Key points<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em> got off to a thrilling start during Monday\u2019s premiere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n\n
Canadian dancer and actress Briar Nolet slipped and fell during her first performance before a shocking double elimination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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The Next Pro<\/em> airs Mondays at 8 p.m. PT\/ET on ABC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThis article contains spoilers for the series premiere of <\/em><\/strong>Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nDancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a> has officially entered a new era.<\/p>\nMonday evening saw the premiere of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em><\/a>, the latest spinoff of the ever-popular<\/a> dance competition series. This time around, rather than trucking in a group of singers, actors, athletes, and influencers to compete on intricate ballroom routines they (usually) have no prior experience with, The Next Pro<\/em> has assembled 12 rising stars in dance to compete for a spot on the main series\u2019 crew of pro partners.<\/p>\nThe series is hosted by season 34 winner Robert Irwin<\/a> and judged by longtime pro Mark Ballas<\/a> and his mother, Strictly Come Dancing<\/em> judge and \u201cQueen of Latin\u201d Shirley Ballas, with the inaugural episode welcoming guest instructor Derek Hough, a current DWTS<\/em> judge and the former pro with the most wins to his name.<\/p>\nIrwin and Ballas took <\/a>Entertainment Weekly<\/em><\/a> inside the new series<\/a> back in May. At the time, Ballas teased that after 21 seasons as a DWTS <\/em>pro, the series\u2019 producers \u201ckeep finding ways to shock me\u201d\u00a0\u2014 but nothing could prepare viewers for the twists and turns in store in Monday\u2019s premiere.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\nBriar Nolet, Stephani Sosa, and Derek Hough on \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019Credit: Disney\/Vince Valitutti<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
The Next Pro <\/em>cast is dotted by bright-eyed newcomers and familiar faces alike. DWTS<\/em> superfans are likely to recognize Stefani Sosa, not just through her sisterly bond to current pro Ezra Sosa, but also because she previously danced in the troupe on the anchor series.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s also AJ Pritchard, who danced for three years on Strictly<\/em>, which DWTS <\/em>is based on. Pritchard also comes from a reality dynasty of sorts, as he\u2019s not only appeared on I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here<\/em>, but is the brother of Love Island<\/em> star Curtis Pritchard.<\/p>\nPlenty of dancers with no TV experience shot to front of the pack over the course of Monday\u2019s episode too, like Atlanta-based hip-hop dancer Tristen Sanders, USA Dance National DanceSport champion Nina Mayster, and four-time World Smooth champ Natalie Jolley. But one of the brightest potential stars from the episode\u2019s jump seemed to be Briar Nolet, a Canadian actress known for The Next Step<\/em> and The Chosen<\/em> who has also danced on tour with Jennifer Lopez<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cI do have over a million followers on my social media. I\u2019ve done TV and film, working with high-profile celebrities, but I started doing ballroom about two years ago now because Dancing With the Stars<\/em> is my dream,\u201d Nolet said during a mid-episode confessional, \u201cand I will not stop until I get it.\u201d<\/p>\nUnlike the flagship show, The Next Pro<\/em> does not air live. The cast also lives together Real World<\/em>-style, meaning rivalries, feuds, and friendships are likely to add spice to the competition.<\/p>\nBut before all that could set in, Hough split the group down gender lines and then formed six pairs to prepare samba and jive routines to be judged on the basis of technique. Briar was paired with Stefani and had a longer road ahead of her than most, given she lacks classical training in the fundamentals.<\/p>\n
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with\u00a0our\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nDuring a coaching session, Hough advised Briar not to \u201cworry about traveling too much,\u201d or moving laterally around the dance floor. \u201cI\u2019d rather see the action, because if you travel too much, then all of a sudden we lose the rotation, we lose the hip action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Briar attempted to take Hough\u2019s wisdom to heart but stumbled in the opening seconds of her joint routine with Stefani. As Boricua Boys\u2019 \u201cMi Gente\u201d was still kicking the number off, Briar fell to her hands and knees, prompting a gasps from the judging panel before she recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Briar](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/14\/a4bb426e-ab80-32fe-9e8e-937adfedcb8f\/9b949d83-5c4d-4605-97df-553838b126a3.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nBriar Nolet on \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019Credit: Maarten De Boer\/Disney<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
