Copyright The Hollywood Reporter
New fans of Dancing With the Stars may not know Cheryl Burke’s name, but they’re about to become well accustomed with her when she hits the judges panel for Tuesday’s night Halloween-themed episode. Burke is a two-time mirrorball champion herself, following in the long line of former professional dancers turned temporary, one-night only judges. She’s embedded in the DWTS history books, joining the show during its second season in 2006, where she won and went on to additionally win season three. Burke spent her final year in the ballroom as a competitor in November 2022 during season 31, and it was truly only a matter of time before she traded dancing shoes and spray tans for a judges paddle and seat at the table. Would she accept a permanent position judging the celebrity cast and her former peers if ABC offered it? “That’s not up to me,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter, subtly dodging the question by setting a goal for herself that she’s already achieved: “Even more than that, I really just want to contribute to the show’s legacy in a meaningful way.” Below, Burke reflects on her DWTS tenure, what viewers can expect from her as a judge on Halloween Night, why she doesn’t think there should be another All-Stars season and which former pro dancers she’d tap to form an all-alumni judges panel. *** This is the first time that you’re coming on as a guest judge of Dancing With the Stars. How are you going to utilize your expertise from being a pro and transition into this new role as a guest judge? I hope to be constructive and encouraging in just a few seconds that they allow us to speak. But I’ve been in their shoes before, and know how hard it gets. After so many seasons of the show, it was never about how I started. It’s always about how I finished, so it’s really about taking this whole process one step at a time. But as far as the couples go, I’m hoping to really see authenticity and growth. I think it’s something that I will focus on more, and obviously technique being executed the right way and authentic as far as the style of dance. I think sometimes with theme nights, it can get a little clouded, as far as sticking to the actual genre versus the theme of the actual night of the show. Halloween Night is one of the most beloved nights in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom. Why was this the perfect night for you to return to the show as a guest judge? It wasn’t my choice as far as what night, but I love Halloween night, just personally, because of all the passionate, dark, scary dances. I just love those types of [dances] — I just like to be moved. I’m really looking to be wowed by these couples, because they have been wowing me as a fan just watching the show. I hope to see another level as far as bringing emotion to their motion when they’re actually moving their bodies. Dancing With the Stars has grown so much over the past few years. As someone who used to serve as a pro on the show, what has it been like to watch this growth that the show has seen in recent seasons? It is amazing. I will always be the show’s number one fan. I think that when I was there towards the end of my time, it was kind of maybe up in the air a little as far as if this was going to happen or not, if they were to continue doing it. But at the end of the day, dance is something that brings people together, right? And it is a beautiful show to watch with your family members. It’s always been a family show, and I think that’s what’s really held the show together. And then all of social media now. You know, what’s been so great about the last few seasons is getting that younger generation involved. And look, they’re involved. I mean, they are just doing all these TikToks. My whole algorithm [has] been [creators] critiquing the couples. It’s really great to see people bond over this, and it’s created such a community, which is beautiful to watch. With more exposure and eyes on the show has come a lot more hate towards the celebrity cast, the pro cast and also the judges. Why do you think that viewers have grown to be so critical of the wider Dancing With the Stars cast in recent years? They’re just so passionate. From what I’ve seen on these TikToks videos, I would say [the] younger generation of people, they don’t know what the show was like back in the day, right? And then you’ve got the older generation who’s making content as well, basically schooling them. I think with the younger generation, they don’t understand that this has been basically the same format. Ultimately, this has always been a ballroom show. I still believe it is, even though they’ve added different styles. But there are rules, still, if you’re going to do a cha cha, you know there is a technique book. At the end of the day, that is what makes this show so special, rather than just another dance show, is because there’s an actual technique book based off of these dances that you guys are watching the couples dance. I think with that being said, some prefer to stick to authentic dancing and ballroom dancing from when they were kids watching the show, and others want more entertainment value. I think what’s confusing with the judging panel is that overall, what I’ve seen is that a lot of people love the judges for different reasons. The judges each bring in their own style of adjudicating, and I think that’s also what makes it a conversation. And this is why the show’s popular, because if you had nothing to talk about, nothing was controversial, then maybe it wouldn’t be as popular and wouldn’t continue to this day. Carrie Anne and Bruno are two original figures of Dancing With the Stars that have stayed intact. What is it about those two judges that has remained true to what DWTS is at its core? They’re familiar faces, but also they have such a huge background, as far as reputation goes. They’ve worked in the industry, not just in the ballroom industry, but they