Adele Zaikman

Adele Zaikman is an Israeli-Ukrainian professional Latin dancer best known for winning the inaugural season of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. Zaikman was raised in Rishon LeZion, Israel, by Ukrainian parents. She began dancing at age 6, going on to represent her home country in amateur competitions as a teen. She later relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a professional dance career.

Zaikman built her reputation on the international competitive ballroom circuit, specializing in Latin dance. She competed at several major events, including the Blackpool Dance Festival, where she won in 2022. In 2026, she joined Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, advancing to the finale and defeating AJ Pritchard and Selena Hamilton to become the show’s first winner.

Zaikman’s victory earned her a professional spot on Dancing With the Stars season 35, lovingly nicknamed “Rolls Royce” by dancer Derek Hough for her polished style. She was paired with celebrity contestant Conner Leavitt.

Zaikman previously dated Romanian professional dancer Cătălin Caucă, who was also her dance partner. The pair began dancing together in 2025 and appeared to become romantically involved later that year. The pair ended their professional partnership in August 2026, and fans later began to speculate that they split romantically. Neither have publicly confirmed a breakup.