ABC Announces Pros For 'Dancing With The Stars' Cast

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ABC revealed "Dancing with the Stars'" new cast of pro dancers Wednesday on "Good Morning America

The lineup includes a number of returning favorites as well as some newcomers. The 12 dancers will be paired with a brand new cast of celebrities, which will be announced live on "Good Morning America" on September 4.

The 12 pros going to the dance floor on Season 19 (in alphabetical order) are:

MARK BALLAS - Mark is an Emmy-nominated choreographer, actor and musician.

As part of the professional cast of "Dancing with the Stars" for the past 14 seasons, Mark has proven to not only be a fan favorite, but is also no stranger to the coveted Mirrorball trophy.

He is a two-time champion and a seven-time finalist - winning season six with Kristi Yamaguchi and season eight with Shawn Johnson.
@MarkBallas

CHERYL BURKE -- With over 20 years dancing experience and several championship titles under her belt, Emmy(R) nominated professional dancer Cheryl Burke has tangoed and sambaed her way into the hearts of millions. She recently became the show's first professional dancer to appear in the finals seven times and the semi-finals ten times, becoming the champion twice with Emmitt Smith in Season 3 and Drew Lachey in Season 2. Cheryl first began dancing at the age of six, taking ballet lessons and performing throughout the Bay Area.

At 10, she discovered what would be her winning talent, ballroom dancing, and decided to hang up her ballet shoes to begin training in both Standard and Latin ballroom dancing.

Outside of the ballroom, Cheryl has been named one of People Magazine's Most Beautiful and often appears in Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 List.

She has been seen on the Disney Channel's "Suite Life with Zack and Cody" and appeared in Ne-Yo's music video "Camera Phone." This year, Burke is launching her own line of active wear and workout apparel with QVC.
@CherylBurke

WITNEY CARSON -- Witney was born and raised in a small town called American Fork, Utah. She started her dancing career at the age of three. Being trained in many different dance styles including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Tap, Latin and Standard Ballroom, she has competed and performed all over the world.

At the age of 18, Witney made top six (top three girls) on "So You Think You Can Dance" season nine.

She then joined ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Pro Troupe Team, where she performed and choreographed every week for two seasons. In 2014, Witney was promoted to a Pro dancer and was paired with partner Cody Simpson.
@WitneyCarson

ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV -- Originally from Russia, dancing has taken Artem all over the world.

In 2010, Artem made his professional dancing debut on the original UK version of DWTS, "Strictly Come Dancing." Paired with Kara Tointon, they went on to win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy, making Artem one of the first professionals to win the series as a first-time Pro.
@artemchigvintse

VALENTIN CHMERKOVSKIY (VAL) -- Valentin Chmerkovskiy joined the cast of professional dancers on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2011.

The 13-time US National Champion and two-time World Dance Champion quickly rose to stardom becoming one of the show's fan-favorites for impeccable performances that showcased not only immense talent and creativity, but an undeniable charisma to match.
@iamValC

TONY DOVOLANI -- Tony Dovolani is balancing fitness, dance and family while capturing the hearts of millions each season on "Dancing with the Stars." Born in Prishtina, Kosova, Tony was proficient in Albanian folk dancing by age three and was inspired by watching Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly films.

After immigrating to the United States as a political refugee from his native Kosovo, Tony trained at a Connecticut Fred Astaire dance studio and eventually became one of the most dominant competitive dancers in the country.
@TonyDovolani

ALLISON HOLKER -- Allison Holker is an Emmy(R) nominated dancer and choreographer. Holker was nominated with Derek Hough for a 2013 Outstanding Choreography Emmy(R) award for their work on "Dancing with The Stars." She was also a featured dancer in two of the other nominated pieces that year.

Along with her fellow Emmy(R)-nominated choreographers, Holker prepared a piece that was performed to rave reviews at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards with Neil Patrick Harris.

Holker began her dance training at the age of nine when she enrolled as a student at The Dance Club in Orem, UT. While there, she specialized in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz and Tap, and performed in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
@AllisonHolker

DEREK HOUGH -- Derek Hough, the only five-time champion in franchise history of the hit ABC show "Dancing with the Stars," started dancing in his hometown of Salt Lake City, UT, at age 11.

Just one year later, he moved to London to live and train with the top dance coaches in the world and attend performing arts school where he studied theatre, music and dance.
@DerekHough

KEOIKANTSE MOTSEPE (KEO) - Born in South Africa, Keo started dancing at the age of five after his best friend suggested they try it out for some fun.

At seven, he knew that it was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. In 2004, Keo teamed up with his coach and mentor, Rafick Hoosain, and garnered every national title in South Africa.
@KeoDancer

PETA MURGATROYD -- Peta was born in Auckland, New Zealand and raised in Perth, Western Australia. She studied classical ballet from the age of four and trained for 12 years under former principal dancer of the Kirov Ballet, Madame Lubov Nikonorenko.

In 2004, Peta was chosen to be a cast member of "Burn the Floor," where she toured the world for six years. "Burn the Floor" then landed on Broadway in August 2009, where Peta was the lead female dancer.
@PetaMurgatroyd

EMMA SLATER -- Emma started dancing at the age of five when she joined a local stage school in her hometown of Tamworth, England.

In 2005, at age 16, Emma joined the cast of "Simply Ballroom," touring the UK (Including London's West End) United Arab Emirates and South Africa, where she also appeared on "Strictly Come Dancing." Emma won both the UK & British Youth Latin American Championships with her then partner, she then went onto perform in four other West End Theatre shows including "Dirty Dancing." In early 2012 Emma joined "Dancing with the Stars" as a Troupe dancer and choreographer and later went on to become a Pro dancer taking her partner, Bill Engvall, to the finals.
@EmmaSlaterDance

KARINA SMIRNOFF -- Originally from Ukraine, Karina made her way to the US with her family at the age of 12. At the age of nine, Karina was introduced to ballroom dancing and fell in love with it. After graduating from Fordham University with a double degree, she put her academic studies on hold to pursue her ballroom dancing career in the United Kingdom.

American audiences first fell in love with Karina during season three of "Dancing with the Stars," when she swung into a second place finish with partner Mario Lopez. The next season she finished fifth with Billy Ray Cyrus.

The two would team up again when Karina guest starred on "Hannah Montana." Karina also teamed up with her former DWTS partner Ralph Macchio in her first leading role in a short film, "Across Grace Alley." Karina also starred in two Broadway shows, "Burn the Floor" and "Forever Tango." In Season 13, she went all the way, winning the Mirrorball trophy with J.R. Martinez as her partner.
@Karina_Smirnoff

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning host Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Erin Andrews (sports host & "Dancing with the Stars" Season 10 finalist), "Dancing with the Stars" is the hit series in which celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by renowned ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.

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