Cheryl Burke

Early life

Stephanie Burke was born on May 3, 1984, in San Francisco, California, to Stephen Louis Burke (1950–2018) and Sherri Burke, a nurse and entrepreneur. Her father was Ashkenazi Jewish, while her mother is Filipina. When Burke was still an infant, her parents divorced and her father eventually moved to Thailand. Her mother later remarried and established a healthcare company. Burke legally changed her name to Cheryl in middle school after she was bullied by a classmate who shared her birth name. She later attended Menlo-Atherton High School.

''Dancing with the Stars''

Burke joined Dancing with the Stars in its second season and won her first mirror ball trophy with 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey. She won her second championship with retired football star Emmitt Smith in the third season. Burke returned on March 19, 2007, for season four, partnered with actor Ian Ziering. She and Ziering were eliminated in the semifinals on May 15, 2007.

Burke participated in a 38-city Dancing with the Stars tour from December 19, 2006, to February 11, 2007. She also joined the second summer tour, which visited 24 cities between June 20, 2007, in Austin, Texas, and July 24, 2007, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Lachey was her celebrity partner for each tour. Burke competed on season 5 with Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton. They were the third couple eliminated from the competition, on October 9, 2007.

Burke participated with both Lachey and Newton in the Dancing with the Stars winter tour that began on December 18, 2007, in Seattle, Washington. The tour ended in Philadelphia on February 10, 2008. Burke competed on season 6 with actor Cristián de la Fuente. They trained at the Paramount Ballroom in Palm Beach, Florida. They made it to the finals and on May 20, 2008, placed third.

Burke returned to the show for season 7 with partner Maurice Greene. They were eliminated in week 8 on November 11, 2008, and finished in fifth place. She returned to the show's eighth season with actor Gilles Marini. They finished as runners-up, losing to Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas. Burke competed on the ninth season with former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay. On October 6, 2009, they withdrew from the competition because DeLay had stress fractures in both feet.

For Toy Story 3, Burke choreographed the paso doble with Tony Dovolani and did a performance accompanied by the Gipsy Kings live. She also made a fitness video based on Latin dances with Maksim Chmerkovskiy as co-instructors.

In season ten, she was partnered with Chad Ochocinco. They were eliminated in the semi-finals and came in fourth place. Rick Fox was partnered with Burke in the show's eleventh season. They were eliminated in the seventh week of the competition and came in sixth place. For the twelfth season, she was partnered with wrestler Chris Jericho. They were eliminated in the sixth week of the competition. In the thirteenth season, Burke was partnered with reality star Rob Kardashian. They came in second place, losing to J. R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff. In the fourteenth season, Cheryl Burke was partnered with actor William Levy. The couple made it to the finals and finished in third place.

In season 15, Burke returned with former partner and season 3 Champion, Emmitt Smith for a chance to win another mirrorball trophy. They were eliminated in the semi-finals. For season 16, Burke was partnered with comedian D. L. Hughley, finishing in ninth place after being eliminated in the fifth week of competition. During week 8, she danced a Paso Doble with Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff in the trio challenge. For season 17, she was partnered with media personality Jack Osbourne. Osbourne's struggle with multiple sclerosis was a source of inspiration to Burke. They made it to the finals and came in third place.

For season 18, she was paired with game show host and actor Drew Carey. They were eliminated on week 6 and ended in eighth place. For season 19, she was paired with soap star Antonio Sabàto Jr. The couple was eliminated on week 7 and finished in eighth place. After season 19, Burke chose to leave DWTS for some time after her contract expired to pursue other projects.

On August 30, 2016, it was announced that Burke would be returning to the show to compete on season 23. She was partnered with Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. After a season off, Burke again returned for season 25, her 20th season as a pro. She was paired with former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens and finished in sixth place. After taking another season off, she returned once again for season 27 where she was paired with actor Juan Pablo Di Pace. Despite having earned five perfect scores and holding the highest average of the season, they were eliminated in the semi-finals.

Burke returned again for season 28 where she was partnered with former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis. However, on week 3, the couple withdrew from the competition due to Lewis suffering a torn tendon in his foot. For season 29, she was partnered with Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean, coming in seventh place. For season 30, Burke was partnered with Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby, they reached the finals and were placed third. She was partnered with Good Morning America meteorologist Sam Champion for season 31. On November 20, 2022, it was announced that Burke would retire as a pro dancer on the show after season 31 finale. On October 28, 2025, Burke returned as a guest judge on Halloween Night during season 34.

Performances

Season 2: Celebrity Partner [[Drew Lachey]]

• Average: 27.7
• Placed: 1st

Season 3: Celebrity Partner [[Emmitt Smith]]

• Average: 26.8
• Placed: 1st

Season 4: Celebrity Partner [[Ian Ziering]]

• Average: 24.8
• Placed: 4th

Season 5: Celebrity Partner [[Wayne Newton]]

• Average: 17.3
• Placed: 10th

Season 6: Celebrity Partner [[Cristián de la Fuente]]

• Average: 25.2
• Placed: 3rd

Season 7: Celebrity Partner [[Maurice Greene (athlete)|Maurice Greene]]

• Average: 22.9
• Placed: 5th

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Michael Flatley.

