Jenna Dewan gets emotional as kids watch her on DWTS for first time
Synopsis
Jenna Dewan's return to Dancing with the Stars took on a personal dimension when she broke down in tears realising her children would watch her perform live for the very first time. The moment, captured on Instagram, underlines just how much Season 35 means to the actress-dancer who started her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.
Key Takeaways
Jenna Dewan shared an emotional Instagram video reacting to the realisation her children would watch her dance live for the first time on DWTS .
She is competing on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars alongside professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy .
Dewan and Chmerkovskiy made their ballroom debut during Night 2 of the season premiere.
Dewan began her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and is widely known for the 2006 film Step Up .
Fans can vote for Dewan by texting JENNA to 21523 or visiting dwtsvote.abc.com .
Actress-dancer Jenna Dewan has shared a heartfelt moment on Instagram, revealing she was moved to tears upon realising her children would watch her perform live for the very first time on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). The post, which quickly resonated with fans, showed Dewan's daughter pointing excitedly at a T-shirt bearing her mother's image.
The Emotional Moment
In the video clip, a text overlay read: 'That feeling when you realize your kids get to watch you dance live for the first ever time on DWTS.' Dewan captioned the post: 'The way I cried getting this rn baby girllll. My kids get to watch me dance live for the first time and I'm so emotional and grateful !! Don't forget to vote tonight! Text JENNA to 21523 or vote online at dwtsvote.abc.com (10x each).'
The candid expression of emotion offered a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the personal stakes Dewan has attached to her return to competitive performance.
Back to Her Dance Roots
Dewan is competing as a contestant on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, paired with professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy. The duo made their ballroom debut together during Night 2 of the season premiere, marking a significant professional milestone for Dewan.
Her return to dance is particularly meaningful given her origins in the industry. Dewan began her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson before going on to collaborate with artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Missy Elliott. She rose to mainstream recognition playing Nora Clark in the 2006 film Step Up.
A Career Spanning Dance, Film and Television
Beyond dance, Dewan has built a varied television and film career. She portrayed Freya Beauchamp on the Lifetime series Witches of East End, and held the recurring role of Lucy Lane across both Supergirl and Superman & Lois. She also played Joanna in Netflix's Soundtrack.
Dewan has hosted reality shows including World of Dance and Flirty Dancing, and served as a judge on Come Dance with Me. Since 2021, she has been a series regular on The Rookie. Her last theatrical film appearance was in the 2019 romantic comedy The Wedding Year, directed by Robert Luketic.
What's Next
With Season 35 of DWTS now underway, Dewan's progress on the show — and her family's involvement in the journey — is likely to remain a talking point among fans. The voting period for her latest performance is currently open, with audience support potentially shaping how far she advances in the competition.
Point of View
And a mother-children moment is precisely the kind of story that drives fan voting. What is notable, however, is the career arc it underscores: a woman who started as a backup dancer, worked her way into film and television, and is now returning to her original discipline in a prime-time competition format. The question Season 35 will answer is whether audiences engage with Dewan as a competitor on merit, or primarily as a sympathetic figure — a distinction that will matter if she advances deep into the competition.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jenna Dewan get emotional on Instagram?
Jenna Dewan got emotional after realising her children would watch her perform live on Dancing with the Stars for the very first time. She shared a video on Instagram showing her daughter pointing at a T-shirt bearing Dewan's image, and captioned it expressing how much the moment meant to her.
What season of Dancing with the Stars is Jenna Dewan on?
Jenna Dewan is a contestant on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. She is partnered with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and the two made their competitive debut during Night 2 of the season premiere.
How can fans vote for Jenna Dewan on DWTS?
Fans can vote for Jenna Dewan by texting JENNA to 21523 or by voting online at dwtsvote.abc.com, with up to 10 votes allowed per method each voting period.
What is Jenna Dewan known for?
Jenna Dewan is best known for playing Nora Clark in the 2006 film Step Up and for her television roles including Lucy Lane in Supergirl and Superman & Lois, Freya Beauchamp in Witches of East End, and her ongoing role in The Rookie since 2021. She began her career as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.
Who is Jenna Dewan's partner on Dancing with the Stars Season 35?
Jenna Dewan is paired with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. The two made their ballroom debut together during Night 2 of the season premiere.
