"Dancing with the Stars" veteran dancer to depart show
When "Dancing with the Stars" returns next season it will be minus one veteran dancer: Karina Smirnoff.
The 37-year-old pro-dancer announced this week that she won't be returning for season 20.
" After a lot of thought and prayer, I've decided to focus my energies on some other exciting endeavors including adding author to my resume," she wrote on Facebook.
Smirnoff isn't the only "DWTS" veteran to part ways with the ABC series. Dancers Cheryl Burke and Derek Hough, along with judge Len Goodman, are no longer with the competition series.
Season 19 of "DWTS" wrapped last fall with Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson winning the mirrorball trophy.
The new season gets underway on March 16.
