Which DANCING WITH THE STARS Pro Wants to Play 'Velma' in Broadway's CHICAGO?

By: Apr. 13, 2017
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In a new interview with ET, DANCING WITH THE STARS pro Sharna Burgess, who is currently teamed with professional bull rider Bonner Bolton on the 24th season of the ABC dance competition, discussed possible career moves once she leaves the long running series.

Among her dream plans is another stop on the Great White Way, where she appeared in 2009's BURN THE FLOOR. "I would actually love to go back," she tells ET. "I was on Broadway years ago in 2009, and I would love to go back to being on Broadway, dancing, bringing in the singing and acting side of it, two other things I'm very passionate about."

She went on to share the one particular iconic role she would love to play. "Chicago is something I'd love to be a part of," she revealed. "I mean, I just connect to the character Velma. I was singing up until my mid-teen years and then it dropped off for a little while. I've always sort of kept up with it but have since been doing it a lot more seeing as musical movies are coming back. I want to brush up on all my skills so I can hopefully have an opportunity in that world."

Watch the interview in full here:


Hailing from the land "Down Under," Sharna Burgess began training in ballet, jazz and gymnastics at five years old. By age eight, she had started ballroom dancing, as well. Within these first few years, she had won numerous local and national titles. At 15, she was chosen to represent Australia at the World Championships in both the standard and Latin styles. Her accolades and national prominence went on to earn her the distinguished honor of performing at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games closing ceremony, a privilege and a memory she will always cherish.

In 2006, famed choreographer Jason Gilkison chose Burgess to go on tour with the hit dance sensation "Burn the Floor." She had the incredible privilege to tour the world with them for six years. This was after she was living in London for two years following her competitive career, which included collecting numerous titles around the globe and appearing in a U.K. tour with the theater show "Simply Ballroom."

Burgess also had guest appearances on "Dancing with the Stars Australia" and "So You Think You Can Dance Holland." Moreover, she was the assistant choreographer to Gilkison on "So You Think You Can Dance" in the U.S. and Australia for many years. In 2009, BURN THE FLOOR landed on Broadway with Burgess as one of the lead female dancers.


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