Sharna Burgess Returns to the Ballroom
Sharna Burgess is officially returning to Dancing With the Stars as a professional dancer for season 35, her first time competing since 2021. The announcement was made Monday morning on Good Morning America, where Burgess said, "I'm back! Some of you guys guessed it … I'm back on Dancing With the Stars, baby. I'm gonna be competing for that Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy." The show's official Instagram account also celebrated the news, describing Burgess as "an absolute firecracker" returning to the ballroom.
Burgess, who is 41, last competed on the show during season 30 in 2021, when she was partnered with her now-fiancé Brian Austin Green. Her professional history with the series dates back further: she joined the troupe in 2011 and became a pro in 2013, winning the Mirrorball Trophy in season 27 with Bobby Bones. After taking a break from the U.S. show, she appeared in a surprise cameo during the series' 500th episode in November 2024 and has also served as a judge on Dancing With the Stars Australia.
Her return follows a period of uncertainty. Us Weekly reported that producers had conversations with Burgess about a possible comeback, though no hard offer was made at the time. In an interview, Burgess said she previously "wasn't ready" to return because of family commitments, but now that her son Zane is older, she said she would say yes if asked. Her departure from the show in 2022 was announced via an emotional Instagram video, where she cited motherhood as her priority after welcoming her son with Green.
Confirmed Contestants and Partnerships
Burgess is the second pro confirmed for the new season, joining Witney Carson, who is currently pregnant with her third child. Carson will be partnered with Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality Guillermo Rodriguez, a pairing announced by ABC on August 27. Burgess's own partner has not yet been revealed.
Four celebrity contestants have been confirmed for season 35: Ciara Miller from Summer House, Love Island alum Maura Higgins, Guillermo Rodriguez, and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson. Miller has expressed interest in being paired with Val Chmerkovskiy, telling E! News she had been "campaigning" for him as her partner.
Other names have been reported as expected to join the cast, including Sarah Jane Nader, Conner Leavitt, Jenna Dewan, and Tyler Cameron, though these have not been officially confirmed. The full lineup is expected to be announced on Good Morning America on September 2, which should end weeks of speculation about the final cast.
Premiere Dates and Format
Season 35 will begin with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16 at 8 PM ET on ABC, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+. The judging panel will remain unchanged, with Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough returning, joined by co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough. Ribeiro previously won the Mirrorball Trophy with Carson in season 19.
The upcoming season follows the renewal announcement made by Hulu in April, which also introduced the spinoff series Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. The spinoff, which aims to find a new pro dancer for the main show, features 12 dancers competing for the spot, with Robert Irwin hosting and Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas serving as judges. Irwin, who won season 34 with Carson, said in a trailer: "For the first time in Dancing With the Stars history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro." The spinoff is set to premiere on ABC and Disney+, though a specific date has not yet been announced.
As the season draws closer, fans can expect the remaining cast and pro partnerships to be unveiled during the September 2 announcement, setting the stage for a milestone season.
Perspectives
- Sharna Burgess: Burgess expressed excitement about her return, calling it "coming home" and saying she could not wait to be back in the ballroom with her "dancing family." She also shared that she had previously not been ready to return due to family commitments, but now feels ready to compete again.