PureDWTS Season 27 – PRO WATCH!!!
After what seems like FOREVER since we’ve had a true, full-length season (not sure about you, but All-Athletes barely felt like a blip on our radar, and Juniors doesn’t quite feel real yet since it’s not airing until October), the fall pre-season is finally upon us 🙂
First, time to do a bit of “pro roll call”: Lindsay, Witney, Emma, Jenna, Cheryl, Hayley, Artem, Gleb, Keo, Sasha, Alan, & Brandon are all serving as mentors on DWTS Junior, which tends to increase their odds of being pros on the fall season, from where I sit (since there’s going to be a good deal of cross-promotion between DWTS/DWTS Jr.); Val is now a judge on DWTS Junior, which makes me wonder if his days as a regular pro are over; Sharna was curiously absent from the list of pros involved in Juniors, and seems to have thrown herself headlong into other ventures, which for me puts her role as a pro in question; and we haven’t really seen Peta or Maks involved in DWTS since their fairly unremarkable run as pros last fall. Keep in mind – fall season typically has (13) couples, and with this fall season being only nine weeks long (as opposed to the standard 10 or 11 weeks) due to the Primetime Emmy’s on Sept. 17, we may end up seeing fewer couples than that. If you are one of the ones hoping to see Hayley and/or Brandon get a shot at being a pro, just know that it means one of the older pros (perhaps Peta, Sharna, Val, or Maks) has to sit this one out. There is not an unlimited number of pro spots, unfortunately.
As for the “old guard” – pros from the days of yore that may or may not pop in for season-long encore run – with the exception of Cheryl, I don’t think we’ll being seeing the return of any alums. Derek is a hard “no”, due to his involvement with World of Dance; and with Mark’s new Broadway gig (and the fact that he seemed pretty done with DWTS when asked about it recently) I doubt we see him back, either. Kym, Edyta, & Anna all have young kids; and Lacey, like Mark, seems to be pretty done with DWTS, too. Karina and Tony seem to be keeping busy with judging and other events, but might be willing to return if asked – I just don’t see them getting asked, unfortunately. It’s now been two years since we last saw Allison as a pro, so barring extraordinary circumstances, I’d say she’s out; and unless someone (foolishly) requests Louis as a partner, I think he’ll have plenty of time to bitterly shade the current pros on Twitter 😉
So where does that leave us? I will say I’d be genuinely SHOCKED if Lindsay, Witney, Emma, Jenna, Cheryl, Artem, Gleb, Keo, & Alan didn’t get pro spots; I think Sasha is probably going to get a spot, but there always seems to be that degree of uncertainty due to his height (which is dumb, since he is the same height as Mark, and they always managed to find partners for Mark). I think the remaining 2-3 spots (depending on the number of couples this fall, and how many female/male celebs they get) could go to any combination of Hayley, Sharna, Peta, Val, Maks, and Brandon, depending on whether the Chmerkovskiy faction and/or Sharna opts to return as pros or not.
As of right now (11-Aug, 7ish PM EST) we don’t have a date for the pro announcement or cast announcement, but source seems to think that the cast announcement for Juniors will occur around the same time as the one for the regular season…perhaps one massive GMA event???
UPDATE, 8/28, 9:11 AM EST: So apparently GMA is announcing the pros today, without much previous fanfare. Big deal being made about Jenna & Val’s engagement, so I guess we know who’s gonna be the ones getting promoted this season. On a happier note – looks like Brandon is getting a shot as a pro after a really strong showing as a mentor on DWTS Junior. Cheryl’s also back, which makes me think Hayley’s chances at a pro spot just got slimmer. Only 8 pros have been announced so far…
Update 2: Full list posted at ABC.com. No big surprises here – but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to see how Val’s stint as a Juniors judge changes the dynamic between he and the other pros on the regular season. I’d say this is more than likely the full list – we’ve got our 13 pros. So I better not hear any “but maybe there’s a surprise 14th couple!!!” chatter…
Update #3, 8/30/18, 3:54 PM EST: So let’s talk troupe. Source is fairly certain that all three girls will be back – makes sense, since Hayley served as a Juniors mentor over the summer, and Morgan was working a lot with the Junior troupe. It also looks like Artur will be back, as he was looking on Facebook for an apartment to sublet in LA as of last Friday 😛 It looks like there’s going to be at least (1) new guy, though…any guesses on who?
Female pros:
Lindsay – IN
Witney – IN
Jenna – IN
Emma – IN
Cheryl – IN
Sharna – IN
Peta – OUT
Hayley – still in troupe
Male pros:
Artem – IN
Gleb – IN
Keo – IN
Alan – IN
Sasha – IN
Val – IN
Maks – OUT
Mark – OUT (Kinky Boots on Broadway)
Brandon – IN (!!!!)
Status of Former Pros (you never know!):
Derek – OUT (on contract with another network that doesn’t like to share)
Karina – ??
Kym – Likely OUT (has infant twins)
Tony – ??
Louis – ??
Edyta – Unlikely (wants more time with her kids)
Lacey – Unlikely
Anna – ??
