Kamri Peterson Joins 'DWTS' Season 35, Tracing The Dancer's Journey From Ballroom To Small Screen
Kamri Peterson is returning to the 'Dancing with the Stars' franchise after a long gap. Notably, she started pursuing a career as a dancer years ago.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleDancing with the Stars is returning with its 35th season with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, 2026, airing on ABC and Disney+ before streaming on Hulu. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are back as hosts, with Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli expected on the judging panel.
A few celebrities have already been confirmed, including Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins. Joining the show this year is former DWTS: Juniors pro Kamri Peterson. The 18-year-old’s appearance on the show was confirmed at DWTS Con on August 2, 2026. Ever since Kamri’s name was confirmed, netizens have been eager to know more about her.
Kamri Peterson developed an interest in dancing many years ago
Also known as Kamri Hillary Peterson, she is a dancer and social media personality who rose to prominence as a professional on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors. She was born on May 22, 2008, in Mapleton, Utah, USA, and is the eldest of five children to Hilary and Colby Peterson. Her siblings are Chloe, Nixon, Nolan, and Sloan, and they are often featured in her family-focused posts.
Kamri Peterson grew up in a close-knit household in Utah County. She began dancing almost as soon as she could walk and trained at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, Utah. Early on, she tried jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop before focusing on ballroom. By age 9, she was already competing at a national level.
Her competitive record includes being a United States Under 10 Vice Champion and a two-time United States Under 12 Finalist. In 2017, she and her partner, Marcelo Fitzgerald, placed 2nd at the BYU National Amateur Dancesport Championships, which led to representing the USA at the Open World Championships in Paris in the Under-12 category, where she finished 21st out of 81 couples. Her Paris experience was also chronicled in the March 2018 issue of Dance Spirit Magazine.
Television brought her wider recognition. In 2018, she was selected as a pro partner for Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, paired with actor Akash Vukoti and mentored by Witney Carson. The pair placed 6th.
Off the floor, Peterson has built a strong social presence. As of 2026, she has over 702,500 followers on TikTok with more than millions of likes. She has frequently posted dance content, training clips, and family moments on the platform. She is also active on Instagram with 205,000 followers. Apart from dancing and TikTok videos, she is interested in shopping, travelling, and spending time with siblings.
Kamri Peterson opens up on how she became a part of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing With the Stars made its first big Season 35 announcement on August 2, 2026, during the debut DWTS Con in Palm Springs. That’s when it was revealed that Kamri Peterson, 18, will return to the franchise as a troupe dancer.
Kamri has already been a part of DWTS: Juniors a few years ago. She joined Akash Vukoti, with Witney Carson guiding them as their mentor. Kamri has recently opened up about how she became a part of the show. While speaking at the convention, she said:
“I was in a hotel room. I was at a dance convention. I was in a hotel room all by myself. I got the call.”
Kamri Peterson said that she was stunned and overjoyed during that period. Kamri stated that rejoining DWTS has been a long-held goal ever since Juniors. She said it was probably the happiest she’d ever felt. Her first calls went to her parents, then to close family friends including Felicia and her best friend Malakai. She also spoke warmly about the current pro line-up.
Kamri mentioned that Witney holds a special place for her as they worked together in Juniors. She stated that she enjoys watching Rylee Arnold. Peterson added that she has followed Daniella Karagach since watching her YouTube videos years before she ever competed herself. Looking back, Peterson said Juniors gave her some of the best memories of her life and shaped who she is as a dancer. She stated that the entire experience has been incredible and added:
“This is my first performance with Dancing With the Stars since Dancing With the Stars: Juniors. I’m just so excited.”
What are your thoughts about Kamri Peterson’s career over the years? Let us know.
PC: kamri_dancer/Instagram
Also Read: 22-YO Influencer Swears To Get On Ozempic's Highest Dose, Being Disgusted By Body Shame, 'I Hate..'
