Tatyana Ali is stepping onto the ballroom floor for a new chapter in her entertainment career, joining Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars and giving fans another reason to celebrate the actress they have known and loved for decades.
Best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali is taking on the challenge of learning new dance styles, performing before a live audience, and competing for the show’s coveted Mirrorball Trophy. Paired with professional dancer Jan Ravnik, the actress is showing audiences a different side of her talent beyond the television roles that helped make her a household name.
Ali’s appearance on the competition brings her career full circle in an unexpected way. One of the most memorable moments from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air featured Ashley dancing alongside her on-screen cousin, Will Smith. Years later, that scene experienced a resurgence on social media after Doechii’s song “Anxiety” sparked a viral trend inspired by the original choreography. Ali and Smith eventually recreated the dance with Doechii, introducing the nostalgic moment to a new generation.
While audiences may recognize her primarily from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ali has built a multifaceted career spanning acting, music, education, and advocacy. A Harvard University graduate, she has appeared in productions including The Young and the Restless, Glory Road, and Abbott Elementary. She also pursued a music career, releasing her debut album, Kiss the Sky, which featured the hit single “Daydreamin’.”
Outside entertainment, Ali has become an advocate for Black maternal health, drawing from her own experiences with childbirth to raise awareness about the challenges Black mothers face. She has also spoken about the emotional and physical demands of Dancing with the Stars, describing the experience in an interview with Good Morning America as empowering and healing.
For Ali, the competition offers an opportunity to challenge herself in a new arena while reconnecting with a memorable part of her television legacy. As she takes on the ballroom alongside Ravnik, she is introducing audiences to another side of her talent and continuing a career that has evolved well beyond the role that first made her famous.
Dancing with the Stars airs on ABC and streams on Disney+, with episodes available on Hulu the following day.
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