Allison – ??
Troupe:
Hayley – IN
Britt – IN
Brandon – promoted to pro
Artur – IN
Morgan – IN
New guy(s)?
Karina has said she wants to do other things while she can. (Can’t remember which interview but it might have been her To The Pointe interview.
Courtney, do you think budget will also be a factor for which pros are on? The longtime pros probably have a higher price than some of the newer pros. Wasn’t there a money crunch because of American Idol?
@Linz – It’s possible. I think they’re going to be more likely to splurge a bit on the fall season of DWTS, though, as that is the bigger ratings grab than spring season – spring season was the one they DRASTICALLY cut back on. I will say that I would be VERY shocked if we saw Val back as a pro on fall season after being a judge on Juniors – seems like a bit of a demotion from a judging position that Val seems to think has been “a long time coming” for him, and I’m willing to bet being a judge on Juniors probably pays better than being a pro on regular DWTS. I think Maks & Peta will probably hold out for a higher payday if asked to come back – and I’m not sure they’re the draw they once were, so producers may just say “nevermind, then”. It’ll be interesting to see how things shake out.
Truthfully, I hope Maks isn’t back this season. I had been a fan of his for years, but he seemed checked out with Heather, and miserable with Vanessa. I had high hopes for her, and wish she had gotten a better partner. Peta has never done it for me, so I’d be fine if she didn’t return. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brandon and Hayley got promoted up. I’d like some fresh blood in the line up.
I feel fairly confident that at least the regular pros who are serving as mentors will be back. Not sure about Val. I do hope they find a partner for Sasha.
Then doing the cast announcement for this season and juniors makes sense, and would give juniors a big boost in promotion.
What is the status of Cheryl Burke’s 2018, once delayed, love on the floor tour?
A season with Brandan as a pro is all good with me 🙂 Time for Maks to not be a pro again. I expect they would want Val back though…..but maybe the judging role on DWTS JR means he only does Spring seasons?
This would be my dream pro lineup:
1. Artem
2. Brandon
3. Alan
4. Gleb
5. Keo
6. Sasha
7. Val
1. Peta
2. Sharna
3. Lindsay
4. Witney
5. Emma
6. Jenna
7.Cheryl
Courtney, you might have missed it, but Sharna did an interview with ET the end of last month, she even linked it from her twitter and she says in it she has no plans on leaving DWTS right now. She wanted the Summer to work on some other things that was all. There is also a paparazzi video of her saying she plans on being back for S27, just like Lindsay mentioned in Rylee’s live chat that she will be back too.
I noticed Chelsie Hightower wasn’t in your “former pros” lineup. What happened to make her leave the show? I follow her on Insta – she is definitely still busy and dancing.
I could do without the C-Bros and Peta and Jenna. And also Keo. I mean, how many chances is he gonna get? He has yet to have any connection to a celeb partner, and I am really surprised that Keo himself, keeps coming back. The pay can’t be that good, since he is eliminated very early in the show every season.
My dream pros would be:
1. Sharna
2. Lindsay
3. Witney
4. Emma
5. Hayley
6. Cheryl
7. Artem
8. Sasha
9. Alan
10.Brandon
11.Gleb
12.Arturo
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@Stoli – I haven’t heard a peep about Cheryl’s tour. I signed up for the email updates awhile back, and haven’t gotten anything. Given that 2018 is already more than half over, though, and we still haven’t seen any dates scheduled, my guess is that it’s not happening – at least not this year. Anyone else heard anything to the contrary?
@vin – I tend to think the judging role on DWTS Jr. means he’s DONE as a pro on the regular show – be it spring or fall. This is an inelegant example, but I think of it like this: it would be like going from being a regular employee at one McDonald’s, to being promoted to manager and sent to work at another location, then getting sent back to your old location and made to just be a regular employee again. Doesn’t make sense, does it? Not saying that it’s an impossibility, I’m just saying that it seems nonsensical.
@Lawson – Yes, I missed it, but if you’ll observe above, you’ll notice I still have two ?? next to Sharna’s name – meaning I don’t have her definitively as in or out. That’s not likely to change until she says something to the extent of “Yes, I’m coming back to DWTS and they have a partner for me!” A pro being willing to return and a pro actually getting a spot are two different things – thank you for the info, but it doesn’t really change anything in the post.
@Alissa – We haven’t seen Chelsie involved with DWTS in any capacity for 6 years now, so it didn’t really make sense to include her in the list – she seems unlikely to make a surprise return. If you go watch the video of Lacey’s “To The Pointe” interview with Kristyn (I linked it above, when talking about Lacey being “done”) they mention Chelsie in passing – I can’t recall, but I think Kristyn actually did an interview with her as well. I recommend watching it, might answer your question.
I agree Lindsay, Witney, Emma, Gleb, Alan, Artem, and Jenna are locks to be pros. I’m very slightly less confident in Keo and Sasha’s chances but yeah seems likely they’ll also be on. And I’m confident Sharna will be there as well.
