Tatyana Ali is stepping into the ballroom, and her new role comes with a familiar face waiting nearby. The former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star has joined season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, where her longtime TV brother Alfonso Ribeiro serves as host.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Tatyana Ali DWTS casting creates a nostalgic reunion for fans who remember Ali as Ashley Banks and Ribeiro as her older brother Carlton. Surprisingly, strict confidentiality rules forced Ali to keep the news from Ribeiro for weeks.
Tatyana Ali DWTS Casting Stayed Secret From Alfonso Ribeiro
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Ali revealed that one of the hardest parts of preparing for the show was not being able to tell Ribeiro that she had joined the cast. She initially planned to share the news with him but waited too long. Once producers learned that he still did not know, they asked her to keep the surprise going.
Tatyana Ali, James Avery, and Karyn Parsons (bottom), 1990-96, (c)NBC Studios/courtesy Everett Collection
Now that the secret is out, Ali says Ribeiro has offered plenty of support and advice from his own Dancing With the Stars experience. He encouraged her to enjoy the process and stay open to it. Ali will compete with Jan Ravnik, whom she praised for his work ethic, patience, and humor despite his demanding rehearsals.
‘Fresh Prince’ Costars Have Stayed Close for Decades
‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 35 Cast Revealed:
Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
See the full #DWTS lineup here: https://t.co/AQbdi0k0FN pic.twitter.com/aJ2g4vff9r
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 2, 2026
Ali and Ribeiro first became TV siblings when The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered in 1990. The sitcom followed Will Smith’s character as he moved from West Philadelphia to live with his wealthy relatives in Bel-Air. Ribeiro played Carlton Banks, while Ali portrayed his younger sister Ashley. Both actors stayed with the show throughout its six-season run, which ended in 1996. Their connection continued long after the final episode. In 2024, Ribeiro revealed that the cast still keeps in touch through a group chat and described the relationships they built during the series as life-changing.
That history adds another layer of nostalgia to Tatyana Ali appearing on DWTS. Fans who once watched Carlton and Ashley navigate life in the Banks household will now see Ali compete while Ribeiro watches from the ballroom. Season 35 premieres over two nights on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 on ABC, with episodes streaming afterward on Hulu and Disney+. For longtime Fresh Prince viewers, the competition offers more than dancing. It gives them a chance to watch two members of one of television’s most memorable families share the screen again nearly three decades after the sitcom ended.