Jenna Johnson has had a fruitful career as a Dancing With the Stars professional dancer. Season 35 with Harry Shum Jr. is shaping up to be another standout season on her résumé.
“You know when you look around and you’re like, Oh, I’m exactly where I need to be? That’s how our partnership feels,” the pro tells The Hollywood Reporter of her collaboration with the actor. “I feel so grateful this partnership happened. That’s the beauty of casting — we have no control over it, but once you’re in that pairing, you realize like, This was meant to be.”
The Emmy-nominated choreographer has won DWTS twice, and could become the most decorated female pro if she won her third mirrorball this year. She’d also tie the record for the second-most wins ever for a pro, evening out with Mark Ballas and her husband Val Chmerkovskiy, who each have three wins.
Those are statistics she did not know, and she doesn’t want to think about right now. “I really just want to focus on one week at a time (Laughs). But those are incredible facts,” she says, although it’s a reality Jenna could soon face if she and Harry make it to the season 35 finale this fall.
Below, Jenna dishes on how So You Think You Could Dance led her to DWTS; reflects on her niece, Hailey Bills, following in her footsteps being partnered with a woman on the show; what Pasha Pashkov really told her during that internet-breaking Viral Hits Night moment; and her Broadway aspirations.
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It’s my understanding you were noticed on So You Think You Could Dance and then brought into the DWTS troupe. I also know you come from the interconnected world that is the Utah ballroom dance scene, so can you talk about your journey to getting on the troupe?
I did grow up in Utah at the same studio that a lot of the pros grew up at. I was a competitive Latin dancer as well as in the commercial convention circuit for jazz, ballet and hip hop. At the time, So You Think You Can Dance was popping, so I auditioned and I got onto it, which was absolutely incredible. It’s pretty ironic, but So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars are filmed at the same studio at CBS Television City, and I guess the producers caught wind of my name, and they asked me to be on the troupe.
Growing up at my studio in Utah, I had seen people like Derek and Julianne make it in L.A.; they’re dancing for their careers, and they’re household names as ballroom dancers. It was iconic, so to be asked to join the troupe, I was so hungry and eager to learn as much as I could. At that time I joined, you still had the OG pros on the show. There was Derek, Karina [Smirnoff], Kym Johnson, Maks [Chmerkovskiy], Tony Devolani; it was OG pros that I got to really watch their process and learn from. I’m so grateful for that time period because it gave me the tools to go into my time as a pro and feel like I could have the confidence to navigate it.
Your first season as a pro, you were eliminated first, then you took a break for season 24 and came back for season 25 and won with Adam [Rippon]. How do you reflect back on your early time on the show?
I think timing is everything, and everything happens for a reason. I kind of got to experience this with my niece [Hailey Bills] just barely; she was eliminated her first season as a pro [this season], but there’s such a beautiful journey that’s awaiting you. It was very unique being eliminated my first season, but then getting to be partnered with someone like Adam Rippon the next season and take home a mirrorball; to feel that sensation is one of the craziest moments of my life. But I think that’s the beauty of the show, is getting to be partnered with somebody so vastly different each year.
Can you take me through that moment when you learned Hailey was going to be a pro this season?
I hate to say this, but I wasn’t surprised, because she is one of the most talented human beings I know. I think she really made a name for herself the first year on troupe; she just has that star quality. Obviously, I wanted it for her, and I know how much she wanted it and how much it meant to her. So when she did get asked to be a pro, it just made sense. I can’t wait to see what she does as a pro on the show. Her journey was cut short this year, but man, it is just getting started for her. I can’t wait to see what she does next in the next upcoming season.
Her casting was also monumental in the fact that she was the second pro to be in an all-female partnership, second to obviously you. Do you think the decision to pair Hailey with another woman was at all a callback to your partnership with JoJo Siwa or was done in a way where you could guide her in this second-of-a-kind casting for Dancing With the Stars?
You know, I’m not sure why, but I do think that it made sense: the casting of [Hailey and Sarah Jane Nader] together. They were both young, they looked absolutely stunning next to each other, and their personalities were super fun and playful together. I think that the casting was brilliant, and it made sense. Is it ironic that the two of us are the ones to do it? Absolutely. When she was told that she’d be dancing with a female, I wanted to do that for her, because I have been in that situation before, so anything she needed, I wanted to help her out in any way. It is pretty crazy. Like, we’ll always have that bond that we can share together.
There is so much discourse going into new seasons about who is partnered with who, and [your season 35 partner] Harry is obviously an amazing dancer. What would you say to somebody who is critical of pros being partnered with “ringers”? What is your take on that discourse?
It happens every year, so I think we can expect it. But I think they do need to know that we have nothing to do with our casting. That is not our decision whatsoever. It’s very much up to the production of it all, and they have a rhyme and a reason for all of the pairings. So when there is discourse and there are lots of loud opinions, [I] totally get everyone having their feelings. But there’s nothing we can do. We are given our partner, and then from then on, it is our responsibility to show up and be there for them.
So I understand when there is a lot of talk, and obviously there was this current season. But I’m just doing my job. I’m doing what I’m told. And ringer or not, I think each partnership is going to bring its own challenges. With this quote-unquote “ringer” title, that’s a lot of pressure to live up to. Plus, I’ll just speak for my partnership on behalf of Harry, even though he has some dance experience — yes, we’re not running away from that. But dance is so vastly different. He’s never done Latin. He’s never done ballroom. He’s never done frame. All of this is a new world for him, so I hope people can appreciate the effort and hard work that he does put in because that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
As a viewer, it appears that you and Harry have such similar energies. How has working with him so far this season been?
