Jenna Dewan Defends ‘DWTS’ Casting Amid Backlash: ‘Step Up’ Star and Ex-Janet Jackson Backup Dancer Says ‘I Do Not Know How to Ballroom Dance’

By Ethan Shanfeld

Ethan Shanfeld

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When the cast of “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 was announced on Wednesday morning, a few of the names raised eyebrows among fans of the reality competition series.

The most controversial casting, perhaps, is Jenna Dewan, a professional dancer who started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and starred opposite Channing Tatum in the 2006 dance movie “Step Up.” While the premise of “DWTS” is pairing professional dancers with celebrity amateurs, Dewan will be paired with a pro, ballroom expert and “DWTS” veteran Val Chmerkovskiy. Dewan’s casting sparked backlash online, with some fans arguing that Dewan has an extensive dance background and therefore has a clear advantage over the other contestants. Still, “DWTS” has no clear standard when it comes to the extent of contestants’ dance background, and many of the celebrities who have competed on the show have some experience.

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