DWTS’ Jenn Tran on Finding Healing Through Dance and Cherished Friendship with Sasha Farber (EXCLUSIVE)
As the final note of Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber’s dance faded into the air on Dancing With the Stars stage, a hush fell over the ballroom. The audience knew it was a pivotal moment, and both Jenn and Sasha stood, hands clasped, awaiting the judges' scores and the ultimate decision. Despite their undeniable chemistry and the emotional power of their routines—as well as nabbing a 10 from judge Carrie Ann Inaba—this would be the end of Jenn and Sasha’s journey on the show. Moments after the elimination, FIRST for Women had the exclusive opportunity to speak with the duo, who reflected on their time together, the impact of dance and the bond they’ve built over the past seven weeks.
Jenn, still radiating a mix of pride and emotion, opened up about the transformative experience Dancing With the Stars has offered her, joining the cast just 45 minutes before the celebrity contestants were announced ahead of the season.
"We've created such a lifetime bond here," Jenn shared, her voice warm with appreciation. "We’ve really gotten to know each other, and we’ve been attached at the hip for the past seven weeks. There’s not a thing that I don’t know about him, so he’s definitely family now."
For Jenn, this journey had been a stark contrast to her last high-profile TV appearance on The Bachelorette. Her time on the dating show ended on a somber note, leaving her questioning her next steps. But Dancing With the Stars presented her with a surprising, empowering new chapter. "The Bachelorette was such a depressing ending for me,” Jenn admitted to FIRST for Women, “but it opened this door. So this door is closing now, and I know another one is going to open. I’m excited to see what that is. It’s not going to come exactly when I want it to, but we’ll figure it out."
Jenn Tran found emotional relief through dance
Dancing on the show, as Jenn described, gave her an outlet that was both cathartic and transformative. Throughout the competition, she’d been challenged to dig deep, channeling different emotions to bring each routine to life. This process, she explained, was unexpectedly healing. "When you’re dancing, you’re thinking about channeling a different emotion, and it’s also cathartic. Even if I was thinking of something that made me sad, it was nice to be able to dance it out. It’s been a really cathartic experience," she said, shortly after her emotional contemporary performance to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” as part of Halloween night. "I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by so many amazing people, people who have become family now."
Her partner, Sasha, was equally emotional as he reflected on their journey. Known for his boundless energy and dedication, Sasha had come to regard Jenn not only as a dance partner but as a friend and teammate. “Jenn’s ability to grow as a dancer, as a person—it’s been inspiring to watch,” Sasha said. “To get the chance to meet her, work with her every day, everything happens for a reason, and this was just such an incredible season.”
Sasha was candid about how much he cherished their time together, even admitting that he had never been so eager to get to work each day. “I had so much fun day in, day out,” he continued. “I couldn’t wake up earlier to get to work! I would be there an hour early just because I was so excited, and it was just so much fun.”
Sasha's pride for Jenn expanded each week on 'DWTS'
As the season progressed, Sasha watched Jenn blossom not only as a dancer but as someone embracing her own emotions and creativity. Their time together was full of laughter, and moments of true friendship built through the intensity of the competition. Reflecting on the end of their journey, Sasha shared a sentiment that resonated with both of them: “I’m sad that it’s over, but like Jenn said, when one door closes, another opens."
For both Jenn and Sasha, Dancing With the Stars represented a period of growth, resilience and renewed passion. Jenn saw the stage as a place where she could express herself fully, channeling sadness, joy and everything in between into each step and spin. The freedom to explore these emotions, she noted, had a lasting impact.
Their last performance, which was a heartfelt contemporary routine, received glowing praise from the judges. Each step, lift and turn was imbued with emotion, a tribute to the bond they’d built and the journey they had shared. Although they didn’t secure the votes to move forward, Jenn and Sasha left the floor with heads held high, proud of what they had achieved together.
Jenn and Sasha’s elimination from Dancing With the Stars marked the end of one chapter but signaled the beginning of many more to come. As they took their final bow, they knew they had gained something far more valuable than a trophy: a friendship, a shared experience and a lasting impact on everyone who watched them dance their hearts out.
Their journey may have ended on the DWTS stage, but for Jenn and Sasha, it was only the beginning of new opportunities, new doors and new dances waiting just around the corner.
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