The latest dwts the next pro elimination has sent Nina Mayster home, leaving Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard, Allen Genkin and Selena Hamilton to compete in the semifinals of ABC’s new Dancing With the Stars spinoff. The August 17 episode delivered one of the most revealing challenges of the season, forcing the remaining dancers to prove they could do more than perform—they had to demonstrate that they could teach an inexperienced partner under intense time pressure.
The competition began with 12 aspiring professionals, all hoping to earn the biggest prize available: a professional dancer position on Dancing With the Stars Season 35. After weeks of choreography challenges, partner work, group performances and elimination rounds, only four contestants now remain.
Nina’s departure came after a particularly demanding episode centered on coaching. Each remaining contestant was paired with a DWTS superfan and given only two days to prepare that person for a ballroom performance. With professional teaching at the heart of the challenge, the judges were looking closely at how well each dancer communicated, adapted and brought out the best in their partner.
Key Points Summary
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║ – Nina Mayster was eliminated from Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro on August 17. ║
║ – Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard, Allen Genkin and Selena Hamilton advanced to the semifinals. ║
║ – The latest challenge required contestants to teach ballroom routines to inexperienced DWTS superfans in only two days. ║
║ – Witney Carson joined Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas as a guest mentor and judge for the coaching challenge. ║
║ – The remaining four dancers are competing for one professional spot on Dancing With the Stars Season 35. ║
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Nina Mayster’s Journey Comes to an End
Throughout the season, Nina demonstrated strong dance ability and an impressive willingness to adapt. However, The Next Pro is not simply searching for the contestant who can execute the most difficult choreography. The eventual winner needs to possess the full package required of a professional on the main series.
That means technical dance ability is only one part of the equation.
A professional also has to teach celebrities who may have little or no ballroom experience. They must explain complicated movements in a simple way, maintain their partner’s confidence, choreograph routines around individual strengths and weaknesses, and make the celebrity look comfortable on live television.
The latest episode placed those responsibilities front and center.
Nina was paired with Jay Wyson for a foxtrot. The performance had appealing moments, but the judges identified areas that ultimately separated her from the remaining contestants. Questions surrounding technical execution, spacing and teaching efficiency became increasingly important as the judges evaluated which dancer appeared most prepared for the professional role.
When Nina and Selena Hamilton were placed in jeopardy, the judges ultimately chose Nina for elimination.
Her departure means the original group of 12 has now been reduced to four.
A Challenge That Changed the Competition
Five contestants entered the episode knowing that one would leave before the semifinals. Instead of simply performing against each other, they were given amateur partners and asked to transform them into ballroom performers.
The contestants had only two days.
That short preparation period created an environment similar to what professional dancers encounter on Dancing With the Stars. Celebrities often arrive with very different levels of coordination, rhythm, flexibility and performance experience. A successful professional must quickly determine what teaching methods work for each individual.
The challenge therefore tested patience as much as dance technique.
Witney Carson served as a guest mentor and judge, giving the remaining contestants advice based on her own extensive experience as a DWTS professional. Her presence was particularly appropriate because she understood exactly how difficult it can be to teach a celebrity while simultaneously building a performance that works for television.
Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas also emphasized the importance of teaching ability when evaluating the performances.
For the four dancers who survived, the episode served as an important demonstration that they may be ready for the responsibilities of the flagship series.
Adele Zaikman Advances
Adele Zaikman remains one of the strongest contenders for the professional position.
Her latest challenge involved teaching Anthony Riccardo a tango. The performance required Adele to balance ballroom technique with the needs of a less experienced partner.
One of Adele’s biggest strengths throughout the competition has been her ability to remain composed while adapting to different challenges. She has repeatedly shown that she understands how to create choreography that allows her partner to contribute rather than simply placing the spotlight on herself.
That distinction matters enormously on Dancing With the Stars.
A professional’s job is ultimately to help the celebrity shine.
Adele’s performance in the coaching challenge demonstrated that she understands this concept. She was able to guide her partner through the routine while maintaining the visual character expected from the tango.
With the semifinals approaching, Adele enters the next stage with considerable momentum.
AJ Pritchard Remains in the Race
AJ Pritchard is another finalist whose professional experience gives him a potentially important advantage.
Before joining The Next Pro, AJ was already known to television audiences through Strictly Come Dancing. That background means he understands the unique demands of a celebrity dance competition, including rehearsal schedules, partner chemistry, choreography and performing for a television audience.
His experience does not automatically guarantee victory, however.
The competition is designed to determine who is the best overall candidate for a DWTS professional position, and every finalist still has to prove that they can meet the show’s standards.
AJ’s latest challenge involved teaching Bailey McKnight a Viennese waltz. The performance highlighted his technical foundation and ability to structure a routine around a partner who does not have professional ballroom training.
The judges responded positively to several aspects of the performance while also identifying areas where AJ could strengthen his emotional connection.
That feedback could become important in the semifinal because the competition is now close enough that small differences may determine who reaches the finale.
Allen Genkin Continues His Strong Run
Allen Genkin has quietly developed into one of the competition’s most consistent dancers.
He has experienced pressure during the season, including a previous appearance in jeopardy, but has continued to advance.
His coaching challenge paired him with Zaira Yzabelle for a waltz. Allen’s approach demonstrated one of the most important characteristics of a professional: the ability to make an inexperienced dancer feel capable.
