What does one get when Olympic champions, Internet-phenomenon TikTok performers, and TV favorites get to trade in their day jobs for sequins and salsa moves? Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars is going to find out. The ballroom is open once again on September 16, and this year’s cast is a glittery mix of athletes, actors, reality TV stars, and social media personalities competing for that coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Announced on Good Morning America, officially, the cast pairs each of its star contestants up with a pro dancer who will work them into ballroom shape. With tear-stained family backgrounds, eleventh-hour casting switcheroos, and more, this season is packed with personalities and storylines that are sure to lead to high drama and even higher kicks. Get the inside scoop on who’s heading center stage and what they’re bringing to the floor.
1. Little Brother Dylan Efron’s Own Dream Comes True
Dylan Efron is more than just Zac Efron’s little brother he’s carving his own reality TV career. With just winning on The Traitors season 3, Dylan is partnering with pro partner Daniella Karagach for his first season on DWTS. He told People that his mom had been dreaming about having an Efron appear on the show for 20 years, back when Zac was first starting to break into the world of High School Musical. Now, Dylan’s doing it, and his entire family is coming in to support him.
Beyond the family pride, Dylan brings a competitive streak from his days as an IRONMAN All World Athlete, ranking in the top 2% of his age group. “We understand how each other’s brains work when we’re training,” he said of Karagach, joking that rehearsals swing between hyper-focus and “twerking for 45 minutes.”
2. Lauren Jauregui Joins After Fifth Harmony Reunion
Lauren Jauregui had hardly settled into a whirlwind Fifth Harmony reunion when she got the call from DWTS two days before the cast announcement. The singer told GMA that she hasn’t even rehearsed yet with partner Brandon Armstrong, but she’s “super excited” and “not scared.”
Whereas Fifth Harmony was known for sassy dance moves, Lauren was a singer, so ballroom would be challenging for her. She is accompanied by third-place finishers of their own seasons band members Normani and Ally Brooke in dance. With her pop idol stage presence, she could be the dark horse player.
3. Jordan Chiles Brings Olympic Power
Two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles is swapping the gymnastics floor for the ballroom floor with partner Ezra Sosa. Known for her explosive routines, Chiles enters DWTS with a performance edge few can match. Her memoir, I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams, details the resilience that’s sure to serve her well in competition.
Even with a disheveled medal stripe at the 2024 Paris Games, Chiles remains a fan favorite. Watch her transform that fight fire into lifts, turns, and maybe even backflips.
4. Robert Irwin Dances for His Dad’s Legacy
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, who is the son of late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, is partnering with Witney Carson on what he refers to as a life-long dream. “I just hope to carry on his legacy, his spirit, his sense of just love for life,” he stated in an interview with People. His sister, Bindi Irwin, took season 21, and she’s already given him some words of wisdom: make it his own and have fun.
Robert’s family flew in from Australia to support him, and he is thrilled to use the same daredevil attitude that he exhibits wrestling crocodiles on cha-cha.
5. Alix Earle’s TikTok-to-Ballroom Leap
TikTok celebrity and Hot Mess podcast host Alix Earle is joining forces with Val Chmerkovskiy. She has a high school competitive dance resume but admits the ballroom is virgin territory. Her awkward initial attempt at the popular “whisk” samba step left social media in stitches, with DWTS old-timers such as Daniella Karagach promising, “We got you????”
Dubbed the “Alix Earreffect” for how she can make products go viral, she is doing the very same thing on the DWTS stage and with an established fan base, too.
6. Danielle Fishel Receives a Fan Nickname Before Taking the Dance Floor
To go down in history as Topanga of Boy Meets World, Danielle Fishel is getting jiggy with Pasha Pashkov—and the fans are already calling them Team “Topasha.” She’s even launching a behind-the-scenes podcast, Danielle With the Stars, to document her journey.
Fishel claims no dance background, but she’s embracing the challenge with ease like “a sponge,” absorbing knowledge from her pro and co-stars.
7. Whitney Leavitt’s Lifetime of Dance
Reality TV’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives mean girl Whitney Leavitt is a choreography pro. The millionaire influencer and former professional dancer is partnering with season 31 DWTS champ Mark Ballas.
Her fine-dance background might give her a technical edge, but ballroom competition will compel her to be adaptable.
8. Baron Davis Trades Basketball for Ballroom
Two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis will partner with Britt Stewart. He has never danced professionally, but his game presence and athleticism could be brought to explosive dancing.
Outside of basketball, Davis is an entrepreneur and podcast host, but for the season, he is willing to trade sneakers for dance shoes and see if or how his footwork could be as even as his jump shot.
9. Elaine Hendrix Revisits Her Dance Roots
Better recognized as Meredith Blake in The Parent Trap, Elaine Hendrix is dancing her way with Alan Bersten. A pro dancer in the ’90s when she was also an actress, that something extra was added.
This is another move to her return in Hollywood, following her stint in Freakier Friday with Lindsay Lohan.
10. Corey Feldman’s Moment of Redemption
’80s teen idol Corey Feldman is sashaying out with pro Jenna Johnson. Feldman, whose acting career reached from Stand By Me to The Goonies, has stumbled in the spotlight and is now reaching for music and activism.
Though his past dancing has been panned, DWTS affords him a chance to do-over that.
11. Hilaria Baldwin’s Fitness Edge
Yoga teacher, seven-time mom, and best-selling author Hilaria Baldwin is teaming up with Gleb Savchenko. She’s been tantalizing fans of her involvement on Instagram with dance clips, and her exercise history could give her stamina for the rigorous practice schedule.
Her life as a celebrity, seen on TLC’s The Baldwins, will ensure that she’ll be a heavily-discussed competitor.
12. Scott Hoying’s Stage Confidence
Pentatonix vocalist Scott Hoying is dancing with Rylee Arnold. Though the stage-grabbing, Grammy-winning artist is used to it, he concedes the choreography in the group does nothing more than fall into the “step-touch.”
But after decades of singing in front of thousands, stage fright won’t be the problem—now it’s all about perfecting the technique.
13. Jen Affleck’s Childhood Dream
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives alum Jen Affleck is paired up with newbie pro Jan Ravnik, who just finished Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. On their return show, Taylor Frankie Paul made it known that DWTS has always been Jen’s dream.
With no dance training other than dancing through TikTok trends, she’s going headfirst to make her dream a reality.
14. Andy Richter’s Jump into the Unknown
Comedian and veteran Conan O’Brien sidekick Andy Richter is dancing with Emma Slater. He confides he’s “terrified” to dance, but his snappy wit and sense of humor might just be enough to gain him favor with the judges.
For Richter, it’s more about facing an entire new challenge than perfects.
With a mix of vets, all-around dance virgins, and very personal motivation, DWTS season 34 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting ones yet. Whether it’s Robert Irwin honoring his dad, Dylan Efron realizing a family dream, or Alix Earle bringing viral fame to ballroom sizzle, each one of their competitors has something unique. When the music starts playing on September 16, one thing is for sure: the glitter will be flying—and the battle will have commenced.
