If anyone on the season 35 cast of Dancing With the Stars knows what it’s like to star on a nationally beloved television show, it’s Tatyana Ali.
The actress has appeared in everything ranging from classic soaps (The Young and the Restless) to some of the most successful modern comedy shows (Abbott Elementary). Another standout on her résumé: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, of course.
Ali’s ties to Fresh Prince influenced her decision to say yes to DWTS, particularly the fact that her TV brother Alfonso Ribeiro is a co-host, having won season 19.
“[Alfonso’s] been telling me about it for years,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter, confirming season 35 wasn’t the first time she was asked to do the show. “It had come up before, but my kids, they were babies. And I did know enough about [DWTS], hearing from other people that it’s very intensive. It is. They were right (laughs).”
On Tuesday night’s episode, Ali will dedicate her Viennese waltz to “the heart of [Fresh Prince],” the late James Avery. When the actress was presented with the episode prompt “Dedication Night,” she didn’t consider anyone else to pay tribute to. “There’s nobody else I thought of: It had to be James,” she says.
Ali remains tightlipped when asked if any of her co-stars will be in the ballroom, but reveals she and her partner Jan Ravnik will be performing to a recording of herself singing to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am.”
“It’s been emotional and really painstaking, but in a good way,” she says of the preparation for Dedication Night. “I want this to be the best one.”
Ali and her dance partner Ravnik, a former Taylor Swift Eras Tour dancer, go viral practically every week. Whether it’s on TikTok Live or in the ballroom for the Tuesday night shows, Ali and Ravnik know how to captivate the show’s audience. That’s one part of the DWTS experience the Harvard graduate wasn’t expecting — the “real relationship” she’s built with viewers.
“It is the biggest, most wonderful surprise of doing the show; being able to talk to the audience,” Ali says, adding that the fan support “means everything.”
Ahead of Dedication Night, Ali opens up about her James Avery tribute, reflects on juggling the social media element of DWTS, explains why she does read the fan comments and what she sees for her career post-show.
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What made you want to take on Dancing With the Stars?
I think the timing was right. Alfonso hosting the show was a big part of it. I remember cheering him on when he was a contestant on the show [in season 19] and coming to see him perform. And my kids are probably a better age than they were previously.
How does this experience differ from your past work in the entertainment industry?
Oh, there’s nothing like it. I don’t think there’s anything to compare to this. The level of what this show puts out every Tuesday night; this incredible live show, I’ve never experienced anything like it.
During Jan’s first year as a pro last year, he emerged as a fan favorite, particularly because of this new social media aspect of the show. What has it been like for you, not only taking on the dance aspect, but also the social media side with somebody who is so savvy with social media?
I’m actually really enjoying that part of it. I didn’t necessarily know coming into it that [social media] was such a huge part, but I’m really enjoying the Dancing With the Stars universe, world of fans, and our ability to just be in conversation with them. I think it’s actually really fun. Jan and I, we have similar senses of humor, and we get along really well. We actually have a good time doing the social part of it.
Was there a moment this season when you realized social media is a huge part of being on Dancing With the Stars?
Yeah, just from the very beginning. It’s like, “Okay, let’s do some TikToks!” Jan was like, “I have these three ideas I want us to try,” or, “I think we should use this song.” That started right out of the gate. As the weeks have progressed, just to see how — I read the comments, which I probably shouldn’t be doing that, but I read comments, and I talk back with people who are commenting a lot on our TikToks and our performances. I actually love it. I think there’s a real relationship there.
There has been so much support for you online. What is it like to watch the support that fans have had for your journey this season?
It means everything. It is the biggest, most wonderful surprise of doing the show; being able to talk to the audience and fans of the show. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never danced like this before. I’ve shared really personal things during my journey, and I’ve been received with open arms.
I do a Dancing With the Stars diaries I put out every Monday, getting ready for the show Tuesday, [sharing] my thoughts kind of how I would do a journal. More and more I say at the end of [my videos], “I’m taking you all with me on stage,” and that’s not hyperbole. I really feel that way. This is really hard, and the encouragement means a lot to me.
Your Dedication Night number is going to be dedicated in honor of James Avery. Talk to me about your decision to honor James on Dedication Night.
