See the First Look at “Dancing with the Stars” Spinoff “The Next Pro” as 12 Dancers Compete to Join Season 35 (Exclusive)
See the First Look at “Dancing with the Stars” Spinoff “The Next Pro” as 12 Dancers Compete to Join Season 35 (Exclusive)
Julia MooreWed, May 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC
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Britt Stewart on 'Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro'Credit: ABC -
PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, a new competition series hosted by Robert Irwin
In The Next Pro, 12 dancers compete for a spot on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars
The Next Pro premieres July 13 on ABC and Hulu
A new era of Dancing with the Stars is coming.
In July, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro will see reining Mirrorball Champion Robert Irwin oversee a fierce new spinoff series as 12 dancers compete for a spot on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the new series. "For the first time in Dancing with the Stars history, the greatest dancers will compete for a spot as the next pro," Irwin says, introducing the "exciting new competition."
Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, are both judges on The Next Pro, and the first look reveals that DWTS judge Derek Hough and DWTS pro Britt Stewart will be among the rotating guest judges.
While Mark, Hough and Stewart are all full of compliments in the clip, Shirley establishes that she's going to be all tough love. "It was 100 percent the wrong choice," she tells one of the contestants.
Britt Stewart on 'Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro'
Credit: ABC
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"This is like a bootcamp that I've never experienced in my life," one contestant says in the teaser, while another promises to be "a problem."
"Let the fiercest dance battle begin," Irwin, 22, declares.
Per an official synopsis, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro "features 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.”
Along with Mark, Shirley — “The Queen of Latin” — and guest judges Hough and Stewart, several other DWTS pros will appear as mentors and guest judges throughout the season.
'Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro' poster
Credit: ABC
As season 35 of DWTS approaches, three contestants have already been confirmed for the new lineup: Summer House star Ciara Miller, Love Island and Traitors alum Maura Higgins, and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson will all compete.
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro premieres Monday, July 13, on ABC and Hulu.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
