Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson and pro dancer Emma Slater are staying in their own lane on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars.
“It sounds really cliché, but I feel like we both feel the same in that we feel like we are going to be the people that we are going to focus on the most. Meaning like, we are our own biggest competition,” Slater, 37, exclusively told Us on Wednesday, September 2, after the full cast for the upcoming season was revealed. “It just so happens that I feel like we both have the same mentality. We’re not really looking at anybody else.”
But if she had to pick someone else to keep her eye on this season, a few people did come to mind.
“I mean, Jenna Dewan. I think Harry Shum Jr. is going to be amazing. I think Tatyana [Ali] is going to be amazing. I cannot wait,” Slater told Us. “I’m excited to see Hailey [Bills] and Sarah Jane [Nader] dance together. That’s going to be really cool, too. [There] could be a lot of people. Taylor Hanson. It’s going to be good.”
Olson, 28, was one of the first celebrities announced to be competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy this season, but fans had to wait to learn who he would be dancing with. As the premiere date approaches, Olson told Us that he’s more nervous to perform on DWTS than he is about playing Banana Ball.
“Obviously, we haven’t even done it yet, and so that’s why it’s nerve-wracking,” he explained. “I think after week one, once we get out there and we see there are three judges judging you — obviously, Emma has done it. I’ve never been judged by anyone. Other than a coach being like, ‘That was good,’ or ‘That was bad.’ It’s like, no, they are giving actual scores, so that’s what I’m nervous for.”
And while he laces up his dancing shoes, Olson will have the support of his Savannah Bananas teammates.
“They were so excited. They’re super excited to meet Emma, too, and see what we do on the field, too. ‘Cause obviously, we are going to have to do some fun entertainment things. We’re going to bring the ballroom to the field a little bit. So we’ll see,” he said, before teasing fans will “100 percent” see Banana moves in the DWTS ballroom. “I don’t know what they are yet, but yeah.”
Dancing With the Stars season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.
