballroom and Latin dance.
Green confirmed that the winner of The Next Pro is "secretly in the bank," and the spinoff will pull back the curtain on the comprehensive training and talent necessary to become a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars. He elaborated on the diverse skill set needed, stating, "[ The Next Pro shows] just how many different skills you need to be a pro on Dancing With the Stars. Just being a good ballroom or Latin dancer is the basics. But you have to be able to do group dancing, choreograph, manage difficult people, manage time pressure, format a dance and choreograph for a one-minute routine that’s got moments that might get picked up on social media that might make your couple pop."
Both Katz and Green identified The Next Pro as a priority, recognizing the pivotal role of the professional dancers at the heart of the Dancing With the Stars phenomenon. "If you’re a dancer, this is probably the best gig in the world, if you want to be known for what you do and have a creative outlet where you’re at the center of it," Green explained. "And one big thing for me coming back to the show is refocusing our energy on making the dancer the center of this, because they are the creative hub of the show. There’s a huge creative team around them who are super talented, but it’s them at the core of it with their choreography, with their passion, with their patience, that drive the whole enterprise."
Broader Implications and Future Horizons
The synergy between a successful season, a concerted push for Emmy recognition, and the introduction of new programming like The Next Pro suggests a strategic revitalization of the Dancing With the Stars brand. The show’s ability to consistently generate viral moments and maintain a strong connection with its audience, as exemplified by Ariana Madix’s journey, provides a compelling narrative for both viewers and industry critics.
The announcement of the first-ever Dancing With the Stars Con, scheduled for late July in Palm Springs, further signals the franchise’s commitment to engaging its fanbase on multiple fronts. This convention is poised to become a central hub for enthusiasts to connect with the show’s stars, professional dancers, and creative team, fostering a deeper sense of community and excitement.
As the Television Academy deliberates on Emmy nominations, the success of Season 34 and the proactive planning for Season 35 have undoubtedly placed Dancing With the Stars firmly in the awards conversation. The show’s enduring appeal, coupled with its innovative expansion into new content avenues, indicates a robust future for this television staple. Judge Derek Hough’s enthusiastic declaration during the FYC panel, "There’s no reality show that’s as real as Dancing With the Stars. Let’s get that Emmy!", encapsulates the collective ambition and confidence within the Dancing With the Stars camp as they continue to dance their way towards continued success and critical acclaim. The strategic rollout of new initiatives, alongside a strong emphasis on the core elements that have defined the show for years, positions Dancing With the Stars for a promising trajectory in the evolving landscape of unscripted television.