Rather than overwhelming his partner with complicated instructions, Allen focused on helping her understand the movement and gain confidence.
That quality could be particularly valuable on the main series.
Celebrity contestants often become nervous when they have to learn unfamiliar steps, perform in front of millions of viewers and receive critiques from judges. A professional who can maintain a positive rehearsal environment can make an enormous difference.
Allen’s latest performance therefore gave the judges another reason to keep him in the competition.
Selena Hamilton Survives Again
Selena Hamilton has become one of the more intriguing finalists because her journey has not been entirely straightforward.
She has already found herself in danger during the season, yet each time she has managed to remain in contention.
Her background also gives her a distinctive identity within the final four. Selena brings contemporary dance experience to a competition heavily focused on ballroom and Latin styles.
That versatility can be an advantage, but it also creates a challenge. The professional position requires dancers to move comfortably between different styles while teaching celebrities who may struggle with basic technique.
Selena’s latest challenge paired her with Jeremy Urann for a quickstep.
The routine delivered plenty of energy, but the judges wanted stronger traditional quickstep content and more movement around the floor. Teaching concerns also became part of the discussion.
Nevertheless, Selena’s overall performance was sufficient to keep her ahead of Nina when the judges made their final decision.
Her survival sets up an interesting semifinal storyline because she now has another opportunity to prove that her versatility can outweigh any concerns about ballroom specialization.
Who Has Been Eliminated?
The first season has already delivered several major elimination moments.
The original 12-person cast included dancers from a wide range of backgrounds and dance disciplines. As the competition progressed, contestants were gradually removed based on their performance in increasingly demanding challenges.
The elimination journey has included:
- Briar Nolet
- Jake Monreal
- Benjamin “Benji” Castro
- Natalie Jolley
- Tristen Sanders
- Stephani Sosa
- Erik Linder
- Nina Mayster
Natalie Jolley’s departure was different from the standard eliminations because an injury prevented her from continuing.
By the end of the August 17 episode, the competition had reached its final four: Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard, Allen Genkin and Selena Hamilton.
Why the Final Four Are So Important
The remaining contestants are not competing for a conventional reality-show prize.
They are effectively auditioning for a career opportunity.
The winner will be offered a professional position on Dancing With the Stars Season 35. That means the final episodes are likely to receive even greater attention from fans who want to see which dancer could eventually become part of the flagship show’s professional lineup.
The four finalists also represent different paths to the same goal.
Adele has built her case through consistency and strong ballroom ability. AJ brings previous television dance experience. Allen has demonstrated teaching skills and steady performances. Selena has relied on versatility and adaptability.
There is no obvious one-size-fits-all formula for winning.
A technically brilliant dancer could lose if they struggle to communicate. A great teacher could fall short if their performance lacks star quality. A versatile performer could be vulnerable if the judges believe their ballroom technique needs more development.
The winner needs to combine all of those qualities.
What Happens in the Semifinals?
The semifinals will bring the competition down to its most important stage yet.
With only four dancers remaining, the judges can concentrate on small details that may have been less significant earlier in the season. Musicality, partnering, choreography, teaching ability, personality and performance quality could all become decisive.
The semifinal is scheduled for August 24.
At this point, there is no room for a weak performance. Every contestant has already demonstrated enough ability to survive the earlier rounds, so the difference may come down to who can deliver under the greatest pressure.
The finalists will also need to demonstrate that they can connect with professional partners and handle choreography at a level appropriate for the main series.
That is particularly important because the eventual winner will have to transition quickly from The Next Pro into the professional cast of Dancing With the Stars.
When Is the Finale?
The inaugural season finale is scheduled for August 31.
That episode will determine which of the four finalists receives the professional position for Season 35.
The timing creates an exciting bridge between the spinoff and the flagship series. The winner will not have months to celebrate before stepping into a new television role. Instead, the dancer will soon be preparing to work alongside established DWTS professionals and celebrity contestants.
Season 35 is scheduled to begin in September, meaning the eventual winner will have to adapt quickly to the demands of the main competition.
The Bigger Question: Who Looks Like a DWTS Pro?
The central question heading into the final rounds is not necessarily which dancer is the most technically accomplished.
It is which dancer looks most ready to handle the complete professional job.
That includes being a teacher, choreographer, performer, partner, entertainer and mentor.
The latest episode made that distinction especially clear. A dancer can look spectacular on the ballroom floor but still struggle when asked to explain that same choreography to someone who has never performed it before.
Conversely, a dancer who is excellent at teaching must also demonstrate the stage presence and technical quality expected from a professional.
That is why the semifinal could produce an unpredictable result.
DWTS The Next Pro Elimination: What Fans Should Expect Next
Following Nina Mayster’s departure, the pressure has reached its highest point of the season. Adele Zaikman, AJ Pritchard, Allen Genkin and Selena Hamilton have all survived different challenges, but only one can ultimately claim the professional position.
The semifinal will provide the next major test, while the August 31 finale will decide who moves from aspiring professional to official Dancing With the Stars pro.
For fans, the most fascinating part of the final stretch is that each remaining dancer has a convincing argument. Adele has consistency, AJ has experience, Allen has teaching strength and Selena has versatility.
Now they have to prove which combination is enough to win.
Who should become the next DWTS professional—Adele, AJ, Allen or Selena? Share your prediction and keep following the competition for the latest results.