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Jenna Dewan pushed back at criticism from Dancing With the Stars fans after she was announced as a contestant for the show's 35th season as some accused her of being overqualified with her extensive dance experience.
The Step Up star, 45, who was previously a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, explained to Entertainment Weekly that the format of the ABC show does not complement her dance background.
'I do not know how to ballroom dance,' said Dewan, who specializes in hip-hop and contemporary. 'Let's be clear. It's two different languages.
'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.'
She stressed that what's ahead for her at Dancing With The Stars is 'a new technique, brand new technique' that she is not familiar with.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Dewan for further comment on the story.
Jenna Dewan, 45, pushed back at criticism from Dancing With the Stars fans after she was announced as a contestant for the show's 35th season, as some people said she was overqualified with her background. Pictured in a promotional shot released Wednesday
Dewan said that she's had to make considerable adjustments in preparing for the ballroom-based competition.
'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,' she said.
Dewan, who has past worked as a backup dancer for artists such as Jackson, Toni Braxton and Mandy Moore, told the publication that she is 'a little more nervous' adapting to the new genre of dance.
'It's not like you're giving me a style that I've done - I can go out there and do that,' Dewan said. 'It has its advantages, but it also has its challenges.
'But that was part of why I wanted to do it. I really wanted to challenge myself.'
Dewan's dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy said that there are other factors that lessen the perceived advantage Dewan has.
Chmerkovskiy explained that while Dewan 'comes in with incredible talent,' the expectations for her are exponentially higher.
'First of all, it's naive to think that this show is just about dance,' he said. 'It's about the human experience and the human journey and how much you're willing to reveal yourself.
Dewan shared the silver screen with ex-husband Channing Tatum in the 2006 film Step Up
Dewan's dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy said that there are other factors that lessen the perceived advantage Dewan has with her experience. Pictured Wednesday in NYC
On X, a number of the show's viewers suggested that the show had a misstep in casting Dewan against celebs with no background
'Dance is a vehicle for us to find out more about these people - and I think that's our advantage.'
Chmerkovskiy said that he was putting together a game plan to properly position Dewan for success on the show.
'The way I approach things is that you're only as good as the thing that you've never done, so I'm going to push her and push us to showcase to the world something they haven't seen from her yet,' he said.
On X, a number of the show's viewers suggested that the show had a misstep in casting Dewan against celebs with no background.
'You're a dancer, how is this even remotely fair to the other contestants?' one person said. 'You should've passed on the opportunity.'
Another asked, 'How is this even a fair chance? Technically Jenna will be the best dancer…I mean she's danced with Janet Jackson.'
One fan declared, 'If Jenna Dewan wins #DWTS Season 35, I'm calling RIGGED. It's completely unfair to the other contestants when Jenna is a professional dancer.'
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