Post by : Meena Ariff

After three years away from the ballroom, professional dancer and longtime Dancing with the Stars pro Cheryl Burke is stepping into a brand-new role — behind the judging table. The 41-year-old star will return as a guest judge for the Halloween-themed episode of the hit dance competition, airing on Tuesday, October 28.

Burke said she hasn’t been back in the ballroom “since I did my last dance” in 2022, marking this as her first major appearance on the show since her retirement. “I think that it just felt right,” she shared, adding that the show’s 20th anniversary made the timing even more meaningful. “No matter what was said or whatever, at the end of the day, this show has brought so much to my life. It has shaped me into the woman I am today.”

Calling her return both “special” and “emotional,” Burke revealed that she hasn’t been in close contact with many of her fellow pros since leaving. “Emma [Slater] and I texted maybe before the season started,” she recalled. “But otherwise, it’s going to be a huge reunion. It’s been three years, yet it feels like yesterday.”

Burke said she’s choosing to channel her nervous energy into excitement as she takes her seat alongside Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli. “I really hope to be able to give constructive criticism, but also be encouraging,” she explained. “I know what it takes. I have been there. At this point in the competition, people are exhausted — the fatigue has set in — and it looks like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Halloween episode will also feature a “Dance Monster-thon,” a marathon-style group performance where the nine remaining couples will dance simultaneously as the judges tap them out one by one. Burke said it’s during these multi-dance weeks that “you start to see the difference between who will make it to the end and who won’t. There’s no gray area here — the pressure either takes them out or fuels their fire.”

As for her advice to the competitors, Burke offered a heartfelt reminder from her years on the show:
“Don’t aim for perfection, because what is that, anyway? Beauty is in the imperfections, for sure. Always dance as if it’s your last dance, because you never know.”

With this Halloween episode, Dancing with the Stars not only celebrates a spooky theme but also welcomes back one of its most beloved pros — now stepping into the judge’s chair for a night filled with nostalgia, excitement, and rhythm.

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