Cheryl Stephanie Burke (born Stephanie Burke; May 3, 1984) 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).
Early life Stephanie Burke was born on May 3, 1984, in San Francisco, California, to Stephen Louis Burke (1950–2018) and Sherri Burke, a nurse and entrepreneur. Her father was Ashkenazi Jewish, while her mother is Filipina. When Burke was still an infant, her parents divorced and her father eventually moved to Thailand. Her mother later remarried and established a healthcare company. Burke legally changed her name to Cheryl in middle school after she was bullied by a classmate who shared her birth name. She later attended Menlo-Atherton High School.
Dancing with the Stars 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.Dancing With The Stars – Season 5 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.Olshansky, Elliot. "Tom DeLay withdraws from 'Dancing With the Stars,' 'Entourage' actress Debi Mazar booted" New York Daily News October 7, 2009
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.
Season Partner Place Average Score21st27.73326.8044th24.83517.3063rd25.2175th22.9182nd28.06913th16.33104th22.23116th22.77127th22.3313 Rob Kardashian2nd25.1314 William Levy3rd27.47154th26.7516D.L. Hughley9th16.6017Jack Osbourne3rd26.0618Drew Carey8th22.0019Antonio Sabàto Jr.21.4723Ryan Lochte7th21.7525Terrell Owens6th22.8227Juan Pablo Di Pace5th27.5528Ray Lewis11th15.0029AJ McLean7th22.8930Cody Rigsby3rd24.0631Sam Champion13th18.00
Performances Season 2: Celebrity Partner Drew Lachey Average: 27.7 Placed: 1st Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "She Bangs"888Safe2Quickstep/ "Neutron Dance"99927Safe3Jive/ "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"999Safe4Paso Doble/ "Thriller"9910Safe5Samba/ "Dirrty"9 9927Safe6Tango/ "Shut Up"101010Safe7Semi-finalsFoxtrot/ "It Had to Be You"998(26+SafeRumba/ "Total Eclipse of the Heart"109108FinalsPaso Doble/ "Thriller"101010(++)WONFreestyle/ "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"101010Jive/ "Hound Dog"999
Season 3: Celebrity Partner Emmitt Smith Average: 26.8 Placed: 1st Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultTotalInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "Son of a Preacher Man"88824Safe2Quickstep/ "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"88824Safe3Tango/ "Simply Irresistible"766Safe4Paso Doble/ "España cañí"88824Safe5Samba/ "Cha Cha"999Safe6Jive/ "Lewis Boogie Blues"88925No Elimination7Waltz/ "Hushabye Mountain"1099(28+)SafeMambo/ "Que Bueno Baila Usted"101098Foxtrot/ "Witchcraft"88954(25+)SafeRumba/ "Spooky"910109Semi-finalsWaltz/ "At This Moment"91010(+)Bottom TwoCha-Cha-Cha/ "Dance to the Music"10101010FinalsSamba/ "Sir Duke"101010(++)WONMambo/ "Que Bueno Baila Usted"101010Freestyle/ "U Can't Touch This"10109
Season 4: Celebrity Partner Ian Ziering Average: 24.8 Placed: 4th Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultTotalInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "Mony Mony"77721No elimination2Quickstep/ "Don't Get Me Wrong"78722Safe3Jive/ "Hard Headed Woman"888Safe4Waltz/ "He Was Beautiful"79824Safe5Samba/ "Dance Like This"88824Safe6Paso Doble/ "Waiting for Tonight"88824Safe7Tango/ "Holding Out for a Hero"99954(27++27)SafeMambo/ "Gimme the Light"9998Foxtrot/ "Baby, It's Cold Outside"87747(22+25)SafeRumba/ "Imagine"8899Semi-finalsTango/ "Maneater"9109(+)EliminatedJive/ "All Shook Up"101010
