How Jenna Dewan’s Big ‘DWTS’ Advantage Turned Into Her Biggest Obstacle

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Jenna Dewan knew “Dancing With the Stars” would push her physically, but the extent surprised her.

The actress’s dance background has also followed her throughout the competition. Some fans believe her previous dance experience gives her an unfair advantage over the other contestants.

Jenna Dewan was a professional backup dancer for years, and she broke into acting through 2006’s dance movie “Step Up.” She has now partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy to compete on “DWTS” Season 35.

Jenna Dewan Says ‘DWTS’ Is ‘Mentally Tough’

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Dewan opened up on the mental side of the show after her Mariah Carey Night performance on October 6. “I knew that would be a physically challenging situation. I didn’t realize how emotionally and mentally tough the whole process is too,” she said, adding, “But it’s a good tough.”

The 45-year-old actress and her dance partner, Chmerkovskiy, earned a 24 out of 30 for their rumba to “My All.” Dewan called the moment “emotional and awesome.” She revealed that their goal was to “slow down” and show their vulnerable side as a couple. 

The 40-year-old pro dancer, Chmerkovskiy, was proud to see Dewan’s growth. “I’ve seen her confidence be humbled week after week,” he shared with US Magazine. He said that without the difficulties, “you’re not gonna ever enjoy the nectar of the fruits of your labor.”

Dewan’s Daughter Helped Put Her On The ‘DWTS’ Radar

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Dewan’s connection to “Dancing With the Stars” began with her 13-year-old daughter, Everly, who is a huge fan of the competition. Everly and her friends reportedly wanted to attend last year’s finale, so Dewan arranged tickets and went with them.

Dewan believes that night may have helped put her on the show’s radar. She said it was the first time producers had actually approached her about competing. The actress said she hadn’t considered joining the show before receiving the offer. She said she immediately felt an internal “yes” when the opportunity came.

Everly has her own dance experience. She does Irish dancing and has performed with the Los Angeles Rams at halftime. Dewan shares Everly with her ex-husband, Channing Tatum. She also has two younger children.

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Jenna Dewan’s Dance Partner Faced Backlash Over His Hairstyle 

The three-time mirror champion dealt with online criticism during the competition because of his hairstyle. Chmerkovskiy reportedly revealed his hair was styled into cornrows. The look quickly raised questions about appropriation online.

Chmerkovskiy said he was not interested in dwelling on the criticism. He told US Magazine that he loved the way his hair looked. He also said he supported a local Black business through the process. The dancer said the people who styled his hair did a fine job.

He removed the braids before Tuesday’s performance. He also denied any “issue” with the hairstyle. He said he doesn’t block out online noise, despite receiving criticism.

“People are people,” Chmerkovskiy said. He pointed out that he also receives plenty of love from fans. He even questioned whether some of the content was created by real people or artificial intelligence.

Chmerkovskiy described the situation as part of a “rage bait economy.” He admitted his generation wasn’t raised to deal with that kind of online environment.

Val Chmerkovskiy Refused To Let The ‘Ringer’ Debate Get To Him

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The criticism of the rookie actress began before she even performed on the show. Her previous experience as a dancer drew mixed reactions from fans. The Blast revealed that her dance partner said he would not engage with people saying she was already a dancer.

Chmerkovskiy has competed on 20 seasons of “DWTS” and won the Mirrorball Trophy three times. He said he cannot control how people feel about their pairing. What he can control, he said, is the love and effort he puts into their work. He also shared behind-the-scenes footage of their rehearsals and time.

One viewer said they were “not happy an experienced dancer is on this show.” Another said that the pairing gave them an unfair advantage unless other contestants also had dance backgrounds. Some other fans supported the dancers. One person called Dewan and Chmerkovskiy “quite possibly the most iconic pairing ever!!!!”

Chmerkovskiy said the ringer debate is “all relative.” He shared that “dance is a vehicle for us to find out more about these people.” He also said he has partnered with an incredible human being.

Jenna Dewan Isn’t The First Experienced Dancer On ‘DWTS’

Dewan shared that even though she has dancing experience, she doesn’t know how to ballroom dance. “It’s two different languages,” she told Entertainment Weekly during an interview. Dewan was also a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.

She is reportedly not the first contestant to enter the ballroom with a dance background. Heather Morris was a former backup dancer for Beyoncé. She placed eighth in Season 24. Nicole Scherzinger had extensive training in dance and performing arts. She won the Mirrorball Trophy outright in Season 10.

Season 35’s full cast includes names like Amber Glenn, Conner Leavitt, Connor Wood, Ezra French, Giada De Laurentiis, Harry Shum Jr., Julia Stiles, Sarah Jane Nader, Tatyana Ali, and Taylor Hanson. The announcement was made live on “Good Morning America,” as shared by The Blast.

The How Jenna Dewan’s Big ‘DWTS’ Advantage Turned Into Her Biggest Obstacle first appeared on The Blast