Jenna Johnson knows the only language on “Dancing with the Stars” is dance!
The reality star trashed the argument that professional dancers on the show often have an unfair advantage ahead of those who do not have the experience.
Jenna Johnson made her debut on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2014, joining the show in Season 18 as a troupe dancer. She later became a professional partner in Season 23 in 2016, appearing alongside actor Jake T. Austin.
The media personality got candid about the circulating notion that people with dance experience find it easier on “DWTS.” Following her trajectory of partnering with several contestants from dramatically different backgrounds, the ballroom pro testified that the ballroom always presents a unique challenge that trained dancers can never anticipate.
Johnson has enjoyed taps on the dance floor with celebrities in Hollywood, athletes accustomed to intense physical demands, and some performers with prior knowledge of how the dance floor works.
Johnson explained that one major challenge is performing live in front of millions of viewers while a studio audience watches from just feet away. Once the cameras are rolling, there are no second chances, and she says it is impossible to know how someone will react in that moment.
Contestants also have less than a week to learn ballroom techniques while tackling characters, themes, and judging expectations. Because of those demands, Johnson believes every celebrity essentially starts a new experience when entering the ballroom. In her words to Us Weekly,
“I understand when people are like, ‘Oh, you know, dance experience, whatever.’ Who cares! This is the first time they’re ever doing Dancing with the Stars. That is very different.”
The Choreographer Admits She Gets A Kick Out Of Fans’ Nosiness Into The Show
While the official cast is expected to be unveiled live on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, September 2, the judges list is already finalized with names like Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli expected to be in their seats.
Although the dancer has kept mum on giving away any secrets about potential contestants, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Conner Leavitt, Sarah Jane Nader, Tyler Cameron and Jenna Dewan are expected to compete.
Media personalities like Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” personality Guillermo Rodriguez are also billed to appear for the upcoming season. Johnson confessed to one guilty pleasure of hers, which is enjoying watching the fans attempt to unravel the celebrity line-up themselves.
In her words: “The fact that people care enough about our show to drop everything and zoom in on visors and parking lot pictures and try to be detectives is just so exciting.” Johnson is making the most of her downtime with husband Val Chmerkovskiy and their 3-year-old son ahead of the ballroom becoming hectic again.
Inside The Long-Running ‘DWTS’ Controversy Over Trained Contestants
The ABC show has been plagued with unfair advantage over the years, especially with the entry of trained dancers into the show. A decade ago, a contributor on Huffington Post explored the topic, noting that there are others on the flipside of the opinion who believe the criticism overlooked how different ballroom dancing is from other forms of dancing.
The controversy reached a peak in Season 22 when UFC fighter Paige VanZant danced her way to the finals alongside Ginger Zee and Nyle DiMarco. VanZant had admitted to studying dance for 13 years before finally becoming a high school cheerleader, and viewers thought it gave her a serious edge.
Previous dance experience may help on “DWTS,” but ballroom requires different techniques and partnering skills. Contestants also bring other advantages, from athletic stamina and acting skills to musicality and strong fan bases.
The debate has been inconsistent, with trained performers like Zendaya receiving support while inexperienced stars are sometimes criticized for weaker dancing. Ultimately, experience can help, but it does not guarantee the Mirrorball Trophy.
The Mother-Of-One Thinks A Jason Kelce ‘DWTS’ Pairing Could Earn Her The Trophy
Johnson spilled some tea to Parade on Tuesday, August 25, about her dream partner, revealing her willingness to guide Jason Kelce, a former NFL player, to give his best in the ballroom.
As shared by Parade, although the former Philadelphia Eagles star has not declared her interest in busting some moves on the dance floor, Johnson is optimistic about getting him in the future.
Johnson stated that she has never been paired with a professional footballer; however, she believes NFL players tend to thrive in the ballroom thanks to their stamina, built from years of intense preparation, hard work, and performance under pressure.
She also expanded her dream list to work with another Olympian after an impressive showing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, noting that their focus and discipline would mean well for the “DWTS” dance floor.
Country star and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan is another celebrity Johnson would happily partner with. When the possibility was raised, she enthusiastically suggested that competing alongside Bryan would make for an exciting pairing.
Jenna Johnson’s Emotional Moment Sparked Concerns About The Demands Of ‘DWTS’
Earlier in the year, a clip from the dancer sparked concerns after she shared an emotional glimpse of herself struggling during a live tour for “DWTS.”
As shared by The Blast, the professional dancer appeared exhausted and tearful in a TikTok video as she documented what she described as a mid-meltdown conversation with her manager.
Johnson explained that she has been sick and dealing with body aches amid other things when she made the video, as she heaped compliments on her manager for getting ahead of the situation.
While the dancer did not directly blame the tour for her condition, some fans argued that the show must reconsider the demands of the tour after seeing how exhausted the dancers appeared.
Other commenters suggested that the live tour’s timing must be shortened to give performers more time to recover and prepare. Another set of fans also pointed to a recurring pattern of dancers becoming sick, injured, or severely fatigued towards the end of the tour.
Wishing Jenna Johnson a blast on the new season when it kicks off!
