Cheryl Burke, a celebrated name synonymous with “Dancing With the Stars” (DWTS), has recently shared some pointed advice for anyone considering stepping onto the famed dance floor. With 26 seasons under her belt as a professional dancer on the show, Burke speaks from experience, and her insights are particularly relevant for those navigating the intense world of competitive dancing. Her key takeaway? “Be single if you do ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ That’s all I’m saying.” This bold statement was made on a recent episode of her podcast, “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans,” a tell-all platform where she delves into her experiences on DWTS and beyond.
Burke’s advice isn’t just casual commentary; it’s rooted in her personal observations and experiences. During her extensive run on “Dancing With the Stars,” Cheryl Burke openly admitted to forming romantic connections with three of her dance partners. She attributes these intense bonds to the demanding rehearsal schedules that are inherent to the show. Partners are thrown into a bubble of close proximity, spending up to eight hours a day, seven days a week together for months at a time. This pressure cooker environment, as Burke describes, accelerates relationship dynamics. “You’re not like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s cute.’ Like, no, no, I either like you or I don’t, because you’re constantly [together] eight hours a day, seven days a week,” she elaborated, highlighting the rapid development of feelings in such circumstances.
She likens each DWTS partnership to an “arranged marriage,” where the professional dancer and the celebrity contestant are paired together and must navigate their relationship, whether they “love each other or hate each other.” This forced intimacy, according to Burke, is a crucial element of the DWTS experience. “It’s so intimate, and you’re stuck with this person,” she explained. “Like, you better try and make it work at least.” This pressure to collaborate and perform at a high level, combined with the emotional vulnerability required to learn and execute dance routines, naturally fosters deep connections.
The challenges are amplified for contestants who enter the competition already in a relationship. Cheryl Burke recounted an instance where a married celebrity contestant confessed to developing a crush on his also-married dance partner. While Burke clarified that nothing physical occurred, the emotional entanglement and suspicions of an affair had repercussions for both families involved. This anecdote underscores the emotional tightrope that married individuals walk on DWTS.
Burke emphasized the vulnerability that celebrities must embrace to truly succeed on “Dancing With the Stars.” She notes, “These celebrities are so vulnerable, because in order to succeed you have to strip it all down.” This stripping down of emotional barriers, essential for expressive and effective dancing, can be a catalyst for unexpected intimacy and emotional crossovers, even to the point where Burke suggests it might be a level of vulnerability some married celebrities haven’t even reached with their own spouses.
Interestingly, Cheryl Burke’s own romantic history has ties to “Dancing With the Stars.” She met her former husband, actor Matthew Lawrence, when she was partnered with his brother, Joey Lawrence, on season three of DWTS. While their marriage eventually ended in 2022, “Dancing With the Stars” has also been the starting point for numerous lasting relationships. Couples like Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec, Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart, and Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev are just a few examples of DWTS partnerships that blossomed into real-life romances, proving that while navigating relationships on DWTS can be complex, it can also lead to finding love in unexpected places. Burke’s advice serves as a valuable insight into the unique dynamics of “Dancing With the Stars,” reminding participants and viewers alike of the intense and intimate environment that the dance floor can create.