\u201cI want to give her a hug,\u201d Nina said backstage, watching the performance on a monitor with her fellow contestants. Her partner for the evening, Adele Zaikman, added, \u201cLook at her face \u2014 she\u2019s pissed at herself. She\u2019s not down, she\u2019s mad at herself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark led off the judges\u2019 initial comments on the routine by asking Briar if she was okay. \u201cI know you slipped,\u201d he said. \u201cIt happens, we\u2019ve all slipped. It\u2019s not about falling, it\u2019s about getting up and carrying on, and you got up and you had that stank on your face and you launched yourself into that backflip and you kept going. I love that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/14\/a4bb426e-ab80-32fe-9e8e-937adfedcb8f\/4bba51bc-9d49-4e45-a2d8-67438958d860.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nThe cast of \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019 with Derek HoughCredit: Disney\/Vince Valitutti<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Shirley\u2019s critique was more trenchant. \u201cBriar, on the upper part of the body, you have a sensuality that cannot be denied,\u201d she noted. \u201cBut when you walk from A to B, you do not walk correctly. When you stand, you stand with your toes together and your heels apart. So my suggestion is that you would go back to the drawing board and study from the waist downwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, Derek noted that the performances being judged primarily on technique had him \u201ca little concerned with this particular performance, but honestly, great job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the bottom four was composed of Briar, Natalie, Tristen, and Jake Monreal. The judges sent Jake and Briar packing in a stunning double elimination. \u201cIt sucks to hear your name, but I\u2019m so proud,\u201d Briar said after receiving the news. \u201cI have lessons from some of the greatest in the industry through the comments, good and bad, and I\u2019ll take them in and figure out what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em> airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET\/PT on ABC, with episodes available the following day on Hulu.<\/p>\nRead the original article on Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em> got off to a thrilling start during Monday\u2019s premiere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Canadian dancer and actress Briar Nolet slipped and fell during her first performance before a shocking double elimination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The Next Pro<\/em> airs Mondays at 8 p.m. PT\/ET on ABC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of <\/em><\/strong>Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dancing With the Stars<\/em><\/a> has officially entered a new era.<\/p>\n Monday evening saw the premiere of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em><\/a>, the latest spinoff of the ever-popular<\/a> dance competition series. This time around, rather than trucking in a group of singers, actors, athletes, and influencers to compete on intricate ballroom routines they (usually) have no prior experience with, The Next Pro<\/em> has assembled 12 rising stars in dance to compete for a spot on the main series\u2019 crew of pro partners.<\/p>\n The series is hosted by season 34 winner Robert Irwin<\/a> and judged by longtime pro Mark Ballas<\/a> and his mother, Strictly Come Dancing<\/em> judge and \u201cQueen of Latin\u201d Shirley Ballas, with the inaugural episode welcoming guest instructor Derek Hough, a current DWTS<\/em> judge and the former pro with the most wins to his name.<\/p>\n Irwin and Ballas took <\/a>Entertainment Weekly<\/em><\/a> inside the new series<\/a> back in May. At the time, Ballas teased that after 21 seasons as a DWTS <\/em>pro, the series\u2019 producers \u201ckeep finding ways to shock me\u201d\u00a0\u2014 but nothing could prepare viewers for the twists and turns in store in Monday\u2019s premiere.<\/p>\n Briar Nolet, Stephani Sosa, and Derek Hough on \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019Credit: Disney\/Vince Valitutti<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The Next Pro <\/em>cast is dotted by bright-eyed newcomers and familiar faces alike. DWTS<\/em> superfans are likely to recognize Stefani Sosa, not just through her sisterly bond to current pro Ezra Sosa, but also because she previously danced in the troupe on the anchor series.