Burke twirls toward third ‘Dancing’ title

updated 3:05 p.m. ET March 19, 2007

NEW YORK - Cheryl Burke, two-time champion on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” says she doesn’t feel any pressure to bring home another disco-ball trophy as the fourth season begins Monday.

Burke, who won with celebrity partners Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, tells People magazine’s Web site: “I don’t think it’s pressure. Even after coming in last season after winning with Drew in the second season, it wasn’t about, ‘Oh, I have to win again.’ ”

“It’s about who I’m dancing with and making my partner the best dancer he can possibly be,” the 22-year-old professional dancer says.

Her new partner is “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Ian Ziering. Burke says Ziering is a fast learner who is quick with choreography, but gets frustrated because he’s a perfectionist.

“He can be really hard on himself,” she says. “So I tell him, ‘Deep breath and let’s try again.’ ”

Other celebrities appearing on the show: Apolo Anton Ohno, Laila Ali, Clyde Drexler, John Ratzenberger, Heather Mills, Billy Ray Cyrus, Joey Fatone, Shandi Finnessey, Leeza Gibbons and Paulina Porizkova.

This season, viewers get two weeks of dance performances before sending a celebrity home in the first results show.

Slide show   The week in celebrity sightings Jessica and Tony share a night out; Pam joins ‘Big Brother Australia,’; Bon Jovi rocks Central Park. more photos

Burke — who says she is dating actor Matthew Lawrence (brother Joey Lawrence competed on Season Three) — says “just being known for a skill you’ve worked on your entire life is an amazing feeling.”

So where does she keep her two disco-ball trophies?

“One trophy is home in San Francisco with my mom and dad, and the other one is in my storage because I was on tour for two months,” she says.

“Both are falling to pieces, by the way. The mirrors are slowly falling off.”

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