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Cheryl Burke Leaves ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for New NBC Variety Show

Cheryl Burke is leaving Dancing With the Stars to star on a new NBC variety show. “I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” Burke told People. “But after a decade of somethin...
Cheryl Burke Leaves ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for New NBC Variety Show
Written by Pam Wright
  • Cheryl Burke is leaving Dancing With the Stars to star on a new NBC variety show.

    “I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” Burke told People. “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.”

    It looks like the dancer is heading to NBC to star in a developing variety show.

    “Cheryl is leaving the ABC series for a new variety show on NBC,” a source told Us Weekly. “The new NBC show is in its very early stages, but likely will be a competition reality series and Burke will perform.”

    The news that she is leaving DWTS does not come as a surprise. In September, the 30-year-old dancing pro hinted that she would be leaving the reality dance competition.

    “As of now, this is probably going to be my last season. I started when I was 20. I’m 30. I feel like I just want to try new things and just see what’s out there,” she said on Good Morning America on Sept. 15.

    “Contractually, my contract is over and there’s other opportunities that have been out there for me,” she added to TV Guide in October. “It’s so hard for me to talk about this, because I owe my life to Dancing with the Stars. They’ve changed my life completely. They’re my family and it’s always hard to say goodbye…to a bunch of people that really believed in me from the start, and continued to believe in me for the last 10 years.”

    Burke joined DWTS in 2006 and was teamed up this last season with former soap star Antonio Sabato Jr. She told People she is ready to start this new chapter in her life.

    “Instead of teaching people how to dance, I need to be taught something,” Burke said. “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.”

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