Cheryl Burke has left Dancing With The Stars as a professional dancer.
She officially exited the show as a professional dancer on the Monday night (November 21) finale.
Cheryl joined the competition show back in 2006 and won seasons two and three with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, respectively. She went on hiatus after season 19 and returned in season 23. Dancing With The Stars is now in season 31.
She announced her departure on Instagram:
“I am sitting here full of so many conflicting emotions about the words I am about to write…Tomorrow night will officially be my final dance as a pro dancer on @dancingwiththestars. This has been one of the absolute hardest decisions of my life & I am also confident that it is the right one.
This show has been my 2nd family since I was 21 years old. The cast, crew & fans have seen me through my highest highs & some of my lowest lows, & I honestly don’t know who I would be today without them. I also know that it is time for me to begin the next phase of my career, although dance will always be a part of me. I am excited about the idea of evolving, about being challenged in new ways, having the ability to expand my commitment to mental health advocacy, focusing on my new found love for podcasting, & I’m ready to face the uncertainty (though it’s scary as sh**) of what the future holds – I do have a few things up my sleeves though, so don’t worry 😉.”
She spoke to Variety about why she is leaving now:
“After 26 seasons, it has been quite an amazing run and journey. If I were to just talk as an athlete, a dancer and a woman, my time has been up. I’m 38 years old. When I came on as a competitive dancer at 21, It was a different story. That decision in itself was really tough for me — to put everything aside, to come [to Los Angeles] and do a TV show that I had no clue was gonna last for this long. My intention was just to be here for one season and move back. I
guess the full circle year is the fact that I decided now to also take a leap of faith. There’s so much more that I want to do, other than teach a celebrity how to dance. Mind you, this has been a beautiful thing. I’m not saying that in a bad way whatsoever. I’m saying this in a graceful way.
However, it’s time. I want to continue to evolve, whether that be with the show or not, is not up to me. However, as a dancer, I am hanging up my dance shoes.”
As to when she knew this season would be her last, Cheryl said:
“I would say it was even before the season started. This has been a long time coming. I’m sure you’ve heard me saying this before and I have. However, there is something inside of me that is pushing me to go ahead and move forward. There’s also another opportunity for me to be a part of a show that is very popular, but I can’t say more because nothing has been signed yet.”
Cheryl also said that she wants to take over as judge from Len Goodman, who also exited the show this season:
“They are very well aware that I want that seat. It’s not that I just want it, I just know that I can contribute because I am an expert in ballroom dancing. I can say that with confidence. I can also say that my teaching methods haven’t been known to being sugar coated. I have a lot of experience doing “Dance Moms.” Len is really technical and really tells you how it is. That is my style. It would be nice to see two women on the panel!
I don’t know where they’re heading with this. They have been very well aware for probably a few years now. So unfortunately, that decision is not up to me. I would love to still be a part of the family, I just would love a different role on the show, just like anybody after 26 seasons of having that same title. I think it’s important, for me at least, to feel like, okay, let’s grow together as a brand and also for me as a person.
If that’s not with the show, then I’m moving forward and I’m moving on.”
