‘Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro’ Finale Shocker — Adele Zaikman Wins And Producers Tease Her Celebrity Partner

What the show set out to do – a real-time experiment

"Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro" was built as a live experiment — a pressure cooker designed to find one dancer who could join the flagship ABC ballroom series as a full pro. Twelve competitors were put through a gauntlet of ballroom technique, choreography and teaching tests — each challenge designed to mirror what they'd face on DWTS itself.

The series kept most episodes pre-taped, but the finale was staged in front of a studio audience to give the finalists a true taste of the big stage. The idea was simple and bold: see who could survive the process and step into the pros’ shoes.

"That finale proved she’s ready for the big ballroom – fans couldn’t stop talking about it."

Finale night breakdown – three finalists, celebrity partners and a tight timeline

The finalists and their celebrity partners

The final three dancers — Selena Hamilton, AJ Pritchard and Adele Zaikman — faced a simulated DWTS finale. Former DWTS-finalists turned celebrity partners Charli D’Amelio, Adam Rippon and Neev Schulman joined them in the studio, giving each contender just three days to choreograph and teach two full routines.

That short rehearsal window was part of the point. The producers wanted to know if these dancers could not only perform, but also create and teach under real-world DWTS pressure. Every step, from a show-stopping "wow" moment to transforming an amateur, was a test of whether a contestant could be a true pro.

The result – Adele Zaikman is the Next Pro

Adele Zaikman emerged as the winner, earning the prize of becoming the next professional on "Dancing With the Stars." AJ Pritchard finished second and Selena Hamilton placed third. The finale validated the process for the showrunners — each finalist had delivered choreography and teaching at a level that could have translated to success on the main stage.

Zaikman comes in with serious ballroom credentials — she’s a Latin ballroom champion — and she sailed through the season with little negative critique from the judges. But the real work starts now: she’ll be a first-time pro on DWTS Season 35 when the show premieres on Sept. 15.

Behind the scenes – what executive producer Conrad Green had to say

Executive producer Conrad Green admitted the team was cautious at first about bringing an entirely new face onto the flagship show. Pros haven’t had to endure the kind of veto-style vetting these 12 dancers faced, and that initial hesitation was understandable. Still, by the finale Green said the contestants proved they could handle the job and then some.

Green was particularly impressed by the volume and complexity of choreography the finalists were delivering to their celebrity partners in such a short time frame. He called the finale a validation of the show's process and said any one of the finalists would have made a strong pro — a confident note for both the series and Zaikman.

Advice for Zaikman and the show's future

When asked what advice he'd given the new pro, Green’s message was straightforward: she earned this opportunity in a way no other pro had, so she shouldn't feel like an impostor, and above all she should enjoy the creative ride. He stressed that fun and creativity are the keys for her first season.

Green also didn’t shut the door on bringing the spinoff back. He said the idea would be discussed with the network and that tweaks are likely if they return — surprises and refinements would keep the format fresh while preserving the core principle that produced this season’s winner.

What’s next – secrecy, partner teases and a cast reveal

Zaikman has been keeping her DWTS future under wraps since production wrapped in April, and producers have not yet announced her celebrity partner. Green hinted he wants to pair her with someone who will help her relax and bring a fun rehearsal vibe — a partner who will let her creativity breathe.

The full Season 35 cast will be revealed on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. That announcement will show who will join Zaikman when she steps into the ballroom this fall — and fans will finally see the celebrity partner she’s been keeping secret.