Sharna Burgess DWTS return is officially happening
The Sharna Burgess DWTS return is officially happening, five years after the Australian professional dancer last competed on the ballroom floor.
Burgess confirmed Monday that she will return as a professional dancer for Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. She made the announcement during Good Morning America, putting an end to months of speculation about whether the fan-favorite professional would make another competitive comeback.
“I’m back!” Burgess announced while confirming that she will compete for another Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Her return marks her first competitive season since Season 30 in 2021. It will also be her 15th season competing as a professional on the ABC dance competition.
For longtime DWTS viewers, the announcement is a major surprise.
Burgess has been away from the competition for several years. During that time, her life changed significantly, including becoming a mother and building a family with actor Brian Austin Green, her former Season 30 partner.
Now, she says she is ready to return to the ballroom.
Sharna Burgess DWTS return comes after a long break
Burgess’ history with Dancing With the Stars stretches back more than a decade.
She first joined the show as a professional during Season 16 in 2013 after previously appearing with the troupe. Over the years, she became one of the competition’s most recognizable professional dancers.
Her career on the series includes four trips to the finals and a Mirrorball Trophy victory.
That championship came during Season 27 in 2018, when she was paired with radio personality Bobby Bones.
The victory was controversial among some DWTS fans because of the voting system and Bones’ large fan base. Nevertheless, Burgess and Bones officially finished the season as champions, giving the dancer her first Mirrorball Trophy.
Burgess continued competing after that championship, but her relationship with the show became more complicated.
She was not part of the Season 28 professional lineup following changes behind the scenes. She later returned for Seasons 29 and 30.
Her final competitive season before the current comeback was Season 30 in 2021.
Why did Sharna Burgess leave DWTS?
Burgess’ departure was not the result of one simple decision.
Her time away from the show unfolded through several different circumstances.
During the show’s creative restructuring, Burgess was among the established professionals who found themselves outside the lineup. She subsequently returned, competing in Seasons 29 and 30.
Her Season 30 partnership was particularly memorable because she was paired with Brian Austin Green.
The two developed a relationship while working together on the show and eventually became engaged. Their professional partnership therefore became an important part of Burgess’ personal life as well.
After Season 30, Burgess stepped away as she prepared for motherhood.
She and Green welcomed their son, Zane, and Burgess focused on family while also pursuing other professional opportunities.
The break eventually stretched much longer than some fans expected.
Motherhood played an important role in her decision
Burgess has previously explained that becoming a mother changed the way she approached a potential return.
She did not immediately rush back to the ballroom after giving birth.
In an interview earlier this month, Burgess revealed that DWTS producers had discussed a potential return with her before Season 34. However, she was not ready at that point because her son was not yet in school and she was concentrating on other areas of her life.
That makes her Season 35 comeback particularly significant.
The decision was not simply about getting another opportunity to compete.
It was about reaching a point in her life where she felt ready to dance again.
Burgess has also continued working outside the show, including acting and other projects. She told Us Weekly earlier this month that she had begun feeling that she needed dance back in her life.
Now, that feeling has become reality.
Burgess says it feels like coming home
During her Good Morning America announcement, Burgess made it clear that returning to the ballroom is an emotional experience.
She said she was excited to be back with her “dancing family” and described the return as feeling like coming home.
That sentiment is understandable given how much of her professional identity has been connected to Dancing With the Stars.
Burgess spent 14 seasons competing as a professional before her extended absence. She reached the finals four times and established herself as one of the show’s veteran dancers.
Her return therefore represents more than another name being added to the professional lineup.
It brings back a dancer who has been part of some of the show’s most memorable recent eras.
Sharna Burgess and Brian Austin Green’s DWTS history
One of the most interesting aspects of Burgess’ return is her connection to Brian Austin Green.
The pair met while competing together on Season 30 in 2021.
Their partnership developed into a romantic relationship, and they are now engaged.
Although Green will not be returning as her celebrity partner this season, their DWTS history remains an important part of Burgess’ story.
The ballroom was where the pair’s relationship became public, making Burgess’ return to the same environment particularly meaningful.
It also illustrates how dramatically her life has changed since her last full season.
