Saturday, November 18, 2006

Cheryl Burke may be Dancing's MVP

Professional dancer Cheryl Burke helped her partner football legend Emmitt Smith win the highly-popular Dancing with the Stars reality competition -- the second time for her in the last two seasons.

Judge Len Goodman said the Filipino American Burke "should be MVP -- Most Valued Partner" after bringing her partner the trophy for the second straight season.

In this handout photo made available by ABC, Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke, celebrate their win and display the mirrorball trophy on 'Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,' in Los Angeles on Wednesday Nov. 15,2006. (AP Photo/Adam Larkey-ABC,HO)
Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke, celebrate their win and display the mirrorball trophy on 'Dancing with the Stars the Results Show,' in Los Angeles on Wednesday Nov. 15,2006. AP Photo/Adam Larkey-ABC handout via Yahoo News.

Smith, who confessed to having only club dancing experience previously, learned quickly under Burke's tutelage and quickly mastered the required steps.

Sherri Bautista Burke, the mother of the dancing instructor and a dancer herself, served as an early inspiration for her daughter and helped rally support for the dancing couple during the competition.