Adele Zaikman has emerged as one of the standout contestants on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. The professional Latin dancer has reached the show’s inaugural-season finale without landing in the elimination danger zone, and she is now competing for an opportunity to join Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars as a professional dancer.
The August 31 finale will see Zaikman compete against Selena Hamilton and AJ Pritchard. Only one finalist will earn the opportunity to become a professional dancer on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.
Throughout the competition, Zaikman has built a reputation as a technically strong performer. Her consistency and dance experience have earned positive feedback from the judging panel, including Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas.
As the finale approaches, here is what viewers should know about Adele Zaikman, her competitive dance career, her background and her relationship with fellow professional dancer Cătălin Caucă.
Who is Adele Zaikman?
Adele Zaikman is a competitive professional dancer specialising in Latin dance styles.
According to her publicly shared professional profile, she has competed at high-level international Latin dance events and has described herself as a consistent top finisher at major professional Latin championships.
She is also a Blackpool Dance Festival winner, an achievement that places her among dancers who have earned recognition at one of the best-known and most prestigious events in the competitive ballroom and Latin dance world.
The Blackpool Dance Festival has long been considered a significant competition in the international dance circuit. Success at the event can be an important milestone in a professional dancer’s career.
Zaikman’s background in competitive Latin dance became a major advantage during her run on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
Unlike celebrity contestants who often begin with limited formal dance experience, contestants competing for a professional role are evaluated with a different set of expectations. Technical ability, performance quality, versatility, partnership skills and the ability to connect with an audience all become important factors.
Zaikman entered the competition with years of professional dance experience and quickly established herself as one of the season’s strongest performers.
How old is Adele Zaikman?
During her appearance on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, Adele Zaikman was 24 years old.
She is set to turn 25 on September 30, 2026, according to the biographical information available about the finalist.
Her appearance on the programme represents a major moment in her professional career, particularly because the competition offers a direct path toward becoming part of the Dancing With the Stars professional dancer lineup.
Where is Adele Zaikman from?
Adele Zaikman is from Israel and is currently based in Los Angeles, California.
She is of Israeli-Ukrainian background.
Her international background reflects the global nature of professional ballroom and Latin dance, where dancers frequently train, compete and form professional partnerships across different countries.
Many competitive dancers build their careers through international competitions before establishing themselves in major entertainment and dance centres.
Zaikman’s move to Los Angeles has also positioned her within the broader American entertainment and professional dance industry.
Adele Zaikman’s DWTS: The Next Pro journey
Zaikman has had a notably consistent run on the inaugural season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.
According to the season’s results and reporting provided, she has not found herself in elimination jeopardy during the competition.
That record has helped establish her as one of the leading contenders heading into the final episode.
She has also received repeated praise from the judges, including Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas.
Earlier in the season, Zaikman’s dancing also attracted attention from Derek Hough, who memorably described her performance quality by saying she “danced expensive” and comparing her to a Rolls-Royce.
Such feedback highlighted the polished and refined quality that judges have associated with her dancing.
For a professional Latin dancer, reaching the finale of The Next Pro is about more than simply displaying technical skill.
The competition also tests whether contestants can adapt their professional experience to television, work within different partnerships and communicate performance through a format designed for a mainstream audience.
Zaikman’s success throughout the season suggests she has been able to combine her competitive background with the performance demands of television.
Who are the DWTS: The Next Pro finalists?
The inaugural season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro will conclude with three finalists:
- Adele Zaikman
- Selena Hamilton
- AJ Pritchard
The winner will receive the opportunity to become a professional dancer on the upcoming Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars.
The finale gives the three dancers a chance to make their strongest case for the role.
For the finalists, the competition represents an unusual career opportunity. While professional dancers can spend years developing their reputations through competitions, teaching and performances, appearing on a major television franchise can introduce them to a significantly larger audience.
Does Adele Zaikman have a boyfriend?
Yes. Adele Zaikman is in a relationship with Cătălin Caucă, who is also her professional dance partner.
Caucă is a Romanian professional dancer and dance instructor associated with Vivat Dance Studio in California.
The pair’s professional and personal relationship has developed alongside their work as dance partners.
According to publicly shared information, Zaikman began searching for a new dance partner in early 2025.
After using social media to look for a suitable professional partner for several months, she connected with Caucă.
