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Sasha Farber Breaks Silence on DWTS Season 35 Absence
Sasha Farber is back in the ballroom.
After the Dancing With the Stars performer was excluded from the season 35 main cast of pros and celebrities, Farber made a return to his stomping grounds during the Sept. 15 premiere by covering the series for ABC on social media, alongside The Bachelorette's Kaitlyn Bristowe, as well as shifting to a new role on stage.
"@sashafarber1 and @kaitlynbristowe are hanging out backstage," ABC's official DWTS account announced on Instagram Sept. 14, "and they're taking you with them!"
And host Alfonso Ribeiro explained that Farber, who has tangoed on 12 different seasons of the competition, and Bristowe, who won season 29 with partner Artem Chigvintsev, will cover all the behind-the-scenes tea in their role as TikTok correspondents. The Russia native had previously covered episodes on social media during season 34, alongside many other familiar faces from the show that year including Gleb Savchenko, Brandon Armstrong and Emma Slater.
As Ribeiro said during the Sept. 15 premiere episode, the pair will give fans an inside look at "all of the backstage craziness you don't see on air."
In addition to his duties as a DWTS insider, the 42-year-old also returned as a member of the dance troupe in part one of the premiere, appearing in the opening number set to Robyn's "Dancing on My Own.” In fact, Farber was captured rehearsing with pro Daniella Karagach ahead of time by the show's official Instagram in a video captioned, "warming up!!"
ABC
And the role is a familiar one. Farber served as a troupe member on several seasons of the show, starting with his arrival in 2012 for season 14. But outside of displaying his award-winning dance moves alongside the larger cast, Farber has served as a pro guiding stars like Simone Biles, Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.
Indeed, Farber's showstopping numbers on DWTS over the years—like coming in third place alongside figure skater Tonya Harding for the Athletes season in 2018—have made him a fan favorite. As such, fans were disappointed to learn he wouldn't be coming back as a pro for the 35th iteration when the cast was initially announced.
ABC/Dancing With the Stars/Instagram
When addressing fans' questions about why he was not in contention for the Mirrorball Trophy, Farber wrote in a since-deleted comment, according to Us Weekly, "Not my choice."
Keep reading for a look at which celebrity-dancer teams were chosen for this year's dance-off.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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