What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 6 recap, who went home
What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 6 recap, who went home
Lori Comstock, USA TODAY NETWORKTue, August 18, 2026 at 1:01 AM UTC
0
"Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" sent Nina Mayster home Monday night after Episode 6's "But Can You Teach?" challenge, narrowing the field in the race to become the next professional dancer on "Dancing with the Stars" and earn a place in next week's semifinal round.
So who survived the latest "DWTS: The Next Pro" elimination and remains in contention to become the next DWTS pro?
Episode 6 challenged contestants to teach everyday "Dancing with the Stars" fans under the guidance of reigning Mirrorball Trophy champion Witney Carson, who gave dancers just two days to prepare a performance.
Here's what happened on "DWTS: The Next Pro," who was eliminated and who advances to next week's semifinal round.
Who went home on 'Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro'?
Nina Mayster was eliminated on "DWTS: The Next Pro" during Episode 6 on Monday night.
Nina and Selena Hamilton landed in the bottom two after the judges evaluated this week's performances. Ultimately, Nina was sent home, ending her chance of earning a professional dancer spot on the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars."
Head judge Shirley Ballas said the decision was difficult because both Nina and Selena lacked some of the technical knowledge and teaching skills being evaluated in the challenge.
Ultimately, the judges chose to save Selena and eliminate Nina.
What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'?
Episode 6 challenged contestants to teach everyday "Dancing with the Stars" fans under the guidance of reigning Mirrorball Trophy champion Witney Carson.
The dancers were paired with social media influencers Jeremy Urann, Zaira Yzabelle, Jay Wyson, Bailey McKnight and Anthony Riccardo through a random draw before receiving dance styles that included the Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot.
The dancers then had just two days to prepare a performance while also coaching their partners through the routine, creating one of the season's toughest challenges before next week's semifinal round.
'DWTS: The Next Pro' Episode 6 recap: Challenge-by-challenge results
AJ Pritchard and Bailey McKnight (Viennese Waltz)
Bailey said AJ moved quickly through choreography during rehearsals, adding that she wished he had slowed down and spent more time teaching each step.
The judges were overwhelmingly positive about the performance. Witney Carson praised the routine's technical quality and said she loved the dance, though she would have liked to see a stronger emotional moment between the pair. Mark Ballas called the performance "crystal clear" and told AJ, "You know your craft."
Shirley Ballas delivered some of the night's strongest praise, telling AJ that what he accomplished in just two days was "miraculous" and calling him "an absolute star."
Selena Hamilton and Jeremy Urann (Quickstep)
Jeremy joked during rehearsals that Selena could be a "military combat instructor" because of her perfectionist coaching style. However, he also praised Selena for recognizing his strengths and adjusting her teaching approach to fit his abilities.
The judges praised the entertainment value of the routine but questioned whether it fully met the demands of the Quickstep challenge. Witney Carson said the performance was memorable but felt the Quickstep content was lacking.
Mark Ballas praised the pair's musicality and said the routine was fun to watch, though he wanted to see more movement around the floor. Shirley Ballas agreed, noting that the challenge was focused on coaching and saying she would have liked to see more of the traditional traveling movement associated with the Quickstep.
Allen Genkin and Zaira Yzabelle (Waltz)
Zaira praised Allen's patient teaching style during rehearsals, saying he taught "very slow, very considerate" and helped build her confidence ahead of the performance.
The routine earned strong reviews from the judges. Shirley Ballas said she loved the performance but noted the pair got a little lost in some of the basic steps. She told Allen that if he tightens things up, he could become "a force to be reckoned with."
Advertisement
Witney Carson said she loved the performance and could clearly see the trust and connection Allen built with Zaira in just two days. She also praised him for helping boost his partner's confidence.
Mark Ballas called the routine "solid" and applauded what Allen and Zaira accomplished in such a short amount of time, telling Allen he did a "fantastic job."
Adele Zaikman and Anthony Riccardo (Tango)
Anthony described Adele as a strict coach during rehearsals, though judges ultimately viewed that approach as an asset given the challenge's time constraints.
After the performance, Mark Ballas praised the routine's movement and dynamics and said he appreciated Adele's no-nonsense teaching style. Shirley Ballas called Adele "fierce" and fair while praising her willingness to take choreography risks, though she said she would have liked to see a little more fun in the performance.
After Adele left the stage, mentor Witney Carson offered some of the night's strongest praise, telling the judges she believed Adele "could do the job" as a future "Dancing with the Stars" professional.
Nina Mayster and Jay Wyson (Foxtrot)
Jay said Nina gave him a lot of information during rehearsals, leading Nina to acknowledge that time management is an important part of being a professional dance instructor.
After the performance, head judge Shirley Ballas said the pair struggled with some of the fundamental elements of the Foxtrot. Mark Ballas agreed, pointing to the couple's dance frame as his biggest concern. However, Witney Carson praised Nina's creativity, calling it a brilliant decision to incorporate hip-hop elements into the routine.
Which dancer was eliminated on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'?
Nina Mayster left "DWTS: The Next Pro" during Episode 6 on Monday night. Nina became the eighth dancer sent home on the series ahead of next week's semifinal show, where the final four dancers will compete for a spot in the professional lineup of the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars."
Who is still on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'?
Following Monday night's elimination, the four dancers competing on "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" are:
AJ Pritchard
Allen Genkin
Adele Zaikman
Selena Hamilton
Eliminated contestants:
Briar Nolet (Premiere)
Jake Monreal (Premiere)
Benjamin "Benji" Castro (Episode 2)
Natalie Jolley (Medically removed, Episode 3)
Stephani Sosa and Tristan Sanders (Episode 4)
Erik Linder (Episode 5)
Nina Mayster(Episode 6)
When is the next 'DWTS: The Next Pro' episode? Schedule, how to watch
The next episode of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" airs Monday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes are also available to stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Episode 7 will serve as the semifinal round, featuring the final four dancers partnering with "Dancing with the Stars" pros Rylee Arnold, Gleb Savchenko, Jan Ravnik and Witney Carson. Two-time Mirrorball Trophy champion Kym Johnson will also appear as a guest judge.
Stream "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" on Disney+
When is the 'DWTS: The Next Pro' finale?
The "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" finale is expected to air Monday, Aug. 31. The winning dancer will earn a spot in the professional dancer lineup for the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars."
What does the 'DWTS: The Next Pro' winner get?
The winner of "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro" will earn a spot in the professional dancer lineup for the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars."
ABC has announced the full DWTS cast will be revealed Sept. 2 on "Good Morning America" ahead of the Sept. 15 premiere.
For more on the DWTS 2026 cast, judges, hosts, professional dancers and pairings, see our complete season guide.
Read more: When is the 'Dancing with the Stars' cast reveal? GMA announcement date
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: What happened on 'DWTS: The Next Pro'? Episode 6 recap, who went home
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