The two reportedly danced together for the first time in April 2025.
Finding the right dance partner is a significant part of a professional ballroom or Latin dancer’s career. Competitive partnerships require dancers to develop trust, technical compatibility and a shared performance style.
For Zaikman and Caucă, their professional partnership eventually developed into a romantic relationship as well.
When did Adele Zaikman and Cătălin Caucă start dating?
Zaikman and Caucă’s relationship reportedly became romantic after they had been working together as dance partners for around two months.
In June 2025, Zaikman shared an image from the dance floor showing the pair kissing, publicly confirming the romantic side of their relationship.
Their story has attracted interest from fans because the pair are connected both personally and professionally.
Professional dance partnerships often involve extensive training, travel, rehearsals and competition schedules, making the relationship between partners an important part of their working dynamic.
Zaikman and Caucă’s relationship has developed against that backdrop.
What makes Adele Zaikman a strong finale contender?
Zaikman heads into the DWTS: The Next Pro finale with several factors working in her favour.
1. Professional Latin dance experience
Zaikman’s career in competitive Latin dance has given her a strong technical foundation.
Her experience competing at high-level events means she is familiar with the pressure of performing under evaluation.
2. Consistency throughout the season
One of the most significant parts of Zaikman’s competition journey has been her consistency.
She has reportedly avoided the elimination danger zone throughout the season, an achievement that demonstrates her ability to maintain a high standard over multiple performances.
3. Strong judges’ feedback
The positive feedback she has received from the judges has helped establish her as one of the leading performers of the season.
Praise from experienced dancers and choreographers carries particular weight in a competition designed to identify a future Dancing With the Stars professional.
4. High-level competitive experience
Her Blackpool Dance Festival achievement and experience at major Latin competitions provide additional context for her professional background.
Competitive dance and television dance can require different skills, but Zaikman’s career has given her extensive experience performing under pressure.
5. Connection with viewers
Zaikman’s run has also generated conversation beyond her technical performances.
She recently addressed criticism from some viewers who described her as having little personality, defending people who are introverted or take longer to open up.
Her response suggested that dance itself is one of the ways she communicates who she is.
That perspective may have helped audiences understand the distinction between a quiet off-stage personality and a powerful performance persona.
When is the DWTS: The Next Pro finale?
The Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro Season 1 finale airs on Monday, August 31, at 8/7c on ABC.
Adele Zaikman, Selena Hamilton and AJ Pritchard will compete for the opportunity to join the professional lineup of Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
The result will mark a major milestone for the winner and could introduce a new professional dancer to one of television’s most recognisable dance franchises.
When does Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premiere?
According to the schedule provided, Dancing With the Stars Season 35 is set to premiere on Tuesday, September 15, at 8/7c on ABC.
The winner of The Next Pro is expected to have the opportunity to become part of the professional dancer lineup for the new season.
That makes the finale particularly significant for all three remaining contestants.
Adele Zaikman at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Adele Zaikman |
| Profession | Competitive professional dancer |
| Dance Speciality | Latin dance |
| Current Age | 24 |
| Birthday | September 30 |
| Birth Year | 2001 |
| Nationality/Background | Israeli-Ukrainian |
| From | Israel |
| Current Base | Los Angeles |
| Major Achievement | Blackpool Dance Festival winner |
| Current Show | Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro |
| Finale Status | Finalist |
| Fellow Finalists | Selena Hamilton and AJ Pritchard |
| Partner | Cătălin Caucă |
| Partner’s Profession | Professional dancer and dance instructor |
| DWTS Opportunity | Potential professional role on Season 35 |
The road to the DWTS finale
For Adele Zaikman, Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro has become an opportunity to introduce a wider television audience to the experience she has built in competitive Latin dance.
Her path to the finale has been marked by strong performances, positive judges’ feedback and a consistent record in the competition.
The upcoming finale will now determine whether that journey leads to a place on the professional roster of Dancing With the Stars Season 35.
With a Blackpool Dance Festival achievement, international competitive experience and a season without elimination danger, Zaikman enters the final as one of three dancers with a chance to take the next step in her television career.
Whether she ultimately wins or not, The Next Pro has already given Zaikman a larger platform to showcase her work.
The August 31 finale will decide which contestant takes the next step toward becoming the newest professional dancer in the Dancing With the Stars universe.
