Rylee Arnold Shares How She Prepares for the Chaos of Dancing with the Stars

Rylee Arnold is getting ready to return to the ballroom, and her biggest pre-season strategy is surprisingly simple: rest.

The 21-year-old professional dancer recently spoke with PEOPLE in 10 ahead of the season 35 premiere of Dancing with the Stars, sharing how she prepares for what she describes as one of the most stressful — and exciting — times of the year.

“I love to just rest before a season starts,” Arnold said. “Once it gets started, it is the craziest, most stressful but super fun situation.”

For Arnold, taking time to recharge is about more than physical rest. She said she also likes to mentally prepare herself before the demanding schedule begins.

“So I love to just mentally prepare myself, give myself a good rest before it’s like craziness,” she explained.

Following in Her Sister’s Footsteps

Arnold has been part of the Dancing with the Stars family for years. She first appeared as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors in 2018. After the show was canceled, she joined the main series in 2023 for season 32, where she was paired with reality star Harry Jowsey.

She also followed the path of her older sister, Lindsay Arnold, who became a Dancing with the Stars professional in 2013. Lindsay left the show after season 30 in 2021 and has since focused on her family. She recently welcomed her third child with her husband, Samuel Cusick.

Rylee said watching her sister balance motherhood and her career has given her an even greater appreciation for Lindsay.

“Lindsay is probably the hardest-working person I’ve ever met in my life,” Rylee said. “We were doing rehearsals, and she was breastfeeding and dancing at the same time. I was just in complete awe of her.”

Rylee said her respect for Lindsay grew even more after experiencing the demands of Dancing with the Stars herself.

“I watched [the show] as a little girl and I watched my sister do it,” she said. “But the amount of respect I have for her now that I’ve been doing it … I have so much respect for her. She’s amazing.”

Rylee even admitted that she would love to see her sister return to the ballroom.

“I wish she would do the show with me,” she said. “Like, I would actually love that, and that would make my life.”

What Makes a Celebrity Contestant Stand Out?

This season, Rylee will be partnered with comedian and podcaster Connor Wood. While she is preparing for another demanding season, she already knows what qualities she believes can help a celebrity contestant succeed.

For Arnold, personality is key.

“Biggest thing is personality,” she said. “Like, willing to have fun, but also locked in, ready to work so hard, so excited for the experience, down-to-earth and grateful.”

According to Rylee, having the right attitude can make almost anything possible on the dance floor.

“Because if someone has that, you can literally make anything work,” she said.

Rylee Is Already Starstruck by Maura Higgins

Among the new cast members, one celebrity has already caught Rylee’s attention: Maura Higgins.

The reality TV star, known for Love Island UK and The Traitors, is someone Arnold says she is particularly excited to meet.

“I’m obsessed with Maura,” Rylee said. “I loved her on Traitors, and she is, to me, a fashion icon.”

Arnold praised Higgins’ style and beauty, saying she expects to be starstruck when they meet.

“Her outfits, her beauty — like, she is just insane,” she said. “The fact that she’s on our show is crazy to me.”

Dancing with the Stars season 35 will begin with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, on ABC and Disney+. New episodes will stream on Hulu the following day.