Peta recently said she wants to spend the rest of the year auditioning and maybe having another kid soon so I don’t think she’ll be on. Maks is a question mark for me, as are Cheryl and Val (though I understand your logic with the latter being a Juniors judge I still wouldn’t be surprised to see him back as a pro for some reason).
And I’d be very interested to see Hayley and/or Brandon as pros.
@Courtney: That example actually was pretty perfect. Only reason I included him was becuase they always seem to want one of the C-Bros there.
I feel pretty confident that everyone doing jrs as mentors will be back for the fall season, with the exception of Hayley and Brandon because we know someone would have to sit out this season for them to get the promotion. I feel like Hayley may finally get that chance this season.
Although Sharna hasn’t said the words yes I’m back with a partner, I’m pretty confident she’s back as pro as well. The ET interview she did a few weeks ago she talked about how much she loves her job and doesn’t see herself leaving for a few more years. (Again not literal proof just making me confident enough to say she “should” be back s27). Seems she skipped out for jrs because she has a stacked schedule for the summer planned. Filmed her dance cardio videos, she’s choreographing this week on SYTYCD, she’s hosting the industry dance awards on Wednesday, but she still can’t stay away she’s managed to go to two taping of jrs to support the show and the cast 🙂
I would love to see Cheryl back again, she seems to sometimes come back for the fall seasons so fingers crossed.
I do believe that the MAJORITY of the mentors doing the junior version will be returning as DWTS pros for season 27-
Sasha Alan Keo Gleb
Emma Lindsay Witney Jenna (provided the first 3 married ladies put off mommyhood for a bit longer-never know lol)
I think Cheryl is a NO season 27-my gut tells me she, also based on recent interviews she’s given, that she was more than willing to come back fit the junior version b/c it centered around kids. But I think she’s done with the regular show-just my opinion.
My gut tells me that Sharna is a YES for season 27. Just b/c she didn’t participate in the junior season doesn’t mean she doesn’t want in on the regular show. She’s not stupid-she knows where her bread is buttered lol. In my opinion, she ain’t giving up regular DWTS unless they truly don’t want her.
Peta is a conundrum🤔 She’s given a few interviews this past year-in the latest ones she has stated how she’d be open to returning in the fall if the timing was right? She has admitted that their contracts are up for all 3 of them-her, Maks and Val. But she has said that as much as she wants to try for another kid, blah blah blah, she also wants to work. So she confuses me LOL Maks has made it VERY CLEAR in every interview that the only way he’d return is as a judge. Won’t be happening in the fall since Len is returning according to @ABC. So could it be Peta would have to work a season of DWTS for $? I find that hard to believe but are they millionaires? I don’t know LOL
Val is whole other issue-Val is still young enough to renogiate his contract with the show. He, like Sharna, is not stupid-he, too, knows where his bread is buttered lol. And just b/c he was asked to be a judge on the junior version doesn’t mean he’s counting himself out as a pro for the next season. Val is arrogant, YES but he’s not like Maks-Val knows that he still draws a large audience dancing on the show. And the producers know this as well. In my opinion, he WILL be back for season 27 with bells on talking all about his experiences on the junior show every chance he gets-cause that’s Val. He’s gonna market himself as long and as much as possible lol.
That’s actually a good point about Val-they could use him as good cross promotion for juniors, which I have my doubts will do that well to begin with. I’m torn on whether he will return or not, but I think the odds are better if Jenna is there for some reason. I wonder if the producers might just be done with Maks after his attitude the last couple of seasons.
Emma and Sasha did an interview with ET where they were asked about having kids, and Emma said they are shooting for 2019. So fall season probably, maybe not the spring (at least for Emma).
I agree with the list with the exception of Val. I think he’ll be back just because Jenna will be there. I would love to have a Chmerkovskiy free season but with Jenna there, that means Val will insinuate himself into every occasion he can get away with even if it is just popping up every week in rehearsals like Maks did with Peta and Nyle.
@Molly – Then are you arguing that he is going to be a pro, or that he’s just going to show up in random places…?
@Kara – So, why would Val be “good cross-promotion” for juniors, but not the twelve other pros that actually mentored the kids? Val isn’t the lifeblood of DWTS: Junior.
If I never saw Val, Maks or Peta on DWTS it’s be too soon! Peta was on the September issue of Health Magazine & she mainly talked about acting. Not much DWTS. And did mention having kid #2. TBH- I’d rather see Hayley take over as Pro. We need a true BRUNETTE!
Somehow I think they’d make a bigger deal out of Val being a judge than the others being mentors, especially since some of them may have their pair go out early. I don’t know, I guess I can possibly see them doing a lot of cross promotion involving everyone, but this show seems to love Val (not so sure about Maks anymore), and I can see them acting like he’s the face of juniors. Maybe I’ll be wrong. I don’t know if he’ll be back as a pro or not, but I won’t be surprised. The only pros I really want to see back are Emma, Sasha, Lindsay, Alan, Artem, Gleb, and Keo. Beyond that I don’t care.