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also AJ Pritchard, who danced for three years on Strictly<\/em>, which DWTS <\/em>is based on. Pritchard also comes from a reality dynasty of sorts, as he\u2019s not only appeared on I\u2019m A Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here<\/em>, but is the brother of Love Island<\/em> star Curtis Pritchard.<\/p>\n Plenty of dancers with no TV experience shot to front of the pack over the course of Monday\u2019s episode too, like Atlanta-based hip-hop dancer Tristen Sanders, USA Dance National DanceSport champion Nina Mayster, and four-time World Smooth champ Natalie Jolley. But one of the brightest potential stars from the episode\u2019s jump seemed to be Briar Nolet, a Canadian actress known for The Next Step<\/em> and The Chosen<\/em> who has also danced on tour with Jennifer Lopez<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI do have over a million followers on my social media. I\u2019ve done TV and film, working with high-profile celebrities, but I started doing ballroom about two years ago now because Dancing With the Stars<\/em> is my dream,\u201d Nolet said during a mid-episode confessional, \u201cand I will not stop until I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike the flagship show, The Next Pro<\/em> does not air live. The cast also lives together Real World<\/em>-style, meaning rivalries, feuds, and friendships are likely to add spice to the competition.<\/p>\n But before all that could set in, Hough split the group down gender lines and then formed six pairs to prepare samba and jive routines to be judged on the basis of technique. Briar was paired with Stefani and had a longer road ahead of her than most, given she lacks classical training in the fundamentals.<\/p>\n Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with\u00a0our\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n During a coaching session, Hough advised Briar not to \u201cworry about traveling too much,\u201d or moving laterally around the dance floor. \u201cI\u2019d rather see the action, because if you travel too much, then all of a sudden we lose the rotation, we lose the hip action.\u201d<\/p>\n Briar attempted to take Hough\u2019s wisdom to heart but stumbled in the opening seconds of her joint routine with Stefani. As Boricua Boys\u2019 \u201cMi Gente\u201d was still kicking the number off, Briar fell to her hands and knees, prompting a gasps from the judging panel before she recovered.<\/p>\n Briar Nolet on \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019Credit: Maarten De Boer\/Disney<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cI want to give her a hug,\u201d Nina said backstage, watching the performance on a monitor with her fellow contestants. Her partner for the evening, Adele Zaikman, added, \u201cLook at her face \u2014 she\u2019s pissed at herself. She\u2019s not down, she\u2019s mad at herself.\u201d<\/p>\n Mark led off the judges\u2019 initial comments on the routine by asking Briar if she was okay. \u201cI know you slipped,\u201d he said. \u201cIt happens, we\u2019ve all slipped. It\u2019s not about falling, it\u2019s about getting up and carrying on, and you got up and you had that stank on your face and you launched yourself into that backflip and you kept going. I love that.\u201d<\/p>\n The cast of \u2018Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro\u2019 with Derek HoughCredit: Disney\/Vince Valitutti<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Shirley\u2019s critique was more trenchant. \u201cBriar, on the upper part of the body, you have a sensuality that cannot be denied,\u201d she noted. \u201cBut when you walk from A to B, you do not walk correctly. When you stand, you stand with your toes together and your heels apart. So my suggestion is that you would go back to the drawing board and study from the waist downwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, Derek noted that the performances being judged primarily on technique had him \u201ca little concerned with this particular performance, but honestly, great job.\u201d<\/p>\n Ultimately, the bottom four was composed of Briar, Natalie, Tristen, and Jake Monreal. The judges sent Jake and Briar packing in a stunning double elimination. \u201cIt sucks to hear your name, but I\u2019m so proud,\u201d Briar said after receiving the news. \u201cI have lessons from some of the greatest in the industry through the comments, good and bad, and I\u2019ll take them in and figure out what\u2019s next.\u201d<\/p>\n Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro<\/em> airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET\/PT on ABC, with episodes available the following day on Hulu.<\/p>\n Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>