Karina Smirnoff is returning to the dance floor for the 21st season of "Dancing With the Stars." The dance pro announced earlier this year that she was leaving the show to do other projects, but it looks like she's ready to compete for the Mirror Ball Trophy once again on the hit ABC show.
The star took to Twitter on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and wrote, "Yay! Soooo excited! Can't wait to dance for you guys! @dancingabc #DWTS."
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the 37-year-old dancer said that she was "a little nervous" about not dancing on the show last season, since she had been doing it for the past 10 years.
"I had other things to do in my life, but not going back to the show felt like trying to see if I can walk on my own two feet! I've had obvious moments when I missed it," she told the website.
Smirnoff took some time off to promote her book, "We're Just Not Into You: Dating Disasters from the Trenches," and acting in the movie "Tango Shalom."
Smirnoff first joined the show in 2006 for season 3. She became an instant favorite due to her chemistry with many of her celebrity partners, including Mario Lopez, Aaron Carter, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Sean Avery. In 2013, she won the Mirror Ball Trophy with J.R. Martinez.
She was engaged to Jason Adelman, but they ended their relationship in March. Before that, the star was also engaged to fellow "DWTS" dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and also to baseball player Brad Penny.
Aside from Smirnoff, other pros who will be back for season 21 of the dancing competition show are Mark Ballas, Artem Chigvintsev, Allison Holker; Sharna Burgess, Peta Murgatroyd, and Witney Carson. Season 20 champ Val Chmerkovskiy will also be back, as well as Derek Hough.
EW reports that casting for season 21 is still underway, and that the pros don't know who they will be partnered with this season. The cast will be officially unveiled on "Good Morning America" on the first week of September.
Season 21 of "Dancing With the Stars" premieres on Sept. 14 on ABC.
