Bobby Bones Discusses DWTS Contestants with Previous Experience
Former Dancing With the Stars champion Bobby Bones is urging contestants to be honest about their significant advantages in the ballroom.
“Each season, I hear from contestants with extensive dance backgrounds who say, ‘I’ve never done ballroom before, so this is going to be tough for me,’” Bones, 46, stated in an Instagram video shared on Saturday, September 5. “That’s not true. It’s a clear advantage.”
The host of “The Bobby Bones Show” podcast added, “It’s a bit disheartening to see some participants claim, ‘It’s just not the same; it will be difficult for me too.’ It’s misleading when lifelong dancers say, ‘Well, I’ve never danced ballroom.’”
Bones came into season 27 of the popular reality series without any dance experience. With guidance from his pro partner, Sharna Burgess, he surpassed expectations to win the show in November 2018.
As the anticipation builds for season 35 featuring contestants like Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr, and Julia Stiles, Bones discussed the distinct advantages some might have.
“They instinctively know where their arms and feet should be without needing to constantly check,” he mentioned without naming specific contestants. “They grasp rhythm perfectly, can hear the beat, and understand where movements should land. They possess balance, flexibility, posture, body control, and even spatial awareness. Additionally, they inherently know how to point their feet and extend to their fingertips, making their movements appear polished. These are elements that those who haven’t danced would struggle to comprehend.”
Bones clarified that he has “no issue” with competitors who have previous dance experience sharing the stage with novices.
He noted that in Hollywood, it’s challenging to find performers—be they actors or singers—who lack any dance knowledge.
“I really dislike the idea that ‘I’ve never done ballroom’ equates to ‘I have no dance advantage,’” he expressed. “Because, frankly, that’s a load of nonsense.”
As the new season approaches, Carrie Ann Inaba also shared her thoughts on the contention surrounding more experienced contestants.
According to the veteran DWTS judge, many people underestimate the amount of work required to become a ballroom dancer.
“Your body retains muscle memory, thinking it knows how to execute these moves—even when it doesn’t,” she told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on Monday, September 7. “It takes considerable time to retrain the body to shift your weight forward onto your toes rather than leaning back and being grounded. It’s not as straightforward as people assume.”
Dancing With the Stars season 35 is set to launch with a two-night premiere on ABC and Disney+ on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
