Why Jenna Dewan's Step Up throwback left Channing Tatum out

Jenna Dewan marked 20 years of Step Up on Instagram with behind-the-scenes photos and clips, calling the 2006 dance drama the movie that changed her life forever—while noticeably leaving ex-husband Channing Tatum out of the tribute. The post focused on the film's legacy and fan love rather than the on-set romance that once defined the milestone.

On Monday, August 31, 2026, Dewan shared a nostalgic gallery on Instagram tied to the film's two-decade anniversary. The moment landed as reports linked the actress and dancer to a possible return to competitive ballroom on Dancing With the Stars, making her throwback both a celebration of where she started and a hint at where she might go next.

Key Takeaways

• Jenna Dewan posted throwback Step Up photos on Instagram for the film's 20th anniversary, with no mention or images of Channing Tatum.
• She credited the 2006 movie with changing her life and thanked fans for still loving it decades later.
• The tribute contrasts with the pair's 2016 tenth-anniversary recreation of a signature dance moment.
• Dewan is reportedly linked to Dancing With the Stars Season 35, with an official cast reveal expected September 2, 2026.
• She currently stars on ABC's The Rookie while continuing to reflect on the franchise that launched her acting career.

What Did Jenna Dewan Post About Step Up?

Dewan uploaded a string of throwback images and clips from the teen dance drama directed by Anne Fletcher, which premiered in 2006. Her caption read, in part: "Can't believe it's been 20 years since Step Up was released. The movie that changed my life forever. The way you guys love this movie all these years later is beyond."

The post emphasized the film itself—its production memories and enduring fan affection—rather than the personal history she shares with her former co-star. For audiences who have followed Dewan since her breakout, the framing felt deliberate: a career milestone framed as professional gratitude, not a joint celebration.

Why Was Channing Tatum Missing From the Tribute?

Tatum's absence stood out because Step Up shaped Dewan's personal life as much as her career. She met Tatum on set while playing Nora Clark opposite his Tyler Gage, began dating around the film's release, and married in 2009. The couple welcomed daughter Everly in 2013 before divorcing in 2019.

Dewan has since become engaged to actor Steve Kazee, with whom she shares two children. Her latest anniversary post appeared to honor the movie's cultural footprint rather than the romance it sparked—a notable shift from earlier milestones.

In 2016, Dewan and Tatum publicly recreated one of the film's signature dance moments for the tenth anniversary. Twenty years on, she chose a solo reflection. That choice reads less like an oversight and more like a reset: celebrating a franchise that still defines her public identity while keeping her private history off the caption.

How Did Step Up Change Jenna Dewan's Career?

Before Nora Clark, Dewan was already a working dancer. She toured as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, and appeared in music videos for artists including Missy Elliott and Mandy Moore in the early 2000s. Step Up became her breakout acting role and put her formal training on a global stage.

In the film, Nora is a dance student at a prestigious arts school whose partner drops out before a critical end-of-year performance. Tyler, a troubled teen completing community service, steps in and blends hip-hop into her classical routine. The opposites-attract story became a surprise commercial hit.

Despite mixed reviews, the modestly budgeted release earned more than $110 million worldwide, according to reporting on the anniversary. Its success spawned multiple sequels and a television series, keeping the Step Up name closely tied to Dewan's career two decades later. For more on how beloved 2000s pop culture keeps resurfacing, see our Nostalgia: Then & Now coverage.

Is Jenna Dewan Headed to Dancing With the Stars?

As Dewan looked back at Step Up, forward-looking rumors pointed toward the ballroom. Multiple outlets reported she could join Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars, with ABC expected to announce the full cast on September 2, 2026. Other names linked to the season include former Bachelor star Tyler Cameron, while confirmed cast members reportedly include reality stars Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez.

Dewan has not confirmed participation, but she has kept the door open. Earlier in 2026, when asked about competing, she told reporters, "I never say never because I love dancing so much and I miss it so much," adding that it would be "one of those really hard things to say no to." Given her roots in concert tours and a film built entirely around dance, a DWTS run would feel like a full-circle moment.

For now, she remains a series regular on ABC's The Rookie while fans replay her Instagram tribute—and debate what Tatum's exclusion says about how celebrities mark shared history after a high-profile split. Primary reporting on the anniversary post and DWTS speculation is available via Yahoo Entertainment.

What Does the 20-Year Milestone Mean for Step Up Fans?

For longtime viewers, Dewan's post is both nostalgia and continuity. The film's central themes—collaboration across styles, second chances, and performance under pressure—still resonate on social media, where clips and stills circulate year after year. Dewan's caption acknowledged that enduring affection directly, thanking fans for loving the movie "all these years later."

The anniversary also highlights how Step Up sits at a crossroads of Hollywood lore: a career launchpad, a real-life love story that ended in divorce, and a franchise that outlived its original leads. Dewan's decision to spotlight the work—not the relationship—offers one template for how stars navigate shared anniversaries when the past is complicated.

Whether or not she waltzes onto the DWTS floor this fall, the through-line is dance. From Janet Jackson's tour to Nora Clark to possible ballroom competition, movement remains the constant in Jenna Dewan's story—and the reason millions still press play on Step Up twenty years after its release.