Pasha Pashkov is tapping out of the next Dancing With the Stars tour, and honestly? Good for him. The guy’s been running on fumes for three straight years, and when he told reporters he’s “looking forward to some downtime” after Tuesday night’s show, you could practically hear the exhaustion in his voice. His absence is already raising questions about DWTS Tour 2027: Who's In, Who's Out – The Snubs Revealed. His announcement came right after Tuesday's Super Bowl-themed episode, where Touchdown! One Couple Fumbled the Dance Floor.

Three Tours, One Toddler, Zero Breaks

Here’s the thing – Pashkov and his wife, Daniella Karagach (also a DWTS pro, obviously), haven’t stopped moving since their daughter Kiki was born. And I mean literally haven’t stopped. Daniella was pregnant during a season, gave birth, took exactly two months off, then immediately jumped back into competing. They both made it to the finale that year with Jason Mraz and Ariana Madix, which meant an extra-long season.

Then came the tours. Three of them. With a baby who’s now 3 years old and has already seen more hotel rooms than most adults. “It’s been three years, three tours with Kiki,” Pashkov said. “Now she’s 3 years old, and she’s already done three tours.”

Look, I get it – when you’re a professional dancer, tour season is when you actually make money. The TV show is great exposure, but those live tours? That’s the bread and butter. But there’s a limit to what the human body and mind can take, and Pashkov seems acutely aware they were approaching it.

When “Hustle Culture” Hits the Dance Floor

“We just felt like this is the time we needed,” he explained. “We needed to slow down for a second to prioritize some ‘us time,’ as a family because, otherwise, there is a limit and you can just break and overwork.”

Can we just… appreciate that honesty for a second? In an industry that glorifies the grind – where dancers are basically expected to smile through injuries, exhaustion, and whatever else – Pashkov is straight-up saying “yeah, we’re at our breaking point.” That’s not something you hear often from performers who are still very much in the game.

And the timeline he laid out is genuinely wild when you think about it. Pregnancy, performing while pregnant, birth, two months of “recovery” (which, let’s be real, is nothing), immediately back to a season that went all the way to the finale, then touring with a newborn. Rinse and repeat for three years straight.

The Math Doesn’t Add Up

DWTS typically films from September through November. Tours usually run January through March. That’s basically nine months of the year accounted for, not including rehearsals, prep time, or the promotional appearances that come with the territory. When exactly were they supposed to be a family? During those precious few weeks in between when they’re probably catching up on sleep and trying to remember what their house looks like?

“It’s been three years, three tours with Kiki. We just felt like this is the time we needed. There is a limit and you can just break and overwork.”

What Makes This Different

The thing is, lots of performers have kids and keep working. But there’s something about the pace of DWTS specifically that seems unsustainable. You’re not just performing – you’re learning entirely new routines every single week, rehearsing for hours daily with a celebrity partner who often can’t dance, dealing with live television pressure, and then getting judged on national TV. It’s intense in a way that’s hard to explain if you haven’t been around that world.

And then to immediately roll into a tour where you’re doing the same thing but in different cities every few nights, living out of suitcases, away from any sense of normalcy? With a toddler in tow? Yeah, I’d need a break too.

Why This Actually Matters

Pashkov’s decision to sit out the tour isn’t just about one dancer needing rest (though that would be valid enough on its own). It’s actually kind of a statement about sustainability in entertainment. We’ve seen so many performers burn out completely, disappear from the industry, or have very public breakdowns because they didn’t pump the brakes when they should have.

The fact that he’s recognizing the warning signs and acting on them – while he’s still working, still successful, still in demand – that’s the smart move. Not gonna lie, it’s also the move that a lot of people in his position wouldn’t make because they’re too worried about losing momentum or opportunities.

But here’s what I think: taking three months off now might actually extend his career by years. Rest isn’t weakness. And when you’ve got a 3-year-old who’s spent her entire conscious life on tour buses and in backstage dressing rooms, maybe she deserves to just… be home for a bit. Play in her own backyard. Sleep in her own bed.

Pashkov called this break “long overdue” and “the right time,” and from where I’m sitting, that sounds like someone who’s learned to listen to his body and his life before they start screaming at him. More performers could stand to learn that lesson.