A New Champion Emerges
Following the final performances on Monday, August 31, a new star has been born. The judging panel, consisting of Mark Ballas, Shirley Ballas, and guest judge Derek Hough, officially declared Adele Zaikman as the winner of the inaugural season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
Reflecting on her victory, Zaikman expressed her emotions: “I just feel like this is a celebration. All the sacrifices that I have done, it’s just a big, ‘I made it’ moment.”
The Finale Performances
During the concluding episode, Zaikman showcased her versatility by performing both a samba and a paso doble freestyle alongside former DWTS contestant Nev Schulman. Her technical prowess and stage presence earned high praise from the judges. “Adele, so dynamic. Striking performances every dance that you have done on this stage. It’s been an honor to watch and to judge you,” Mark Ballas remarked.
Zaikman secured the top spot over runner-up AJ Pritchard, who partnered with Charli D’Amelio for the finale. “Having the opportunity to dance in the finale, especially with Charli, every single moment was just so enriching and something I will never forget for the rest of my life,” Pritchard noted. Selena Hamilton took third place following her performance with partner Adam Rippon.
A Personal Journey to the Stage
Prior to her final routine, Zaikman shared a deeply personal account of her health struggles. She revealed that her dedication to dance was born out of necessity following a scoliosis diagnosis at age 13. She spent two and a half years wearing a back brace for 20 hours a day.
“The doctors said if I wouldn’t do it, I would not be able to dance. So these four hours that I was not wearing it, I was dancing. They were the happiest hours of my life. It saved me and I don’t know what I would do if I wouldn’t have dance,” she shared.
Looking Ahead to Season 35
As the winner of the spin-off competition, Zaikman is set to bring her talents to the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. Season 35 is scheduled to premiere on ABC and Disney+ with a two-night event on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.