Witney Carson begins her three-episode stint as a guest on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro on the August 17 episode. Earlier this year, she traveled to Australia and reunited with her Dancing With the Stars Season 34 partner (and Mirrorball champ) Robert Irwin, who hosts the spinoff show.
“It was such an honor to be a part of The Next Pro,” Carson told TV Insider. “Honestly, I feel so privileged that I was able to be a part of three episodes. So I actually judge one, and then I’m a mentor, and then I also cohost with Robert for the finale, which is really, really exciting.”
As Irwin previously told TV Insider, Carson’s guest appearance will also include a reunion dance for the pair, and she gave us a hint of what to expect when they reunite on the dance floor in the finale on August 31.
“I was able to actually choreograph the finale dance and we introduced the judges, and Robert and I have a moment together, as well,” Carson teased. “I was like, ‘I can’t choreograph something and not have us dance together.’ I mean, that just makes the most sense. So we did. I choreographed something totally new and we were able to kind of do one last, last dance together, which was really cool.”
Below, Carson (and in the video above) opens up more about her time on The Next Pro, including why she’s “nervous” for her judging episode to air.
Tell me about The Next Pro and reuniting with Robert.
Witney Carson: After we won, I knew I was going to see Robert again because we are literally friends for life, but I didn’t know how quickly I would see him. It felt like a reunion of sorts and we were able to host together. We got to dance together again. So, it felt like just an extension of Dancing With the Stars, which didn’t make me feel as sad. But it was an amazing experience. And I think the show really puts into perspective how much the pros go through. I mean, we really sacrifice a lot to be a professional on the show.
Disney/Vince Valitutti
I also think it kind of opened Robert’s eyes as well. He was like, “Wow, you guys do so much.” And it’s true, we do. And so I think people will really fall in love with the behind the scenes. And I think they’ll fall in love with the dancers and you’ll also see familiar faces that you know of as well.
Were you familiar with any of the contestants beforehand just from being in the dance world or was that kind of your first time getting to know them?
A lot of them I knew beforehand because the dance world is so, so small and they are incredible dancers. They are incredible at what they do. I knew, actually, a lot of them before I came into it, which makes it even more hard to judge, right? And then as you’re judging, you’re realizing this is a life-changing opportunity for someone. When we’re trying to figure out who’s getting eliminated, it’s heartbreaking. And I didn’t want to do it at all. I was like, is this part of judging? I don’t like this.
And it’s all in your hands on this show, whereas on Dancing With the Stars, the fans get to vote, too…
Yeah. It’s totally different. I mean, I’ve never judged before, especially something that could really change someone’s life. And I know how great these people are and it’s their dream. It’s their dream to be a professional on Dancing With the Stars. I had a lot of weight in my hands, for sure.
Did it give you a little bit of a new appreciation for what the judges on Dancing With the Stars kind of have to go through? Because they obviously know you guys, too, and they have to judge you.
It gave me a whole new appreciation for the judges on Dancing With the Stars. I mean, it’s very stressful. And also the backlash that the judges get as well … not everyone’s going to agree with them. And so I’m a little nervous for that, but I also feel like it gave me a perspective of really appreciating the judges when they really come with good criticism and they really try and help us, so I appreciate them a lot more now, for sure.
Disney/Vince Valitutti
Shirley Ballas, obviously a legend. Had you worked with her before and what was it like working with her when you judged?
Shirley is like my dance mom. I’ve known her since I was 9 years old. She is as good as they get. She is technically the best woman coach out there by far. I’ve been coached by her since I was 9 years old. She is like family to me. I love watching her and Mark [Ballas] together judge on the show. I think it’s so hilarious because most of the time, they disagree and they’re very vocal about it. But she is as good as they come. So to watch her judge, it’s really incredible to see what she has to say to these dancers and to hopefully help them along the way.
She’s a very big technician. She knows her stuff. And I love that because that’s our art form. That’s our livelihood. That’s what we study from the time we can walk. And so her giving those little pointers and making sure people are on their technique is really important. I think you need a little bit of both. You need the Mark perspective and you need the Shirley perspective, too.
I think it kind of gives fans a little bit of that Len Goodman that they were missing because they’re very similar in that sense.
I would argue she’s a little more strict than Len. I would say she’s even tougher.
Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Mondays, 8/7c, ABC
Dancing With the Stars, Season 35 Premiere, Tuesday, September 15, 8/7c, ABC