{"id":255257,"date":"2026-08-02T18:20:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T18:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/02\/remember-when-dancing-with-the-stars-had-a-junior-version-where-the-mini-pros-are-now\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T18:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T18:20:50","slug":"remember-when-dancing-with-the-stars-had-a-junior-version-where-the-mini-pros-are-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/02\/remember-when-dancing-with-the-stars-had-a-junior-version-where-the-mini-pros-are-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Remember When \u2018Dancing With the Stars\u2019 Had a Junior Version? Where the Mini Pros Are Now"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Seven years before Rylee Arnold<\/strong><\/a> and Hailey Bills<\/strong><\/a> slayed the Dancing With the Stars <\/i><\/a>season 34 stage, they were both junior pros on the younger iteration of the ballroom competition.<\/p>\n

In 2018, DWTS <\/i>aired a junior version of the competition<\/a> where a slate of child stars or kids of celebrities competed for a star-shaped mirrorball trophy. The cast included Ariana Greenblatt, Miles Brown, Mackenzie Ziegler<\/strong> and Olympian Sky Brown<\/strong>, all of whom were partnered with a preteen dancer and mentored by a DWTS <\/i>professional dancer.<\/p>\n

For instance, then-pro Lindsay Arnold<\/strong> served as the mentor and choreographer<\/a> for sister Rylee\u2019s partnership with Black-ish <\/i>alum Brown.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing on DWTS<\/i> on its own was a dream for me, and being on DWTS<\/i> with my youngest sister, every single day when I went into work, I was mind-blown,\u201d Lindsay, who won season 25, told Closer <\/i><\/a>in 2018. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of the way that she handled everything, because it\u2019s tough. She was so mature and handled it so well, and it just made me have a really, really strong appreciation for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>‘DWTS’ Relatives Who Joined the Show as Pros and Contestants<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tRylee Arnold isn\u2019t the first family member \u2014 let alone sibling \u2014 of a Dancing With the Stars pro or contestant to enter the ballroom. Julianne Hough was the first dancer to face off against her brother, Derek Hough, on the ABC competition series. After Julianne got her start on the series in season 4 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rylee was 13 at the time, and at 18, she became a first-time pro on the legacy competition during 2023\u2019s season 32. Two years later, she returned to the show for her third season, while Bills, who is fellow pro Jenna Johnson<\/strong>\u2019s niece, made her debut in the troupe.<\/p>\n

Keep scrolling to see where the rest of DWTS Juniors <\/i>pros are now:<\/p>\n

Rylee Arnold<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Getty Images (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Miles Brown<\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Lindsay Arnold<\/p>\n

After making her DWTS Juniors <\/i>debut, Rylee returned to her native Utah to finish middle and high school. She moved to Los Angeles after graduating when she was cast as a pro<\/a> on the OG series. Rylee\u2019s been paired with Harry Jowsey, Stephen Nedoroscik<\/strong> and Scott Hoying<\/strong> during seasons 32, 33 and 34, respectively.<\/p>\n

Hailey Bills<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Ed Herrera via Getty Images ; Courtesy of Hailey Bills\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Tripp Johnston Palin<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Jenna Johnson<\/p>\n

Bills and Tripp, the son of Bristol Palin<\/strong> and ex Levi Johnston<\/strong>, were the first couple eliminated<\/a> from the junior show. In the years since, Bills continued dancing and performed with judge Derek Hough<\/strong> at a Savannah Bananas game in September 2025. That same month, Bills joined the DWTS <\/i>season 34 troupe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brightyn Brems<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\"Remember<\/div>
Ed Her rera via Getty Images ; Courtesy of Brightyn Brems\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Mandla Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Cheryl Burke<\/strong><\/p>\n

After dancing with Stevie Wonder<\/strong>\u2019s son<\/a>, Brems showed off her skills on World of Dance, America\u2019s Got Talent <\/i>and her high school drill team. Brems also models and choreographs in her free time.<\/p>\n

