Cheryl Burke has announced that this will be her final performance.

The professional dancer announced her departure from Dancing With the Stars on Sunday, after participating in all 26 seasons of the competition. Her “farewell dance” will take place during Monday night’s season finale. Her declaration comes only one week after head judge Len Goodman stated that he will be leaving the show, which is currently shown on Disney+.

In a moving statement on Instagram, Burke, who is 38 years old, reflected on her extensive experience with the show, including the fact that she was the first female professional dancer to win the competition. After winning the Mirrorball Trophy in Season 2 with former boy bander Drew Lachey, Burke accomplished the same feat in Season 3 with a new partner, football player Emmitt Smith. This victory earned Burke the Mirrorball Trophy for a second time. Her most recent partnership, with TV weatherman Sam Champion, brought them a 13th-place finish in the 31st season of Dancing with the Stars.

The dancer wrote, “I am sitting here full of so many different emotions about the words I am about to write.” “I am going to write them,” she said.

“My last performance as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars will take place the night after tomorrow. This has been one of the most challenging choices I have ever had to make in my whole life, but I am positive that it was the best option “She published the information, along with a picture of herself wearing a red ballroom outfit.

“Since I was 21 years old, this show has been like a second family to me,” she went on to say. “Because of the cast, crew, and fans, I have experienced some of the highest highs as well as some of the lowest lows in my life, and I honestly do not know who I would be without them today. Despite the fact that dancing will continue to play a significant role in my life, I am aware that the time has come for me to move on to the next stage of my professional life. I am ready to face the uncertainty (even though it scares the sh** out of me) of what the future holds; however, I do have a few things up my sleeve, so don’t worry about that. I am excited about the idea of evolving, about being challenged in new ways, about having the ability to expand my commitment to mental health advocacy, and about focusing on my newly discovered love for podcasting.”

Burke, who sat out the competition show’s 19th through 22nd seasons to pursue other endeavors, including joining Dance Moms, is not appearing on the show for the first time. Although she did not participate in Dancing with the Stars Season 24 or Season 26, she had been a regular contestant for the previous five seasons.

In her farewell statement, Burke dropped hints about her last performance on the show, which will take place on November 21. She will be participating in the same show as seasoned veterans Pasha Pashkov and Louis van Amstel.

She addressed the audience as follows: “I hope that you will tune in to see my farewell dance during tomorrow’s Finale as it is dedicated to all of YOU that have supported me, loved me even if you didn’t know me, and who have been such a huge part of my life, my growth, and my story,” she said. “I hope that you will tune in to see my farewell dance during tomorrow’s Finale as it is dedicated to all of YOU that have supported me, loved me even “I’m honestly not sure how I’m going to get through it without tears, but even with the heartache and emotions, I am grateful to have the opportunity to perform this dance and to do so with two of my favorite male pros to dance with, @pashapashkov and @louisvanamstel,” she wrote on Twitter. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to dance with two of my favorite male pros to dance with.”

After separating from her husband of nearly three years, Mrs. Doubtfire actor Matthew Laurence earlier this year, Burke went on to express her gratitude to the Dancing With the Stars community “for being my rock [and] foundation… during the difficult periods.”

“Although there aren’t enough words to express my deep gratitude and love to my entire DWTS family, I will end with this: thank you for being my rock and foundation for close to two decades during the difficult moments, and most of all, thank you for giving ballroom dancing the credit and attention it deserves,” she wrote in an email. “Thank you for giving ballroom dancing the credit and attention it deserves.” “You have not only provided happiness to millions upon millions of fans throughout each season, but you have also brought light and a great deal of love into my heart and soul at a time when I required it the most. This has without a doubt been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am looking forward to the next stage of my professional life, but man, it is going to be tough to top this one! Until next time… I will always and forever love every one of you.”

In spite of the fact that it is not yet known what step Burke will take next in her professional life, the TV personality has recently provided viewers with a glimpse into her life outside of the ballroom. In addition to her divorce and other personal matters, Burke has been open and honest about her struggles with body dysmorphia, her sobriety, and her prior experience of having an abortion. She gave an interview to Yahoo Life in September, during which she discussed her decision to “choose not to date” following the end of her relationship and how she has since learned to prioritize her own requirements.

“I used to put everybody else in front of me and my wants, and I’ve realized that I’m doing myself a disservice,” she shared with me. “I’m doing myself a disservice.” Because this is not an easy task, I believe it is vitally important to just take a deep breath and show kindness to oneself.