Sarah Jane Nader is making Dancing with the Stars history this season, paired with newly promoted pro Hailey Bills for a partnership already turning heads. The ballroom has seen countless pairings over the years, yet something about this one already feels different. Nader has spent years being known as part of a famous sisterhood, and this season finally hands her a spotlight entirely her own. The buzz building around this new duo suggests season 35 has plenty of surprises still ahead.

While the partnership itself already speaks volumes, the story behind how these two found each other makes it even more remarkable.

Sarah Jane Nader has officially become part of Dancing with the Stars history, paired with Hailey Bills as the show's second all-female duo, following Jenna Johnson and JoJo Siwa in season 30. Nader called the moment nothing short of an honor from the very beginning.

"I am so unbelievably excited for this experience, and I could not be more happy with my partner," Bills told PEOPLE.

She then added, "It's going to be great. We're the luckiest girls ever," capturing exactly how special this milestone feels for both dancers.

Before this pairing, Bills spent season 34 as a troupe member, and her promotion to the pro roster arrived alongside this milestone assignment. According to PEOPLE, executive producer Deena Katz personally asked Bills whether she would be open to dancing with a female partner, and Bills embraced the idea without hesitation. Nader, for her part, sees this season as a chance to be recognized as an individual rather than simply one of four famous sisters. Both dancers view this as their biggest professional opportunity yet.

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As the partnership excitement settles, attention shifts entirely toward where this new season actually came together.

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, the companion series that helped shape this season's pro roster, filmed extensively in Brisbane, Australia. The Thomas Dixon Centre, home to the Queensland Ballet, served as the primary location for nearly every studio scene. Producers also captured outdoor footage throughout Brisbane to showcase the city's modern skyline and scenic riverside views. Filming wrapped across several weeks in May 2026, giving the production ample time to highlight the region's charm.

Host Robert Irwin found the Brisbane location especially convenient, since it allowed him to balance hosting duties with his ongoing wildlife work at the nearby Australia Zoo. Twelve aspiring dancers competed throughout the season for a coveted spot among the season 35 professional lineup, with the winner ultimately joining scenarios like the one Hailey Bills now finds herself in. That very pathway helped bring Bills into the ballroom alongside Sarah Jane Nader. In the end, two women created a partnership already being called the luckiest pairing of the season.

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