‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’ Cast: All the Dancers Vying for a Spot on Season 35

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Plus, The Hollywood Reporter breaks down all the judges and mentors who will appear on the spinoff.

July 14, 2026 8:00pm

Published on July 14, 2026

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Dancing With the Stars is getting ready to welcome the addition of a new professional dancer at the end of Next Pro.

The spinoff stars a group of 12 dancers who must compete in weekly challenges for a shot at becoming the next pro dancer on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. Only time will tell who will win the series, securing a spot in the main series’ recurring cast.

With new episodes airing Mondays, The Hollywood Reporter is breaking down all the details on the cast of dancers, who was eliminated each week, the judges and mentors.

Robert Irwin

Season 34 champion Robert Irwin serves as the host of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

Mark Ballas

Three-time Mirrorball Champion Mark Ballas is one of two permanent judges on Next Pro. He joined Dancing With the Stars’ season five cast as a pro, and has become a mainstay on the recurring pro cast.

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas, mother to Mark, is the second recurring Next Pro judge. She is a staple in the ballroom dance world, and also serves as the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing.

Derek Hough

Dancing With the Stars judge and six-time Mirrorball Champion Derek Hough was the first Next Pro guest judge. He taught the dancers jive and samba numbers, where judging technique was at the forefront of the premiere week.

Briar Nolet

AGE 27

FROM Los Angeles

SPECIALITY Commercial dance.

Briar Nolet was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro.

Jake Monreal

AGE 22

FROM Miami

SPECIALITY Latin

Jake Monreal was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro. Before appearing on the show, Jake joined the Dancing With the Stars family as a junior pro dancer on the Juniors spinoff, where he was mentored by Sasha Farber.

Adele Zaikman

AGE 24

FROM Los Angeles

SPECIALITY Latin

AJ Pritchard

AGE 31

FROM London

SPECIALITY Ballroom/Latin

AJ Pritchard is the brother to Love Island alum Curtis Pritchard.

Allen Genkin

AGE 36

FROM San Jose, California

SPECIALITY Latin

Benjamin Castro

AGE 25

FROM Miami

SPECIALITY Latin/Commercial Dance

Erik Linder

AGE 26

FROM Tampa, Florida

SPECIALITY Latin

Natalie Jolley

AGE 20

FROM New York, New York

SPECIALITY Ballroom

Nina Mayster

AGE 28

FROM Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SPECIALITY Latin

Selena Hamilton

AGE 21

FROM Los Angeles

SPECIALITY Commercial

Stephani Sosa

AGE 26

FROM Los Angeles

SPECIALITY Ballroom/Latin

Stephani Sosa was part of Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 troupe. She is also the sister to pro dancer Ezra Sosa.

Tristen Sanders

AGE 28

FROM Atlanta, Georgia

SPECIALITY Ballroom/Hip-hop

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC, with episodes available to stream Tuesdays on Disney+ and Hulu.

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