Artyon Celestine<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Getty Images (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Ariana Greenblatt<\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Brandon Armstrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celestine, a child performer from A Christmas Story Live! <\/i>and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, <\/i>has since started an acting career. His credits include Attaway General, Drama Club, S.W.A.T. <\/i>and Blaze and the Monster Machines.<\/i><\/p>\n

Outside of performing, Celestine graduated from high school in June 2025.<\/p>\n

JT Church<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\"Remember<\/div>
Ed Herrera via Getty Images ; Courtesy of JT Church\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Sky Brown<\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Alan Bersten<\/strong><\/p>\n

Church was the runner-up on the younger version of So You Think You Can Dance <\/i>before he and Brown won DWTS Juniors. <\/i>Church still dances, with credits that include The Music Man<\/i>\u2019s Broadway revival, This Is Us, Drama Club <\/i>and Christmas Waltz. <\/i>Most recently, Church appeared in a Los Angeles Opera production of West Side Story <\/i>in fall 2025.<\/i><\/p>\n

Kameron Couch<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Celebrity Partner: Hudson West<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Hayley Erbert<\/strong><\/p>\n

Couch graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts in June 2025 before enrolling at the University of Southern California to earn a BFA in dance. She also danced music videos for DJ Snake<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cA Different Way,\u201d Kesha<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cMy Own Dance\u201d and multiple projects for JoJo Siwa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jake Monreal<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\"Remember<\/div>
Ed Herrera via Getty Images ; Courtesy of Jake Monreal\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Sophia Pippen<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Sasha Farber<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ballroom dancer has made the leap into the filmmaking world as he entered his early 20s.<\/p>\n

\u201cA huge and rewarding undertaking independently producing my first film,\u201d Monreal wrote via Instagram in March 2025. \u201cIt\u2019s the first of many to come in this next juncture of my life all due to my tirelessly dedicated and fantastic crew and talent who I can\u2019t thank enough. Eagerly pursuing what\u2019s to come next in acting and directing!!\u201d<\/p>\n

He later appeared on\u00a0DWTS: The Next Pro<\/em>, which aired in summer 2026, but was the first castoff.<\/p>\n

Tristan Ianiero<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\"Remember<\/div>
Ed Herrera via Getty Images ; Courtesy of Tristan Ianiero\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Alana \u201cHoney Boo Boo\u201d Thompson<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Artem Chigvintsev<\/strong><\/p>\n

After appearing in the ballroom, Ianiero danced on Netflix\u2019s 2022 adaptation of 13: The Musical. <\/i>He now choreographs and teaches intensive classes in New York.<\/p>\n

Lev Cameron Khmelev<\/b><\/h2>\n
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\"Remember<\/div>
Getty Images (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Addison Osta Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Keo Motsepe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Khmelev released his debut music single, \u201cMessed Up,\u201d in 2022. He\u2019s since released songs \u201cAll Night,\u201d \u201cStalling,\u201d \u201cEmbarrassing, \u201cLunar Love\u201d and \u201cTrust Issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kamri Peterson<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Celebrity Partner: Akash Vukoti<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Witney Carson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peterson is still dancing in Los Angeles, even assisting Rylee and fellow DWTS <\/i>pro Ezra Sosa<\/strong> at the Press Play convention in October 2025. She also attended several season 34 live tapings and joined the troupe<\/a> for 2026\u2019s season 35.<\/p>\n

Sage Rosen<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Getty Images (2)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Celebrity Partner: Mackenzie Ziegler<\/strong><\/p>\n

DWTS <\/i>Mentor: Gleb Savchenko<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Rosen tangoed with the Dance Moms <\/i>alum, he worked on projects with Kylie Cantrall, Olivia Rodrigo<\/strong> and acted in The Secret That Binds Us. <\/i>Rosen recently danced on the DZ: Worlds Collide Tour <\/i>in 2025.<\/p>\n

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