When she competed in 2021, she was still navigating a new relationship.
Five years later, she is returning as a mother and an established member of the DWTS family.
Her Mirrorball victory remains a major career achievement
Before her departure, Burgess had already accomplished something many professional dancers on DWTS never achieve.
She won the Mirrorball Trophy.
Her Season 27 partnership with Bobby Bones produced one of the most debated victories in the show’s history. Despite criticism from sections of the audience, the pair received enough votes to win the championship.
For Burgess, the win remains an important part of her legacy.
She has also reached the finals multiple times, demonstrating that her success was not based solely on one championship run.
Her return could therefore give her another opportunity to compete for a second Mirrorball Trophy.
Whether she can make another deep run will depend heavily on the celebrity partner she receives.
Sharna Burgess’ partner has not yet been revealed
One major question remains unanswered.
Who will dance with Burgess?
The celebrity-professional pairings for the entire Season 35 cast have not yet been revealed. ABC reports that the complete cast and partnerships will be announced on September 2.
Several celebrities have already been confirmed for the upcoming season.
Among them are Summer House star Ciara Miller, The Traitors personality Maura Higgins, Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson and Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality Guillermo Rodriguez.
Guillermo Rodriguez is already confirmed to be partnered with returning professional Witney Carson.
That leaves several potential celebrities available for Burgess and the other professionals whose partners have not yet been announced.
The eventual pairing could have a major impact on her comeback.
DWTS Season 35 is shaping up to be a major season
Burgess’ return is only one of several changes surrounding the upcoming season.
Season 35 is bringing together returning veterans, established champions and newer professionals.
The cast includes familiar faces such as Witney Carson, while newer dancers are also becoming part of the show’s professional lineup.
The franchise has also been experimenting with its professional pipeline through Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, a competition designed to identify new talent for the main show.
That makes Burgess’ comeback particularly interesting.
She represents the experienced generation of DWTS professionals returning to a ballroom that continues to evolve.
The five-year absence could make Burgess’ comeback different
Burgess will return to a competition that has changed since she last competed.
The show has introduced new professionals, new celebrity personalities and new audiences through streaming.
At the same time, the core challenge remains unchanged.
Professional dancers must teach celebrities complicated choreography, prepare them for live television and help them handle the pressure of weekly eliminations.
Burgess has already demonstrated that she knows how to do all of that.
However, her circumstances are different now.
She is returning after years away rather than moving directly from one season to the next.
That could make the experience both challenging and exciting.
Fans have been waiting for her return
The possibility of Burgess returning has been discussed for some time.
Earlier this year, she indicated that producers had already explored the idea of bringing her back. At that stage, she wasn’t ready to make the commitment.
Her decision changed as she began feeling that dance was missing from her life.
That makes the eventual announcement feel less like a publicity stunt and more like the conclusion of a long personal process.
For viewers who followed Burgess during her original run, her return offers a chance to see a familiar professional in a completely different chapter of her life.
When does DWTS Season 35 premiere?
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is scheduled to premiere across two nights.
The first episode will air Tuesday, September 15, followed by the second episode Wednesday, September 16. Both episodes are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day.
The full list of celebrity-professional pairings will be revealed on September 2.
That announcement should finally answer the biggest question surrounding Burgess’ comeback: who will be standing beside her when she returns to the ballroom?
A new chapter for Sharna Burgess
The Sharna Burgess DWTS return is more than a nostalgic comeback.
It is the return of a professional dancer who left the competition after a major transition in her personal life.
She departed after Season 30, became a mother, continued developing her career outside the show and eventually reached a point where she wanted to dance competitively again.
Now, five years after her last full season, Burgess is officially back.
She returns with a Mirrorball Trophy already on her résumé, four finals appearances and 14 seasons of experience.
But the biggest difference may be the person returning to the ballroom.
The Sharna Burgess who competed in 2021 was beginning a new chapter.
The Sharna Burgess returning in 2026 is coming back as a mother, an engaged partner and a veteran professional who knows exactly what it takes to compete under the Dancing With the Stars spotlight.
Her next chapter begins September 15.
And this time, she is coming home.