I’m sad that Mark is not gonna be on this season, but excited that he’s gonna be in Kinky Boots. BIG if you ask me! I really wanted to see him with Paris Jackson (which is my DREAM PAIRING),but glad he is getting so many other opportunities.
my pros for season 27
Lindsay
Sharna
witney
jenna
haley
Cheryl or Alison
val
alan
gleb
sasha
brandon
keo
My pro lineup: Sasha, Brandon, Alan, Artem, Keo, Gleb.
Witney, Hayley, Sharna, Jenna, Lindsay, Emma, Katya Jones from Strictly Come Dancing.
My pro wish list is. Mark Ballas Derek Hough Alan shasha. Keo atrem the ladies pro list Whitney Sharna. Lindsay Emma. Hailey Peta season 27 dwts
Actually, I’d like to see Chloe Hewitt on this season
#B123arie, Mark is not coming back this season because he’s in “Kinky Boots” and it will be going on from early next month to November. I really wanted to see him back this season though, but glad he is doing something where he is getting a lot of praise for his Amazing Talent.
love to see lindsay other sister jensen on troupe or pro
@Miner: I still cannot believe they let her go from SCD. The others they let go of….I get why lol.
vin, I see your point. Perhaps Chloe left to join DWTS?
I doubt it, Miner. DWTS already has more pros than they know what to do with.
I think it would be highly unlikely that dwts would grab any professional on strictly just because they do things differently and the pros tend to be on the much older side. It’s more likely dwts will send some former pros or troupe members to strictly than the other way around. The only one I think hey would’ve ever considered would be Janette but she comes as a packaged deal with Aljiaz.
Steve and Courtney, Chloe left Strictly. Also, Neil Jones could join but that would become a package deal with Katya Jones.
@Miner – Yes, I’m aware. And your point…? I still don’t see DWTS borrowing any SCD pros anytime soon.
I’d love to see some of the Strictly pros come over to DWTS (package deals or not) but I feel like if TPTB wanted them bad enough, they’d be over here. Same goes for other international versions of the show that they could poach pros from.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Lindsay’s sister join in the near future.
@miner truthfully, if Chloe was dropped by strictly, it dramatically decreases any chances she has to get on dwts. Gleb, Oksana, Tristan, and Iveta I believe left on their own accord. Gleb pretty much did strictly to get back on dwts. I don’t think he really saw strictly as the final goal, it was always getting back on the US dwts. Oksana had done really well and I’m sure they asked her back but she said she missed being in the states so she declined. Also, dwts has many options to choose from to where they really don’t need to poach from strictly. Dwts pretty much can pick from their troupe or sytycd. Neil and even Katya are not what the producers are looking for either. In my opinion, I just think none of the strictly pros would fit because they’re just not cross trained enough. Sorry for the long post lol
Courtney, my point is we need diversity. Steve, same for you. Kara, total agreement!
@Miner – Diversity???? Last I checked, Neil & Chloe are British, and Katya is Russian. If it’s “diversity” you’re claiming to want, you’d be suggesting more POC’s. Just admit that you want to see more SCD pros on DWTS – why? I have no idea, since I think the bulk of the pros we already have on DWTS are more impressive than anyone currently on SCD, and I see no incentive for DWTS to go shopping for pros overseas when they already have plenty here.
I would also like to see a bigger cast.
Also, when is a cast suggestion coming out? I have a few people on my list.
I think the pros and troupe are pretty diverse so far. I think DWTS is more diverse actually. They already tried to do a bigger cast in season 9 with 16 celebs and it just doesn’t work on DWTS. One, you end up forgetting about half the cast that is on and two, it doesn’t work well with ABC’s schedule. Too many double eliminations would have to occur and if they include more dances, I’m afraid they’ll bring back a lot of the awful random themed dances that we saw during the All-Stars season. They’re just two completely different shows that require completely different types of professionals. Plus Strictly runs with no commercials so they don’t have time to do set changes so they are limited to what they can do while DWTS gives the pros a bit more freedom in creating and choreography. As much as I like the longer dances and more content that Strictly has, DWTS has just evolved over the years to keep it more exciting and given us great numbers, even with the celebs that aren’t as talented, while I feel like Strictly has evolved enough besides just having a bigger cast and more props in their numbers than in the past. Keo was asked to do Strictly first and turned them down to do DWTS but even with all his early exits, he still stays with DWTS. Emma was set to join Strictly before DWTS gave her a pro slot and she has never looked back since.
Isn’t SCD also on for a longer season due to such a bigger cast? I don’t know-to be honest, I’m not very familiar with the ins and outs of SCD. I’m actually never watched an entire full episode-I’ve only ever watched clips of dances on YouTube. That being said, I would agree that there’s just no way the logistics of SCD would work on DWTS. And I think DWTS is taking enough risks these days-with the very short all athlete season and the junior season. Why risk changing the pro roster with dancers from SCD when there are perfectly good dancers rising up from SYTYCD? 🤔
I like Strictly, and some of the international versions I’ve seen clips of, because the dances are longer. I hate how on DWTS everything seems so rushed, especially the eliminations. That’s why I wouldn’t be in favor of a bigger cast, because they can barely make do with what they already have. Some of the pros I wanted to see from Strictly left that series years ago and moved on, but there are a few there now I wouldn’t mind seeing on DWTS. I don’t know exactly how it works with their contracts and everything, however. I hope DWTS doesn’t do something like the athlete season again, unless they fine tune it (especially the voting). Will we be seeing a regular version in the spring since Idol is returning? Assuming Idol is on the same nights again.
