Witney Carson DWTS Article
Witney Carson is stepping into a new role within the Dancing With the Stars universe as the competition searches for the next professional dancer who could eventually join the flagship series.
Carson is serving as the final guest coach on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, the new spinoff designed to identify emerging dancers capable of competing at the highest level of the franchise. The series follows a group of aspiring professionals as they face challenges intended to test their technical ability, performance skills, versatility and ability to work with celebrity partners.
The competition has now narrowed to five dancers: Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, Nina Mayster, AJ Pritchard and Adele Zaikman. One of them will ultimately earn the opportunity to join the professional ranks of Dancing With the Stars.
Carson brings considerable experience to the competition. She joined Dancing With the Stars as a troupe member in 2013 before becoming a professional dancer the following year. She has since developed into one of the show’s most accomplished professionals, winning the Mirrorball Trophy twice.
Her first championship came during Season 19, when she partnered with Alfonso Ribeiro. More recently, she won Season 34 with Robert Irwin, adding another championship to her résumé and further establishing herself as one of the show’s most successful professionals.
Now, Carson is helping evaluate dancers who hope to follow the same path she took more than a decade ago.
Carson’s Perspective as a Professional
Carson’s involvement in The Next Pro gives the contestants an opportunity to learn directly from someone who understands what it takes to transition from an aspiring dancer into a professional on one of television’s most demanding dance competitions.
The new spinoff is designed to look beyond technical dancing ability. Contestants must demonstrate that they can adapt, perform under pressure and connect with a partner, all qualities that become particularly important when professional dancers are paired with celebrities who may have little or no ballroom experience.
The competition has featured several established Dancing With the Stars professionals serving as coaches and mentors. Brandon Armstrong, Daniella Karagach and Britt Stewart have already worked with the contestants during the competition.
Carson’s appearance comes as the series approaches its final episode and the stakes become significantly higher for the remaining dancers.
The Final Five
The remaining competitors are fighting for considerably more than a trophy. The winner will have the opportunity to join the professional ranks of Dancing With the Stars, potentially launching a career on one of television’s longest-running reality competition programs.
Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, Nina Mayster, AJ Pritchard and Adele Zaikman have each survived multiple rounds of challenges designed to separate promising dancers from those ready for the demands of the main show.
The competition has already produced difficult eliminations, including the departure of Erik Linder, whose elimination surprised viewers after several strong performances.
The final episode of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro is scheduled to air August 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
Carson Is Heading Back to ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Carson’s involvement with The Next Pro comes as she prepares for another major season of Dancing With the Stars.
The professional dancer confirmed that she will return for Season 35 and revealed that her celebrity partner will be Guillermo Rodriguez, best known for his longtime role on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Carson described Rodriguez as fun, personable and sweet, saying those qualities were exactly what she wanted from her partner this season.
Her return is also significant because Carson announced that she is pregnant with her third child with husband Carson McAllister. The couple already have two sons, Leo and Jet.
Carson has said she plans to compete during the upcoming season as long as she and the baby remain healthy. She acknowledged that competing while pregnant presents a new challenge, but she has also described the opportunity to continue dancing while expanding her family as something she is proud of.
A New Chapter for the Franchise
The timing of Carson’s role on The Next Pro highlights how the Dancing With the Stars franchise is expanding beyond its traditional fall competition.
Rather than simply introducing another season of celebrity dancers, the new spinoff gives viewers a look at the professional side of the franchise and the intense competition involved in earning a place in the ballroom.
For Carson, it is also an opportunity to help shape the next generation of professionals while continuing her own career on the show.
With only five dancers remaining, the final decision will determine who gets the opportunity to join the professional ranks. The winner could soon be sharing the ballroom with the very professionals who helped evaluate them, including Carson herself.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is scheduled to premiere September 15 and 16 in a two-night event on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day. The complete celebrity lineup and professional pairings are scheduled to be revealed September 2.