Season 5: Celebrity Partner Wayne Newton Average: 17.3 Placed: 10th Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "You're the First, the Last, My Everything"67619Safe2Quickstep / "Viva Las Vegas"555Bottom two3Tango / "La Cumparsita"666Eliminated
Season 6: Celebrity Partner Cristián de la Fuente Average: 25.2 Placed: 3rd Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultTotalInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "Bang Bang"77721No Elimination2Quickstep/ "Americano"76720Last To Be Called Safe3Jive/ "Don't Stop Me Now"88925Safe4Paso Doble/ "La Virgen de la Macarena"98926Safe5Rumba/ "If You're Not the One"78823Bottom Two6Foxtrot/ "Come Fly with Me"99927Safe7Viennese Waltz/ "I'll Make Love to You"Samba/ "Sobe Son"878797(25+)Safe8Tango/ "Beat It"Mambo/ "Saca Tu Mujer"101099910(28+)Safe9Semi-finalsViennese Waltz/ "Satellite"Samba/ "Sweetheart From Venezuela"9109991056(27+)Last To Be Called Safe10FinalsCha-Cha-Cha/ "Dancing on the Ceiling"Freestyle/ "Suavemente"89989952(26+)Third Place
Season 7: Celebrity Partner Maurice Greene Average: 22.9 Placed: 5th Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultTotalInabaGoodmanTonioli1Foxtrot/ "Doing it to Death"66639(18+21)SafeMambo/ "I Do the Jerk"777Safe2Rumba/ "Mercy Mercy Me"76619Safe3Jive/ "Rock Around the Clock"88824Safe4Samba/ "That's the Way (I Like It)"67720Safe5Salsa/ "Everything I Can't Have"99927Safe6Viennese Waltz/ "Gravity"77*721Safe7Cha-cha-cha/ "Cupid Shuffle"89854(25+)SafeTeam Paso Doble/ "Rocks"109108Quickstep/ "Puttin' on the Ritz"888(+)EliminatedPaso Doble/ "Let It Rock"888
Score was awarded by stand in judge Michael Flatley.
Season 8: Celebrity Partner Gilles Marini Average: 28.1 Placed: 2nd Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResultTotalInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-cha-cha/ "Addicted to Love"888No elimination2Quickstep/ "Kryptonite"999Safe3Samba/ "El Matador"999Safe4Argentine Tango/ "Assassin's Tango"101010Safe5Paso Doble/ "Habanera"10910Safe6Jive/ "Dance, Dance"98926Safe7Viennese Waltz/ "I Go to Sleep"9 9927Safe8Lindy Hop/ "Go Daddy-O"99955(27+)SafeTeam Tango/ "Womanizer"99109Foxtrot/ "Fever"1091056(+27)SafeRumba/ "Sexual Healing"99910Semi-finalsWaltz/ "Come Away with Me"101010(+)SafeSalsa/ "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"10101011FinalsPaso Doble/ "So What"101010(+28+)Second PlaceFreestyle/ "Flashdance (What a Feeling)"9109Argentine Tango/ "Assassin's Tango"101010
Season 9: Celebrity Partner Tom DeLay Average: 16.3 Placed: 13th Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-Cha-Cha/"Wild Thing"65520(16+)SafeViennese Waltz Relay/"I Am Your Man"Awarded4Points2Tango/"Por una Cabeza"66*6Safe3Samba/"Why Can't We Be Friends?"64515Withdrew
Score was awarded by stand in judge Baz Luhrmann.
Season 10: Celebrity Partner Chad Ochocinco Average: 22.2 Placed: 4th Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreTotalResultInabaGoodmanTonioli1Cha-Cha-Cha/"It's Just Begun"66618No Elimination2Foxtrot/"100 Years"65516Safe3Paso Doble/"Cancion Del Mariachi"76720Safe4(Technique Score+Performance Score)Rumba/"Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart"76844(21+23)Safe8785Quickstep/"The Bare Necessities"66618Safe6Argentine Tango/"El Sonido De La Milonga"88831(24+7)SafeSwing Marathon/"In The Mood"Awarded7Points7Viennese Waltz/"Sparks"Team Cha-Cha-Cha/"Telephone"89852(25+)SafeViennese Waltz/"Sparks"Team Cha-Cha-Cha/"Telephone"9998Tango/"Sweet Dreams"77745(+24)Last To Be Called Safe60s' Jive/"Love Man"8889Semi-finalsWaltz/"If You Don't Know Me By Now"999(+)EliminatedSamba/"Alejandro"889
Season 11: Celebrity Partner Rick Fox