Breaking Down Which DWTS Pros Are Not Returning for Season 34

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A fresh batch of competitors, including Jordan Chiles (Olympic gymnast), Dylan Efron (winner of The Traitors), Lauren Jauregui (former member of Fifth Harmony), Danielle Fishel (actress from Boy Meets World), Alix Earle, Robert Irwin, Jen Affleck (from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) and Whitney Leavitt, are all set to showcase their dancing skills in the upcoming season 34 of Dancing With the Stars. These names were recently announced on Good Morning America on September 3.

Joining the show are an exciting group of celebrities, including Elaine Hendrix from The Parent Trap, ’80s heartthrob Corey Feldman, comedian Andy Richter, Scott Hoying from Pentatonix, NBA star Baron Davis, Alec Baldwin’s wife Hilaria Baldwin, and Britt Stewart, Gleb Savchenko, Jenna Johnson, Val Chmerkovskiy, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Rylee Arnold, Witney Carson, Brandon Armstrong, Ezra Sosa, Emma Slater, and Alan Bersten, who are all fan favorites returning to the screen.

Mark Ballas, who last competed on the show in season 31 with Charli D’Amelio, is back this time aiming for another trophy. Additionally, Jan Ravnik, who was one of the dancers on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, is now joining the ballroom competition series as a professional dancer.

It seems that some long-standing professionals are stepping into a new phase by not returning this season – among them is Sasha Farber. Our team at TopMob News has attempted to reach out to his representative for comment but have yet to receive a response.

However, it’s worth noting that dancers often take breaks from the show before making a comeback – Mark being a prime example. So we’ll just have to wait and see what lies ahead for Sasha. He is not alone in this, as other pros who participated in a recent season of Dancing With the Stars have also chosen to sit out this season. For additional examples, continue reading.

Sasha Farber, who first appeared as a professional dancer in 2013 partnered with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi following his stint as a troupe member, most recently competed on the 33rd season of Dancing With the Stars with The Bachelorette’s Jenn Tran. Their strong bond and social media interactions led many fans to speculate whether they were something more than dance partners.

Sasha had been married to fellow pro Emma Slater before, proposing on a ballroom competition show in 2016. However, their marriage ended in 2022 after four years. Despite the separation, Sasha maintains a friendly relationship with Emma who is now dating another professional dancer, Alan Bersten.

In an interview with TopMob in 2023, Sasha stated, “We maintain a professional bond. We are good friends. In times like these, you express gratitude for the wonderful memories and then move forward.

After initially being part of the ensemble, Peta Murgatroyd was formally promoted to a professional dancer on DWTS when she partnered with basketball player Metta World Peace in 2013. Although she amassed two Mirrorball trophies during her tenure, she took breaks from the show to prioritize her family consisting of children Shai, Rio, and Milan with fellow former pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Despite missing it at times, Peta admitted in June that she didn’t feel the absence during the previous season due to postpartum recovery. However, Peta expressed interest in coming back for season 34 if invited. Although she won’t be competing this time, Peta showed excitement about the new DWTS cast on Instagram in September, saying they were in for a great season.

In their latest collaboration on “Dancing with the Stars” during season 30, dance professional Sharna Burgess partnered with Brian Austin Green. Following this, the duo from the world of entertainment and the small screen have expanded their bond beyond the ballroom, having a son named Zane in 2022 and getting engaged in the year that followed. Yet, Sharna has expressed her hopes to rejoin “Dancing With the Stars” once more.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I shared with Parade magazine in May that I truly, deeply appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it all. I currently serve as a judge on Dancing With the Stars Australia, a role I absolutely cherish. If given the chance, guest spots would be simply extraordinary; I’d leap at the opportunity to contribute more to this beloved show. My affection for the program remains undiminished – I want to continue my involvement indefinitely.

Regardless of whether I’m dancing, judging, or cheering from the audience, being a part of the Dancing With the Stars family is a perfect 10 for me. As you can see, they are more than just colleagues; they are my extended family. Rest assured that in some way or another, I will always be there to support them.

Lindsay Arnold won’t be participating in Dancing With the Stars during the upcoming season. In a TikTok video posted on August 29th, she confirmed this decision. She mentioned that her family, which includes daughters Sage and June with husband Sam Cusick, is her priority right now, and she feels content where she is. However, if Lindsay ever decides to return to the show, it would be up to her to express that desire to the producers, but even then, there would be no guarantee.

Keo Motsepe last danced on Dancing With the Stars during season 29, partnering with the late actress Anne Heche. However, it remains unclear why he won’t be back next season, as he has suggested in the past that the choice was not entirely his own.

Keo, who joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars as a professional dancer in 2014, shared with Us Weekly in 2021 that he won’t be returning for season 30. However, he expressed gratitude for being part of the last nine seasons and looks forward to future opportunities on the show. He also wished all the current dancers and the show success. In a later interview with The U.S. Sun in November, he made it clear that he hopes to dance again in the ballroom, stating emphatically, “I want to come back one hundred percent!

Koko Iwasaki embarked on her short stint as a professional dancer on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ during season 31, partnering with ‘Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino. The following season, she danced with Matt Walsh, but later announced that she wouldn’t be returning for more. In September 2024, she expressed her enthusiasm and continued love for dance on Instagram, sharing that new chapters in her life are blossoming beautifully, and she eagerly awaits the opportunity to reveal them to her followers. She felt joyous and aligned, expressing her excitement with a toast to the future! (The U.S. Sun shared a screenshot of her post.)

Initially joining “Dancing With the Stars” as a troupe member during season 18, Artem Chigvintsev ascended to the role of professional dancer in the subsequent season. He consistently competed every year except for seasons 21 and 28. During season 29, he won the competition with Kaitlyn Bristowe from “The Bachelorette.” His last performance was in 2023 as a partner to Bachelor Nation’s Charity Lawson in season 32. In August 2024, shortly after celebrating his second wedding anniversary with WWE star Nikki Garcia and their shared appearance on season 25, Artem Chigvintsev was detained under suspicion of domestic violence. However, the Napa County District Attorney’s office stated in September that no criminal charges would be filed against him.

Artem and Nikki, the parents of son Matteo, eventually rescinded their restraining orders and resolved their divorce amicably.

Though he hasn’t danced as a professional on DWTS since then, he made an appearance in the audience during 2024.

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2025-09-04 00:48