Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro | Cast, Judges, & Format
The Concept: A New Kind of Pressure
For over two decades, we’ve watched celebrities struggle, sweat, and sparkle on the “Dancing with the Stars” stage. But if you’ve watched the show for years, you know the pros have always been the secret sauce. They’re the ones teaching complete beginners, creating brand-new routines every week, and pushing their partners to be the best they can be. Now, for the first time, they’re finally getting a competition of their own.
If you thought the celebrities had it tough, this takes things to another level. “The Next Pro” combines the intensity of a dance conservatory, the social dynamics of a reality series, and the production value we’ve come to expect from the franchise. Instead of competing for a Mirrorball Trophy alongside a celebrity, these 12 dancers are all chasing one prize: a spot on the professional dancer lineup.
That’s a huge opportunity, and it immediately raises the stakes. It’s not enough to be an incredible dancer. They also have to prove they can teach, choreograph, connect with an audience, and handle life in front of the cameras. Being a “DWTS” pro has always been about so much more than technique, and this competition looks designed to test every part of the job.
Meet the Host: A Familiar Face
Guiding the competition is none other than Robert Irwin, and honestly, this feels like a really natural fit. Production even began in Brisbane, allowing Robert to continue his conservation work while taking on hosting duties. What makes him such a strong choice isn’t just that audiences already know and like him. He also knows exactly what it feels like to be thrown into the “DWTS” world. Having competed himself, he understands, at least to some extent, the pressure, the nerves, and the excitement these dancers will be experiencing.
Moving from contestant to host feels like a natural next step. Robert has that easygoing personality that helps people feel comfortable, but he also brings plenty of energy when the competition heats up. That combination makes him a great bridge between the contestants and the audience. Also, he’s just such a Darl! (The Aussies out there will know).
The Judges’ Table: World-Class Expertise
If you’re searching for the next generation of “DWTS” pros, you need judges who’ve lived that experience themselves.
Leading the panel is legendary ballroom champion, Shirley Ballas. Long before becoming Head Judge on “Strictly Come Dancing,” she built one of the most respected competitive careers in Latin dance, earning her reputation as the “Queen of Latin.”
Joining her is three-time Mirrorball champion (and her son) Mark Ballas, whose creativity has made him one of the most memorable pros in Dancing with the Stars history. His choreography has always pushed boundaries, so it’ll be interesting to see what catches his eye and what he expects from these competitors.
The third chair will rotate between veteran pros from the main series, bringing in familiar faces like Daniella Karagach, Derek Hough, and Witney Carson as both judges and mentors. This is actually a really great idea because it gives the competition a passing-of-the-torch feeling. These are the dancers who helped define the franchise, and now they get to help shape its future, and who knows better what it takes than them?
The Cast: 12 Dancers: One Prize
The cast pulls together talent from all over the world, creating a really interesting mix of backgrounds and specialties.
Among the competitors are Benjamin Castro from Miami, Ukrainian ballroom standout Nina Mayster, Canadian contemporary star Briar Nolet, former “Strictly Come Dancing” professional AJ Pritchard, “Juniors” pro Jake Monreal and former “DWTS” troupe member Stephani Sosa. They’re joined by Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, Natalie Jolley, Erik Linder, Adele Zaikman, and Tristen Sanders.
What’s especially interesting here is the variety of dance styles represented. Ballroom is obviously the heart of the competition, but there are also dancers whose backgrounds lean more toward contemporary and hip-hop.
We can already imagine that being a bit divisive among longtime fans. Some people will probably want a purely ballroom cast, while others will enjoy seeing dancers pushed outside their comfort zones. But looking at the series these days, versatility has become a huge part of the competition. The pros are constantly adapting to different styles and different celebrities, so it makes sense for the competition to test that flexibility too.
What to Expect: Challenges & Format
From everything we’ve seen so far, “The Next Pro” looks like it’s recreating the experience of being a “DWTS” professional, only with even more pressure.
Technique will obviously be front and center. The premiere challenge alone has contestants tackling the jive and samba under the watchful eye of Derek Hough, with the weakest pairing heading home. That’s a pretty intense way to kick off the competition. But being a pro has never been just about perfect footwork.
The dancers also need to prove they can choreograph, adapt, perform under pressure, and most importantly, teach. Anyone can dance for themselves. Teaching someone else, especially someone with little or no dance experience, is a completely different skill, and that’s one of the biggest parts of the job they’re ultimately auditioning for. And as we already mentioned, current and former pros will also step in to offer feedback throughout.
One of the biggest changes from the main series is how eliminations work. Unlike “Dancing with the Stars,” where viewers help decide who stays and who goes, “The Next Pro” leaves those decisions entirely in the hands of the judging panel. That means every rehearsal, every challenge, and every performance carries even more weight.
Of course, there’s another element that could be just as entertaining as the dancing. These 12 highly competitive dancers are also living together throughout the competition. Between rehearsals, auditions, eliminations, and life under one roof, it doesn’t take much imagination to picture some interesting personalities clashing along the way.
And with just eight episodes to earn a position on the “DWTS” roster, there’s very little time to recover from a bad week. Every performance could make or break someone’s shot at joining the professional cast.
Why You Should Watch
For many longtime fans, the professional dancers have always been one of the biggest reasons to tune in every season.
We’ve watched them grow, celebrate wins, overcome setbacks, build friendships, fall in love, and become household names in their own right. Bringing fresh talent into that lineup has always been important, but we’ve never really seen what that process looks like. That’s what makes “The Next Pro” feel so exciting.
We’re finally getting a look at what it actually takes to earn one of those coveted spots on the ballroom floor. It shines a spotlight on the artistry, creativity, and work ethic that have always been at the heart of the franchise.
With the premiere just around the corner on July 13, there’s already plenty to look forward to. It’ll be fascinating to see which dancers rise to the occasion, whether the ballroom specialists have the advantage, or if one of the more unexpected competitors ends up stealing the spotlight.
One thing’s for sure: if you’ve ever found yourself wondering what it takes to make it as a pro, this is probably going to be a series worth checking out.
Will you be tuning in? Let us know what your hopes are for the series in the comments
