You may have heard that the beautiful and talented Cheryl Burke will be in Arizona for Teaming Up for Girls, the annual spring luncheon to benefit the work of Florence Crittenton. But, if you’re like me, you probably don’t know the why behind Burke’s “yes” to support local services that empower girls and young women to reach their full potential. Here’s the story, in Burke’s own words. “I feel like I relate to a lot of girls and young women because of the stuff that happened to me as a kid. I was able to overcome the trauma that happened when I was a little girl. It’s important to feel safe and feel like nothing is holding you back. It can be a scary world out there, but it can also be an amazing world if you have that safety and security. “When I was a little girl, my mom was always working and she was very proactive in being able to provide. My mom and dad divorced when I was 2 years old and my mom was raising me on her own until she met my amazing stepdad. They were working parents, so my stepsister and I had babysitters and a live-in nanny. Our nanny wasn’t able to drive, so our parents hired a man to pick us up from school, and he molested us. It took me a long time to be able to understand what was happening and know what he was doing was wrong and to go to my parents. “It was really tough. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I testified against him when I was 9 years old and he went to jail. I thought he took care of us and loved us. I’ve been in therapy my whole life but my stepsister hasn’t been able to deal with it. “It was difficult, especially during those years as a little girl going into her teens. It’s so important Andrea Evans | Publisher ’Dancing with the Stars’ pro and crusader against child abuse AN INTERVIEW WITH CHERYL BURKE — A FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE OPEN DOORS { publisher’s page } 48 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MARCH 2019

@AndreaTEvans Andrea Evans PUBLISHER to be able to have open communication with your family. Even when you’re scared, that’s when you need to be able to run to your mom, run to your dad. “It’s been part of my life, but I am moving forward. I am a work in progress, and it’s important for me to continue with my therapy because I don’t want what happened to me to shape who I am today.” Burke started dance lessons at 4 as part of a mix of activities she tried as a child: horseback riding, soccer, volleyball and basketball. When asked why she continued, she said, “It was the one activity I never complained about when I got up early in the morning.” Her autobiography “Dancing Lessons” was published in 2011 as a way to share how dancing shaped her life on her road to becoming a two- time champion on Dancing with the Stars . “Dance was very therapeutic for me when I was a little girl,” she said. “I started with ballet from ages 4 to 11. I was very quiet. I didn’t talk a lot; I had no opinions. I was very self-conscious, but dance was my escape.” While we don’t know if she will be back on the next season of Dancing with the Stars , Burke said she’d love to continue with the show and maybe be a judge some day. “For me, dance is my passion. Everyone has something that they love or wish to be able to do. Just take the ‘wish’ out and do it,” she said. “Don’t let anything hold you back. I like helping young girls, and giving them hope and making sure they know that you can always continue to grow and work on yourself and that nothing should hold you back. Every time I do a speaking engagement, I come out stronger.” I hope we continue to see Burke presented as a leader and mentor for young women everywhere. Her experience, understanding and passion to share her story are inspiring and can help so many. Thank you for sharing, Cheryl … Andrea Cheryl and 2018 celebrity partner Jaun Pablo Di Pace. Photos courtesy of ABC Television Network MARCH 2019 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 49