How a bullied middle schooler became a television dance icon for twenty-six seasons
In short: Cheryl Burke transformed from a young girl bullied for her name into the first female professional to win Dancing with the Stars. Over twenty-six seasons, she navigated high-stakes partnerships, physical injuries, and intense competition, ultimately redefining her career from a competitive dancer to a prominent television host and judge.
Born in San Francisco in 1984, Cheryl Burke legally changed her name during middle school to escape harassment from a classmate. Her professional trajectory began in earnest when she joined the second season of the ABC series Dancing with the Stars. She quickly made history as the first female professional to win the series and the first to secure two consecutive championships, partnering with Drew Lachey in season two and Emmitt Smith in season three.
Her tenure on the show was marked by a grueling schedule of competitions, national tours, and diverse celebrity pairings. Burke worked with partners ranging from NFL stars like Ray Lewis to media personalities like Jack Osbourne, whose experience with multiple sclerosis she cited as a personal inspiration. Her career was not without setbacks; she faced eliminations, withdrawals due to partner injuries—such as Tom DeLay’s stress fractures in 2009—and brief departures to pursue external projects like replacing Abby Lee Miller on Dance Moms in 2017.
After twenty-six seasons, Burke announced her retirement as a professional dancer on the show in November 2022. Her influence extended beyond the ballroom, including choreography for the film Toy Story 3 and the creation of Latin dance-based fitness content. By October 2025, she returned to the franchise in a new capacity, serving as a guest judge, signaling a transition from the physical demands of professional dance to the analytical role of an industry veteran.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Cheryl Burke
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