Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess Open Up on DWTS: Conquering Fears, Nurturing Love, and Dancing Through Challenges

The journey on Dancing With The Stars is famously demanding, pushing celebrity contestants and professional dancers to their physical and emotional limits. For real-life couples, the stakes are even higher, as the pressures of the ballroom can either strengthen or strain their personal bonds. This season, actor Brian Austin Green and professional dancer Sharna Burgess have taken their romance from quiet dates to the dazzling, high-pressure environment of the DWTS stage. Their participation as a couple adds a fascinating layer to the competition, raising questions about how their established relationship would fare under the intense scrutiny and rigorous demands of live television. As they navigate the intricate steps and emotional complexities of each performance, both Brian and Sharna have candidly shared their deepest fears and hopes, offering a rare glimpse into the unique challenges faced by partners who are also deeply in love. They recently sat down with reporters, including HollywoodLife, to discuss the significant emotional weight of their journey and how they manage the delicate balance between competitive ambition and romantic devotion, particularly addressing their individual anxieties about letting each other down on one of television’s most watched dance shows.

Brian Austin Green, known for his long and successful acting career, revealed a profound personal vulnerability when discussing his Dancing With the Stars experience. He openly admitted that his primary concern wasn’t about public perception or dance technique, but rather a deeply personal “fear of disappointing” his girlfriend, Sharna Burgess. This fear stems from their early days of dating, long before DWTS was even a distant thought. Brian recounted how Sharna, a world-renowned ballroom dancer, would often express a heartfelt desire to simply dance with him – not necessarily on a competitive stage, but as a shared, joyful experience. “When we first were really spending more time with each other and dating, she used to talk about the fact that it would be so great if we could dance together. Not on the show, but just in general,” Brian explained after a demanding September 27 performance. He recalled her hopeful suggestions, “Like, let’s go somewhere together,” to which he would often respond with trepidation, a natural reaction for someone unfamiliar with the dance world.

His apprehension was rooted in self-doubt, acknowledging Sharna’s incredible talent and his own lack of experience. “I was always like, ah, because that scares the crap out of me because she’s a dancer,” he confessed. The transition from a casual date idea to the intense environment of Dancing With The Stars magnified this initial fear exponentially. Brian found himself thinking, “man, if this doesn’t go well, I could crush that dream for her.” The thought of inadvertently extinguishing Sharna’s simple, cherished wish to dance with her partner weighed heavily on him. He imagined her having to shift her dreams, perhaps suggesting other adrenaline-fueled activities like bungee jumping or skydiving, because the one thing she loved most – dance – couldn’t be fully shared with him in the way she envisioned. “So there is that stress of like, this is what she does, but can she do it with me?” he mused. This wasn’t a question of Sharna’s capabilities; rather, it was a profound “doubt of myself, for sure.” Brian’s introspection highlights the unique pressures faced by celebrities on DWTS, especially when their personal relationships are intertwined with their competitive journey. The desire to live up to the expectations of a loved one, particularly one whose entire career is built around the very skill being tested, adds an emotional layer far beyond mere competition. For Brian, succeeding on DWTS wasn’t just about winning or even performing well; it was about honoring Sharna’s dream and proving to himself that he could meet her in her world, even if just for a moment. This deep emotional investment speaks volumes about his commitment to their relationship and his willingness to step outside his comfort zone for her.

While Brian grappled with the fear of disappointing Sharna, the professional dancer revealed that her anxieties stemmed from a different, yet equally significant, place. Sharna emphatically stated that she harbors no fear of Brian letting her down. Instead, her concern centered on protecting the sanctity of their relationship from the inherent stresses of the competition. “For me, my fear was I don’t want to stress the relationship,” Sharna admitted. She candidly described her coaching persona, acknowledging, “I know me as a choreographer and as a coach, I’m obsessive. I’m tough. And I put the pressure on.” Sharna understands that her professional approach, which has historically yielded “great results” in past seasons of DWTS, could potentially clash with the more delicate dynamics of a romantic partnership.

