Adele Zaikman says she's feeling unwell and won't dance in the opening number when Dancing with the Stars celebrates Disney on Broadway tonight with guest judge Cynthia Erivo.
Adele Zaikman won't be in the ballroom for one of the biggest nights of the Dancing with the Stars season. The Season 35 pro posted on her Instagram Story that she's sick and will sit out the Disney Night episode, which airs Monday, Nov. 2.
Zaikman said she's "sadly feeling unwell" and won't perform in the opening number. She added that she hates missing a show day, plans to rest up and will be cheering everyone on from home.
Rough timing. Disney Night is one of the splashiest episodes every season, and this year's version comes with a Broadway twist.
Why is Adele Zaikman missing Disney Night?
She's sick. Zaikman didn't say what kind of illness she has, only that she'd be taking the time to take care of herself.
She also sent her love to the couples still competing. The show goes on without her, and the rest of the pros and troupe will handle the opening number.
Is Adele Zaikman still on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes, just not in the competition. Zaikman and her celebrity partner, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt, were the first couple sent home this season. They went out on premiere night after scoring 12 out of 30 from the judges.
Eliminated pros don't vanish, though. They still dance in the weekly opening numbers, and the show sometimes uses them as troupe dancers during the episode. That's the job Zaikman will miss tonight.
She and Leavitt are expected back for the Season 35 finale on Nov. 24, according to TV Insider.
Who is Adele Zaikman?
Zaikman is the newest pro in the ballroom. She won the first season of Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro this summer, beating fellow finalists Selena Hamilton and AJ Pritchard for a spot on Season 35.
She also made history along the way. Zaikman is the first Israeli pro dancer on the American version of the show. She's Israeli-Ukrainian, lives in Los Angeles and turned 25 on Sept. 30.
Derek Hough gave her a nickname during The Next Pro that stuck: "Rolls-Royce."
Fans have followed her off the dance floor, too. In October, Zaikman and fellow Next Pro dancer Allen Genkin confirmed they're dating.
What's happening on DWTS Disney Night?
Tonight's theme is Disney on Broadway. The eight remaining couples will dance to Disney songs that also made it to the stage, with picks from shows like Hercules and Tangled.
Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo joins the judges' table as guest judge. Broadway performers Heather Headley and Michael James Scott are on the guest list, too.
There's a team round as well. The couples will split up for two team freestyle dances, and hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will each join a team. One couple goes home at the end of the night.
When does Dancing with the Stars Disney Night air?
Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+. That's a day earlier than usual. The show moved off its regular Tuesday slot because of Election Day coverage on Nov. 3.
Missed it live? Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.
After tonight, seven couples will be left chasing the Mirrorball Trophy, with three weeks to go before the Nov. 24 finale.
Is Disney Night a DWTS tradition?
It is, and it's usually a big-budget one. Last season's Disney Night celebrated the Disneyland Resort's 70th anniversary and opened with a "Be Our Guest" number featuring Danny Gardner, Lumiere from the touring Beauty and the Beast. In 2024, Michael James Scott, then playing the Genie in Aladdin on Broadway, opened the show with "Friend Like Me."
This year leans all the way into the stage shows, which makes Erivo a fitting pick for the judges' table.
As for The Next Pro, the show that launched Zaikman, a second season hasn't been confirmed yet.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
TV Insider (Nov. 2, 2026), Zaikman's Instagram Story, finale return and Disney Night format
TheaterMania (Oct. 29, 2026), Cynthia Erivo as guest judge and Broadway guest performers
Laughing Place (Oct. 2026), Disney on Broadway song picks
Good Morning America (Oct. 1, 2026), Zaikman and Allen Genkin, Rolls-Royce nickname
Entertainment Now (Aug. 2026), The Next Pro finale results
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