Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba has defended the season 35 contestants who are being criticized for their previous dance experience. The cast includes Jenna Dewan, Julia Stiles, and Harry Shum Jr., all of whom have notable dance backgrounds. Some fans have argued that this gives them an unfair advantage in the competition. In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Inaba explained that ballroom dancing is very different from the celebrities' past training. She noted that the weight placement in ballroom dancing is different from other forms of dance, and it takes time to un-train the body to adjust to these changes. Inaba stated that it is not as easy as people think for dancers to transition from other styles to ballroom dancing. Jenna Dewan, who started her career as a backup dancer on Janet Jackson's 2001 "All for You Tour," has appeared in music videos for Christina Aguilera, Pink, Missy Elliott, and NSYNC, among others. She famously performed alongside Channing Tatum in the 2006 dance movie Step Up. Julia Stiles, who performed an iconic tabletop dance in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, was also involved in the 2001 hit film Save the Last Dance, in which her character is an aspiring ballerina. Harry Shum Jr., who played Mike Chang on the hit Fox series Glee, also started his career as a backup dancer for Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Mariah Carey, and appeared in the Step Up franchise. Inaba acknowledged that Stiles and Dewan have an advantage in some ways because they have rhythm, musicality, and know how to dance and learn choreography. However, she pointed out that it has been a few years since they have danced. Contestants in past seasons have also had prior dance training, with varying success rates on the show. Those who were not as successful included Heather Morris, who came in eighth place in season 24 despite her experience as a backup dancer for Beyoncé. Amanda Kloots, a Broadway star and former Rockette, came fourth place in season 30. TikToker Charli D'Amelio, actor Jordan Fisher, and ice dancer Meryl Davis, all with past dance experience, won their respective seasons. Dancing with the Stars returns September 15, with new contestants and the same mix of challenges and performances that have made the show a staple of television entertainment.