Rylee Arnold returns for DWTS season 35 with Connor Wood
At 21, Rylee Arnold is back on Dancing With the Stars with comedian and podcaster Connor Wood for season 35.
The pairing, reported by the Hollywood Reporter, puts Arnold, a pro, meaning a professional dancer paired with a celebrity contestant, into her fourth year on the main show. Wood is best known for comedy and podcasting, according to ABC.
Arnold first appeared on television at 13 on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors, a spin-off for young dancers. She joined the main cast in 2023 for season 32. She was 18. That made her the first Juniors alum to join the main cast and the youngest pro ever hired.
It happened fast. Arnold had graduated from high school about a month before she was offered the pro job. She then moved to Los Angeles with two weeks' notice to start her first season.
Dance is a family business for the Arnolds. Her older sister is Lindsay Arnold, who spent 11 seasons as a Dancing With the Stars pro. Lindsay won season 25 with actor and singer Jordan Fisher in 2017.
Season 35 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC, according to ABC, which also hosts an official biography page for Arnold. Ahead of the premiere, Arnold, then 21, spoke to PEOPLE for its PEOPLE in 10 interview series.
She has also stayed visible as a mentor figure. In Season 1 Episode 7 of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, the final four teamed up with Arnold, Gleb Savchenko, Jan Ravnik and Witney Carson for the semifinal rounds.
What makes this stand out is the continuity. A dancer who realised her path on the junior version is now guiding newcomers while still competing herself. For fans, this means a familiar face with a short but full history on the show.
