'Dancing With the Stars': Why Maks won't be back
One name was noticeably absent when Good Morning America announced the pairings for season 16 of Dancing With the Stars this morning.
Where is Maksim Chermkovskiy?
Almost every season, the Ukrainian-American hothead generates headlines by suggesting he won’t return to the ballroom. It looks like he finally got his wish, though ABC warns not to read too much into his absence since he won’t be the only pro sitting on the sidelines this season.
“We frequently rotate the professional dancers, so it is not unusual for them to rest a cycle,” according to an ABC spokeswoman. “As we consider who will be matched up each season, there are a lot of factors that dictate which couples make the best pairings. We appreciate each of our dancers dedication to the show, so this is a very difficult decision. Anna, Chelsie, Maks and Louis continue to be a part of the Dancing With the Stars family.”
Instead, the new season of DWTS will feature new pros Lindsay Arnold, Gleb Savchenko and (former troupe member) Sharna Burgess. Returning to the ballroom on March 18 will be Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff, Kym Johnson, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Tony Dovolani, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and Tristan MacManus.
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