I do miss what the show use to be in the early seasons, but I get why it has to change it up. I miss the pros who use to be on here, but I love our current pros and don’t need a big change up with a couple of exceptions. I know eventually these pros will either get axed or move on, so we’ll see whose there to replace them.
Strictly broadcasts for over two hours on a channel with zero adverts as well as a one hour results show the following night. You can’t compare the show with DWTS. Stick Strictly in a two hour Monday night slot with adverts every 15 minutes and see how they cope.
As for the pro talk. DWTS pros get paid far more than Strictly pros. They also get far more creative, musical and choreographical freedom. There’s a reason Artem and later Gleb jumped ship as soon as they were offered the chance.
Regarding the pro list this season I definitely expect Peta, Maks and Val to be in the lineup. Those babies and weddings don’t pay for themselves! So I’ll predict the following assuming it’s a thirteen couple lineup.
Maks, Val, Keo, Sasha, Artem, Gleb, Alan.
Peta, Sharna, Witney, Lindsay, Emma, Jenna.
My dream scenario with it being only a 9 week season would be to let Maks and Peta sail off into the sunset, bring in Cheryl and have a 12 couple season. But that’s probably asking too much.
Oh god, this discussion again?? :::rolls eyes::: Get over it people. DWTS is the place to be and the best pros are there for a reason – all of which M8 pointed out in her post. As for comparisons between the two shows?? Again, see M8’s post – they’re apples and oranges.
What Miner and others are forgetting is that the DWTS pros are NAMES with fanbases. If any of our pros WANTED to leave (or just wasn’t working out), then someone from SCD might get a chance – but they’d take someone from SYTYCD first, before anyone from SCD. There’s no Derek or Julianne on DWTS right now, but the pros that are on there are still pretty well known in their own right to the U.S. audience. Why on earth would they replace someone with an established fanbase with a complete unknown?? They could afford to do that a few years ago, but they’re not in that position any more.
@Steve
I love our DWTS pros – at least most of the time – but how is the pro/troupe line-up diverse ???? 3 black people and one asian for 16-18 pro dancers, that’s it. It is not diversity at all. The only one who would be great for DWTS I think is Oti Mabuse because she does great choreo, she has a good fanbase, a fun personality and she will bring diversity in the female pro line up. However I don’t see this happening in the next few years because in UK she is closer to her sister who lives in Germany and she loves SCD.
But about diversity, it’s kind of an issue to me that for the time DWTS has been on, there was never much diversity with the pros/troupe. Keo, Britt and Brandon are the first black dancers they had, Cheryl is half filipino and I’m blanking on latinos pros. Again I love our pros but some diversity wouldn’t hurt not at the expense of talent and work ethic of course.
@Philomene – I think the only other POC pro we’ve had that didn’t get mentioned was Fabian Sanchez – and we only got one season of him. I agree that DWTS (and to a larger extent, the ballroom/Latin community in general) has a diversity problem – and I’m not sure quite where the blame lies. When I think about well-known names of POC’s who do ballroom/Latin professionally, I can’t even come up with 10 names: Keo, Oti, Brandon, Britt, Emmanuel Pierre Antoine, Alexandra Gregoire, & Marcquette Hill. I think SYTYCD might have had one Asian ballroom girl several years back, whose name escapes me, and there’s been a few Latino salsa (but not necessarily ballroom/Latin) dancers on SYTYCD. I have to wonder if part of it is socioeconomic in nature – dance lessons in general are expensive, but ballroom/Latin lessons in particular seem extra pricey, just due to how much there is to learn, the specialization of the teachers, the costumes, the shoes, the makeup, the competition fees, etc. An old teammate from my college ballroom team used to joke that “only well-off white & Asian kids, Russians who’ve been training since they could walk, and Mormons” could realistically afford ballroom lessons. Some of it could be cultural, too – I’ve known a few Latinos who grew up doing salsa that took up ballroom/Latin, but who found it “too rigid” compared to the laid back attitude of most salsa training, and most of my friends from college that were black and danced either did hip-hop or salsa (keep in mind, it’s been a good 11 years since I was last in college). I think it’s getting better, though – the Castros have really made themselves major names on the competition scene, and with so many of the younger dancers being cross-trained in multiple styles, I think it’s encouraging to see the Makeila’s and Artyon’s of the youth dance scene getting to see the spotlight.
