*Cheryl Burke announced Sunday that she is leaving “Dancing with the Stars” after 17 years with the show.
In an interview with Variety, the professional dancer said she’s ready to embark on new adventures.
“If I were to just talk as an athlete, a dancer and a woman, my time has been up. I’m 38 years old. When I came on as a competitive dancer at 21, It was a different story,” she explained. “That decision in itself was really tough for me — to put everything aside, to come [to L.A.] and do a TV show that I had no clue was gonna last for this long. My intention was just to be here for one season and move back.”
Burke has competed on 25 of the show’s 31 seasons, as well as one season on “DWTS: Juniors.” She won both Seasons 2 with partner Drew Lachey and Season 3 with partner Emmitt Smith. Burke stepped away from the dance competition series at the end of Season 19 but returned for Season 23. Seasons 24 and 26 also saw her exit before returning for seasons 27-31.
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“There’s so much more that I want to do, other than teach a celebrity how to dance,” Burke told Variety. “Mind you, this has been a beautiful thing. I’m not saying that in a bad way whatsoever, I’m saying this in a graceful way.”
Burke told the outlet she wants to “continue to evolve.”
“Whether that be with the show or not, is up to me,” she said. “However, as a dancer, I am hanging up my dance shoes.”
Burke wants to continue being a part of DWTS as a judge. She has expressed interest in filling the seat of head judge on the reality series Len Goodman, who is leaving after 31 seasons.
“I’ve done a lot of work and soul searching,” said Burke. “It sounds so cliché, and I know I’ve been blessed to be given a platform like ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ I would like to really show other sides of me, especially when it comes to mental health.”
Burke has been working on a dance program called Body Language that she hopes to launch in 2023.
“It’s just another resource people can add to their list of resources when they’re feeling down or depressed,” she explained. “Movement has played a huge role in my life. I’ve always said movement has saved my life. Dance has saved my life, and I want to make that attainable for everybody.”
Monday night officially marked her final performance as a pro dancer on DWTS. In a lengthy message shared with fans on viewers on her Instagram account, Burke wrote: “This show has been my 2nd family since I was 21 years old. The cast, crew & fans have seen me through my highest highs & some of my lowest lows, & I honestly don’t know who I would be today without them. I also know that it is time for me to begin the next phase of my career, although dance will always be a part of me. I am excited about the idea of evolving, about being challenged in new ways, having the ability to expand my commitment to mental health advocacy, focusing on my new found love for podcasting, & I’m ready to face the uncertainty (though it’s scary as sh**) of what the future holds – I do have a few things up my sleeves though, so don’t worry.”
Read her full message via the IG post above.
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