‘DWTS’ Pro Koko Breaks Silence on Not Being Part of S33 Cast—’New Phase’

Dancing With the Stars pro Koine “Koko” Iwasaki Nyemchek has broken her silence on not being part of the season 33 lineup.

On Wednesday, the new cast was revealed on Good Morning America—but Iwasaki Nyemchek’s name was noticeably absent.

“Waking up to seeing this season 33 cast of Dancing with the Stars, I’m excited for this cast and my friends!! I won’t be doing this season, but you know I’ll be cheering my people on 🙂 also YES TO EZRA!!!” the So You Think You Can Dance alum shared via her Instagram Stories, referring to pro Ezra Sosa—who is paired with convicted con artist Anna Delvey.

“While I feel I’m entering this new phase in life, my love for dance and my excitement for what’s to come are stronger than ever,” she added. “The next steps in my journey are unfolding beautifully, and I can’t wait to share them with you all in time. I am really happy and feelin really aligned 🤓 Cheers to it all!!”

Newsweek reached out to Dancing With the Stars via email for comment.

In July, Iwasaki Nyemchek married fiancé Kiki Nyemchek. The pair met while competing against one another on season 14 of SYTYCD in 2017—where she placed second and he came in fourth. They confirmed their romance in 2018 and got engaged in 2022, the same year they were on the Dancing With the Stars Tour and Iwasaki Nyemchek became pro for season 31 of the hit ABC show.

In a lengthy message shared to Instagram after their wedding, Iwasaki Nyemchek said: “7/27/24 || Mr. & Mrs. Nyemchek 🤍 Hands down this was the best weekend of our lives. We can say with confidence that we have the best family and friends in the entire world. There is so much to say and we are so overwhelmed with the outpour of love & support we have received! Thank yous just don’t even express an ounce of how much we truly feel inside.”

“To all the guests who traveled from all around the world to be with us, it means more than you will ever know. Your presence was needed and felt.”

In the comments, hundreds of people sent well-wishes to the dancer couple.

“Congratulations,” fellow SYTYCD alum Allison Holker said.

“Huge Congrats ❤️❤️❤️,” Taylor Swift Eras Tour dancer Natalie Lecznar wrote.

“Congratulations you two! ❤️,” DWTS pro Cheryl Burke added.

This year, celebrities competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy include Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Tori Spelling paired with Pasha Pashkov, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks competing with pro Val Chmerkovskiy, actor Eric Roberts—Emma Roberts’ father and Julia Roberts’ brother—dancing with Britt Stewart, Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher competing with Alan Bersten and more.

Dancing With the Stars season 33 premieres Tuesday, September 17 on ABC.