Tatyana Ali discussed the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air dance that resurfaced on social media while appearing as a contestant on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. The actress, who played Ashley Banks on the sitcom, explained how she created the original routine and later reconnected with Will Smith after viewers began recreating it.
Key Takeaways
- Tatyana Ali played Ashley Banks on all six seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
- Ali said she created the dance featured in the sitcom scene during rehearsal.
- The scene resurfaced on social media and later became associated with Doechii’s “Anxiety.”
- Will Smith contacted Ali after seeing people recreate the dance, leading to a new version involving Doechii.
- Ali is competing on Dancing with the Stars season 35 with professional partner Jan Ravnik.
Tatyana Ali Discusses Her ‘Fresh Prince’ Dance
Ali spoke about the viral dance while appearing as a contestant on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. She discussed the earlier television performance as part of ABC News’ Beyond the Ballroom digital series.
The dance comes from a scene in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air featuring Ali as Ashley Banks and Will Smith as Will. In the scene, Ashley dances in her bedroom before Smith’s character enters and joins her.
Ali said the movements were her own creation and came from the rehearsal process for the sitcom scene. She also clarified that although Ashley appears to be listening to music through a Walkman, there was not actually anything playing through her headphones while the scene was filmed.
Ali recalled listening to Deee-Lite’s World Clique album around the period when the sitcom’s first episodes aired.
Her appearance on Dancing with the Stars gives the old dance a direct connection to her current television work. ABC’s season 35 cast announcement lists Ali as a contestant paired with professional dancer Jan Ravnik.
The connection between older television performances and current online circulation has also appeared in other entertainment stories involving archived performances. A surprise pop reunion performance at the 2026 American Music Awards, for example, generated renewed online sharing of choreography and older music material.
The Original Dance Scene Featured Ashley Banks
Ali joined The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Ashley Banks, the youngest member of the Banks family. She remained with the sitcom throughout all six seasons.
The series starred Ali alongside Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Ashley’s brother Carlton Banks. The show’s cast and its dance sequences later became recognizable references for audiences who continued to encounter clips from the series online.
The specific scene involving Ashley’s dance eventually circulated outside its original television context. Ali said the dance itself was created during rehearsal rather than as a routine specifically intended for social-media use.
Ali has also described her experience on the sitcom as closely connected to her family memories. Her comments about the scene provide additional context for a performance that was created as part of an episode rather than for a digital platform.
Ribeiro’s connection to Dancing with the Stars creates another link between Ali’s former sitcom and her current competition. Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, later competed on the dance series and won its season 19 Mirrorball Trophy.
Ribeiro now serves as one of the show’s co-hosts. Ali said she initially had to keep her participation in season 35 confidential before the cast announcement, after which Ribeiro began offering advice to her and other contestants.
The Dance Resurfaced Through Social Media
The Fresh Prince scene resurfaced online and became associated with Doechii’s song “Anxiety.” Users began recreating Ali’s movements, bringing the sequence from the sitcom into a new social-media setting.
Ali said the renewed attention reached Smith, who contacted her after seeing people recreate the dance. Smith invited Ali to Los Angeles to make a new version, and Doechii also became involved.
Ali said the collaboration came together within days. The new version connected the original sitcom performance with Doechii’s music rather than reproducing the television scene in its original setting.
The revival also gave Ali an opportunity to discuss the choreography’s original source. She said she created the movements during rehearsal while preparing the sitcom scene.
The use of older entertainment clips in short-form social media has also shaped attention around other performers and television-era material. A viral celebrity appearance on TikTok illustrates the role social platforms can play in extending entertainment coverage beyond traditional broadcasts.
For Ali, the online circulation of the scene eventually led back to the original performer. The renewed attention involved Ali, Smith and Doechii in a new version of a dance first created for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Tatyana Ali Reconnected With Will Smith Over the Moment
Smith’s response to the online recreations led to a new collaboration with Ali. Ali said he texted her after seeing people perform the dance and invited her to Los Angeles to make another version.
Doechii became part of the collaboration after the original scene had been connected online with her song “Anxiety.” Ali said the new video came together quickly after Smith contacted her.
The collaboration followed the renewed circulation of the original television scene rather than a new Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode or reunion. The connection centered on the dance Ali and Smith had performed together in the sitcom.
Ali’s relationship with the original cast also remains relevant to her Dancing with the Stars appearance because Ribeiro is now part of the dance show’s hosting team.
Ali said she hopes to remain on the competition long enough to incorporate Ribeiro into one of her routines. She also credited Ravnik with encouraging her to attempt dance movements she initially did not believe she could perform.
The social-media revival has given the original dance a second documented connection to Smith. The first came through the sitcom scene, while the later collaboration followed viewers’ recreations of the sequence online.
Ali Brings Her Dance Background to ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Ali entered season 35 as one of the show’s celebrity contestants, with Ravnik serving as her professional partner. ABC announced the celebrity cast on September 3, with the competition beginning with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16.
For her first competition performance, Ali and Ravnik performed a jive to Amii Stewart’s “Knock on Wood.” The performance took place during the second night of the season 35 premiere, and the pair advanced to the second week of the competition.
Ali’s television background extends beyond The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Her credits include Sesame Street, Broadway’s Fences, The Young and the Restless, Glory Road and Abbott Elementary.
Her connection to Dancing with the Stars also gives the competition another link to the sitcom through Ribeiro. He played Carlton Banks before becoming a contestant and later a host of the dance series.
Ali’s viral dance is separate from her competitive routines with Ravnik. The Fresh Prince movement originated during filming of the sitcom, while her season 35 performances are prepared with her professional dance partner as part of the competition.
The distinction is reflected in Ali’s own account of the original choreography. She created the earlier movements during rehearsal for a scripted television scene, while her current dance performances are part of a structured competition with Ravnik.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tatyana Ali on Dancing with the Stars?
Tatyana Ali is a season 35 celebrity contestant on Dancing with the Stars. She is paired with professional dancer Jan Ravnik.
What was Tatyana Ali’s viral Fresh Prince dance?
It was a dance Ali performed as Ashley Banks in a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air scene with Will Smith. Ali said she created the movements during rehearsal for the scene.
When did Tatyana Ali create the Fresh Prince dance?
Ali created the dance while filming The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She said the routine came from the rehearsal process for the scene.
Did Tatyana Ali and Will Smith recreate the dance?
Yes. Ali said Smith contacted her after seeing people recreate the original dance online and asked her to join him for a new version. She said Doechii also became involved.
Which season of Dancing with the Stars features Tatyana Ali?
Ali is competing on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, alongside professional partner Jan Ravnik.