There’s not anywhere that I go, if somebody recognizes me or comes up to talk to me about Fresh Prince, they always bring up James. He was the heart of the show. He was a mentor to me. Everything I am as an artist had to do with all the things I learned while working with him. He was that kind of person who just shared his passion for the arts with the people that he loved.
And I’m on this show with Alfonso, 30-something years later after we did Fresh Prince together when we were really kids, and when I heard about this Dedication Night, there’s nobody else I thought of: It had to be James.
Do you anticipate that any of your Fresh Prince co-stars might make a cameo in the number or be in the ballroom to support you? We already know Alfonso will be there.
Yes, Alfonso will be there. There are definitely going to be some cast members there, but people are working out their schedules to be able to be there. So I can’t say exactly who, but it should be a really special night. Some of James’ family is also traveling and planning to be there as well.
I really want to honor him. I always want the performance to be a love letter to him. I feel like when we tell stories about the people that we’ve loved and lost in our life, we keep them alive. I know he meant a lot to people, just like he meant to me. I hope people feel that.
I interviewed Jan earlier this season, and asked if you would ever consider putting Alfonso in a number. He said he doesn’t think it would be fair unless you guys used him in a finale number. Would you want Alfonso to be a part of a potential finale number?
Oh, you’re asking if I would dance with Alfonso Ribeiro? Yes, I would! (Laughs.) Uh, yeah! (Laughs.) Yes I would.
[Writer’s note: This interview was conducted before ABC announced Ribeiro would be featured in Ali’s Dedication Night number.]
You have so much momentum right now with Dancing With the Stars; what do you see for the future of your career post-Dancing With the Stars?
You know, life is funny. I just had a film called Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? It stars Rodney Hicks and Geoffrey Rush, and it just went to the Venice Film Festival and won an award there, and that was right when I started Dancing With the Stars. And I’ve never had a film at Venice, so that was like, okay, universe!
This experience has me dreaming of the things that I really love, and I don’t know. I’d love to do a project that encompasses all of the things that I love to do: Singing, acting, maybe now dancing.
What has been your favorite number you’ve performed so far?
Honestly, last week’s performance, the [Super Bowl] halftime show. Jan’s choreography is so brilliant, and every single week I’m in awe of what he’s teaching me, and I fall in love with each piece. So I suspect if you ask me this next week, I’ll think (laughs) that this last one was my favorite one.
What theme night are you most looking forward to next?
I love Halloween, and we have something really good planned. So, you know, God willing all goes well, we’ll be able to perform that [on Horror Movie Night].
Is there anything you can tease for us right now?
I can’t. I learned my lesson, my social media lesson (laughs).
I totally understand!
But I can tell you about this week though, I forgot to mention it. I’m going to be singing the Nancy Wilson song [for our Dedication Night dance]. I’m recording it ahead of time, so I’ll be singing the song that we’re dancing to.
What has it been like this week, knowing that this is a dedication piece, but you’re also having to do that other element of recording the song? What has the preparation for that been like?
It’s been emotional and really painstaking, but in a good way. I really want to honor him properly. James was my teacher, very much in terms of the arts and what storytelling can be, and I’ve tried to bring that to every performance that I’ve done on Dancing With the Stars so far. I want this to be the best one.
What has been the hardest dance style to learn?
Girl, they’re all hard. (Laughs.) I’m not even being funny. I’ve never done ballroom before in my life. I think the jive was really hard, especially because I think I’m in better shape now than I was when I did the jive. Quickstep, foxtrot; I couldn’t even tell you which one is the hardest, honestly.
What do you think is the greatest lesson you have learned from your partnership with Jan?
Jan is such an exceptional person. I can’t imagine what my experience would be like if he wasn’t my partner. He’s one of the most kind and confident people I’ve ever met, and I’m really impressed by that. I love his confidence. I love that.
Describe season 35 of Dancing With the Stars in one word.
(Laughs.) I feel like this whole season, the motto, the catchphrase should be “Buckle up.” (Laughs.) “Buckle up, it’s about to be on.”
The competition is so fierce. Everybody is incredible. They’re incredible people, they’re incredible performers. I mean, this is the season to beat.
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Season 35 of DWTS airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m., simulcasting across ABC and Disney+, and streaming the next day on Hulu. Read all of THR‘s DWTS coverage here.