Cheryl Burke

 

Cheryl Bautista Burke (born May 3, 1984) is a professional dancer. She is best known for being the first two-time champion of ABC’s American version of Dancing with the Stars with dance partners Drew Lachey (February 2006) and Emmitt Smith (November 2006). In Season 4, she went to Week 9 with Beverly Hills 90210 star Ian Ziering. In Season 5, she was partnered with Las Vegas legend Wayne Newton, who was eliminated in Week 3. In Season 6, she made it to the finals and placed 3rd with actor Cristián de la Fuente. In Season 7, she was eliminated in Week 8 with partner Maurice Greene, the former “World’s Fastest Man.” In Season 8 she was paired with Gilles Marini, best known for his cameo in the Sex and the City movie and they were the runners-up.

As the first breakout star of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, pro hoofer Cheryl Burke proved that ballroom dancing (even with its obscene amounts of sequins) could be sexy – and entertaining.