A surprising new rule is changing the way celebrities prepare for Dancing With the Stars Season 35, and it reportedly played a role in some potential contestants deciding not to continue through the casting process. The change has little to do with ballroom dancing itself and everything to do with social media.
According to a new report, producers have made active social-media participation mandatory for this season’s celebrity contestants, with TikTok playing a particularly important role. Social media had previously been encouraged, but Season 35 reportedly marks the first time participation has become a requirement.
The decision comes after Season 34 produced record-breaking voting numbers. Producers reportedly believe that the stronger a contestant’s social-media presence is, the more opportunities there are to connect with viewers and encourage them to vote.
That strategy means contestants are expected to do more than simply learn choreography and perform in the ballroom. They are also being asked to create social content, interact with audiences and help promote the show throughout the competition.
For some celebrities, however, that added responsibility reportedly became a deal-breaker. A source cited by the report said that some prospective cast members bowed out of the process after learning how significant the social-media commitment would be. Their identities have not been publicly revealed.
The new approach may also explain why viewers noticed Julia Stiles joining TikTok just before the Season 35 cast announcement. Stiles is among the celebrities who have embraced the new social-media expectations ahead of the show’s return.
The current cast includes Stiles alongside major names such as Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Giada De Laurentiis, Tatyana Ali, Taylor Hanson, Tyler Cameron, Amber Glenn and several other personalities.
The rule represents a broader change in how Dancing With the Stars connects the television competition with its online audience. With voting playing such an important role in determining who advances, producers appear increasingly interested in keeping viewers engaged between live performances.
It also means the competition is no longer limited to what happens when the cameras are rolling in the ballroom. Contestants now have another challenge: maintaining a public presence online while simultaneously learning demanding routines and preparing for weekly performances.
Season 35 is scheduled to premiere with a two-night event on September 15 and 16, giving viewers their first chance to see how the new cast handles both the ballroom pressure and the expanded social-media expectations.
Compiled with information from various sources.
