Savannah Bananas sensation Jackson Olson is addressing the criticism surrounding his stint on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. Some have expressed concerns that his background with a lively baseball team known for its dance antics might give him an upper hand compared to his fellow celebrity contestants.
On Thursday, July 23, Olson, 28, tackled these concerns by posting a playful video on Instagram. In the clip, he pretends to chat with someone who accuses him of having “an unfair advantage” since he’s “already a dancer.”
The video features highlights of Olson in action during various Savannah Bananas games, showcasing his entertaining dance moves like twerking and general field antics. A cheeky caption accompanies the footage: “Yeah so the first rehearsal will be interesting 😭.”
In an important observation, DWTS enthusiasts reminded Olson that the realm of ballroom dance differs significantly from the lighthearted dancing he’s accustomed to. Olson joins a lineup for season 35 that includes The Traitors alum Maura Higgins, Summer House star Ciara Miller, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez.
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is quickly coming together. In a fitting announcement during the Hulu Get Real House event in April, the news broke that Summer House‘s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would soon join the dance floor. This was soon followed by confirmation of Savannah Bananas’ second baseman Jackson Olson’s participation the next month.
“When I was a kid, I never thought any of this was possible, even playing for the Bananas or anything like that,” Olson said on a May episode of Good Morning America. “I was a shy kid that never danced, never put myself out there, never entertained and found a passion for it. Now, I kind of manifested it.”
Olson reflected on his love for the competition show.
“[I] posted a couple TikToks last year, just joking, ‘Pranking my coach that I was going to be on the show,’ never thinking it was a possibility,” he quipped. “When I posted it, I’m, like, ‘Maybe there is a possibility.’ I saw some comments and thought, ‘Maybe this is possible.’”
Olson isn’t the only one nervous about his first practice for DWTS. Miller, 30, recently told Us she was also dealing with some anxiety about taking on such a challenging opportunity.
“Literally, my friend said today, he was like, ‘How do you think you’re gonna get past the jitters?’ He’s like, ‘Not only the live audience, but like the world?’ I was like, ‘You know what? I don’t need this right now. I don’t,’” Miller told Us earlier this month. “I wasn’t thinking about it, to be honest.”
Mirrorball champs or not, Dancing With the Stars has featured some impeccable professional dancers in the years since the ABC competition series premiered in 2005. Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are among the talent who have lit up the ballroom. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a […]
Miller has put some thought, however, toward preparation.
“If I’ve learned anything from Love Island and Kenzie [Annis], it’s [that] I need to stretch more,” she added after cohosting Love Island: Aftersun. “You release a lot of tension from your hips, so I’m taking her advice and pivoting that into my Dancing With the Stars prep.”
She continued: “I want to be as flexible as I can for this, and obviously don’t want to be carried out on a stretcher when practice starts. So I’m trying to prep now. I’ve got my work cut out for me. It’s going to be an intense few months or however long I’m there, but obviously I’m going with the intention of giving it my all and to not go home within the first week.”
Dancing With the Stars season 35 will premiere on ABC and Disney+ this fall.