Dancing With the Stars is getting ready to welcome the addition of a new professional dancer at the end of Next Pro.
The spinoff stars a group of 12 dancers who must compete in weekly challenges for a shot at becoming the next pro dancer on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. Only time will tell who will win the series, securing a spot in the main series’ recurring cast.
With new episodes airing Mondays, The Hollywood Reporter is breaking down all the details on the cast of dancers, who was eliminated each week, the judges and mentors.
Robert IrwinSeason 34 champion Robert Irwin serves as the host of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
Mark BallasThree-time Mirrorball Champion Mark Ballas is one of two permanent judges on Next Pro. He joined Dancing With the Stars’ season five cast as a pro, and has become a mainstay on the recurring pro cast.
Shirley BallasShirley Ballas, mother to Mark, is the second recurring Next Pro judge. She is a staple in the ballroom dance world, and also serves as the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing.
Derek HoughDancing With the Stars judge and six-time Mirrorball Champion Derek Hough was the first Next Pro guest judge. He taught the dancers jive and samba numbers, where judging technique was at the forefront of the premiere week.
Briar NoletAGE 27 FROM Los Angeles SPECIALITY Commercial dance. Briar Nolet was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro.
Jake MonrealAGE 22 FROM Miami SPECIALITY Latin Jake Monreal was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro. Before appearing on the show, Jake joined the Dancing With the Stars family as a junior pro dancer on the Juniors spinoff, where he was mentored by Sasha Farber.
Adele Zaikman
AJ PritchardAGE 31 FROM London SPECIALITY Ballroom/Latin AJ Pritchard is the brother to Love Island alum Curtis Pritchard.
Allen Genkin
Benjamin Castro
Erik Linder
Natalie Jolley
Nina Mayster
Selena Hamilton
Stephani Sosa
Tristen SandersAGE 28 FROM Atlanta, Georgia SPECIALITY Ballroom/Hip-hop Dancing With the Stars: The Next Proairs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC, with episodes available to stream Tuesdays on Disney+ and Hulu.
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