Guillermo dancing with the stars has become a major part of the early Season 35 conversation as Guillermo Rodriguez continues his ballroom journey with professional partner Witney Carson. The longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality entered the ABC competition in September 2026 and has now completed three performances.
Rodriguez arrived on Dancing with the Stars with a very different background from many contestants. His television career centers on comedy, entertainment and his long-running role beside Jimmy Kimmel. Ballroom dancing, however, requires a completely different set of skills.
Through the opening weeks, Rodriguez has had to learn choreography, master new dance styles and perform under the pressure of live television. His judges’ scores have also increased with every performance.
His first routine earned 10 points. The second produced 12 points, while his third performance reached 15 points. Rodriguez remains in the competition after the first three weeks of Season 35.
Guillermo Rodriguez joins Dancing with the Stars Season 35
ABC included Guillermo Rodriguez in the Season 35 cast announced in 2026.
The announcement immediately attracted attention because Rodriguez is already familiar to millions of television viewers. He has spent years appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and became one of the show’s most recognizable personalities.
His television career began behind the scenes. Rodriguez worked as a security guard at the Hollywood studio where Jimmy Kimmel Live! was produced. His personality eventually brought him in front of the cameras.
Over the years, he developed into a recurring television performer. His role grew through comedy segments, celebrity interviews and appearances connected with major entertainment events.
Joining Dancing with the Stars gives Rodriguez a different platform. Instead of relying primarily on comedy and spontaneous television moments, he must perform structured routines.
Each week requires preparation with Carson, rehearsals and memorization. The pair also has to adjust to a new dance style and song selection.
For Rodriguez, the competition represents a significant change from his familiar late-night television environment.
Witney Carson becomes Guillermo’s professional partner
Rodriguez is paired with professional dancer Witney Carson for Season 35.
Carson has extensive experience on Dancing with the Stars. She has competed in numerous seasons and has previously won the Mirrorball Trophy.
Her experience provides Rodriguez with an important source of technical guidance.
Carson has to teach choreography while helping Rodriguez understand the fundamentals of ballroom performance. That includes timing, footwork, posture, musicality and coordination.
The partnership also creates an interesting contrast on screen.
Carson has spent years performing competitive ballroom routines. Rodriguez entered the show primarily known for television comedy.
Their routines therefore require Rodriguez to adapt quickly.
Every performance brings a different dance style and a different set of movements. The challenge becomes more demanding as the season progresses.
Guillermo’s first performance sets the tone
Rodriguez made his Season 35 debut during the premiere.
He and Carson performed a cha-cha-cha to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.”
The routine received 10 points out of 30 from the judges.
That score placed Rodriguez toward the bottom of the leaderboard during the opening episode. However, the result did not end his competition.
The scoring system combines judges’ scores with viewer voting. Contestants therefore have an opportunity to remain in the competition even when their judges’ totals are low.
Rodriguez’s first performance also introduced viewers to the main challenge he faces during Season 35.
He had to perform a choreographed ballroom routine while adjusting to the technical demands of competitive dancing.
His television background gave him plenty of experience in front of cameras. Ballroom competition demanded a different kind of preparation.
The first performance provided Rodriguez with a starting point from which he could improve.
Week 2 brings a higher score
Rodriguez returned for the second week during Viral Hits Night.
He and Carson performed a Paso Doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.”
The judges awarded the pair 12 out of 30 points.
That represented a two-point increase from his premiere.
The Paso Doble also required Rodriguez to adopt a different performance style from the cha-cha-cha.
Instead of simply repeating movements from the previous routine, he had to learn a new choreography and approach the performance differently.
The 12-point result kept Rodriguez in contention.
Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten also received 12 points that night. De Laurentiis was ultimately eliminated, while Rodriguez and Carson continued to Week 3.
That result became an important moment in Rodriguez’s season because his judges’ score alone did not determine his fate.
Viewer participation also plays a role in deciding which couples continue.
Rodriguez reaches his highest score in Week 3
The third week brought Yacht Rock Night.
