Cheryl Stephanie Burke is an American professional dancer, model, and television host. She is best known for her appearances on the ABC competition series Dancing with the Stars, which she performed on for twenty-six seasons. Burke is the first female pro to win the series, as well as the first pro to win two consecutive seasons.
Outside of Dancing with the Stars, Burke finished in second place on the NBC series I Can Do That (2015). She later replaced Abby Lee Miller as the main dance coach on Dance Moms (2017).
Burke joined Dancing with the Stars in its second season and won her first mirror ball trophy with 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey. She won her second championship with retired football star Emmitt Smith in the third season. Burke returned on March 19, 2007, for season four, partnered with actor Ian Ziering. She and Ziering were eliminated in the semifinals on May 15, 2007.
Burke participated in a 38-city Dancing with the Stars tour from December 19, 2006, to February 11, 2007. She also joined the second summer tour, which visited 24 cities between June 20, 2007, in Austin, Texas, and July 24, 2007, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Lachey was her celebrity partner for each tour. Burke competed on season 5 with Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton. They were the third couple eliminated from the competition, on October 9, 2007.
Burke participated with both Lachey and Newton in the Dancing with the Stars winter tour that began on December 18, 2007, in Seattle, Washington. The tour ended in Philadelphia on February 10, 2008. Burke competed on season 6 with actor Cristián de la Fuente. They trained at the Paramount Ballroom in Palm Beach, Florida. They made it to the finals and on May 20, 2008, placed third.
Burke returned to the show for season 7 with partner Maurice Greene. They were eliminated in week 8 on November 11, 2008, and finished in fifth place. She returned to the show's eighth season with actor Gilles Marini. They finished as runners-up, losing to Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas. Burke competed on the ninth season with former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay. On October 6, 2009, they withdrew from the competition because DeLay had stress fractures in both feet.
For Toy Story 3, Burke choreographed the paso doble with Tony Dovolani and did a performance accompanied by the Gipsy Kings live. She also made a fitness video based on Latin dances with Maksim Chmerkovskiy as co-instructors.
In season ten, she was partnered with Chad Ochocinco. They were eliminated in the semi-finals and came in fourth place. Rick Fox was partnered with Burke in the show's eleventh season. They were eliminated in the seventh week of the competition and came in sixth place. For the twelfth season, she was partnered with wrestler Chris Jericho. They were eliminated in the sixth week of the competition. In the thirteenth season, Burke was partnered with reality star Rob Kardashian. They came in second place, losing to J. R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff. In the fourteenth season, Cheryl Burke was partnered with actor William Levy. The couple made it to the finals and finished in third place.
In season 15, Burke returned with former partner and season 3 Champion, Emmitt Smith for a chance to win another mirrorball trophy. They were eliminated in the semi-finals. For season 16, Burke was partnered with comedian D. L. Hughley, finishing in ninth place after being eliminated in the fifth week of competition. During week 8, she danced a Paso Doble with Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff in the trio challenge. For season 17, she was partnered with media personality Jack Osbourne. Osbourne's struggle with multiple sclerosis was a source of inspiration to Burke. They made it to the finals and came in third place.
For season 18, she was paired with game show host and actor Drew Carey. They were eliminated on week 6 and ended in eighth place. For season 19, she was paired with soap star Antonio Sabàto Jr. The couple was eliminated on week 7 and finished in eighth place. After season 19, Burke chose to leave DWTS for some time after her contract expired to pursue other projects.
On August 30, 2016, it was announced that Burke would be returning to the show to compete on season 23. She was partnered with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. After a season off, Burke again returned for season 25, her 20th season as a pro. She was paired with former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens and finished in sixth place. After taking another season off, she returned once again for season 27 where she was paired with actor Juan Pablo Di Pace. Despite having earned five perfect scores and holding the highest average of the season, they were eliminated in the semi-finals.
Burke returned again for season 28 where she was partnered with former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis. However, on week 3, the couple withdrew from the competition due to Lewis suffering a torn tendon in his foot. For season 29, she was partnered with Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean, coming in seventh place. For season 30, Burke was partnered with Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, they reached the finals and were placed third. She was partnered with Good Morning America meteorologist Sam Champion for season 31. On November 20, 2022, it was announced that Burke would retire as a pro dancer on the show after season 31 finale. On October 28, 2025, Burke returned as a guest judge on Halloween Night during season 34.