Season 8: Celebrity Partner [[Gilles Marini]]

• Average: 28.1
• Placed: 2nd

Season 9: Celebrity Partner [[Tom DeLay]]

• Average: 16.3
• Placed: 13th

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Baz Luhrmann.

Season 10: Celebrity Partner [[Chad Ochocinco]]

• Average: 22.2
• Placed: 4th

Season 11: Celebrity Partner [[Rick Fox]]

• Average: 22.3
• Placed: 6th

Season 12: Celebrity Partner [[Chris Jericho]]

• Average: 22.3
• Placed: 7th

Season 13: Celebrity Partner [[Rob Kardashian]]

• Average: 25.1
• Placed: 2nd

Season 14: Celebrity Partner [[William Levy (actor)|William Levy]]

• Average: 27.5
• Placed: 3rd

Season 15: Celebrity Partner [[Emmitt Smith]]

• Average: 26.7
• Placed: 4th

Season 16: Celebrity partner [[D.L. Hughley]]

• Average: 16.6
• Place: 9th

Season 17: Celebrity partner [[Jack Osbourne]]

• Average score: 26.1
• Placed: 3rd

Season 18: Celebrity partner [[Drew Carey]]

• Average: 22.0
• Place: 8th

1Score by guest judge Robin Roberts.

2For this week only, as part of the "Partner Switch-Up" week, Drew Carey did not perform with Burke and instead performed with Witney Carson. Burke performed with James Maslow.

3Score by guest judge Julianne Hough.

4Score by guest judge Donny Osmond.

5Score by guest judge Redfoo.

Season 19: Celebrity partner [[Antonio Sabàto Jr.]]

• Average: 28.6
• Placed: 8th

1Score given by guest judge Kevin Hart in place of Goodman.

2The American public scored the dance in place of Goodman with the averaged score being counted alongside the three other judges.

3This week only, for "Partner Switch-Up" week, Sabàto Jr. performed with Allison Holker instead of Burke while she performed with Alfonso Ribeiro.

4Score given by guest judge Jessie J in place of Goodman.

5Score given by guest judge Pitbull in place of Goodman.

Season 23: Celebrity partner [[Ryan Lochte]]

• Average: 28.9
• Placed: 7th

1 Score given by guest judge Pitbull.

Season 25: Celebrity partner [[Terrell Owens]]

• Average: 22.8
• Place: 6th

1 Score given by guest judge Shania Twain.

Season 27: Celebrity partner [[Juan Pablo Di Pace]]

• Average: 27.5
• Place: 5th

Season 28: Celebrity partner [[Ray Lewis]]

• Average: 15.0
• Place: 11th

Season 29: Celebrity partner [[AJ McLean]]

• Average: 22.9
• Place: 7th

Season 30: Celebrity partner [[Cody Rigsby]]

• Average: 32.1
• Place: 3rd

Season 31: Celebrity partner [[Sam Champion]]

• Average: 24.0
• Place: 13th

Other television appearances

Burke had a guest role on the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, in the episode "Loosely Ballroom" along with fellow DWTS professionals Louis van Amstel, Ashly DelGrosso, and Lacey Schwimmer. She portrayed Shannon, a nurse attending to the ensemble cast during a dance contest at the series setting, The Tipton Hotel. In the final round of the competition, Burke's character volunteers to replace an ill competitor (Carey). She and her partner, Esteban, go on to win the competition.

She finished in second place on the first season of I Can Do That, losing to Nicole Scherzinger on the final three-person-super-group performance, having led the competition since week 2. She replaced Abby Lee Miller on Dance Moms in 2017. She took over the ALDC Elite competition team while on the show. The team was then named "The Irreplaceable's", in which Miller would call them "replaceable".

Burke appeared on Hell's Kitchen as a VIP guest diner in the ninth episode of Season 17.

In January 2025, Burke appeared on season 28 of Worst Cooks in America, a celebrity edition in which she competed on Jeff Mauro's "Heroes" team. She was the first contestant eliminated, in the second episode; she received $2,500 for the mental health charity Better You. Most recently, she had signed a deal with ABC.

Awards and honors

• 2005 World Cup Professional Rising Star Latin Champion
• 2005 San Francisco Latin Champion
• 2005 Ohio Star Ball Rising Star Latin Champion
• UK Championships
• 4th in the U.S. in the "Under 21s."
• Two-time Dancing with the Stars champion – Season 2 with Drew Lachey, Season 3 with Emmitt Smith
• Primetime Emmy 2006, Outstanding Choreography
• On October 20, 2007, Cheryl won the Role Model Award at the 7th Annual Filipino/American Library Gala.
• On the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards, she won the Viewer's Choice award for Favorite TV Personality.

Personal life

Burke has done numerous promotions outside of Dancing with the Stars which include Depend Silhouette briefs, Impress Nails and Sargento Cheese. Her partnership with these companies has raised a lot of money including $50,000 that Depend donated to Dress for Success. She opened her first dance studio in April 2008 and created her own line of activewear the following year.

