Why Dancing With the Stars’ Adele Zaikman is Missing Disney Night
Tyler Cameron Addresses “Real Human Moment” He Stormed Off-Camera on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Even a wish upon a star won’t get Adele Zaikman into the ballroom.
While the Dancing With the Stars pro, who was partnered with Connor Leavitt before their week one exit, has been a key member of the eliminated cohort that performs during show breaks, she's recently been sidelined by an illness.
“I’m sadly feeling unwell and won’t be performing in the opening number on Dancing With the Stars tomorrow,” the 25-year-old wrote in a since-expired Instagram Story Nov. 1. “I’m so sad to miss a show day, but I’ll be taking this time to take care of myself. Sending so much love to everyone on that ballroom floor. I’ll be cheering you on from home.”
Because she’s under the weather, Zaikman—who earned a season 35 spot by placing first on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro—will miss the Nov. 2's Disney-themed night.
And even though the road is looking rough ahead, Zaikman’s got many friends willing to stick together and help her see it through.
“I think that I'm the luckiest human on earth,” she said in a video shared to her Story later that day, adding that her friend Brenda “just stopped by just to give me this superfood honey and things that help me with my cough and some special teas.”
Not only that, but the good friend also dropped off some blueberry muffins. “How good do they look?” Zaikman stressed. “I mean, I am so lucky that I have people like that in my life.”
ABC/ José Alvarado, Jr.
But while Zaikman will hopefully be back in the ballroom faster than you can say, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” she will indeed miss week eight of Dancing With the Stars.
Instead, the other eliminated pros—including Hailey Bills, Alan Bersten, Britt Stewart, Brandon Armstrong, Witney Carson, Sharna Burgess and Emma Slater—will be there to cut a rug when the episode airs live on Monday, as opposed to its usual Tuesday slot. (The episode was moved due to the midterm elections on Nov. 3.)
As for Zaikman, a position as one of the pros isn’t the only thing her time on DWTS: The Next Pro earned her: She also walked away with a new boyfriend.
Instagram / Allen Genkin
Indeed, one month after the series aired its finale on Aug. 31, it was revealed Zaikman and her fellow contestant Allen Genkin’s onscreen bond had taken a turn for the romantic offscreen.
For Zaikman, her time alongside Genkin on the series cemented him as someone she wanted to be with.
“When I got to know Allen on The Next Pro, I immediately felt that he was one of the kindest souls I’d ever met,” she told E! News in October. “Having such a strong bond and friendship first makes our relationship now feel so right.”
She added, “There’s so much trust because we built it before we were romantically involved. It’s that feeling of knowing the person, knowing his heart.”
For a closer look at the people the DWTS pros have chosen to dance off into the sunset with, read on.
Instagram / Jenna Johnson
Jenna Johnson & Val Chmerkovskiy
Jenna and Val didn't waltz into a relationship right away.
When she joined Dancing With the Stars in 2014 and they were paired together for a routine, "We had physical chemistry," he recalled on The Squeeze in 2025. "I liked her energy and spirit. And then throughout the season, we kind of entertained that attraction."
After initially trying to resist the sparks, Jenna and Val dated on and off for a few years. They got engaged in 2018 and tied the knot the following year—growing their family with son Rome in 2023.
"As much as we tried to fight it," Jenna said on The Morning After With Kelly Stratford in 2025, "we were drawn to each other always."
Instagram / Daniella Karagach / Pasha Pashkov
Daniella Karagach & Pasha Pashkov
Looking for a new dance partner in 2008, Pasha's coach suggested he team up with Daniella.
Initially hesitant due to their six-and-a-half-year age gap, he recalled to DancesportInfo in 2017, "<y coach said: 'Doesn't matter, she is a right partner for you,' and that was it."
And she was in every sense of the word. Five years after their 2014 wedding, Pasha joined DWTS with Daniella entering the ballroom the following year.
In 2023, they stepped into parenthood with the birth of daughter Nikita.
"I married my best friend," Daniella told The Knot in 2025 after she and Pasha renewed their vows. "He's someone I can turn to for anything because he's my number one fan, my biggest supporter, and vice versa."
Instagram / Emma Slater
Emma Slater & Alan Bersten
After her four-year marriage to DWTS' Sasha Farber ended in 2022, Emma formed a romance with fellow pro Alan. However, the move wasn't a quickstep. While Emma and Alan sparked romance rumors in 2024, they didn't go public with their relationship until they kissed on stage during the 2025 DWTS Tour.
"We've always been really good friends, and now we have a great relationship," she told E! News in June 2026. "It feels really good."
Instagram / Daniel Durant
Britt Stewart & Daniel Durant
Scoring a perfect 10 in their love story, Britt and actor Daniel competed together on DWTS in 2022. After they were eliminated, they wondered if their feelings would remain outside of the show and slowly began dating.
"I wanted to make sure that it was as real as what we were feeling," Britt explained on The Joe Vulpis Podcast in December 2025, "and it was."
The dancer and the CODA star got engaged in 2023 and tied the knot two years later.
"I love you," Britt told Daniel while signing their vows in a video from their wedding day. "I think my soul loved you before I met you."
Instagram / Allen Genkin
Adele Zaikman & Allen Genkin
Called the Rolls Royce, Adele cruised away from 2026's DWTS: The Next Pro with the win and a new relationship with fellow contestant Allen.
"When I got to know Allen on The Next Pro, I immediately felt that he was one of the kindest souls I’d ever met," she told E! News in October 2026. “Having such a strong bond and friendship first makes our relationship now feel so right.”
Instagram / Brylee Armstrong
Brandon Armstrong & Brylee Armstrong
While fans have seen Brandon glide across the ballroom, he met Brylee by sliding into her DMs.
"I said, 'Hey, how are you?' he recalled to Joe Vulpis in 2024, "and she ghosted me."
After her mom convinced her to give him a chance, Brylee and Brandon started dating in 2021 and he proposed the following year with a custom movie trailer. Months later, they tied the knot.
"If y’all knew Bry the way I do," Brandon wrote on Instagram in May 2026, "your life would be 100 times better."
Instagram/Rylee Arnold
Rylee Arnold & Walker Lyons
Collegiate football player Walker has been Rylee's teammate since 2024.
"His aunt was my Uber driver in L.A., which was crazy," the dancer told It Girl in September 2026. "I got in her car, was talking to her, and she was like, 'I have a nephew who's playing football at USC. You should reach out to him.'"
After Rylee followed the tight-end, later suiting up for Utah's BYU, on Instagram, "He messaged me,” she continued, “and then the rest is history."
Jerod Harris/Getty Images
Sharna Burgess & Brian Austin Green
Introduced by their mutual manager, Sharna and Brian met in 2020 following his split from Megan Fox.
"I’m so grateful I get to do life with you," she wrote in a 2024 birthday tribute to the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, also dad to kids Noah, Bodhi and Journey from his former marriage to Megan as well as son Kassius from past relationship with Vanessa Marcil. "Us, our tribe, our adventures past present and future… it’s all everything I’ve ever wanted."
Instagram / Mark Ballas
Mark Ballas & BC Jean
In a meet-cute that’s music to fans’ ears, Mark and BC told Entertainment Tonight they met in 2012 at a friend's house, where they were both performing for a live-stream event.
Marrying in 2016, the singer and the dancer collaborate both in life—as parents to son Banksi—and in work, teaming up for their band Alexander Jean.
Calling BC’s love and support "unmatched," Mark wrote in a 2025 Instagram post, "You're the best wife & friend a man could ask for."
Instagram / Carson McAllister
Witney Carson & Carson McAllister
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