Actor Harry Shum Jr. is set to compete in the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars. The Grey's Anatomy star will partner with professional dancer Britt Stewart following an official casting confirmation from ABC.
The shadow of Melissa Rycroft's ballroom advantage
The casting of professional dancers on Dancing With the Stars has long been a point of contention for fans and former pros alike. As reported by the source, past competitors such as Melissa Rycroft, Jordan Fisher, and Heather Morris have faced scrutiny regarding whether their technical skills provide an unfair edge in the competition. Even former professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy once voiced concerns to TV Guide regarding the fairness of casting dancers like Rycroft.
Harry Shum Jr. is attempting to distance himself from this narrative by emphasizing the distinction between his performance background and formal ballroom . while Shum has an extensive history in dance, he noted that much of his experience involved lip-synching and that he has only attempted one partner dance previously—an experience he described as nearly overwhelming when performing alongside Heather Morris. He believes the upcoming season will allow dance to take center stage rather than remaining in the background .
Managing Kwan's schedule between Grey's Anatomy and rehearsals
The physical and mental toll of the upcoming seaon will be significant for Shum, who is currently playing surgical resident Kwan on the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy. According to the report, Shum's daily routine involves early filming days on the Grey's Anatomy set followed immediately by intensive ballroom rehearsals with Britt Stewart.
Stewart, a former Season 24 champion, is already working to refine Shum's technique through rigorous training . The actor noted that the learning process is highly technical, involving specific physical corrections from Stewart to ensure proper ballroom posture. Despite the grueling nature of jumping from a medical drama set to a dance studio, Shum has expressed that he views the opportunity as a "dream come true" and intends to find joy in the hard work.
A two-night premiere on ABC and Disney+ this September
Fans can catch the debut of Dancing With the Stars Season 35 during a special two-night event. The competition is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. eT. The show will be available to viewers via both ABC and the streaming platform Disney+.
The uncertainty of Kwan's future at Grey Sloan Memorial
While Shum's presence on the dance floor is confirmed, his presence at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital remains a major question mark for Grey's Anatomy viewers. The source highlights that Shum's character, Kwan, was recently written out of the hospital following a firing, leaving his future on the medical drama unclear.
This leaves several critical questions for the audience: Will Shum's participation in Dancing With the Stars signal a permanent exit for the character of Kwan, or is the character's absence merely a temporary plot point? Furthermore, how will the production of Grey's Anatomy manage the actor's availability during the peak of the competition? As of now, the status of the surgical resident remains unverified.
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