Burgess Returns to Ballroom
Sharna Burgess Confirms Return to Dancing with the Stars for Season 35
Key Points
The ongoing pro casting for DWTS season 35 includes a separate "Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro" competition, with its final four contenders—Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, AJ Pritchard and Adele Zaikman—set to have a winner crowned on August 31, adding context to how the full pro roster is being determined.
Sharna Burgess publicly confirmed her return on Good Morning America and said she will be competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, explicitly stating, "I'm back!" and that she intends to win the trophy.
Burgess previously stepped away to focus on motherhood, having welcomed her first child, son Zane, with fiancé Brian Austin Green; Zane is described as four years old now.
Burgess has maintained DWTS-related activity during the hiatus, including a surprise cameo on the show’s 500th episode in 2024 and serving as a judge on the Australian version of DWTS.
Witney Carson is pregnant with her third child and will be partnering with Guillermo Rodriguez for season 35, highlighting a notable pregnancy in the pro lineup.
Sharna Burgess is officially returning to Dancing with the Stars for season 35, marking her 15th season on the show Perth Now. The 41-year-old professional dancer confirmed her comeback on Good Morning America, saying "I'm back!" and vowing to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy Perth Now. Her return comes after a three-year hiatus following season 30 in 2021, during which she focused on family life with fiancé Brian Austin Green and their son Zane Female First.
The full pro and celebrity cast will be unveiled on September 2 on Good Morning America Yahoo Style Canada. The two-night season premiere is scheduled for September 15 and 16 on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day Yahoo Style Canada. Already-announced contestants include Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez, who will be paired with pregnant pro Witney Carson Yahoo Style Canada.
A Champion Returns After Three Years Away
Burgess last danced on the show in season 30 during 2021 Perth Now. She won the Mirrorball Trophy in 2018 with celebrity partner Bobby Bones Perth Now. During her time away, she stepped back to focus on motherhood and raising her young son Female First. The Australian dancer has kept some connection to the show, including a surprise cameo on DWTS's 500th episode in 2024 and serving as a judge on the Australian version of the competition Female First.
New Format Adds Competition for Pro Dancer Spots
The pro roster for season 35 is being filled partly through a separate competition called Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro Yahoo News Canada. Four finalists — Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, AJ Pritchard, and Adele Zaikman — will compete to win a pro spot Yahoo News Canada. The winner of this competition will be crowned on August 31, just two days before the full cast reveal Yahoo News Canada. This format shows the show's effort to blend veteran professionals like Burgess with rising talent.
Witney Carson, another returning pro, will partner with Guillermo Rodriguez for the season Yahoo Style Canada. Carson is expecting her third child, making her one of the notable pregnancies in the professional dancer lineup Yahoo Style Canada. This showcases how DWTS balances experienced pros with new talent for its upcoming season.
Season 35 Launches With Two-Night Premiere
The new season will kick off with a double-header premiere on September 15 and 16 Yahoo Style Canada. Episodes will air on ABC and Disney+ with next-day availability on Hulu Yahoo Style Canada. The timing gives viewers a full cast reveal just two weeks before the dancing starts. Burgess will be competing for the trophy named after longtime judge Len Goodman, who recently stepped down from the show Female First.
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