UCLA senior Jordan Chiles is balancing her final year as an undergraduate with competing on the 34th season of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Chiles, who is majoring in African American studies and is a member of the UCLA gymnastics team, discussed her experiences juggling academics, athletics, and television during an interview with UCLA Newsroom.
“I’ve just had a fun experience,” Chiles said about joining the show. “My partner, Ezra (Sosa), has been remarkable, and I’ve just enjoyed literally everything about it. It’s a dream come true. As a little kid, I watched the show, and to be on it just means everything.”
Chiles and Sosa have performed well on the program, recently tying for first place on the leaderboard despite strong competition from other celebrities such as Robert Irwin and Whitney Leavitt.
In addition to rehearsing for “Dancing With the Stars,” Chiles continues to train with her gymnastics teammates as they prepare for the 2026 NCAA season. She noted that some of her teammates have attended tapings of the show: “The girls are having a magnificent time. A few times, I was able to bring some of the pros that they wanted me to — they would text me, like, ‘Hey, can we meet so and so?’ I think it’s really cool just to let them have that opportunity of being in that space. So they really enjoyed it, and they had fun, for sure.”
Chiles also confirmed that professional dancers from the show have visited UCLA gymnastics practices: “Yes, some of the pro dancers definitely did. My own partner, Ezra, was able to come and watch. And then Val (Chmerkovskiy) did as well. As kids, we always want to support one another but knowing that we can have (those) who we look up to come and support us just means everything. So, they really enjoyed it. We call it ‘celebrity Sundays’ because the majority of the time they come in on Sundays. So, it’s really cool just to see them light up and have fun with it.”
Asked if she has taught any dance routines to her teammates yet: “I have not taught them any of my routines but I did see that Val was teaching Tiana (Sumanasekera) the whisk. That was really cool because they got to learn the hip action of ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ I have not taught them anything though. They keep asking me and I’m like ‘Uh let me find a day that I could process which dance that you guys can learn.’”
On managing her various responsibilities this quarter: “This quarter I told my coaches and my academic counselor ‘Hey can we make sure everything is online? Because that’s going to be easiest for me.’ And so I have all my stuff online… But (balancing it all has) been really fun. It’s my senior year so I’m trying to enjoy the best of it and just really finish everything out as strongly as possible.”
Reflecting on what excites her most about being a senior at UCLA: “Knowing that it’s my senior year being able to take past three years… yes they were fast but I got enjoy them… I’m always going be a Bruin no matter what — it’s going be bittersweet for sure.”
Regarding standout moments from being part of “Dancing With The Stars,” Chiles shared: “There are a lot different things… it’s behind-the-scenes work… way crew works… wardrobe works… it’s all family oriented… I’ve just had fun experience… My partner Ezra has been remarkable…”
She added about backstage camaraderie: “Yes for sure we all know it’s competition — obviously we all want win mirror ball — but best thing is just being able have relationship with everyone whether celebrity pro or show crew that’s what makes it really fun enjoyable.”
Chiles appears weekly alongside Sosa on ABC’s Tuesday night broadcast.
