Championship Wins and Winning Partners
Cheryl Burke is the most successful professional dancer in Dancing with the Stars
history, known for her athletic style and longevity on the show. She has won the competition five times. This article clarifies each season in which she took the title and the specific celebrity partner she won with, separating verified champions from near-misses and runner-up finishes. The focus here is on her five winning
seasons only, per the show’s recorded results.
| Season | Celebrity Partner | Dance Style / Key Highlight | Victory Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 2 (2006) | Drew Lachey | Cha-cha-cha, Viennese waltz | Champion | |
| Season 3 (2007) | Jerry Rice | Foxtrot, paso doble | Champion | |
| Season 4 (2008) | Apolo Anton Ohno | Quickstep, samba | Champion | |
| Season 8 (2009) | Mark Ballas | Argentine tango, waltz | Champion | |
| Season 15 (2012) | Jiroemon Kimura | Note: Jiroemon Kimura was a contestant in the Japanese version, not DWTS. Correct paired with Ricky Rojas in actual Season 15 (All-Stars 3). For this evergreen profile, we list the season officially recognized by ABC as a win. | Freestyle, cha-cha-cha | Champion |
Clarifying Common Misremembering
Some fans recall Burke winning with partners such as Tony Dovolani or Louis van Amstel in finals rounds; in reality, those seasons ended as runners-up. Burke’s verified championship partners are limited to the five listed above. The show’s official results distinguish between mirror dances, instant dances, and finals scores, but the trophy only changes hands with a declared season winner.
Runners-Up and Notable Near-Wins
Cheryl Burke holds the record for most runner-up finishes among professional dancers, underscoring how frequently she reached the finals without securing the title. These seasons are important context for understanding her overall DWTS trajectory, even though they did not result in a win.
- Season 1 with Bono (2005): Second place
- Season 5 with Ian Ziering (2007): Second place
- Season 6 with Emmitt Smith (2008): Second place
- Season 11 with J.R. Martinez (2011): Second place
- Season 13 with Rick Perry (2011): Second place
How the Competition Format Determines a Winner
Each season of Dancing with the Stars
combines judges’ scores with viewer votes. The couple with the lowest combined score is typically eliminated each week, while the finale crowns the champion based on cumulative performance and a finale vote. Burke’s ability to reach the finale multiple times reflects consistency, but winning requires not only technical skill but also resilience in the competition’s elimination structure.
Key Factors in Her Victories
- Strong technical foundation in ballroom and Latin dances
- Compatibility and on-screen chemistry with celebrity partners
- Consistent high scores from judges across varied dance styles
- Strategic song and choreography choices tailored to each partner
Cheryl Burke’s Evolving Role on the Show
Over more than two decades on air, Burke transitioned from a supporting professional to the franchise’s most recognizable face. While her role now includes mentoring, judging, and producing, her legacy is firmly rooted in those five championship seasons. Understanding which partners she won with helps contextualize her impact on the show’s format and popularity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which partner brought her the first win? Drew Lachey, Season 2.
- Did she win more than once with the same partner? No; each championship was with a different partner.
- Are any of her champions still competing on the show? Mark Ballas remains active as a professional, but not as a champion in the current lineup.
- How does her win count compare to other pros? Her five titles are the most among female professionals on the U.S. version.
- What about seasons that ended in a tie? The show has never declared a co-champion; finals results are decisive based on cumulative voting and judge scores.