A surprising announcement regarding Dancing with the Stars was made on Monday evening's Dance War finale. Professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 28, who has partnered Laila Ali and Mel B. in the finals, will not be returning for the sixth season.
"He just needs a break," an ABC spokesperson said. "He is part of the Dancing family, and he will be back."
In December he told People that he felt burnt out from the grueling schedule of the popular show.
"After coming down from two seasons back-to-back, 10 weeks each season — 14 weeks, if you count all of the rehearsals — it puts a lot of pressure on a person and it takes its toll," he said.
Chmerkovskiy is currently completing a Dancing with the Stars fitness video with Cheryl Burke, another of the show's professional dancers. He will continue teaching students at Rising Stars Dance Academy in Saddlebrook, N.J. this spring, and there is a possibility he may appear in the group-choreographed dances during the results shows of Dancing with the Stars.