I apologize, I meant that I thought dwts was a little more diverse than Strictly but I see they brought in some more new pros. Besides Fabian, we also had Jesse DeSoto but he was also only on for 1 season. Sytycd had one Asian ballroom girl named Asuka Kondoh, but she struggled in all the other styles and was an early exit. I would like more diversity on dwts though, as I am Asian and love learning and watching ballroom. Cheryl is pretty much the only Asian that dwts has had. I think the only other Asian dancer that dwts would consider using would be Koine from Sytycd since she recently started training in ballroom and she did the Maks and Val tour but only for the troupe.
@Courtney
I 100% agree with what you said, we have the issue with lack of diversity in DALS in France.
I just which franchise like SCD/DWTS would try a little harder to find a little bit more diverse pros because representation does matter and maybe if children see on their TV, asians, latinos, black pros, they will ask to do ballroom too.
But again you are right, I’m happy to see the Castros, Artyon, Makeila and all this new generation breaking the mold.
Cheryl’s tour was cancelled . I had a ticket but was issued a refund maybe sometime Cheryl will try to do it again in the US .
GMA just announced Val coming back as pro. They are getting ready to announce the rest.
So val and probaly no maks? I can live with that.
I somehow missed Val’s name when I saw the list on Twitter and I got WAY too excited to only then be letdown. I’m a little surprised neither Peta nor Maks are doing the season just because I assumed a least one of them would always do it as it’s guaranteed incoming. Jenna has become even more insufferable since the engagement that I don’t know if I can take a full season with her.
Super excited for Brandon and Alan! I wasn’t too sure about Alan at first but he’s really impressed me. I would actually take him over Sasha right now.
Happy for Brandon – thinking he must have done really well on DWTS Jrs. Why so many male pros. Was kinda hoping to see Hayley as a pro this season.
Maks and Peta don’t need the money. All those DWM Studios will keep bringing in money as long as two of them (Val and jenna) are doing the show.
Could have done without Jenna and Val, and hope at least she’s an early exit (but I’m not betting on it). Super excited Sasha is back, as it always seems iffy with him, and thrilled Brandon has been promoted.
Just adding: both Alan & Brandon did very well as mentors on DWTS Junior, particularly Brandon, who I’m told is an excellent choreographer. Unless they give him an absolute dud, I could see him sticking around for awhile this season.
As for Jenna – I don’t mind her so much, as she’s one of the better choreographers we have; I could have done without Val, though, as I find his choreo to be lacking and the level of smugness we see from him to be disproportionate to his actual level of talent.
I wonder why Hayley isn’t a pro. Wouldn’t promoting her be cheaper than Cheryl? Kind of disappointed. I get Brandon did well on Juniors, but I think Hayley has been overdue since last season. 7 seasons in troupe? Keo didn’t even get that kind of treatment.
Quite sad that Hayley might not be a pro. Was really hoping it was her time. She’s been in troupe for far too long. And Brandon barely came on and is already in? Lucky dude his timing was right. Not discounting his showing on juniors as well I guess. But still sucks for Hayley. Was looking forward to watching her.
@Jamie – Remember, this is fall season – they’re more likely to splurge because it has higher viewership, and Cheryl is still extremely popular. And once again, I go back to “There is not an unlimited number of pro spots.” Maybe they couldn’t get another male celeb, but had a female one available. Maybe they think Hayley just isn’t ready. There could be any number of things. But I would caution you against the mindset of “so-and-so is owed a spot as a pro now” due to tenure in the troupe. There’s been enough people in the troupe who did several seasons and were just let go after awhile – it happens. I don’t think it’ll happen to Hayley, but I just think assuming she’s going to get promoted to pro after x number of seasons is going to lead to disappointment.
Awe, I’m bummed about Hayley, I’m sure Cheryl coming back bumped her out. Happy for Brandon, they need an infusion of multitalented male dancers since two of their best (Mark & Derek) have left the show. Gleb, Artem and Keo are pretty ho hum, and even though Alen seems nice he just doesn’t do it for me. I think “female” celebs are an easier get for the show so more male pros are needed to pair with them. Val is pretty one note and even though Jenna’s a good choreographer I just don’t like her. Maybe because her hunger for fame feels like starvation, she plays the Hollywood “notice me” game with the best of them. Im here for 6 out of the 13 pros, let’s hope they have a good “Star” lineup.
YAYYYY for Brandon, I’m so happy to see him as a pro !
@Jamie, it really isn’t surprising to see Cheryl being a pro over Hayley, she is a historical pro, almost an OG, she does great routines, she is pretty popular for the viewers that watch the show since day one and the fact that she was the only pro nominated to a teen choice awards shows she is also popular for the younger audience. I have hope for Hayley if there is a spring season.
Only one on the list that surprises me is Cheryl-I knew she was excited to do the junior version but I kinda thought she was done with the regular one but to each their own-I love the girl so I’m always happy to see her on a season of DWTS:)
Very happy to see that Brandon is being given a chance after juniors! Good for him!! A little sad to see that Hayley missed a pro chance this time; but eventually she’s gotta get a spot🙏
Not surprised about Peta not coming back-she’s been wish-washy about it….
Not surprised about Val coming back AT ALL😏
The list is pretty much as I expected👍🏼
All the female pros (except Sharna) have won an MTB and Sharna has seniority and is fairly popular with the viewers while Hayley is still fairly unknown.
