Cheryl Burke made her grand return to Dancing With the Stars — this time as a judge rather than a pro — and paid tribute to one of the show’s greats.
The dancer, 41, served as a guest judge for Halloween Night during the Tuesday, October 28, episode of the ABC reality competition series, appearing alongside season 34 judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. At the beginning of the episode, cohosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro asked what Burke would be looking for from the couples.
“I feel so great to be home again. Authenticity is what I would love to see from all of you, technique and dance as if it’s your last chance,” Burke said. “As the late Len Goodman said, careful doesn’t win Dancing With the Stars.”
Burke is a two-time Dancing With the Stars champion, previously winning the competition with partners Drew Lachey during season 2 and Emmitt Smith during season 3 in 2006. She exited her role as a pro at the end of season 31 in 2022.
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Ahead of her return to the ballroom, Burke spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about the opportunity to be a guest judge.
“I can’t believe it’s been three years [since I left]. … I’m just excited,” she told Us on Thursday, October 23. “It’s so special to go back home, I guess, to a place where I have spent most of my life in that ballroom.”
Burke also shared what she hoped to see from the couples still in the running for the mirrorball trophy.
“I’m definitely going to be looking for authenticity,” she explained. “I think, you know, that can be a big word, but authenticity meaning to the style of dance, and especially when it comes to ballroom. I mean, I am the first to say that I am definitely not an expert in contemporary or jazz, but I am in ballroom, and I will be looking for technique that’s executed the right way that has been written in technique books because that’s just what I know, right? So I’m going to focus and stay in my lane as far as that goes.”
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Burke emphasized that she was “not looking for perfection” while judging, adding, “It’s the imperfections and the detail that makes ballroom so beautiful.”
Behind the scenes, Burke has been anticipating her comeback for a while as she revealed conversations about her return were “probably happening for the past year.”
“I never thought that this day would come,” she told Us, describing it as “surreal” to be a guest judge after her long tenure as a pro. “And it’s great because I’m able to hopefully empower these couples. I’ve been watching closely, obviously, but even if I wasn’t judging, I’d be watching.”
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Elsewhere in her interview with Us, Burke reflected on her “heartbreaking” exit from Dancing With the Stars.
“It was the hardest decision of my life,” she said. “I mean, I’ve spent most of my life on that show, so I think the umbilical cord is still attached. Like, I love the show, and I have so many great memories, and it’s changed my life. It helped me find my voice in general, like, when I look back at my audition, it’s just insanity. I would say that I am the woman I am today because of the show, and I am grateful to just even be asked back and to also bring another perspective.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
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