Table of Contents

Foreword by Tom Bergeron vii Acknowledgments xi INTRODUCTION 1 1 THE FREESTYLE 7 Finding Myself in the Spotlight 2 THE CHA-CHA-CHA 21 My First Steps 3 THE JIVE 49 The Ballroom World 4 THE SALSA 79 Parties and Paparazzi, Reputation and Responsibility 5 THE PASO DOBLE 103 Fighting Back 6 THE RUMBA 121 Learning to Love My Body 7 THE QUICKSTEP 143 Branching Out 8 THE VIENNESE WALTZ 163 Grace under Pressure 9 BEHIND THE SCENES 177 A Day in the Life at Dancing with the Stars 10 THANKS, PARTNERS 191 Partners for a Season, Lessons for a Lifetime Afterword 233

About the Author

CHERYL BURKE is the only professional dancer to appear four times in the finals of ABC's top-rated show Dancing with the Stars; she is a two-time back-to-back champion. She owns two dance studios in California.