Cheryl Burke Reveals What it was Like Dancing with Covid-19 on ‘DWTS’
ABC/Eric McCandless Reading Time: 2 minutes
Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Cheryl Burke appeared as a guest on judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s interview series “Carrie Ann Conversations.” The focus of the series is wellness, but the women also spent some time talking about their experience on the long-running talent show.
Cheryl Burke Reflects on Dancing with COVID on ‘DWTS’
Inaba said the cast of the show is like a family, and Burke agreed, saying, “There’s a bond that’s hard to explain in words, because we have been here from the beginning. And not a lot of people can say they’ve been a part of a show for this many seasons.”
Burke said it’s a “feel-good show” no matter what scores the judges give her. She went on to jokingly call out Inaba for how she scored Burke’s remote performance with Cody Rigsby when they tested positive for COVID-19. (Inaba gave them a 6.)
She said dancing by herself on her living room tile was “the worst feeling in the world.” She also had to put the equipment together herself from quarantine. As she recalled, “I’m in a see-through little mini get-up coughing up a lung.”
However, the experience also gave her a new appreciation for the show. As she explained, “I learned that it takes a freaking village, and it made me feel a whole new appreciation towards the crew … I also felt so accomplished that I did this on my own, with the help of everybody.”
SEE ALSO: ‘DWTS’ PRO CHERYL BURKE FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM HUSBAND MATTHEW LAWRENCE
Carrie Ann Inaba Says Season 30 Was Most ‘Inclusive’
Inaba reflected on the most recent season of Dancing with the Stars, calling it “inclusive” and adding, “It just felt like we really represented the world. And I thought artistically as well … we went further than ever. I think this year, the competition was tougher than it’s ever been.”
Season 30 featured the show’s first-ever same-sex pairing, as JoJo Siwa danced with female partner Jenna Johnson. They ended up finishing the competition in second place behind Iman Shumpert, who became the first basketball player to win the show with his partner Daniella Karagach.
Burke agreed, saying this past season was more about heart than technique. She shared that everyone got along, and she and Rigsby felt the support of everyone involved in the show when they got COVID. Burke said Season 30 “brought back the heart of the show.”
