Witney Carson, a veteran professional dancer on "Dancing With The Stars," has shared her enthusiasm for the show's recent resurgence, including its Outstanding Reality Competition Program Emmy nomination—the first since 2016. Carson emphasized the show's commitment to positivity and celebrating individual transformations, noting, "We're all about positivity. We try not to harp on the drama and instead focus on the transformation of each of these celebrities."
As Carson prepares for her 15th season, she also becomes the first pro to compete while pregnant. She views "Dancing With The Stars: The Next Pro" as a "brilliant idea," offering viewers insight into the "sacrifice" professional dancers make. "We leave our families," Carson explained, "We go through a lot mentally and physically to be able to make these celebrities shine."
In "DWTS: The Next Pro," Carson mentored contestants tasked with training non-dancers, a challenge she deems crucial to a pro's role in making their partners "look the best that they possibly can."
Carson also reunited with Season 34 partner Robert Irwin, the host of "DWTS: The Next Pro." She described Irwin as a "little brother" and expressed joy in choreographing a new routine for them and co-hosting the finale. "He brought me into his world a bit," she said.
Reflecting on the Emmy nomination, Carson stated, "I think it's so well deserved." She highlighted the show's inclusive nature, saying, "Dancing With The Stars is a show that embraces everyone's differences. We uplift everyone." Carson, who has been with the show for 11 years, sees the renewed recognition as a testament to its enduring appeal and the fans' continued support. "It's an honor to be on the show for as long as I have. I've grown up on the show! I'm so proud to see the resurgence of DWTS."
Regarding "DWTS: The Next Pro," Carson praised the concept for giving aspiring dancers an opportunity to become pros on the show, calling it "one of the top jobs in the dance world." She was impressed by the contestants' performances throughout the challenges, stating, "I think the winner really deserved it. I was very impressed by the challenges that the dancers went through every week."
Carson also noted that the series helps audiences understand the demanding nature of being a professional dancer. "We pros really do sacrifice a lot. We leave our families; we are choreographing 24/7; we're always strategizing. We go through a lot mentally and physically to make these celebrities shine." She added that receiving appreciation for their work "feels really good."