Dancing With the Stars is cha-cha’ing its way over to Disney+… but a pair of longtime pro dancers won’t be coming along.
Pro dancers Sharna Burgess and Lindsay Arnold both announced on Wednesday they will not be returning for the dance competition’s upcoming Season 31, its first on Disney+ after a lengthy run on ABC. As our sister site Deadline reported, Burgess revealed she won’t be back in a series of Instagram Stories, saying: “After long conversations and lots of thinking and really trying to sit with what was right, and many conversations with Deena Katz, who is our casting director but also a second mom to me, I made the really hard decision to not do this season of Dancing with the Stars.”
Burgess says she is “at one hundred percent capacity with my body. I feel fit, I feel strong, I’m so ready to dance.” But earlier this year, she gave birth to her first child, a son named Zane, and “I was not ready to spend a minimum of 10 hours a day away from Zane… I’m a full-time breastfeeding momma, and not only that, I am so in love with just being a mom.” (She did hint, though, that she could possibly appear on DWTS this season “in some capacity.”)
Arnold confirmed her departure in an Instagram post: “This has been one of the hardest decisions to make but ultimately, I have chosen what I feel is best for myself and my family.” (She has a 22-month-old daughter, Sage.) “Logistically there is SO much involved with making this happen and there is a lot of sacrifice that has to be made that unfortunately just did not feel right for us this time around.”
Burgess made her debut as a DWTS pro in Season 13 and danced for a total of 14 seasons, taking home the Season 27 Mirrorball trophy with celeb partner Bobby Bones. Arnold debuted in Season 16 and danced for 10 seasons, winning Season 25 alongside Jordan Fisher.
The new season of Dancing With the Stars — minus Burgess and Arnold — premieres Monday, Sept. 19 on Disney+; the full roster of celebs and pro partners has not yet been announced.
Does the absence of Burgess and Arnold make you less likely to follow DWTS to Disney+? Hit the comments to share your thoughts.
I like both pros! I won’t miss them as I won’t watch until Tyra is gone.
I don’t watch anymore. I liked all the pros and costumes and hosts and judges and then Tyra Banks came on the scene. Don’t care for her and stopped watching because of her.
I echo what you said Peggy Pisac. I do not watch it any more ffor the same reason…
I concur with Peggy, Tyra has ruined the show, making it about her. The show is about dancing. Secondly, not everyone can afford Disney+. how sad, the behind the scenes folks are absolutely fabulous with the hair, make-up, dress and costumes. i miss the amazing pro dancers. They all bring such positivity and happiness to so many people, and that is now being taken away for greed and money.
I really wish DWTS could still be shown on regular TV too instead of just Disney+. I love the show & have missed it intensely.
I’m very disappointed they moved the show to Disney+, so for the first time since the beginning I will not be watching! I will miss it as I loved all the pros . Huge fan !!!
I’m sure they will be missed, but i won’t be watching as long as DWTS remains on Disney +. I pay for cable already and shouldn’t have to pay for subscription to watch on a channel I don’t believe in and I am not a fan of Tyra.
You don`t want to pay for a channel you don`t “believe in”, and yet you complain that you don`t get to watch it. Do you see the hypocrisy in that?
Not paying for Disney +Shame on you!!!! When you have a fixed income sometimes things are just not worth it….
Also I’m happy for the Momma’s choosing their babies first👣👣
I love watching DWTS but I will not subscribe to Disney just for the purpose of it. So they will probably lose a lot of viewers for this reason alone. I love Lindsay, hate she’s leaving but I would have still watched the show if they hadn’t taken it off ABC
I wonder if married couple Sasha Farber/Emma Slater will be back since they split up? I haven’t watched the show for years, way before Tom Bergeron was fired but I do read the recaps.
Now that is a real shocker that Emma and Sasha split last month! I just saw them on So You Think You Can Dance (what a lame show that became)…they were great choreographers! Wow and I thought what a true love story they were.
Rumor has it that they’ve split because Sasha wants kids soon and Emma doesn’t want kids for a few more years, it was definitely apparent when they were on Cheryl’s podcast last year that they were on very different pages when it comes to that subject (but they do still seem to have a good working relationship).
Also Emma has been confirmed as a pro and Sasha to be in troupe
I have enjoyed DWTS but feel it has run its course. I probably will start watching this season. The quality of the show will determine if I stick with it.
The show’s original executive producer is back so hopefully he’ll bring back some of what made us all fall in love with the show
I am boycotting due to ABC making such a decision to not bring DWTS to the masses as they always have. Plain and simple I feel it totally unfair. But with Tyra still being on the DWTS stage I wouldn’t watch even if it were on plain old ABC.
Won’t pay to watch as much as I have loved this show. I have not watched since Tyra has been there.
I have watched since season 1, and I am Very upset that I dont get disney+ or peacock on my TV!!! I cant watch any more!!! Sad!!!!!
Pro dancers coming and going aren’t an issue. Tyra the prancing mannequin is still there and therein lies the problem.
Get rid of Tyra and several of us would probably come back.
Unfortunately I won’t be watching if it’s going to Disney plus! I live on a fixed income and can’t afford all these apps! Sad because I’ve been a diehard fan since season one
Tyra Banks makes it an absolute no I won’t be watching
I loved watching Sharrna and Lindsey dance. I have to say with these favorites leaving and the fact that I would have to pay for the Disney+ plus Chanel is cause for me to leave DWTS. I might also add I really don’t care for Tanya Banks as a host.
I’m not going to pay for Disney+. In addition Tyra Banks ruins the show. So sad! My husband and I were dedicated fans.
No I don’t want to pay to watch it. First time in many years
I don’t know why they moved it, because you have a lot of people that watch it and can’t. Not everybody in this world can stream or they can’t afford to have every streaming service there is, for instance a lot of my shows are on are on Up Faith and Family, Paramount+, Disney+, Peacock and some sports aren’t even on TV you have to use ESPN streaming. This really stinks for people who are low income.
I’ll still watch it without them dancing, unless Tyra Banks is hosting again. If she is, I won’t watch it.
Two reasons I’m not watching DWTS, which I love, is having to pay to watch it, and Tyra Banks is still hosting. It went downhill when Tom Burgess and his partner was let go. BIGGEST mistake DWTS made!! I pay so much to watch TV, and I have Entertainment, lowest you can purchase, no movie channels. I refuse to pay anymore than what I do. So sad.
You lost me with Tyra Banks.
Won’t watch. – not paying for Disney channel – first year not watching – very upset / Tyra has to go also. She is terrible. Happy for pros and their choice
Yes !!!
I don’t have Disney +
So I won’t be watching now !!!
Loved watching DWTS, all these years. Can do without the host. She thinks it’s all about her! Wrong! Don’t watch the show anymore for that reason.
Loved the show watched it every year but i pay an extreme amount already for cabel had to give up some favorite channels now i would have to pay more just for that show. Not happening. Sadly wont be watching it anymore. Its just to bad they left regular tvi really dont like tyra either
I think it’s a shame you are only on Disney I have been a loyal watcher since the beginning of the show. Always enjoyed the competition, the dancing the comments,etc.
I refuse to watch until you go back to regular broadcasting. I hope the new show fails! Take your management team with you in failure.