The “Glee” alum and fellow “DWTS” contestant Jenna Dewan have been facing backlash for their prior dance experience.

Harry Shum Jr. defends decision to join *DWTS *cast — despite history as Beyoncé’s backup dancer

The “Glee” alum and fellow “DWTS” contestant Jenna Dewan have been facing backlash for their prior dance experience.

By Shelby Stivale

Shelby Stivale

Shelby Stivale is a senior writer at **. She has been working at EW since July 2026. Her work has previously appeared on Us Weekly and J-14.

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September 16, 2026 1:28 p.m. ET

Harry Shum Jr; Beyoncé. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty; TheStewartofNY/Getty

- Harry Shum Jr. defended his dance experience after receiving the highest score during the *DWTS *season 35 premiere.

- The *Glee *star was previously a backup dancer for Beyoncé.

- He is paired with *DWTS *pro Jenna Johnson.

Harry Shum Jr. doesn’t think his dance experience gives him an advantage on *Dancing With the Stars*.

“I think a lot of people who had dance backgrounds don’t make it very far,” the *Glee** *alum told *E! News* on Tuesday after the *DWTS* season 35 premiere. “That tells you everything you need to know about what the show is. It’s beyond just dancing.”

He added, “It’s like storytelling—who you are, your personality, your connection between, not just your partner, but with the audience. That’s what I love about the show. Because I used to see it as dancing only, and when I watched last season, I was like, ‘Oh, there’s just so much more.’”

Jenna Johnson and Harry Shum Jr. perform during the ‘DWTS’ season 35 premiere night 1.

Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty

Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson made their *DWTS* debut on Tuesday, performing a Cha-Cha to “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind & Fire, a number one song from the year he was born. They received a 21 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli, putting them at the top of the leaderboard.

Shum Jr. clarified to *E! News* on Tuesday that he’s “never had the proper training” for dance, which is what makes *DWTS *different.

“Being here to have someone to tell me exactly what I’m doing wrong—because even on those jobs, it was always just I was just trying to survive, I was just trying to pick up as fast as I could so I wouldn’t get fired,” he explained. “I always felt anxiety over it, and that’s kind of why I stopped.”

The *Grey’s Anatomy** *star was a backup dancer for Beyoncé during her 2004* Ladies First* tour. He went on to appear as dancer Mike Chang on *Glee* from 2009 to 2011. After his casting was announced earlier this month, *DWTS* fans caused quite a stir about Shum Jr.’s prior dance experience — and he’s not the only one who received some criticism.

‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 35 premiere night 1 recap: A surprising frontrunner emerges and the first celeb goes home

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Jenna Dewan, former Janet Jackson backup dancer and *Step Up** *star, fielded social media comments about her experience as a professional dancer. Dewan spoke with **, wanting to be “clear” with critics that she has no ballroom experience.

“It’s two different languages,” she told EW on Sept. 2 after the *DWTS *season 35 cast reveal. “There’s parts of my dance training that’s helpful, obviously. I’ve learned choreography, I can perform, but there is a certain sense of unlearning for me. It’s a new technique, brand new technique. It almost threw me off initially because I had to unlearn a lot of — I don’t want to say bad habits — but just habits of the style that I’m used to.”

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*Dancing With the Stars* continues its two-night premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Watch the female contestants compete at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.

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