Rodriguez and Carson performed a foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).”
The judges awarded the couple 15 out of 30 points.
Each judge gave the routine five points.
The result marked Rodriguez’s highest judges’ total of the season at that point.
It also continued a clear upward movement in his scores.
His three performances produced the following totals:
| Week | Dance | Song | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha | “Mr. Big Stuff” | 10/30 |
| 2 | Paso Doble | “Where Have You Been” | 12/30 |
| 3 | Foxtrot | “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” | 15/30 |
The numbers show that Rodriguez’s judges’ total increased with every performance.
The Week 3 routine also required another adjustment. The foxtrot emphasizes controlled movement, musical timing and coordinated choreography.
Rodriguez and Carson had to bring those elements together while performing in front of the judges and a national television audience.
Why Guillermo’s score progression matters
Rodriguez’s first three scores provide a useful snapshot of his Season 35 performance.
The initial 10-point total represented his introduction to the competition. The 12-point result in Week 2 showed an increase.
His 15 points in Week 3 marked another step upward.
The difference between his first and third scores is five points.
That improvement does not determine what happens in later episodes. Each new routine has its own choreography, music and judging.
Still, the progression is an important part of his season because it demonstrates that his scores have moved upward during the opening weeks.
Rodriguez now has three ballroom performances behind him. That experience gives him more exposure to the show’s rehearsal schedule and competitive format.
Guillermo’s transition from late-night television to ballroom
Rodriguez’s background remains an important part of his Dancing with the Stars story.
Audiences know him primarily from Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
His television personality is built around humor, conversation and spontaneous interactions. Competitive ballroom dancing requires precision and repeated rehearsal.
Those differences make his participation particularly distinctive.
A television comedy segment can often depend on timing and personality. A ballroom routine adds technical requirements that cannot be replaced by improvisation.
Rodriguez must remember choreography while maintaining rhythm and staying connected with Carson.
He also has to respond to the music and maintain the character of each dance.
The result is a new type of performance challenge for a personality who has spent years entertaining viewers in a very different format.
Jimmy Kimmel’s connection to Guillermo’s DWTS run
Rodriguez’s participation has also remained connected to Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Kimmel has discussed his longtime sidekick’s experience on the dance competition.
The connection gives Rodriguez’s Season 35 appearance an additional television storyline.
Viewers who know Rodriguez from late-night television can now watch him compete in a setting where dancing, rather than comedy, determines his weekly performance.
That change has allowed the audience to see another side of his on-screen personality.
The competition also creates opportunities for comedy surrounding the rehearsal process, performances and judges’ reactions.
Rodriguez’s established relationship with Kimmel remains part of the wider public interest surrounding his appearance.
Guillermo and Witney Carson’s evolving partnership
A successful Dancing with the Stars partnership depends heavily on communication between the celebrity and professional dancer.
Carson brings the technical knowledge. Rodriguez has to absorb the choreography and execute it during the live performance.
The process becomes particularly important when the show changes dance styles from one week to another.
Rodriguez has already performed a cha-cha-cha, Paso Doble and foxtrot.
Those dances require different movements and different performance approaches.
The shift from one style to another means Rodriguez cannot simply rely on what he learned during the previous episode.
Carson must prepare him for the next routine while continuing to work on fundamentals.
For Rodriguez, each week adds another opportunity to become more comfortable with the format.
The importance of viewer voting
Judges’ scores are only one part of the Dancing with the Stars elimination process.
Viewer voting also contributes to determining which couples continue.
That system is particularly important for contestants whose judges’ scores remain near the lower end of the leaderboard.
Rodriguez survived his first two elimination opportunities despite receiving 10 and 12 points in his opening performances.
His continued presence demonstrates that judges’ scores do not operate independently of the audience voting process.
For viewers following Rodriguez, the weekly result therefore depends on both the performance and the voting system.
The combination keeps the competition unpredictable from episode to episode without relying solely on judges’ rankings.
Guillermo’s first three dances at a glance
Rodriguez’s early Season 35 journey can be summarized through three performances.