definitely have their own individual history as far as dance credibility goes. And I think, as well as I believe, they have really good camaraderie, and I think that has a lot to do with it. They each have their own personalities, and you know Carrie Anne’s gonna get you if you have two feet off the ground [in a dance] and it’s not allowed. You know Bruno’s gonna be so animated, like I don’t think anybody in this world is like Bruno. Bruno’s so unique. We have to also remember, this is just a dance show. Like, we take it too seriously. I know I did when I was a competitor, and I think he brings that light that we need for the show as well, not to take it so seriously. Season 31 was your last season as a pro on the show. Is there any world where you could see yourself potentially returning to the show as a pro dancer? If I was able to get two hip replacements and take all the pain away after all the years of abusing my body, not just on Dancing, but even prior to my experience there on the show, yes, I probably would love to come back. But I know my place. I also have expectations for myself, and if I don’t feel like I can be my best at the sport, I don’t think I’m doing myself a service. Kym Herjavec is another recent alumni who appeared as a guest judge this season. Since then, viewers have been calling for her to become a permanent judge, so if you had to assemble a panel of judges that was only made up of past pro dancers, who would you choose? I would put Mark Ballas in there. I would definitely put Kym. I would obviously put myself, because I’m the opposite of Kym. That’s why we were such good friends, is because we’re definitely opposite personalities. And I would put… I have three people that I’m thinking of right now. It’s either going to be Maks [Chmerkovskiy], Tony [Dovolani] or Louie [van Amstel], one of the three. If you were offered a permanent judging position on the show, would you want to take part in that opportunity? As we all know, that’s not up to me. I’m just happy to be back in the ballroom. But even more than that, I really just want to contribute to the show’s legacy in a meaningful way. And for me, I’m just going to stay as present as possible come Tuesday night. That’s what matters most. Looking back on your tenure as a pro dancer, do you have a favorite season? I have multiple favorite seasons. I believe my season really depends on the partners, and my chemistry with them, obviously, because you’re stuck with each other. The ones that really stick out to me would be the season of Jack Osbourne. I had a great time, I also met my best friend Leah Remini that season as well. And Rob Kardashian‘s season and Emmitt Smith‘s season, those three definitely pop out in my mind. Do you have a favorite dance that you choreographed on the show? Anything Argentine tango with either Gilles [Marini] or Juan Pablo [Di Pace]. When do you think Dancing With the Stars might return the All-Stars format? Do you think they should implement that format again? I actually don’t think so. I don’t believe people want [that]. People like to see struggle. I would love to see past contestants come back who may have not been able to finish their journey because they got injured, let’s say, and had to bow out. That would be interesting. But I do believe there’s beauty with the new competitors, the people who have never done it before, because you really get to be a part of their journey. I think that the last All-Stars that happened, though it was great, I just don’t know if people want to see a bunch of great dancers already, or people that already know the experience against each other. It’s kind of like, well, there’s no struggle, really. What if they thought about an all winners season? You wouldn’t want to see that either? I don’t think so. Of course I’d want to see it, but I don’t know if the audience would want to see that. But, like, maybe the new fans wouldn’t get it. I don’t know if it would necessarily relate to the newer, younger generation. Who has been your favorite couple’s journey of season 34? I can’t answer that question, I’m about to judge! I think the common denominator with everybody, and I think why this season is so special and so competitive, is they’re really trusting the process. I think everybody trusts their partners, which really does help. And when they don’t trust their partners, you can see that as well. I know both, right? I’ve had quite a few of them, and not every experience, not even one experience, is similar to the other one. You always have a different experience with a different person, obviously. What is so special about this season is that each celebrity really is going in this competition committing one hundred percent to it. There’s no distractions. I just love the camaraderie between the cast members, and also how much heart everyone’s putting into it. There’s only one way to do the show, to surrender to this process, because even if I were to tell you how your season will go, you have to experience it, and you also have to understand you can’t control the outcome. Which night of the competition of season 34 has been your favorite? TikTok [Night]. I’m not sure you’re going to be able to answer this, but who do you think will win Dancing With the Stars season 34? Or who do you see making it to the end of the competition? It’s too soon for me to even [predict], because you start to now see now that they’re going to have two dances. Halloween Night will be their intro into two dances. They have the marathon dance and then they have their individual dance. So if you ask me in two weeks from now, I’ll be able to tell you. You’ll be able to see the separation happen, because some people will be able to handle it. It’ll actually make them better, because they’re not so focused on perfectionism and are just trying to get through it because they’ve got so much to learn, and some people can’t take the pressure. So I don’t know yet. It’s too soon. ***
