How ‘Dancing With The Stars’ EP Conrad Green Expects ‘The Next Pro’ Champion To Shake Up The Season 35 Competition
Dancing with the Stars has confirmed Adele Zaikman as the newest professional dancer to join its Season 35 line-up, after she won the finale of summer spin-off series The Next Pro. Executive producer Conrad Green spoke to Deadline about how the Latin specialist is expected to inject fresh energy into the main show, which is coming off its most-watched season in nearly a decade, while also discussing how the spin-off complements the flagship series rather than competing with it.
The Next Pro finale saw three finalists each perform two choreographed routines alongside a former DWTS contestant or champion: Zaikman partnered with ex-contestant Nev Schulman, AJ Pritchard danced with former winner Charli D'Amelio, and Selena Hamilton was paired with former champion Adam Rippon. Zaikman's victory secures her a place among the Season 35 pros, who will be revealed alongside their celebrity partners during a live cast announcement on Good Morning America. Green also reflected on the spin-off's production, noting it was filmed in Australia last spring and judged solely by fellow professionals and coach Shirley Ballas, giving the touring pros a rare chance to be evaluated by their peers.
- Adele Zaikman wins The Next Pro, joins DWTS Season 35 as new pro.
- Season 35 cast and partners revealed live on Good Morning America.
- EP Conrad Green expects Zaikman to shake up the competition.
New here? Start with this
Adele Zaikman is a professional dancer known for her Latin speciality, and she has just been named the winner of The Next Pro, a summer spin-off of the long-running celebrity ballroom show Dancing with the Stars. Her victory earns her a spot as one of the professional dancers on the main show's upcoming 35th season, where she will be paired with a celebrity partner for the competition.
The Next Pro itself was a separate contest designed to find new talent for Dancing with the Stars, filmed in Australia and judged only by fellow dance professionals rather than the usual celebrity panel. Conrad Green, the executive producer of Dancing with the Stars, oversees the creative direction of both programmes and has been discussing what Zaikman's arrival might mean for the flagship series.
This matters because Dancing with the Stars is currently riding high after its most-watched season in almost ten years, and the show regularly refreshes its line-up of professional dancers to keep the format feeling new. The full cast of pros and celebrities for the new season is due to be announced live on the American breakfast programme Good Morning America.