Cheryl Burke, who has been with ABC’s Dancing with the Stars from the beginning, revealed this week that this past season of the show would be her last.
“I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” Burke told People magazine. “But after a decade of something, it’s time for me to move on and try something different, to be challenged, to feel inspired. Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life. Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”
Burke already has another project lined up – a variety show on NBC that’ll commence sometime in 2015. She’ll be one of a number of stars competing on the unnamed program.
“Instead of teaching people how to dance, I need to be taught something,” Burke explained. “I need to feed my brain with other knowledge. This was a perfect opportunity. My contract was very restrictive on Dancing with the Stars so I couldn’t do anything else. I’ve been waiting to add to my résumé now for years.”
Prior to officially announcing her plans to retire, rumors suggested that Burke might follow in former DWTS dance pro Julianne Hough‘s steps and join the show’s judging panel. Burke shut down the suggestion, explaining she wouldn’t be comfortable critiquing the people she’s been working alongside for 10 years.
“I would rather judge in America’s Got Talent than Dancing with the Stars,” she said. “They are my friends. I’m blunt and very honest. We all take it personally. It would be very hard for me to judge my friends.”
During the final show of season 19, Burke, who was partnered with Antonio Sabato Jr., was caught on camera misting up during the group number that kicked off the program. Burke admits that she became emotional, knowing it would be her last performance on the show.
“I was bawling, knowing the opening number would be my last number,” Burke recalled. “I’m still not over it. It will be really hard for me to watch the new contestants next year, but I’ll be cheering everybody on. I hope they do the same for me.”
The 20th season of Dancing with the Stars will kickoff in the spring of 2015.
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