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| Where Is the Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Cast in 2026? Here's What They're Doing |
Winning a dance competition is one thing. Figuring out what comes next is often the real performance. That has certainly been the case for the cast of ABC's Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, whose debut season introduced viewers to 12 remarkably talented dancers competing for a chance to join one of television's biggest ballroom franchises. While every episode revolved around pressure-filled performances and high expectations, the series quietly became just as memorable for the friendships that developed behind the scenes. The competition may have demanded flawless footwork, but the contestants often proved that supporting each other could be just as important as impressing the judges.
Fans continue to revisit the first season, not only because of the impressive choreography but because many of the contestants have gone on to enjoy thriving careers across television, touring, teaching and competitive dance. Some have expanded their businesses, others have stepped further into the entertainment industry, and a few have found major personal milestones away from the spotlight. Safe to say, nobody has been sitting around waiting for the next dance call.
Reactions from viewers remain mixed in the best possible way. Some fans still debate who should have won, while others insist the strongest takeaway was seeing talented dancers genuinely cheer for one another instead of treating every rehearsal like the final scene of a courtroom drama.
There are also plenty who jokingly admit they arrived expecting sequins and salsa but somehow left emotionally invested in complete strangers discussing dance technique. Television can be wonderfully unpredictable like that.
Here's where the memorable dancers from Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro are today.
Adele Zaikman has continued building an impressive career in competitive Latin ballroom dancing alongside her boyfriend and professional dance partner, Catalin Cauca. Based in Los Angeles, the pair continue performing internationally while coaching aspiring dancers through private lessons and workshops.
Adele's victory at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival remains one of the standout achievements on her growing résumé, and together they have become respected names within the ballroom community.
For Stephani Sosa, life after the competition has been remarkably busy. Represented by Bloc LA, she has steadily expanded her television career, appearing in productions including Running Point, Doctor Odyssey, Palm Royale, Perry Mason, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
She also joined the Dancing with the Stars troupe during Season 33 before performing in Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Dance clearly runs through the Sosa family, with siblings Ezra Sosa and Tristen Sosa also enjoying successful careers in the profession.
Tristen Sanders has remained dedicated to developing future generations of dancers. Working at Dance With Me Buckhead in Atlanta as Dance Development Coordinator, he balances teaching ballroom and hip-hop with mentoring students of all ages.
While he keeps his personal life away from public attention, his professional focus has remained crystal clear as he steadily grows both his studio responsibilities and online presence.
British ballroom favourite AJ Pritchard hardly needed an introduction before joining the series. Since becoming the youngest professional dancer in Strictly Come Dancing history back in 2016, his career has stretched far beyond ballroom competitions.
Television appearances, presenting work and commercial collaborations have become regular features of his schedule. Off-screen, excitement now centres on his engagement to Zara Zoffany, with wedding plans becoming one of the happiest chapters in his career. It seems even professional dancers eventually discover there are routines more complicated than the cha-cha, and apparently wedding planning is one of them.
Nina Mayster continues balancing elite coaching with entrepreneurship. Based in Pennsylvania, she teaches competitive dancers through VIBE DanceSport while helping organise major competitions as both coach and coordinator.
Away from the dance floor, she co-founded Vibe Dance Atelier, providing apparel, footwear and accessories for dancers. Managing both businesses and coaching schedules sounds exhausting enough to count as its own endurance sport.
Erik Linder has spent years building one of the most diverse careers among the contestants. Having started dancing at just four years old, he has performed on cruise productions, appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, reached the semi-finals of America's Got Talent, and even guest performed on Dancing with the Stars years before competing on The Next Pro. Alongside dancing, modelling work with brands including Canon USA has further expanded his portfolio.
Multiple-time champion Natalie Jolley continues to demonstrate why she is considered one of America's leading ballroom dancers. Her collection of national and international titles remains among the strongest in the cast, while her teaching role at Peak Performance Dance Center allows her to mentor the next generation.
Long-time dance partner Parley Ford continues to stand beside her both professionally and personally, making theirs one of ballroom's most enduring partnerships.
Contemporary performer Selena Hamilton has enjoyed a particularly varied career since the show. She has toured with Doechii, danced alongside KATSEYE in Gap's widely discussed campaign, performed with Lindsey Stirling, and joined Derek Hough's Symphony of Dance tour.
Alongside teaching in California, she recently celebrated six years with fellow dancer Holden Maples, proving that some dance partnerships continue long after the music stops.
For Allen Genkin, teaching has become every bit as rewarding as performing. The former Dancing with the Stars Ballroom Battle winner now co-owns FADS San Jose Valley Fair, where he works closely with aspiring dancers developing their own ballroom careers. Although his fashion label GbbGbrand appears quieter these days, his commitment to dance education remains stronger than ever.
Reality television certainly feels familiar territory for Benjamin "Benji" Castro. After impressing viewers on So You Think You Can Dance, he has continued performing commercially while proudly celebrating his Chilean heritage through his work.
Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and Dance, Benji continues blending performance with creativity, all while remaining firmly connected to the community that helped launch his career.
Jake Monreal has steadily developed into one of the younger performers making a lasting impression across entertainment. Having previously appeared on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, and the film All Styles, Jake continues balancing acting, ballroom dancing and his long-standing love of basketball. Thankfully, basketball requires fewer sequins, though perhaps only just.
Canadian performer Briar Nolet continues inspiring fans both on and off the stage. Best known for portraying Richelle on The Next Step, she has expanded into acting, touring and entrepreneurship through her activewear brand Halo Braxton.
Since publicly discussing her epilepsy diagnosis, Briar has become an important advocate for raising awareness while demonstrating that health challenges do not have to define an artist's future. Her openness has resonated with countless supporters who admire both her honesty and resilience.
Looking back, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro succeeded because it showcased more than polished routines and technical scores. It introduced audiences to performers whose ambitions stretched well beyond a television competition, and many have continued proving their talent across global stages, film sets, dance studios and business ventures. The ballroom may have been where viewers first met them, but it was never going to be the final destination.
Which contestant has impressed you the most since the show ended? Did your favourite dancer live up to expectations, or do you think someone deserved even bigger opportunities after the competition?