Cheryl Burke is ready to trade her dancing shoes for a judge’s score paddle.
The former Dancing with the Stars pro revealed that she’s interested in joining the team of judges for next season. The news comes about a week after longtime judge Len Goodman announced his departure from the show.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Burke teased a potential return to the ballroom as a critic and fan but not a competitor.
“I think the whole world knows at this point that I would definitely love to. But it’s not up to me,” she said.
“What is up to me is my future, and I do know that it is time for me to evolve and see what else there is,” Burke added. “Because there is life after Dancing with the Stars, so I’ve heard. I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know.”
This isn’t the first time Burke has hinted at her possible transition to the other side of the judges’ panel.
“I was a competitor back in my day and Len Goodman used to judge me. I also got my judging license as well, so I’ve had to study all of this stuff,” she previously told Parade in 2018, adding, “I don’t know if a lot of the other dancers have been doing that only because they’re so much younger than I am.”
Last month, Burke, 38, shocked the world when she announced that Season 31 would be her last season dancing alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest talent.
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She commemorated her years on the show with a sweet and very sentimental Instagram post.
“I am sitting here full of so many conflicting emotions about the words I am about to write…Tomorrow night will officially be my final dance as a pro dancer on @dancingwiththestars. This has been one of the absolute hardest decisions of my life & I am also confident that it is the right one,” she wrote on Sunday.
“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 [sic] 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 😉.”
Burke’s caption concluded: “Though there aren’t enough words to express my deep gratitude & love to my entire DWTS family I will end with this: thank you for being my rock & foundation for close to two decades during the difficult moments & most of all, thank you for giving ballroom dancing the credit & attention it deserves. You have not only brought joy to millions upon millions of viewers every season, you have brought light & so much love into my heart & soul when I’ve needed it most. This has truly been the experience of a lifetime. I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my career, but man will this one be hard to beat! Until next time…Love you all, always & forever xx 🤍.”
Burke also told Entertainment Tonight that one of the many projects she’s working on includes developing a dance program that “has to do with mental health and movement.”
“I’m really into mental health right now,” she told reporters. “I believe that I’ve been given and blessed to have this platform to be able to talk about my own experience. I’m no professional, but I do know how I help people by talking about my journey.”
Dancing with the Stars season 31 wrapped on Monday, crowning Charli D’Amelio as the 2022 winner.
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