Seven years before Rylee Arnold and Hailey Bills slayed the Dancing With the Stars season 34 stage, they were both junior pros on the younger iteration of the ballroom competition.
In 2018, DWTS aired a junior version of the competition where a slate of child stars or kids of celebrities competed for a star-shaped mirrorball trophy. The cast included Ariana Greenblatt, Miles Brown, Mackenzie Ziegler and Olympian Sky Brown, all of whom were partnered with a preteen dancer and mentored by a DWTS professional dancer.
For instance, then-pro Lindsay Arnold served as the mentor and choreographer for sister Rylee’s partnership with Black-ish alum Brown.
“Being on DWTS on its own was a dream for me, and being on DWTS with my youngest sister, every single day when I went into work, I was mind-blown,” Lindsay, who won season 25, told Closer in 2018. “I’m so proud of the way that she handled everything, because it’s tough. She was so mature and handled it so well, and it just made me have a really, really strong appreciation for her.”
Rylee Arnold isn’t the first family member — let alone sibling — of a Dancing With the Stars pro or contestant to enter the ballroom. Julianne Hough was the first dancer to face off against her brother, Derek Hough, on the ABC competition series. After Julianne got her start on the series in season 4 […]
Rylee was 13 at the time, and at 18, she became a first-time pro on the legacy competition during 2023’s season 32. Two years later, she returned to the show for her third season, while Bills, who is fellow pro Jenna Johnson’s niece, made her debut in the troupe.
Keep scrolling to see where the rest of DWTS Juniors pros are now:
Rylee Arnold
Celebrity Partner: Miles Brown
DWTS Mentor: Lindsay Arnold
After making her DWTS Juniors debut, Rylee returned to her native Utah to finish middle and high school. She moved to Los Angeles after graduating when she was cast as a pro on the OG series. Rylee’s been paired with Harry Jowsey, Stephen Nedoroscik and Scott Hoying during seasons 32, 33 and 34, respectively.
Hailey Bills
Celebrity Partner: Tripp Johnston Palin
DWTS Mentor: Jenna Johnson
Bills and Tripp, the son of Bristol Palin and ex Levi Johnston, were the first couple eliminated from the junior show. In the years since, Bills continued dancing and performed with judge Derek Hough at a Savannah Bananas game in September 2025. That same month, Bills joined the DWTS season 34 troupe.
Brightyn Brems
Celebrity Partner: Mandla Morris
DWTS Mentor: Cheryl Burke
After dancing with Stevie Wonder’s son, Brems showed off her skills on World of Dance, America’s Got Talent and her high school drill team. Brems also models and choreographs in her free time.
Artyon Celestine
Celebrity Partner: Ariana Greenblatt
DWTS Mentor: Brandon Armstrong
Celestine, a child performer from A Christmas Story Live! and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, has since started an acting career. His credits include Attaway General, Drama Club, S.W.A.T. and Blaze and the Monster Machines.
Outside of performing, Celestine graduated from high school in June 2025.
JT Church
Celebrity Partner: Sky Brown
DWTS Mentor: Alan Bersten
Church was the runner-up on the younger version of So You Think You Can Dance before he and Brown won DWTS Juniors. Church still dances, with credits that include The Music Man’s Broadway revival, This Is Us, Drama Club and Christmas Waltz. Most recently, Church appeared in a Los Angeles Opera production of West Side Story in fall 2025.
Kameron Couch
Celebrity Partner: Hudson West
DWTS Mentor: Hayley Erbert
Couch graduated from the Orange County School of the Arts in June 2025 before enrolling at the University of Southern California to earn a BFA in dance. She also danced music videos for DJ Snake’s “A Different Way,” Kesha’s “My Own Dance” and multiple projects for JoJo Siwa.
Jake Monreal
Celebrity Partner: Sophia Pippen
DWTS Mentor: Sasha Farber
The ballroom dancer has made the leap into the filmmaking world as he entered his early 20s.
“A huge and rewarding undertaking independently producing my first film,” Monreal wrote via Instagram in March 2025. “It’s the first of many to come in this next juncture of my life all due to my tirelessly dedicated and fantastic crew and talent who I can’t thank enough. Eagerly pursuing what’s to come next in acting and directing!!”
Tristan Ianiero
Celebrity Partner: Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson
DWTS Mentor: Artem Chigvintsev
After appearing in the ballroom, Ianiero danced on Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of 13: The Musical. He now choreographs and teaches intensive classes in New York.
Lev Cameron Khmelev
Celebrity Partner: Addison Osta Smith
DWTS Mentor: Keo Motsepe
Khmelev released his debut music single, “Messed Up,” in 2022. He’s since released songs “All Night,” “Stalling,” “Embarrassing, “Lunar Love” and “Trust Issues.”
Kamri Peterson
Celebrity Partner: Akash Vukoti
DWTS Mentor: Witney Carson
Peterson is still dancing in Los Angeles, even assisting Rylee and fellow DWTS pro Ezra Sosa at the Press Play convention in October 2025. She’s also attended several season 34 live tapings.
Sage Rosen
Celebrity Partner: Mackenzie Ziegler
DWTS Mentor: Gleb Savchenko
After Rosen tangoed with the Dance Moms alum, he worked on projects with Kylie Cantrall, Olivia Rodrigo and acted in The Secret That Binds Us. Rosen recently danced on the DZ: Worlds Collide Tour in 2025.
Elliana Walmsley
Celebrity Partner: Jason Maybaum
DWTS Mentor: Emma Slater
Walmsley joined DWTS Juniors after appearing on Dance Moms’ mini team. As she entered her teen years, Walmsley continued dancing and also started acting. Her credits include Girl Talk, Kylie Cantrall’s “Denim” music video, Classroom Confidential and Chicken Girls. Walmsley launched her fragrance line, Escapade Beauty, in 2025.
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