In 2011, Burke released her autobiography, Dancing Lessons. The book addresses topics Cheryl experienced in her youth, such as childhood abuse and body shaming. She describes how at age 5 she was molested by a handyman who worked for her family; he repeatedly fondled her. Her sister was also abused by the same man, later identified as Gerry Depaula. At the time she believed it was wrong behavior but wanted to gain his affection. Burke testified against Depaula at age 6, leading to him being sentenced to 24 years in prison. He was released in 2008.

In 2017, People and Us Weekly reported Burke was dating actor Matthew Lawrence. The two first met in 2006, when Lawrence's brother, Joey, was a contestant on DWTS. Burke and Lawrence previously dated from 2007 to 2008. Lawrence proposed to Burke on May 3, 2018, which was her 34th birthday. On May 23, 2019, she married Lawrence in San Diego, California. On February 23, 2022, it was reported that Burke filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized on September 19, 2022.

Burke suffers from tendinitis. She says that Transcendental Meditation and therapy have helped her through a lot, including her recent divorce from Matthew Lawrence.

References

References

1. Abrahamson, Rachel Paula. (October 22, 2025). "Cheryl Burke Reveals the Name She Had Before She Made Her Parents Legally Change It".
2. "Cheryl Burke". [[TV Guide.
3. Petit, Stephanie. (March 20, 2018). "'I Miss You So Much': Cheryl Burke Breaks Social Media Hiatus to Mourn Death of Her Father".
4. Sklar, Debbie L.. (June 3, 2011). "Famed Dancer's Mom a Star in Her Own Right".
5. Anderson, Lauren. (October 18, 2022). "Cheryl Burke Explains Why She Had an 'Accent' in Early Seasons of ''Dancing with the Stars''".
6. McGahan, Michelle. (October 1, 2022). "Cheryl Burke: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me".
7. "Cheryl Burke".
8. (November 21, 2006). "Dancing Queen Comes Home". [[San Mateo Daily Journal.
9. "Wayne Newton and Cheryl Burke cut from 'Dancing with the Stars'". RealityTVWorld.com.
10. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071109001351/http://dancingwiththestars.aeglive.com/tour_dates.php Dancing With The Stars – Season 5]
11. {{usurped
12. [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/06/2009-10-06_tom_delay_withdraws_from_dancing_with_the_stars_entourage_actress_debi_mazar_boo.html Olshansky, Elliot. "Tom DeLay withdraws from 'Dancing With the Stars,' 'Entourage' actress Debi Mazar booted"] ''[[New York Daily News]]'' October 7, 2009
13. "EXCLUSIVE: Cheryl Burke is Returning to 'Dancing with the Stars': 'She's Really Excited,' Source Says | Entertainment Tonight".
14. Murphy, Desiree. (September 12, 2018). "'Dancing With the Stars' Season 27 Cast Revealed – Meet the Celebs and Their Pro Partners!". [[Entertainment Tonight]].
15. "Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31".
16. (November 20, 2022). "Cheryl Burke Retiring From 'Dancing With The Stars' As A Pro After 26 Seasons".
17. (March 30, 2017). "Cheryl Burke on Joining Dance Moms amid Abby Lee Miller's Contentious Exit: 'I Know How to Motivate These Girls'". [[People (magazine).
18. Rice, Lynette. (2025-02-20). "Cheryl Burke Signs First-Look Deal With ABC".
19. MacLeod, Terri. (April 23, 2013). "Healthy Hollywood: Try It On Tuesday – Cheryl Burke's Confidence-Building Tips!".
20. "Cheryl Burke".
21. "About Cheryl Burke".
22. (January 31, 2011). "Cheryl Burke Recounts Her Childhood Molestation".
23. Rothman, Michael. (August 31, 2015). "Cheryl Burke Details Childhood Sexual Abuse".
24. (February 15, 2011). "Cheryl Burke Gets Brutally Honest About Abuse". CBS San Francisco Bay Area.
25. Gicas, Peter. (January 26, 2011). "Dancer Cheryl Burke was molested as a child". MSNBC.
26. Stone, Natalie. (February 17, 2017). "''Dancing with the Stars'' Pro Cheryl Burke Is Dating Matthew Lawrence — Again!". People.
27. (2017-07-26). "Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence Go on Romantic Vacation: Pics".
28. Fernández, Alexia. (May 3, 2018). "''Dancing with the Stars''{{'}} Cheryl Burke Is Engaged to Matthew Lawrence: 'Here Comes the Bride'". People.
29. Respers France, Lisa. (May 24, 2019). "'DWTS' pro Cheryl Burke marries Matthew Lawrence". [[CNN]].
30. Jackson, Dory. (February 24, 2022). "Cheryl Burke Files for Divorce from Matthew Lawrence After Nearly 3 Years of Marriage". People.
31. (September 21, 2022). "Cheryl Burke, Matthew Lawrence finalize divorce". The LA Times.
32. Juneau, Jen. (November 2020). "Cheryl Burke Hints at ''DWTS'' Retirement Following Recent Fall: 'Time to Hang up Those Shoes'". People.
33. (May 11, 2022). "Cheryl Burke Shares Why Deleting Social Media Was the Right Choice for Her".