Week 1: He performed the cha-cha-cha with Carson to “Mr. Big Stuff” and received 10 points.
Week 2: He switched to the Paso Doble for Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” and earned 12 points.
Week 3: He performed a foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” and reached 15 points.
The sequence provides a straightforward record of his progress.
His score increased by two points between the first and second performances. It then increased by another three points in Week 3.
The five-point overall improvement gives Rodriguez his strongest judges’ result of the season so far.
Who remains in the Season 35 competition?
Rodriguez is competing in a cast that includes several well-known personalities and experienced professional dancers.
Among the couples still competing after Week 3 are:
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
- Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
Rodriguez remains among the couples moving forward after three weeks of competition.
Several contestants have already left the season, reducing the field and increasing the importance of every subsequent performance.
What comes next for Guillermo?
The next announced theme is Mariah Carey Night.
The theme is scheduled for Week 4 of Season 35.
Rodriguez and Carson will therefore have another opportunity to perform together as the competition continues.
The upcoming routine will introduce another song and another choreography challenge.
Rodriguez’s previous scores provide a useful baseline for following his progress.
He began the season with 10 points, increased to 12 and then reached 15.
The next performance will establish his fourth judges’ total.
His continued participation will also depend on the combination of judges’ scores and viewer voting.
Guillermo’s DWTS journey continues
Rodriguez’s first three weeks have established a clear pattern.
He started with a 10-point cha-cha-cha. His second performance brought 12 points. The third performance increased his total to 15.
The progression gives viewers a simple way to follow his competitive development.
At the same time, each new episode presents a separate challenge.
Rodriguez must continue learning choreography while adapting to different musical styles and dance techniques. Carson remains his professional partner throughout that process.
His background on Jimmy Kimmel Live! gives him a familiar television presence, but Dancing with the Stars tests him in a completely different performance environment.
The latest confirmed results show Rodriguez still competing after the third week of Season 35.
For fans searching for the latest Guillermo dancing with the stars news, his score progression remains one of the most important developments to follow. His 15-point Yacht Rock Night performance currently stands as his highest judges’ score of the season.
As the competition moves into its next stage, Rodriguez and Carson will return to the ballroom for another performance and another opportunity to build on the progress recorded during the first three weeks.
Fans who want to support their favorite contestants can also check out our guide to ABC voting for Dancing With the Stars and learn how the voting process works.
What do you think of Guillermo Rodriguez’s journey so far? Share your thoughts on his latest performance and keep following the season for the next confirmed update.
Who is Guillermo Rodriguez’s partner on Dancing with the Stars?
Guillermo Rodriguez is partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson during Season 35.
What dance did Guillermo perform in Week 1?
Rodriguez performed a cha-cha-cha with Witney Carson to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.”
How many points did Guillermo receive in the premiere?
Rodriguez received 10 out of 30 points during his first performance.
What did Guillermo perform in Week 2?
He performed a Paso Doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.”
How many points did Guillermo receive in Week 2?
Rodriguez earned 12 out of 30 points during the second week.
What did Guillermo perform during Yacht Rock Night?
He and Carson performed a foxtrot to Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).”
What was Guillermo’s Week 3 score?
Rodriguez received 15 out of 30 points during Yacht Rock Night.
Has Guillermo’s score improved during Season 35?
Yes. His judges’ totals increased from 10 points in Week 1 to 12 in Week 2 and 15 in Week 3.
Is Guillermo Rodriguez still competing?
Yes. Rodriguez and Carson remained in the competition after the third week of Season 35.
What is Guillermo Rodriguez known for?
Rodriguez is best known as a longtime television personality on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
What is the next announced theme for the competition?
The next announced Season 35 theme is Mariah Carey Night.
Why is Guillermo’s participation different from his usual television work?
Rodriguez is primarily known for comedy and late-night television, while Dancing with the Stars requires him to learn and perform structured ballroom choreography.
How are contestants eliminated?
The competition uses a combination of judges’ scores and viewer voting to determine which couples continue.