By contrast among the current male pros only Val has won and he is honestly with Derek Mark and Maks out he’s the only big male ratings draw they have left.
They desperately need a male winner to help keep the show going. Hopefully Brandon Alan or perhaps Sasha will be the one to get it.
oops MBT not MTB sorry
This is a great pro line up overall. Very happy to see them giving brandon a shot. Bummed that Hayley didnt get her shot yet. Maybe it’ll come when one of the other ladies decides it’s time for babies or Cheryl retires. I love Cheryl though so I am not by any means disappointed to see her back.
I am not looking forward to them pushing the Val jenna narrative this season. I can only hope they do not give them a married couple. Lachey’s 2.0 I can not handle it again.
Well exciting getting some season 27 news hopefully the celebs start to leak soon.
No thanks to Val
Cheryl has always rubbed me the wrong way
So glad Peta is out I could never stand her and over the years her dances and even her outfits were trashy felt like watching a stripper sometimes
The last couple of times she wasn’t trying but she had a new baby so that I could understand I so won’t miss her
Good riddance to Make he just wasn’t trying anymore
Gleb and Keo not thrilled about them they just don’t wow me
Still haven’t gotten around to watching videos of the last season on YouTube so I don’t know nothing of Jenna except based on things I’ve heard
Everyone else I’m fine with
I am disappointed that Peta is not on the list, and I would much rather have Maks than Val.
I’ll watch juniors this year (minus the judging lol), and catch my favorites for the regular show on you tube as I did last season. Great that they’re giving Brandon a chance, and am among those that are disappointed Hayley didn’t land a spot, but at the same time it’s not surprising given Cheryl wanted her spot back.The rest is ho hum status quo.
It’s been a while since I’ve browsed through this thread. Didn’t know so many people were confirmed or rumored or wharever already. You always have the scoop so I’m sure these are real.
Artem looks gorgeous in his video announcing he’ll be back. I doubt he gets a good partner that can take him far, he never does and when it happens the show more than tells us they’re not interested (Nancy). But I’m happy to see him back. Of course Jenna is in. I expected everybody else to be back.
I don’t know who Brandon is. Or don’t know him by name. I’ll get to that right away.
I dont know why people are so angry about Brandon being a pro this season and not Hayley.even though Brendon has been in this show for just 3 seasons , i think he is more professional and from what i read about dwtsj that he done so well and the cast being so suppertive and happy for him .. and Hayley is originally a contemporary dancer and I dont think ballroom is her strongest ability espacially when it comes to choegraphy .. and we saw that with Allison i might be wrong we didnt see her doing any choegraphy in the show yet maybe we will be able to see her ability in dwtj . The point is , it doesnt matter how you have been in the troupe to get promoted to a pro , Brittany was in the troupe for several seasons and they didnt give her a chance . I dont think hayley will be a pro anytime soon unless one of the orginal female pros skip a season .
I wonder if Hayley not being a Latin/Ballroom dancer by nature is hurting her chances of getting promoted. I saw on Insta that she’s been training with Shirley Ballas for a while, but maybe the producers fear she’ll struggle like Allison did in teaching a celeb.
Hi Courtney. I totally get what you mean by them wanting to have Cheryl over Hayley for the fall season. She’s an og and she’s basically one of the only ones I could see doing the show again. I understand that seniority doesn’t really have a play in this. She is he only one to have done the show consecutively six season without seeing any promotion.
I only am shocked about Hayley because I thought her presence on Juniors was great. I went to the first two tapings and I enjoyed her choreography with both those routines. I didn’t learn till after the shows that the pro she was mentoring wasn’t based in ballroom. I guess she really taught her well. She seems to love the show a lot based on her interview with Kristyn. Her top pritority is DWTS, and I guess as long as they keep asking her back to be part in some way, she will be there.
I’ll take that lineup. Good luck to Brandon. Be a couple of brutal double elims no doubt with 13 couples in a 9 week season. I know the Roseanne spinoff starts in mid October. Until then I guess there’s a chance we may be seeing a few results shows on Tuesday nights. It’ll be interesting to see how they divvy up the young female “ringers” assuming Val takes one of them. They always do a good job mixing it up within the females, I’ve a suspicion Sharna might get a winner this season, but that’s no guarantee considering she’s had winners on paper before and not got it done.
Looking forward to the new season. The FAM is obviously expanding in some ways and would love no Maks nor Val. DWTS Instagram show all the individual pictures and Poor Emma is the least popular girl. I have no idea why people don’t like her as much as the others she is the sweetest person. Shame, glad she’s there anyway even if she does get a no hope celebrity
Jamie, I don’t get why Emma doesn’t seem more popular either. I love her! She’s definitely my favorites among the pros (male or female). I do hope she gets someone good this season. I was disappointed she was first out last season, but had it been a normal season (or at least not had the jacked up voting the first week), I think she might have gone further with Johnny. I’m resigned to the fact that Jenna will probably be around a long time this season, but maybe I’ll get lucky. Val too. Hard to tell with the others.
