Dancing with the Stars pro dancer, Cheryl Burke in her latest episode of her Burke in the Game podcast, that the current season will probably be her last.
“A lot of people have asked me if this is my last season. The answer to that question is likely yes, this is my last season, as a dancer that is,” Cheryl said. “… To have been a part of a show for 26 seasons, it is hard for me [to leave]… I always come back, because, I guess, it’s really hard to say goodbye to a show and to a family, that I’ve only known here in Los Angeles. I moved here when I was 21. I’m 38 now. My body is also telling me to stop and it has been.”
“I know a lot of people are saying it’s because I want kids, that is not the reason… The reason is because I want to be OK with the uncertainty of what life is about to throw at me,” she continued. “Until I close a chapter, how do I expect another one to open?”
Just because her pro-dancing days are over, doesn’t mean she’s done with DWTS, Entertainment Tonight reports. She would like to continue with the franchise in one way or another. For instance, former pro dancer Derek Hough is now a permanent member of the judges panel.
“I could either be a correspondent or host”
“I do believe, though, that I have proven myself enough to where I could either be a correspondent or host. Not saying I’m trying to take anybody’s job, you guys. Please don’t write about that,” she said. “I’m just saying you can always add another host. You can always add another judge. It’s a two-hour show with no commercial breaks.”
“There are other options I have and we are currently in the middle of discussing all of this at the moment, so I will definitely keep you guys posted on what that means,” teased Cheryl.
“It is what it is. Life moves on. There’s life after Dancing With the Stars. I do know that,” she said. “I also know, though, that I have to move forward, one foot in front of the other and one step at a time. This is my time now. My contract’s up and this is a good time to just be like, ‘OK, let’s see what’s next.’ I have to surrender. From here on out, I’m going to continue to manifest as much as possible, but at the end of the day it’s not my decision.”
“It’s so sad. It’s bittersweet”
“Either way, though, I’ve had an amazing run. It’s so sad. It’s bittersweet,” Cheryl continued. “Every single person on that show — from behind the camera to on camera, from people who were a part of the show who are no longer a part of the show — will always have a special place in my heart. All of you guys, the fans who have followed me on the journey of these last… 17 years, thank you. Thank you for all of your beautiful messages and emails and comments and for supporting me through all the ups and downs.”
Additionally, Cheryl believes it’s time for her to step aside and give another young dancer a turn.
“I know there’s a lot of dancers out there that want my job, and I think it would be very unfair for me to stay knowing that,” she said. “… I think it’s now time.”
“Maybe I come back one day”
Of course, Cheryl reserves her right to change her mind (And my money is on Cheryl getting her clicks today, and again when she announces her return to the show….)
“Maybe I come back one day. But as of today and as of a long time coming, really, for many months and even years, I do believe that this is the right decision, but that doesn’t mean that you’re going to stop seeing me on television and that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop dancing,” she said. “However, I have things that I need to focus on at the moment.”
“This why, for me, I think I was holding on so tight to this season, because I knew all along in my heart that this was going to most likely be my last,” she said. “But how amazing was it for me to end it with somebody who I truly love like Sam Champion… Though very short, it was so sweet.”
Cheryl and Sam, an ABC weather personality, were eliminated last week, after four weeks in the competition.
