Latino Stars Step Into the Ballroom for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35
HOLLYWOOD LATINO — Dancing with the Stars is heading back to the ballroom for Season 35, and this year’s celebrity lineup includes three stars with notable Latino roots and connections: Guillermo Rodriguez, Tatyana Ali and Harry Shum Jr.
ABC officially unveiled the new cast Thursday, with the competition returning for a two-night premiere September 15 and 16 on ABC and Disney+.
Perhaps the most immediately recognizable Latino contestant is Guillermo Rodriguez, the longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality. Rodriguez was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and later became a U.S. citizen. The Mexican-American television favorite will compete alongside professional partner Witney Carson.
Tatyana Ali, beloved by audiences as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, also brings Latino heritage to the ballroom. Ali’s mother is of Afro-Panamanian descent, giving the actress both Black and Latina roots. Ali also speaks Spanish. She will dance with Jan Ravnik.
Then there is Harry Shum Jr., whose Latino connection is particularly interesting. The Glee, Crazy Rich Asians and Grey’s Anatomy actor was born in Costa Rica to Chinese parents and spent his early childhood there before moving to the United States at age six. Spanish was his first language, and Shum has spoken about his Costa Rican upbringing and has even described himself as feeling like “a Latino kid.” His multicultural background makes him both Asian-American and deeply connected to his Costa Rican birthplace and Latino upbringing.
Shum, an accomplished dancer before becoming a Hollywood star, is partnered with Jenna Johnson — potentially making him one of the contestants to watch this season.
With Mexican, Panamanian and Costa Rican representation in the mix, Season 35 gives Latino audiences several reasons to tune in when the mirrorball competition returns September 15.
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