Heavy/Getty Len Goodman and Cheryl Burke.
Cheryl Buke paid tribute to Len Goodman in her own way. The veteran “Dancing With the Stars” pro dancer spoke out ahead of the planned tribute for late judge Len Goodman that will take place on the October 24, 2023 edition of the ABC celebrity ballroom competition.
Goodman passed away on April 22, 2023 at age 78 following a private battle with bone cancer. On DWTS season 32, the longtime DWTS judge will be remembered with a special tribute dance that will include the return of eight past pro dancers.
But Burke, who retired from the show in 2022, won’t be one of them. On an episode of her “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast, she confirmed she wasn’t asked back along with the other OG pros.
For Goodman’s tribute, the returning pro dancers are Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Edyta Śliwińska, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Louis van Amstel, and Mark Ballas.
“I’m a little sad that, you know, I’m not there,” Burke said on October 18. “It’s not by choice. I didn’t get asked. … It’s a shame.”
Burke is a two-time mirrorball champion who competed on 25 seasons of “Dancing With the Stars” from 2006 to 2022.
Here’s what you need to know:
Cheryl Burke Posted a Video Tribute to Len Goodman
In lieu of performing in the special tribute dance, Burke posted an emotional Instagram video in which she shared her own tribute to Goodman. The dancer sat in front of the camera in a red dress as she gave a lengthy verbal tribute to the late choreographer and judge.
“Even though I’m not gonna be in the ballroom tonight, I still want to be able to express how much Len Goodman meant to me and the influence he had on my competitive career back even before ‘Dancing With the Stars,” Burke said. “There are not enough words to actually describe how much he really made an impact on my life.”
Burke revealed that as a teenager, she danced in front Goodman in competitions in Europe. “He judged me up to my last season when we both coincidentally decided to retire from ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” she said.
“To this day when I do interviews I always get asked who my favorite judge is. And I would consistently, and still to this day, say Len Goodman,” she added.
“Mr. Len Goodman, thank you for being the face of ballroom dancing and always standing by what was right no matter what,” she said. “You are such a big reason behind why ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is such a massive hit. ”
Burke said she appreciated Goodman’s “tough love and no BS approach” and looked up to it.
“But more importantly, your respect for the art and sport of ballroom dance showed me and millions of people how much you truly cared,” she said. ‘No dilly-dallying around with gimmicks or tricks. All you ever wanted to see was strictly ballroom.”
Cheryl Burke Credited Len Goodman for Bringing Ballroom Dancing to Mainstream Television
In her tribute, Burke credited “Dancing With the Stars'” success to Goodman’s “influence, passion and love for the ballroom genre.”
In addition, she said she always asked herself if her choreographed routines would make Goodman proud. Burke noted that she looked forward to running into Goodman in the hallways at CBS Studios. She said she always hoped to interact with him and listen to any general tips leading into the live show.
Burke became emotional as she reflected on the time got to spend with Goodman over the years.
“Thank you so much for representing us ballroom dancers. And never compromising what we stood for in the ballroom community,” she said. “Thank you for changing my life.”
Burke broke down in tears as she sent love to Goodman’s family and her colleagues at “Dancing With the Stars.” “I know Len would give you an 11 if he could,” Burke said to her fellow dancers.
Shortly after Goodman’s death in April, Burke posted a similar written tribute to him on Instagram.
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