'Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro' Eliminated 2 Dancers in Its Premiere-See Who Made the Top 10
Dancing with the Stars expanded its hit franchise with a new competition series, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, and the competition began tonight with a double elimination.
Hosted by wildlife conservationist and Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Len Goodman Mirrorball Champion Robert Irwin, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, features 12 exceptional up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and compete in a grueling audition process, all vying for a coveted spot as a pro dancer on Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars.
Three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas "The Queen of Latin" served as judges.
"I always look for technical excellence, but you also need to be an amazing choreographer, a good teacher, and you need to be able to cope with extreme pressure on the live show," Shirley said of what she looks for in a pro.
Mark added, "I want to see imagination and heart. It is vital you create a routine that is exciting for the TV audience at home, not just for a traditional ballroom judge."
The challenge for Night 1 was set by guest judge, four-time Emmy Award-winning choreographer and six-time Mirrorball Champion Derek Hough.
"The first challenge is about technique," Derek said. "If you can't master the basics, you don't have a chance of being a pro on this show."
The guys were assigned to dance the jive, while the women were given the samba. Each dance featured a paired section choreographed by Derek and a solo section choreographed by the hopefuls.
Here's our spoiler-filled recap of who went home on The Next Pro tonight, and who made it through to Week 2.
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Who was eliminated on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro tonight?
Briar Nolet
Jake Monreal
Who's left onDancing with the Stars: The Next Pro?
Adele Zaikman
AJ Pritchard
Allen Genkin
Benjamin Castro
Erik Linder
Natalie Jolley
Nina Mayster
Selena Hamilton
Stephani Sosa (Ezra Sosa's sister)
Tristen Sanders
Here's how the night broke down:
ERIK AND TRISTEN
Derek: "Out of the gate, big improvement from rehearsals. I was little nervous for you guys. Tristen, I liked seeing who you were on that dance floor. I liked you bringing a different flavor because that's what the show is about as well. Eric, interestingly, my eye went to Tristen during the side by side. There was an energy he was giving off. Moving forward, take a few more risks."
Shirely: "Technique means to me good foot action, shape through the body, musicality, clarity of shape and Eric, you have the most fantastic posture. What you did – different foot patterns, different leg patterns – awesome. Tristen, when you did your solo, you only gave me about four beats of jive. I want to know you are going to be able to teach another person how to jive."
Mark: "Tristen, I am a little conflicted because jive is one of my favorite dances but I also like to break the rules a little bit, so maybe next time do two bars of eight of you and two bars of the jive. Eric, it felt smooth and easy. Sometimes almost too easy for me, but first one out of the gate, banger."
JAKE AND AJ
Derek: "Much better than what I saw in rehearsals. Overall, both of you guys were good. I felt it lacked umph and a little energy, especially with what the music was giving us. Going forward, think about that. You can't dance below the music."
Mark: AJ, technique was good. You've done this job before in Strictly. That puts a little more pressure on you. There are killers on our show. If you're dancing next to someone like Val Chmerkovski, I want to see you fight for it. Jake, your posture and your focus was sometimes at the floor. Work on the energy and then gas tank at the end."
Shirley: "Jake, I feel you dance a little in front of the music. Musicality also being in the technical list so you have to listen to the music. AJ, I want you to take risks. I don't ever want to get the feeling from you that you are playing it safe."
ALLEN AND BENJI
Mark: "For me, that was the most dynamic performance so far. Benji, your opening pose, I was locked in immediately. I thought the technique was great from both of you. It was fun to watch."
Shirely: "It takes a lot to move me off my seat, but I wanted to dance with you both. You both had the most remarkable energy. Benji, you gave me just enough jive and swing. I got some chicken walks and your high kicks, I loved that. Allen, the most fantastic thing was that you used the music. I was so impressed. That was the highest level anywhere in my industry. I loved that."
Derek: "You both left me wanting to see more and that's what it's about."
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SELENA AND NATALIE
Shirley: "Selena, I think you're a superstar. I think what I just witnessed there…your stationery samba walk was extraordinary. The tricks you did in and out were fluid. You were able to portray your whole being and I liked that. Natalie, flexibility is what you need to work on and getting the leg action so it's really slick, but a job well done from both of you."
Derek: "Selena, it's what she said. You're a star. You command that floor, that stage. Natalie, you are a lovely, beautiful dancer. I think it felt a little safe sometimes and that can make it feel a little stiff in the samba."
Mark: "Two totally different vibes. Natalie, it had an ease to it, but it also needs a wildness. When you went into your samba, I want you to unleash from your spine, throw your hair, I'd just like to see you let go a little more. Selena, fire from jump. I couldn't take my eyes off of you."
BRIAR AND STEPHANI
Mark: "Briar, we've all slipped. It happens. It's not about falling; it's about getting up and carrying on. You got up and you had that stank on your face, but you launched yourself and you kept going. Stefani, I think some of the transitions was a little wild, I want you to look at those little things like getting from move to move, but I loved how locked in you were."
Shirely: "Briar, on the upper part of the body, you have a sensuality that cannot be denied, but when you walk from A to B, you don't walk correctly. When you stand, you stand with your toes together and your heels apart. The body is a full machine of technical quality from the footwork, all the way up the body, so what my suggestion is, is that you go back to the drawing board and study from the waist downward. If your posture is in the right place, everything downward will start to work. Stephani, rhythms in the middle of your body, you take me right back to Brazil. I feel I'm right there with you."
Derek: "Briar, tonight, with it being technique, I'm a little concerned with this performance, but honestly, great job."
ADELE AND NINA
Derek: "Nina, first of all, what I love from you is you are open and I can see you. That is very important on this show. It's not just about dancing; it's about us connecting. Adele, I gave Daniella [Karagach] the nickname Ferrari, I am going to give you the nickname Rolls Royce because you dance expensive. You have a full understanding of your mechanics."
Mark: "Adele, I have written killer, fierce, focused. You're an assassin. Nina, I thought you were magnetic. I couldn't take my eyes off of you. Ahead of the music at times in the side by side, I noticed it."
Shirley: "I agree with Derek. We have a Rolls Royce presence in our midst. I would say to you be careful you don't block your personality. This open feeling that you just had, it's great to see that side of you. You come across Nina as extremely warm. Adele could take a leaf out of her book. Nina, you could take a leaf out of her book when it comes to fluidity and flexibility."
Then it was time for the eliminations. The first female dancer in jeopardy was Briar, the second was Natalie. The first male dancer in jeopardy was Tristen and the second was Jake.
When the judges ruling came down, Monday night was the last dance for Briar and Jake.
"It sucks being the first one to go home, but I honestly wouldn't have done anything differently," Jake said. "I gave it my all."
"It sucks to hear your name, but I am so proud of myself," Briar said. "I had lessons from some of the greatest in the industry. There were compliments – good and bad – and I will take them in and figure out what's next."
Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 9:00 PM.