Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Reveals 12 Contestants, Including One with a DWTS Connection
ABC has officially unveiled the contestant lineup for its new Dancing with the Stars spinoff, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, which will make its debut on the network this season. The series is designed as a competitive pathway for promising dancers hoping to earn a place in the professional lineup for Dancing with the Stars Season 35.
The show will feature 12 up-and-coming dancers who will live together in one house while taking part in an intense audition process. Throughout the competition, the contestants will be judged on their performance, skill, and ability to prove they have what it takes to become a pro dancer on the long-running dance franchise.
ABC says the format is centered on the challenge of identifying the next generation of DWTS professionals. The hopefuls will compete for a coveted opportunity to join the pro cast for Season 35, which is expected to premiere in the fall.
The judging panel will include Dancing with the Stars veteran Mark Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball champion, along with his mother, Shirley Ballas. The network also plans to bring in a rotating group of returning DWTS pros who will appear as guest judges and mentors during the season. ABC has not yet announced which familiar dancers will return in those roles, and more details about the mentoring lineup are expected to be revealed later.
The series will also be hosted by Robert Irwin, who previously won Dancing with the Stars and now takes on a new role in the spinoff competition. His involvement adds another familiar face to the franchise as the show looks to spotlight rising talent and connect the spinoff closely to the main series.
The announcement marks the first official step in launching the new competition, which extends the Dancing with the Stars brand into a fresh format focused on casting and mentorship. By turning the search for future pros into a televised competition, ABC is creating a new way for dancers to enter one of the franchise’s most recognizable positions.
As the debut season approaches, ABC has begun rolling out the details surrounding the contestants, judges, and returning pros. The full list of hopefuls competing on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro has now been revealed, setting the stage for a season built around pressure, performance, and the pursuit of a permanent spot in the DWTS professional lineup.
