Tatyana Ali Confirmed for Dancing with the Stars Season 35
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Post By
DJ Longers
- September 3, 2026
‘Fresh Prince’ Family Reunion: Tatyana Ali Confirmed for Dancing with the Stars Season 35
LOS ANGELES — Actor and singer Tatyana Ali, best known for playing Ashley Banks on the classic 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has officially joined the celebrity cast for Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
The 47-year-old star was formally unveiled on Wednesday during a live broadcast of ABC’s Good Morning America, confirming weeks of media speculation regarding her ballroom debut.
Ali will hit the dance floor alongside Slovenian professional partner Jan Ravnik. Her arrival sets up a high-profile Fresh Prince reunion on primetime television, as she will be performing directly in front of former co-star Alfonso Ribeiro (who played her on-screen brother Carlton Banks), who continues his hosting duties on the hit competition series.
A Built-In Advantage on the Dance Floor
While many contestants enter the ballroom with minimal performance experience, Ali brings an extensive background in entertainment.
After starting her career on Sesame Street at age six, Ali achieved child-stardom at 11 when she was cast as the youngest Banks family member on NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. During her six-season run on the show, she showcased her vocal abilities, launching a successful music career in the late 1990s. Her gold-certified debut album Kiss the Sky produced the top-10 Billboard hit Daydreamin' and led to major concert tours alongside *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
Beyond her early pop career, the Harvard University graduate has maintained a steady acting career, appearing in daytime soap The Young and the Restless, comedy series Abbott Elementary, and Broadway productions.
Speaking following the broadcast announcement, insiders note that Ali is eager to test her rhythm against a stacked line-up of modern media personalities.
"Tatyana grew up in front of millions of viewers, and she has always had natural rhythm and stage presence," a production source noted following the cast reveal. "Having Alfonso on the sidelines cheering her on makes this an extraordinarily full-circle moment for TV fans."
A Star-Studded Season 35 Line-Up
Ali enters one of the most eclectic and competitive fields in recent Dancing with the Stars history.
The Season 35 roster features a mix of Hollywood actors, Olympic champions, and television personalities. Among her fellow competitors are film star Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You), actor and dancer Jenna Dewan (Step Up), pop singer Taylor Hanson, Glee alumnus Harry Shum Jr., and Paralympic gold medallist Ezra Frech.
Key Details — 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 35
| Competition Feature | Official Season Details |
| Contestant | Tatyana Ali (Actor, Singer & Activist) |
| Professional Partner | Jan Ravnik |
| Series Co-Host | Alfonso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince co-star) |
| Season Premiere | Tuesday, 15 September & Wednesday, 16 September 2026 |
| Broadcast / Streaming | Live on ABC & Disney+ (Next-day streaming on Hulu) |
| Notable Competitors | Julia Stiles, Jenna Dewan, Taylor Hanson, Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech |
The Countdown to the Mirrorball
The upcoming season marks a major production milestone for the long-running reality franchise, which continues to draw strong multi-generational audiences through its simultaneous broadcast on ABC and streaming platforms.
Season 35 will launch with a two-night premiere event on 15 and 16 September.
With rehearsals now officially underway in Los Angeles, fans will be watching closely to see if the former sitcom star can channel her performing pedigree into a run for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
