# Sharna Burgess returning to Dancing With the Stars as a pro five years after surprise departure

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-24 16:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Professional dancer Sharna Burgess is returning to Dancing With the Stars for Season 35 after a surprise five-year absence from the competition.

## Intelligence Brief
Professional dancer Sharna Burgess is officially returning to the cast of Dancing With the Stars. According to reports from Yahoo and People.com, Burgess will rejoin the show as a pro dancer for the upcoming Season 35. This return marks the end of a five-year hiatus from the series, a period that began with her unexpected exit from the program. Multiple outlets are covering the details of this comeback, with Entertainment Weekly emphasizing that her original departure five years ago was characterized as a surprise exit. TODAY.com has also confirmed the return after the half-decade break.


Meanwhile, TV Insider is focusing its coverage on the specific reasons behind Burgess's initial departure from the series and the factors that led to her decision to return to the ballroom for the current production cycle. To understand the significance of this event, readers must look back to the timing of Burgess's exit. The coverage underscores that her absence lasted five years, creating a notable gap in her tenure as a professional on the show. Because her initial departure was described as a surprise, her return for Season 35 is being framed as a significant personnel shift for the competition. The context provided by the reports suggests that her presence has been missed by the production or the audience since she first left.


Moving forward, the focus remains on the specifics of her reintegration into the show. While it is confirmed that she is returning as a pro for Season 35, the coverage does not yet specify which celebrity partner she will be paired with. Future updates are expected to clarify the logistics of her return and the specific reasons for her previous exit as explained by TV Insider. Observers will be watching for the official cast announcements to see how her return impacts the dynamics of the professional roster.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Page Six | Sharna Burgess announces surprise ‘Dancing With the Stars’ return after 5-year hiatus | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxPRVd3UjFsQTYwcGNuMDdjN2Rkd2puMVJldkxsWTJXR1ZHUnB4amtXOV9MdkNDUm93ZU9VbUt4UUVWSXltX1lzMmJNaE1SX18weE9rdHFXeU50NG5BVjlXMXlaQ01Ma1Q0OF9NeHNVYzREUkl6bnItSnVPUnlJMVpuV3EySDdOZW1BeV9DemJfQ2xBUFdWTVNGTWtlcFRudUtQeWd2VUtNMXJDS0V3NDFSLWpqbHA3Z01DSEhCX3owMHBOb3U0VU5ReA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | After Five Years Away And A Rocky Ballroom History, Sharna Burgess Is Back On ‘DWTS’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOcEVXa3lkMU5sUE01YjFQMnc5djZPX3hORWpLZ1NqZnhLMVMtLXRrdWZuNzB3R0NoSWZpOFlQajdQU1lXcFJQaGpZcGVmZ1hhUFFoeU5SdkVvVDFLMThpNmJMNm4wTDgwMlplMTJTWWNEYmtOY05SOU15MlJCc3htVkh6QkhTbDBXRk5YY3BtWEpod2VTaFk2ZQ?oc=5) |
| Good Morning America | 'Dancing with the Stars' pro Sharna Burgess returning to ballroom for season 35 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxNXzUwQ1V2dHBBTGNJMEVubERqMXlwNXEyRVE4dnFmZUVQc3hWQi1vcm1rVXNndzNRMXUwY3ZJRGJsUFJwblA0RzlueUliMXdTUTVxb3ZTaTh0cmM2TXJ2VTNYR0RWUVNma2diSE44Q1U5U085X2QxdFh6eVdwWURCT3NEeGltN0lPYjhlSzd3MlNvS2hzeUxuY0tmOEtqZHp4V3NxSDNnQkJwRlc4UFJiY0thejhzR0VL0gG-AUFVX3lxTE95RkZPWkhGM1RlcFN2b1hYTmNSQ3ZNZHppeHpKTGNnbEJJVU1qZVJaZEtiMTlDMDliV19MeTJNSWFURk9TMHhPbFdlVUtidm9rRnJhbGVMaldKOEVpRW5iY0VlWFk3TU95OHNrNVg0bTZ6YzN4N0VSU051QmtaMTBoMTlPeFV1R3M0Q1ctU2hNTWZYTDE5OGs4ZEJ) |
| TODAY.com | Sharna Burgess Returns to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ After 5-Year Hiatus | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxNc1k4VTRibDZCWDctc1BNcDFVNUlvSG80QVVublFfblBnQUYzTlczOUFZTmVfNG4xQ0lBZU5xT3VKdnVHTHJNeXNFUDZ1VUF5cFE4dFlLcDFOSE8tQ3o5QUNheHYyTDBNclNlUWltVmJtWkFiemY3ZDJNX2hXSTJzazdsZnl5N09uRTlUZk43eC1lSllhWmk3MjIyX3BjT1JtNGRrY2dPaks?oc=5) |
| TV Insider | Why Did Sharna Burgess Leave ‘Dancing With the Stars’? Reason for Exit and Return, Explained | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxOeWZWcjBWLUo5RUZ5Y0g1WGdvMmFIWWYwSFkxcXBBU1lzVC0zUzVrYWEzQmZzdG9JLThDTkp5dElHaXhWMC14RXl0V1M4ejU1VmNIRUdYQmxta1l6blRtVVNqTXRFS0JlSUVOd1BBa1Q2RWtycUdUenFodnluUXBNZm1zX1hQM2ZHYWJHcS15dDBzRGIwZy1iX3N3N0dQQUk?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Dancing With The Stars: Sharna Burgess Returning As Pro Dancer For Season 35 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPMTlVdi1sQ0FBVkM0UkpvNmFJaU4tSU94LUp3cDUwRFc0QXAtU2Z0c2hJVTUwV2ZHcWZPQ2liVmxwbW1ZakhsQjFKZURCXzZLdzQwR0FfS0hYVGkyV0NvVDlnSmRfTXVLRlhlcTB5N2NXRTRoWFVrSGI5YXZDNzloU3pVWl8tOTRlMHlTTHpCTjUzdjFQaVdTWEdGLTNCbjF6ZzdV?oc=5) |
| People.com | Sharna Burgess Returning to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ 5 Years After Exit | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNaHBPTWdnTm5lamxiWEluUmRIdHFtTEk1Q3ZrUDBMT2FwbWs2MmU2VWk3UmhCdU5La05fSS1nZEEwWkpKYkRaVVlXVjBzbHlTTkpuQ0M4X3pOMmVhRjkzOFNmS21xWkd3a01MWm9VR2ZjTzY0ZldlNTRFYm15VWd0eEhWVlN0aFhfY18tbVFUTQ?oc=5) |
| Entertainment Weekly | Sharna Burgess returning to Dancing With the Stars as a pro five years after surprise departure | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxNUkYyVFMwdVp1ZlhxaEtNOXJPbFFKS1ZvU1M4ei1JQXFtQTU0MWNKQmloNlFZckRMdnNDR1V5aFNoNVhwN3g5b1VtdDUtM3JRYjYtTFljWXZVTXk4Z1FoaGNGanF0c0w3Q3BCZ3F3WVk0aVBnMzJNem02QjNJRFZPYl92NTl1TVItcm1lYTFXSnZUVHNtRzYwRVRB?oc=5) |

---
*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-24/sharna-burgess-returning-to-dancing-with-the-stars-as-a-pro-five-years-after*