Ronny Sianturi
For a generation of television viewers who grew up watching the sparkle and pageantry of ABC’s hit competition series Dancing With the Stars, the journey from living room spectator to professional ballroom dancer represents an almost mythical trajectory. For Lindsay Arnold Cusick, who spent a decade gracing the ballroom floor as one of the franchise’s most decorated professionals, that journey is now entering a nostalgic, full-circle phase. Today, Arnold occupies a unique vantage point within the entertainment landscape: she is both a veteran champion who helped shape the modern era of the show and an enthusiastic supporter cheering on the next generation, most notably her younger sister, Rylee Arnold.
Reflecting on her tenure with the program, Arnold recalls her formative years as a dedicated young viewer casting votes by phone in her living room, long before she ever laced up her Latin shoes for national television. That lifelong passion ultimately materialized into a stellar ten-season professional run, highlighted by a historic victory in Season 24 alongside pop singer and actor Jordan Fischer. During that unforgettable 2017 run, the duo shattered records by securing the highest number of perfect scores in a single season, cementing their legacy as one of the most dynamic partnerships in the history of Dancing With the Stars.
From Ballroom Stardom to Entrepreneurship and Wellness
Though Arnold officially stepped away from her role as a full-time professional dancer following Season 30 in 2021, her professional life has only accelerated. Juggling the demands of being a mother of three alongside a burgeoning career as an entrepreneur, fitness advocate, and digital creator requires a carefully managed daily routine. Channeling her professional dance background into the wellness sector, Arnold founded The Movement Club, an at-home workout program designed to help individuals maintain physical health amid chaotic schedules.
Her commitment to active living and holistic wellness recently led to an official partnership with Ka’Chava, a nutrient-dense, plant-based superfood shake that has become a staple in her daily regimen. In an era where working parents and business owners constantly search for efficient ways to maintain health, Arnold notes that finding attainable, sustainable habits is paramount.
"I’m very passionate about moving my body, but I’m also extremely passionate about fueling my body," Arnold explains. "Through all my phases of life, whether that’s my time on Dancing With the Stars, pregnancy, postpartum, being a mom, and now running businesses and running my kids all over the place, I need to make sure I’m fueling my body. That’s why I love that Ka’Chava is a really seamless way to fit so many incredible things into my day and give my body so much of what it needs, but in a really simple form."
Arnold frequently emphasizes to her fitness community that consistency relies entirely on practicality. By incorporating a beverage that delivers 25 grams of protein alongside essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and superfoods into her morning routine, she bridges the gap between high performance and everyday practicality.
A Family Legacy: Passing the Torch to Rylee Arnold
While Lindsay Arnold closed her chapter on the competitive stage in 2021, the Arnold family name remained firmly entrenched in the Dancing With the Stars universe. Just one year after Lindsay’s departure, her younger sister, Rylee Arnold, made her highly anticipated professional debut in Season 31. Rylee’s arrival heralded a fresh era for the long-running series, one heavily amplified by the modern mechanics of social media and digital engagement.
The strategic infusion of younger professional dancers has allowed the ABC powerhouse to successfully pivot toward younger demographics, bridging traditional broadcast television with viral internet culture. Lindsay has watched this evolution with immense pride, noting how adeptly the production team has managed to modernize its formula while honoring its storied past.
"I think it is so incredible," Lindsay says of the show’s digital and cultural resurgence. "It just shows how incredible Dancing With the Stars is at adapting. Of course, I think bringing in this younger set of pros like Rylee was such a refreshing, fun way to ignite this newer audience. … I could not be more happy and proud that I had a part in this show as well."
Over the past year, observant fans have noticed Lindsay making increasingly frequent appearances within the broader DWTS ecosystem. Her presence has spanned multiple touchpoints, including an appearance at the inaugural DWTS Con event during the summer and hosting a TikTok Live broadcast during the premiere week of Season 35. These engagements underscore the enduring bond between the franchise and its alumni, a relationship the network frequently leverages to generate organic excitement.
The Revolving Door of Professional Talent
The potential for veteran professionals to return to the ballroom remains a recurring storyline for Dancing With the Stars. The series has a well-established history of welcoming back beloved instructors after extended leaves of absence. For instance, seasoned pro Sharna Burgess recently returned to the ballroom following a five-year hiatus, while crowd favorite Mark Ballas famously took multi-season breaks before returning to capture the mirrorball trophy in Season 34.
Naturally, these returns prompt persistent speculation regarding Lindsay Arnold’s own future in the competition. When asked if she would ever consider stepping back onto the dance floor as a professional competitor, her response is measured yet open-ended.
"This is my answer, and I feel like it’s the best I can give: Never say never," she states. "My career has taken so many turns that I never would have expected. So never say never is always my answer. But I will say that I am in such a wonderful, beautiful space right now, that [returning] is not really the plan as of now."
This sentiment mirrors the perspective shared by her sister Rylee earlier this year when queried about the possibility of a joint sibling return. Should both sisters ever compete as professionals on the same season, they would carve out a distinct piece of franchise history as the first sister duo to serve as pros concurrently. While numerous brother combinations and mixed sibling pairs have graced the ballroom over the decades, two sisters leading celebrity partners at the same time has yet to occur. Lindsay acknowledges the historic novelty of the idea, admitting that the prospect "would actually be crazy."
The duo offered fans a taste of that dynamic earlier this year at DWTS Con, where the sisters performed together in a live setting for the very first time. Describing the experience as deeply special, Lindsay admits that while the prospect of sharing the main stage with Rylee is undeniably appealing, logistical realities must take precedence.
"When I think about [being on DWTS with Rylee], I’m like, Oh my gosh, it’d be so much fun," Lindsay reflects. "And it’s not really a matter of, do I think it would be fun? It’s more just would my life as a mom of three with my kids and a million things work in that setting? We don’t know. It could, and maybe one day it will feel like it’s the right thing to do."
Lasting Lessons in Adaptability and Modern Implications
Beyond the sequins, scores, and media buzz, Lindsay maintains that the most valuable takeaway from her time on Dancing With the Stars was the cultivation of interpersonal adaptability. Working intimately with high-profile celebrities possessing wildly divergent personalities, physical capabilities, and emotional temperaments required daily diplomacy and patience.
That trial-by-fire training ground, she notes, has proven invaluable across every facet of her post-television career. Whether managing corporate partnerships, scaling her digital fitness platform, or navigating the unpredictable terrain of raising three young children, the core competencies developed in the television studio continue to serve her well.
"One of the biggest things that I’ve learned [from DWTS] that has helped me across the board is adaptability," she observes. "Being able to adapt to different personalities of the partners that I had on the show has helped me immensely when it comes to different businesses, and probably the place it helped me the most is in motherhood."
As the television industry continues to evolve in response to shifting viewing habits and the dominance of short-form digital content, franchises like Dancing With the Stars rely heavily on the enduring goodwill of foundational alumni like Lindsay Arnold and the fresh energy brought by successors like Rylee Arnold. By maintaining authentic connections to the audience—whether through wellness advocacy, digital engagement, or occasional live appearances—these performers ensure that the cultural footprint of the ballroom extends far beyond the traditional Monday night broadcast window.
Looking ahead, Lindsay’s immediate focus remains firmly anchored in expanding The Movement Club, nurturing her family, and exploring new avenues of physical expression. Though her active competitive days in the ballroom may currently be on hold, her influence on the franchise remains indelible, proving that while dancers may eventually step away from the spotlight, the discipline and passion instilled by the craft continue to propel them forward.
