Rylee Arnold Reflects on Her ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Journey, From ‘Juniors’ to Season 35 With Connor Wood

At just 21 years old, Rylee Arnold has already carved out an impressive career on “Dancing With the Stars.” But her rise in the ballroom didn’t happen overnight it started on the show’s junior version nearly a decade ago.

Arnold was only 13 when she first stepped onto the “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors” stage in 2018. That early experience gave her a glimpse into the world of televised dance competition, something most young dancers never get. She competed alongside actor Miles Brown, with her older sister and former “DWTS” pro Lindsay Arnold mentoring the pair.

After “Juniors” wrapped, Arnold returned to Utah to focus on school before eventually making the move to Los Angeles. Her break came in 2023 when she landed a spot as a professional dancer on Season 32 of the main competition. Since then, she’s partnered with Harry Jowsey, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Scott Hoying but this season marks a new chapter.

For Season 35, Arnold is dancing with Connor Wood, a comedian and social media personality known online as Fibula. Wood has built a substantial following through his comedy content and podcast work. The pair kicked off the season with a cha-cha during the two-night premiere, scoring a respectable 16 out of 30 and advancing to the next week.

Arnold has opened up about the challenges of transitioning from rehearsal to live performance in front of the “DWTS” audience something that can be jarring even for experienced dancers. Now, rather than competing as a contestant, she’s taken on the role of mentor and teacher, showcasing how much she’s grown as both a dancer and choreographer.

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 premiered September 15 and 16 on ABC, with episodes streaming on Disney+ and available the next day on Hulu.