Honestly, literally, since the first day we met, there have been so many synchronicities in our lives. You know when you look around and you’re like, Oh, I’m exactly where I need to be? That’s how our partnership feels. It’s wild to think that I didn’t know him a couple weeks or months ago, because he just fit so beautifully into my life. It’s been so much fun being paired with him, and I feel so grateful this partnership happened. That’s the beauty of casting — we have no control over it, but once you’re in that pairing, you realize like, This was meant to be.
This upcoming week is Yacht Rock Night. What do you have planned for that number with Harry?
I’m so excited because we’re doing Jive to a great Hall & Oates song, and it feels very Harry. He’s the epitome of joy and bubbly energy, and that’s what we want to do this week. We just want to put a smile on people’s faces. Jive is one of my favorite styles to do because it’s upbeat and fast, but you want to get up and dance with someone.
On last Tuesday night’s episode, there was a clip of you and Pasha after Maura Higgins’ dance that went viral. Everybody was trying to figure out what Pasha said to you. Are you able to share what happened in that conversation?
Of course. So before Maura and Mark had come up, we were actually just raving about what an incredible dancer Maura is, and Pasha was telling me while they were talking, and this is kind of what went viral, but he was saying, “I saw them do the cha-cha in the beginning of the week.” I guess he had come in and watched their dance early on in the week, and he was like, “It is incredible, her improvement, she’s just gotten so much better” from that first initial rehearsal that he saw. And so you see me going like, “Wow, that’s awesome.” (Laughs) So that’s what he was telling me, and everyone was like, “What are they saying?” But we were really just [going] goo-goo ga-ga about how much we love Maura. That’s the tea.
This could be the first year that you and your husband, Val, potentially make a finale together. What would that experience mean to you?
There’s so much that can happen from now until then, but I would absolutely love to have that moment together. It’s kind of funny, for the past 10 years that we’ve been competing on the show against one another, we’ve never had a situation where both of us have two capable people. It’s like either one of us is going to the finale, the other one’s eliminated early, or vice versa. So this [year on season 35] was a really unique experience for us navigating it. I’m just always so grateful for his support, and I love cheering him on. It’s one of my favorite things to do in the ballroom, so to be able to share that special moment together would be a dream come true, obviously. We will see what happens.
You’re very immersed in Dancing With the Stars right now. What do you see yourself doing next? Would you ever potentially do any other competitive reality TV shows?
I really wanted to do Special Forces. I love physical activity, so I feel like that would be fun. Other than that, regarding reality shows, I really just want to be a judge on a baking show. Like, that is my dream, honestly. That’s as dramatic as I want to get in the reality space.
But career-wise, I feel so blessed that I get to do my dream job every day. I don’t take that for granted. I would really love to dabble in Broadway. I would love to experience live theater in that sort of a situation. But also, I really love my mentor, Mandy Moore. She has just changed the way that dance has been portrayed in films and in TV shows, so I would love to also really dive into choreography of it all and putting it more into film and TV.
I saw a video you posted right before the season started: Y’all were in New York and you were talking about how Broadway was something you wanted to do. Have you heard from anybody from that world yet?
I absolutely geeked out because the premiere night there was a producer from Chicago in the audience, and I was just like, What is life right now? That was pretty epic.
What is your favorite part of a full week in the Dancing With the Stars process: choreography, teaching/rehearsing, dress rehearsal or live show day?
I really think it’s the rehearsal process. I love watching somebody put in hard work and effort, and seeing it come to fruition. I’m just going to speak on my partner right now, but watching Harry have no ego in the midst of learning something new, that is so fulfilling as a partner, as a choreographer. I think it’s really beautiful, this concept of shared purpose. We go into rehearsal having a combined goal, and to be able to achieve that together of like, “OK, today, let’s focus on getting the routine to count; tomorrow, let’s focus on getting it to music; now let’s add in the performance element,” I love that camaraderie of having a partner that you accomplish goals with and have a shared intention and purpose.
I obviously also love the creation of it, although we’re kind of always on a time constraint during the season. That can be a little bit stressful. But I think watching somebody do something scary, put in their whole heart and soul, and effort, blood, sweat and tears and then watching them accomplish it is the best part.
What is your favorite style of dance to choreograph?
I really love a Tango. It’s the best; it’s sharp, strong, hot, sexy. There’s so much traveling, there’s a lot of power behind it. But also, this week, I’m having so much fun with the jive
Do you have a favorite number that you have choreographed on Dancing With the Stars?
Oh man, that’s so hard. That’s like asking to pick your favorite child.
One that stands out forever will be the piece that Val and I got to choreograph for Len Goodman, for his tribute. That was one of the most special creations of my life, and to honor somebody who holds so much legacy, it was really special.
I also do have to say my dance that I did with Joey [Graziadei] to give up our title — each time somebody wins, they come back the next season and do an honor dance in the finale. The dance that Joey and I got to do last year in the [season 34] finale was one of my top favorite dances ever, ever, ever.
Describe Dancing With the Stars season 35 in one word.
Mind-blowing.
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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.
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