DWTS Pros Returning For Season 21

Which DWTS Pros Are Set

To Return This Fall (09-14-15)

Rumors are flying amongst (what could easily be called) "slightly nervous", Dancing With The Stars Fans, as to which of the Pros will be returning this Fall for the Show's 21st Season, set to premiere September 14th, 2015.

But, hey!  Who can really blame us if we are, indeed, a bit on the edge ...

After all, it wasn't so very long ago when, on the crest of DWTS' 10th ANNIVERSARY SEASON (!), we made the emotional (and downright gloomy) discovery that some of our Professional favorites, such as Karina Smirnoff and  Cheryl Burke, would NOT be joining the Cast of Season 20!!

<Clearing throat, composing myself> …

Among the rumors, were those suggesting that reigning Mirror Ball Champion, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, would follow in his brother's (Maksim Chmerkovskiy - Season 18's Mirror Ball Champion) footsteps and "go out on a high note"; but, Val has recently reassured Fans with the posting of the following Tweet:  "Yes, I will absolutely be back next season!"

DWTS' Season 20 Mirror Ball Champions,
Rumer Willis & Valentine Chmerkovskiy!

Val Chmerkovskiy, finally, hugging his very own
hard-earned (and well-deserved) Mirror Ball Trophy.

Five-time Mirror Ball Winner Derek Hough answered yet another set of panic-driven rumors regarding his return as a Season 21 Pro when he said, "I don't know. In the past, it was like, 'Are you coming back, Derek? Are you not coming back? Oh, just shut up, Derek! Make a decision!' ... I think I'm contracted for one more season legally. But we'll see what happens. I have some ideas that I want to do on the show, but not necessarily as a pro."

Five-time Mirror Ball Champion Derek Hough

Ah, me!  It does seem we DWTS Fans are forced to go through the same emotional turmoil that preludes every new Season of DWTS:   Who's coming back next Season?  Who's NOT coming back ...<Sniff, sniff!  Waah!!> ... Why aren't they coming back, again!?!  ('Cause it better be for a REAL good reason! ... LOL, Just kiddin'! ... Noooo, I'm not bitter or anything!)

When asked, concerning his departure from Dancing With The Stars (following the Show's 18th Season) and the possible, dismal (to say the least!) departures of some of his dancing, professional counterparts, Former Pro and Mirror Ball Champion, Maks Chmerkovskiy explained, "You have to walk away when the time is right; and the time was right.  Nothing out of the ordinary. I think a change of guard is necessary. Like a plant, that in order to improve growth, you have to pull branches. It's the same thing. Every now and again, everything needs to be refreshed.  Me, Cheryl, Karina - the few of us leaving - I think this might be one of the last times we see Derek.  Tony's still around; but I don't know for how long.  It's not set.  It's awesome.  We've moved on, and the show is still where it is.  You have people like Peta and Val, who kind of became the faces of the show, and let's see what happens.  I hope the show stays on for another 10 years; and we'll celebrate it when we're all a lot older."

DWTS' Season 18 Mirror Ball Champion
Maksim Chmerkovskiy

" ... let's see what happens.", indeed ...  Following the inevitable future departure of Pros Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Tony Dovolani (who holds the current distinction of having been a DWTS Pro the longest, having joined the Professional Cast in Season 2) from the Show, there will not be a Pro left who joined DWTS before Season 13, in other words, the "First Generation" of Pros will have ceased to exist on the Show!

But, I do tend to agree with Maks when I say that (when that awful time comes), with Pros like Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Sharna Burgess, and all the other highly talented and extremely capable Professionals that will be remaining on the Show, I feel confident that America's favorite Ballroom Dance Competition will be left in good hands!