IN CONVERSATION WITH JENNA JOHNSON

interview by JANA LETONJA

From the ballroom to motherhood and an increasingly influential presence in fashion, Jenna Johnson is stepping into an exciting new chapter. First introduced to audiences on So You Think You Can Dance, she has since become one of Dancing with the Stars’ defining professional dancers, earning two Mirrorball Championships and a Primetime Emmy nomination across nine seasons. This year sees her expanding her role within the DWTS universe as a featured pro and guest judge on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, before returning to compete in Season 35. Away from the ballroom, Jenna is embracing another evolution, balancing life with husband Val Chmerkovskiy and their son while exploring the intersection of dance, wellness, motherhood and personal style. Following her appearance on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway, Jenna is proving that her next act extends far beyond dance.

You’ve spent so much of your life communicating through movement. What does dance allow you to express that words never could?
Ironically enough, I'm a very introverted person. I can be quite shy in public spaces, but dance has always been my safe place where I have no inhibitions. It doesn't matter how many people are in the audience, when I'm on stage, I feel like my most honest self, and I just love to perform. I love to tell stories, I love to show emotion, I love to connect with people through movement.

After nine seasons and two Mirrorball Championships, what still makes stepping onto the Dancing with the Stars floor exciting, or even intimidating?
I think every year of Dancing with the Stars feels like a first since we’re doing it with somebody different and new. It’s one of my favorite parts of the show, getting to experience this incredibly chaotic three months with a new partner and watching that journey flourish and grow. So yes, I still get butterflies every single season I step onto the floor. It feels like the first time. 

You’ve returned for Season 35. At this point, what do you need from a season creatively for it to feel fulfilling?
Honestly, being paired with Harry for Season 35 has been incredibly fulfilling. Getting to work with him and create with him has already been such a beautiful experience in these first couple weeks. So obviously, I want to do the most creative dances every week. I’m still competitive of course, but man, my dance heart is fulfilled. 

Every celebrity partner arrives with different abilities and insecurities. What have you learned about bringing confidence out of someone who may never have danced before?
When you’re getting to know someone new in this environment, you’re getting to know how they work and how they respond best under pressure, and then it’s my responsibility to cater to that. It’s my job to make my partner feel empowered, uplifted, and secure, so that when we do go perform in front of millions of people, there’s trust, we’re both still on the same page, super focused, and nail the performance. 

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro puts you in the position of both featured pro and guest judge. How different does dance look when you’re evaluating it rather than performing it?
I had such an amazing experience getting to be a guest judge and mentor on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro because I could see a version of my younger self in the contestants. I’m very passionate about teaching and mentoring, so it felt really fun to be on that side of things rather than competing. That said, I didn’t expect there to be so much pressure as a judge. During the live show, due to time constraints, you’re limited in how much feedback you can give, so it’s a challenge to get your point across quickly and concisely. With that show, those contestants were counting on my notes and critiques to improve their personal journeys.

Has becoming a judge made you reconsider anything about the feedback you’ve received throughout your own career?
Becoming a judge has affirmed my understanding that the judges do want you to succeed and progress, they’re there to give you feedback because they want you to evolve throughout the competition. 

You earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for choreography. How do you balance creating something technically ambitious with making it emotionally accessible to millions of viewers?
Val and I had the incredible responsibility of creating a piece that honored Len Goodman’s life and legacy, so there was so much meaning behind every choice we made. I think when you’re creating from a place of genuine love and emotion, that naturally translates through the movement and choreography. Being able to create that piece alongside someone I love and trust made it even more special, and it was truly the honor of a lifetime.

Motherhood has become a major new chapter of your life. Did becoming a mother change the way you see your body as a dancer?
Yes, absolutely. Becoming a mom gave me such a deeper appreciation for my body, both during pregnancy and afterward. I continued to move and dance throughout my pregnancy, which made me feel so empowered and honestly just in awe of what my body was capable of while growing my favorite human. Even as my body was changing so significantly, I had never felt more feminine or more connected to it than I did when I was nine months pregnant. 

Dance can demand extraordinary discipline and control, while motherhood often requires surrendering control entirely. What has your son taught you about yourself that your career never could?
Patience. Absolute patience. You can’t reason with a baby or a toddler, so patience is huge. Also, presence. Since becoming a mother, I feel like time goes by so fast. My past self was always looking ahead and wishing that time would go faster. Now, I'm always praying that time will slow down. These precious moments come and go so quickly. My son helps me remember to be more present and intentional with my time. 

Fashion has always been central to ballroom, but your personal style has increasingly attracted attention away from the dance floor as well. How would you describe your style today?
Over the past couple years, I’ve realized how much fashion has become another form of creative expression for me. For so long, I’ve identified myself first and foremost as a dancer, but I’ve come to appreciate that artistry can show up in so many ways. It’s in everything. I’m now just as passionate about the way that I dress and present myself as I am about the movement I create on the dance floor. It’s been really fun to explore that side of myself and find new ways to express who I am through fashion. 

As someone whose profession is intensely physical, has your definition of wellness changed as you’ve grown older and become a mother?
I prioritize my health a lot more than I used to. Recovery, nutrition, taking vitamins, mental health, all things I look forward to doing now help me to be able to continue doing my craft at its highest level. Especially since becoming a mom, I’m much more intentional about taking care of my body so I can continue doing what I love, while also having the energy to be fully present in my life outside of dance.

You’ve achieved many of the milestones you once dreamed about as a dancer. Are you beginning to imagine a career for yourself beyond competitive ballroom?
Right now, I'm still so invested and passionate about what I’m doing. I absolutely have dreams beyond the ballroom. I would love to perform on Broadway and explore choreographing for film, but I don’t feel any rush to move on to the next chapter. I’m exactly where I want to be right now, and I feel really lucky that I love what I do so much. 

What feels most exciting to you creatively right now—choreography, television, fashion, judging, performing, or something audiences haven’t seen from you yet?
Performing is at the core of what I love to do, I just love dancing on camera. This season of DWTS, I’m so grateful to be partnered with someone who is an incredible actor and storyteller because it’s allowed me to really lean into that side of my creativity. I love finding the best ways to build a narrative through movement and create art that makes people feel something. Being able to move people, literally and figuratively, is what feels most exciting to me right now. 

TEAM CREDITS:
photography by CARLY SHARP
styling by DANIELLE & ALIX