‘Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro’ Cast: All the Dancers Vying for a Spot on Season 35

[This story contains spoilers for episodes one, two and three of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.]

Dancing With the Stars is getting ready to welcome the addition of a new professional dancer at the end of Next Pro. 

The spinoff stars a group of 12 dancers who must compete in weekly challenges for a shot at becoming the next pro dancer on season 35 of Dancing With the Stars. Only time will tell who will win the series, securing a spot in the main series’ recurring cast. 

With new episodes airing Mondays, The Hollywood Reporter is breaking down all the details on the cast of dancers, who was eliminated each week, the judges and mentors.

This story was originally published on July 14, and has been updated after each elimination.

Season 34 champion Robert Irwin serves as the host of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. 

Three-time Mirrorball Champion Mark Ballas is one of two permanent judges on Next Pro. He joined Dancing With the Stars’ season five cast as a pro, and has become a mainstay on the recurring pro cast. 

Shirley Ballas, mother to Mark, is the second recurring Next Pro judge. She is a staple in the ballroom dance world, and also serves as the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing. 

Dancing With the Stars judge and six-time Mirrorball Champion Derek Hough was the first Next Pro guest judge. He taught the dancers jive and samba numbers, where judging technique was at the forefront of the premiere week. 

Dancing With the Stars pro Brandon Armstrong joined as the second guest judge, where during episode two, the dancers’ storytelling abilities were on full display.

Britt Stewart joined as the mentor for Next Pro‘s third episode, where she taught the dancers group numbers.

Briar Nolet was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro.

Jake Monreal was eliminated during the first episode of Next Pro. Before appearing on the show, Jake joined the Dancing With the Stars family as a junior pro dancer on the Juniors spinoff, where he was mentored by Sasha Farber.

Benjamin “Benji” Castro was eliminated during episode two of The Next Pro.

Natalie Jolley was eliminated from Next Pro following an injury in rehearsals during episode three. She was not “medically cleared” to continue competing on the series.

AJ Pritchard is the brother to Love Island alum Curtis Pritchard.

Stephani Sosa was part of Dancing With the Stars’ season 33 troupe. She is also the sister to pro dancer Ezra Sosa.

Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC, with episodes available to stream Tuesdays on Disney+ and Hulu.