Her priority, she stressed, has shifted. “Now my relationship is more my priority than having an amazing rumba basic,” she declared, highlighting the profound change in her approach. This created a significant internal dilemma for Sharna: “So I was like, shoot, how do I find that balance of keeping my relationship priority when there’s also this thing that I also love so much and know how to do so well?” The challenge was to maintain her high professional standards and passion for dance without allowing the rigorous demands and anxieties of DWTS to spill over and negatively impact their personal bond. She was determined “not to put the anxiety and the stress of what this competition can be in our relationship outside of it.”

The key to navigating this potential minefield, according to Sharna, has been their exceptional communication. “But we have such great communication. Anything that arises, we talk about,” she explained, emphasizing the strength of their partnership beyond the dance floor. This open dialogue allows them to address issues proactively, preventing misunderstandings and reducing stress. “We have a beautiful relationship, really. And so we haven’t had that anxiety, I don’t think,” Sharna concluded, underscoring the resilience of their bond. Their ability to communicate openly and honestly has allowed them to compartmentalize the competitive pressures, ensuring that the love and respect they share remain paramount, even amidst the most challenging rehearsals and critical evaluations. This mutual respect for each other’s feelings and transparent communication serves as the bedrock of their ability to face the unique pressures of Dancing With The Stars as a couple, turning potential pitfalls into opportunities for deeper connection.

The couple’s recent performance, a sensual rumba during the second week of the competition, served as a tangible example of their journey. While their genuine, palpable chemistry was undeniable, lighting up the stage with an undeniable romantic spark, their technical execution didn’t quite resonate with the judges’ demanding criteria. They ultimately received a score of 23 out of 40, a score that, while not disastrous, indicated room for improvement in the highly competitive environment of Dancing With The Stars. Despite this initial hurdle, Sharna remains remarkably optimistic and forward-looking, a testament to her professional resilience and her belief in Brian’s potential.

She revealed a significant factor that had previously constrained their progress: “Honestly, I am now looking forward to teaching Brian any style in the weeks moving forward because we no longer have him shooting other shows and time restraints on our rehearsals.” This revelation sheds light on the immense pressure Brian was under, juggling a demanding acting schedule with the equally strenuous rehearsal commitments of DWTS. For instance, their rumba performance, which typically requires extensive preparation, was severely impacted by these external obligations. Sharna noted, “For example, the rumba tonight, we had all of that 8 hours of rehearsal in the studio because we lost three days. He was shooting another show.” The loss of crucial rehearsal time undeniably hindered their ability to perfect the intricate steps and nuances required for a high-scoring Latin dance like the rumba.

With these time constraints now lifted, Sharna is eager to delve into future dance styles, particularly those she believes will play to Brian’s strengths. “I think, as I observe him as a coach, I think he’s really going to sit well in the tangos and the quick steps, the real ballroom frame things,” she predicted. These more structured ballroom dances often suit contestants who can master precise footwork and maintain a strong frame, qualities Brian might naturally possess or quickly develop with focused training. While acknowledging their immediate goals, Sharna also realistically pointed out areas for development: “So I’m excited to get more into those. We’ve got a lot of work on loosening up those hips a little bit for when we get to the salsas and the cha-chas.” This honest assessment demonstrates her dedication as a coach, pinpointing specific techniques Brian needs to cultivate for future Latin dances.

The journey of Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess on Dancing With The Stars is proving to be more than just a dance competition; it’s a public exploration of their unique relationship, tested under the glare of the spotlight. Their candid confessions about fear, the struggle to balance professional demands with personal priorities, and their unwavering commitment to open communication offer a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers. As they continue to grow and adapt, particularly with Brian now able to dedicate his full attention to the dance floor, their path on Dancing With The Stars Season 30 promises to be one filled with passion, perseverance, and potentially, a lot more high scores. Fans can continue to follow their evolving story and dynamic performances as Dancing With the Stars season 30 airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.