Cheryl is back, so no room for Hayley. I think it really is that simple. Cheryl is a name and Hayley isn’t yet.
Derek was nominated for TWO Teen Choice Awards, Philomene. He’s nominated most years, he just never wins because Maddie and the other kid dancers have fans who can sit around and spam all day. I don’t know any Derek fans who bother with that one.
I know Derek was nominated several times but I think he’s more linked to WoD now than DWTS. That’s why I said Cheryl was the only DWTS pro nominated this year.
@Kara yes I agree Emma would first on my list each season closely followed by Sasha, Artem and Lindsay. Those are the top 4 for me.
You didn’t say “this year” Philomene – that’s why I commented.
Count me in as another Emma fan! I’m always so happy to see her on the show. I think she’s really good at choreographing to suit her partners and is always putting the effort in, I’ve never seen her slack off or check out of a season.
Also very excited for Lindsay, Sasha, Brandon, and Alan! I’m so happy for Brandon after hearing great things about him on Juniors and I always love seeing the other three.
Hello!! I was wondering if you know if anyone has met there partner of this time just yet? Thank you!
I’ve been impressed with how Hayley has been developing her Latin/ballroom skills (and I already enjoyed her ballroom when she was on SYTYCD). She’s definitely one of the few contemporary dancers I’ve seen that is really picking up the technique and nuances of the style.
However, I prefer that someone who has been more long-term ballroom-trained be a DWTS pro and letting Hayley continue to hone her ballroom skills.
Maybe they will bring back Kiki ? and i would like for Shannon or Paul to come back !
I don’t think they’d bring back Kiki as a troupe member-wasn’t he a troupe member once already? LOL
@Mary Ann yeah thats exactly what i said i know he was a troupe member before -_-“ , they brought back dancers before to troupe Brittany cherry was on and off member of the troupe !
@Haneen I think they’ve used Brittany Cherry as a fill-in quite a few times-I don’t recall her being a back-and-forth troupe member🤔 like Sasha has been; but my memory fails me LOL
As far as Kiki goes, he had a good run on SYTYCD and from I can see, he’s an all-star on the show now which is good for him. That dance he did with Jensen, for me, was the best I, personally, ever saw him dance and that’s saying A LOT for Kiki Nymchek LOL
Could they grab him back as a troupe member? Anything is possible-I just think it’s unlikely but hey, you never know🤷🏽♀️
Brittany Cherry was working on World of Dance. If she wants to continue working on it, she might not be back, since season 3 films this fall. No idea if they would let her or if she would have the time.
Haneen, posting the same thing EIGHT times is not going to make it more likely to appear on the site. You’re not blocked, you’re on moderation…and now we all see why.
I do LOVE when people complain about mods being rude by being even more rude and just assholes in general though. Keep it up and I’ll change the moderation status to blocked for Court.
Nico Greetham?
There’s an extra dancer named KC Monnie whom was used several times last season, and maybe before that. He’s dating Alan Salazar, who assists the pros in choreo sometimes.
Kiki has not been in the troupe since 2012. Edyta came back once after six years but she was always pro, never troupe.
Errr, who said anything about Edyta being in the troupe?
Just a few I can think of that would be cool in the troupe: Kiki (he is a bit into himself in my opinion but he is good), cole (this would be my first pick), nick Garcia from sytycd, and the other guy from nicks season whose name escapes me at the moment.
I used Edyta as an example of someone who was brought back to the show after a very long absence. Never said she was a troupe member.
KC Monnie in the troupe sounds like a good idea. I noticed him last season. Check him in Chris and Witney’s foxtrot and Tonya and Sasha’s freestyle.
I could definitely see Cole as a troupe member in the future-that would be a great way for him to cross over from SYTYCD to DWTS and ‘make his bones’ so to speak. He’s a talented dancer. He did fairly well on this season of SYTYCD. He’d make a good troupe member. Right now he’s under contract to do the SYTYCD tour which starts in October so maybe in the future, DWTS can consider him for troupe? Never know….
@Christin Believe it or not, I always thought Peta was an ok girl until she hooked up with Maks. I then saw a definite personality change and she really didn’t start dressing and dancing trashy until she met Maks. But Peta knows what Maks is like, she made her bed, and now she can lie in it forever and ever.Good luck to her, I feel she will need it.
I would love to see Marcquet Hill as a troupe member
I’m thinking the new troupe member will be KC Monnie too! Just a hunch:) he had a post the other day about feeling grateful!
Now I’m thinking Jensen and Hannahlei from SYTYCD will be some of the new female troupe members, but I can only think of Nico and Slavik from SYTYCD for males.
Well we will find out who the pros get soon. How bad, old or unpopular will Emma’s partner be this season?
[…] Ok…since some of you are able to keep much closer tabs on the pros’ social media and whereabouts than I currently am, I thought it would be a good time to confirm the current whereabouts of this season’s pros – since that can often help determine who their partner might be 😎 Thanks to Zoe for all the help! If you’re looking for “pro watch”, go here. […]