Overview
- ABC will air the two-round finale at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31, with each finalist performing a traditional partnered ballroom routine followed by a freestyle and America’s vote deciding the winner.
- The final three competing for the Next Pro title are Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard and Selena Hamilton, each set to perform with a returning DWTS celebrity in the traditional round.
- ABC released pairing and song assignments that match Adele with Nev Schulman for a Samba to “Bun Up The Dance,” AJ with Charli D’Amelio for a Viennese waltz to “Golden Hour,” and Selena with Adam Rippon for a Jive to “Candyman.”
- Freestyle music spoilers list Adele dancing to “Natural” by Imagine Dragons, AJ to “Bad Man” by Pitbull featuring Robin Thicke, Joe Perry and Travis Barker, and Selena to “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake, and judges will include Derek Hough alongside Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas with Witney Carson and Robert Irwin co-hosting.
- DWTS: The Next Pro is explicitly a feeder contest that tests choreography, teaching and partnership skills, so the winner’s selection will affect Season 35 casting, rehearsal schedules, costume planning and other production logistics as the main series prepares to reveal its full cast in early September.