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Cheryl Burke - Dancing with the Stars

Cheryl Bautista Burke (born May 12, 1984) is a two time Emmy nominated professional dancer. As the professional dancer partner, she won the competition in the second and third seasons of ABC's American version of Dancing with the Stars with celebrity dance partners Drew Lachey (February 2006) and Emmitt Smith (November 2006).

Burke grew up in Atherton, California. She is of Filipino and Irish descent.[1] Her family dances recreationally and have a dance floor at home. At 4 years old, she began taking ballet lessons and performing locally. She first began ballroom dancing and decided to change her focus. She trained in both standard ballroom and latin dances. She began competing at age 13.

Burke is a 2002 graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School.

Dancing

Burke contends that dancing provides a medium for her to express her inner feelings and passion all the while maintaining focus and composure during extremely high-pressure situations.

Burke says that her dancing style is unlike anyone else's. She takes pride in being a "rule breaker" and feels that her greatest achievements in dancing are still to come.

Dancing with the Stars
Burke won her first championship with 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey in the second season. It has been alleged that they were having an affair during this time. She won her second championship with retired football star Emmitt Smith in the third season.

Burke returned to the ballroom on March 19, 2007 for Season 4, partnered with actor Ian Ziering. Cheryl and Ian were eliminated in the semi-finals on May 15, 2007.

She participated in a 38 city Dancing with the Stars Tour from December 19, 2006 to February 11, 2007. She joined the second summer tour which visited 24 cities between June 20, 2007 in Austin, Texas and July 24, 2007 in Vancouver, Canada. Her celebrity partner for both tours was Drew Lachey.

Cheryl competed on Season 5. Her partner was Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton. They were the third couple eliminated from the competition on October 9, 2007.

Cheryl recently participated with both Lachey & Newton in the Dancing with the Stars winter tour that kicked off December 18, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. The tour wrapped in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 10, 2008.

Cheryl is currently competing on Season 6 and is partnered with actor Cristián de la Fuente

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