# Val Chmerkovskiy Backs Jenna Dewan's 'Dancing With the Stars' Cast: Why Celebrity Trumps Dance Credentials
Val Chmerkovskiy, the veteran ballroom dancer and longtime "Dancing With the Stars" pro, has pushed back against criticism surrounding Jenna Dewan's casting on the show. The actress and dancer faced backlash from fans who questioned whether her existing dance background gave her an unfair competitive advantage, but Chmerkovskiy argues that skeptics miss the point entirely.
"It's naive to think DWTS is just about dance," Chmerkovskiy stated, directly addressing the controversy. His comment cuts to the heart of an ongoing debate about what "Dancing With the Stars" actually represents after nearly two decades on television.
Dewan brings legitimate dance credentials to the ballroom. She trained as a dancer before pivoting to acting, earning recognition through films like "Step Up" and television appearances. Her casting sparked immediate discussion online, with some viewers claiming that performers with prior dance training shouldn't compete against celebrities with zero formal instruction. The argument assumes DWTS operates as a pure dance competition, which Chmerkovskiy flatly rejects.
The reality of "Dancing With the Stars" sits somewhere between entertainment spectacle and legitimate competition. The show's core appeal has always centered on watching famous people attempt something outside their comfort zone. Network television needs recognizable names to drive viewership. Production values, personality, star power, and entertainment value matter as much as footwork and technique. Chmerkovskiy's defense essentially confirms what the show has always been: celebrity television first, dance showcase second.
This tension between celebrity casting and dance legitimacy resurfaces regularly. Previous seasons have featured contestants like Cody Rigsby, a Peloton instructor with fitness credentials, or Iman Shumpert, who brought some athleticism but no ballroom training. Neither sparked the same level of pushback as Dewan's casting, which suggests her background sparked genuine concern among dance enthusiasts invested in the competition's credibility.
The show's judging panel, led by longtime head judge Len Goodman, has maintained standards for what constitutes progress and improvement. Judges score based on technique, timing, frame, and performance. A contestant starting from zero still faces the same technical demands as someone with prior training. Progression remains the measuring stick, not absolute skill level.
Chmerkovskiy's perspective reflects the pragmatism of DWTS professionals. Dancers signed to the show understand the assignment differs from pure competition. They're there to partner with celebrities, create television moments, and entertain. The show airs on ABC, not a ballroom championship circuit. Commercial appeal determines renewal and ratings, not whether every contestant started from identical skill baselines.
Dewan's presence also signals the show's evolving brand positioning. Casting decisions increasingly favor entertainment capital over technical purity. This approach appeals to general audiences while occasionally alienating purists who want to see real beginners triumph through hard work.
The backlash reveals generational expectations about competition. Older viewers might expect DWTS to operate with sports-like fairness standards. Younger audiences treat it as branded entertainment featuring celebrities doing their best in unfamiliar territory. Both interpretations hold truth. The show succeeds because it operates in both spaces simultaneously.
Chmerkovskiy's comment essentially grants permission for DWTS to be what it has always been: celebrity entertainment disguised as a dance competition. For some viewers, that honesty stings. For others, it simply confirms what they already knew.