
Harry Shum Jr. Gets Hit With 'Glee' Nostalgia After Joining 'Dancing With the Stars'
The former TV performer reflects on putting dance back in the spotlight following his big 'DWTS' season 35 reveal.
By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read
Harry Shum Jr. is officially stepping onto the ballroom floor for season 35 of *Dancing With the Stars*, and the massive milestone is triggering some serious nostalgia for the veteran performer. Following the official cast roster reveal on *Good Morning America*, the actor took a quiet breather to reflect on social media about taking on the legendary dance competition. In a video clip uploaded to his Instagram account, the 44-year-old star opened up about the whirlwind experience of making the cast announcement public. He admitted that finally having just five minutes to sit down and digest the news brought back instant, overwhelming memories of his breakout era on the hit Fox musical series *Glee*, where he famously played fan-favorite dancer Mike Chang from 2009 to 2015.
Is Harry Shum Jr on Dancing With the Stars For Shum, signing on for the long-running reality competition feels like a rare opportunity to showcase dance as the primary focus rather than a supporting element. He explained to followers that dance often gets relegated to the background in mainstream entertainment projects, but *Dancing With the Stars* completely flips the script by making the choreography itself the central headline attraction. The multi-talented performer is certainly no stranger to heavy choreographic projects. Beyond his memorable six-year run in McKinley High's glee club, his versatile Hollywood resume boasts prominent appearances across the popular *Step Up* movie franchise. He has also expanded his acting portfolio with key roles in major titles like *Shadowhunters*, *Crazy Rich Asians*, *Voicemails for Isabelle*, and his ongoing stint on *Grey's Anatomy*.

Harry Shum Jr DWTS dance experience Even with such an extensive background in movement and performance, Shum admitted feeling a mix of high anticipation and genuine nerves as the official season premiere approaches. He expressed particular excitement over watching his fellow celebrity contestants navigate their own unique connections and personal relationships to dance, noting that each contestant arrives at the ballroom with a completely different skill set. Pop-culture fans will not have to wait very long to see Shum put his rhythm to the ultimate test live on national television. The upcoming season is scheduled to launch later this month, marking an exciting full-circle chapter for one of TV's most beloved screen dancers.
More like this

Reality TV
'RHOSLC' Season 7 Is Here: How to Stream the Premiere for Free
Salt Lake City is boiling over as Bravo's favorite snow queens return for another wild season of high-altitude drama.
8h ago

Reality TV
Round Up the Faithful! 'The Traitors' Lands Massive Three-Season Renewal at Peacock
Alan Cumming isn't leaving his Scottish castle anytime soon as the Emmy-winning reality hit secures its future through Season 8.
10h ago

Reality TV
Taylor Frankie Paul Parenting Time Cut After Allegedly Failing Multiple Drug Tests
The reality TV influencer reportedly had her custody access restricted following court-mandated screenings.
3h ago
Get the pop news brief
One daily email. The biggest celebrity, music and TV stories, no filler.
People also ask
- Is Harry Shum Jr. joining Dancing With the Stars?
- Yes, Harry Shum Jr. was officially announced as a celebrity contestant for season 35 of Dancing With the Stars on Good Morning America.
- What TV shows and movies has Harry Shum Jr. been in?
- Harry Shum Jr. gained fame playing Mike Chang on Glee and has since starred in Crazy Rich Asians, Grey's Anatomy, Shadowhunters, and the Step Up film franchise.
Reader reaction
Loading comments…