"We know she's got rhythm, we know she's full of personality, but if she's only focused on winning, she's going to not have personality," Burke says of Parks
Cheryl Burke is sharing her advice for Phaedra Parks.
Speaking to PEOPLE about season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, the former pro offered her predictions for the season. She explained that while the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 50, has her eye on the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy, she should also be enjoying the process.
“That says a lot about her, in a good way,” Burke, 40, says of Parks’ motivation to win. “She's an entrepreneur. I hear her. I think it's okay for other umbrellas of your life, but on this show, to think of solely about just wanting to win the Mirrorball is going to do the opposite. I think it's more about testing her being present, really taking this one step at a time and it's all in the detail.”
She added: “We know she's got rhythm, we know she's full of personality, but if she's only focused on winning, she's going to not have personality and you're going to see it. I already see it.”
Disney/Andrew Eccles; Monica Schipper/Getty
At the season premiere, Parks told PEOPLE that she didn’t ask her fellow Bravolebrities for any tips before going on the competition show because they didn't take home the Mirrorball trophy.
“I want to go in the situation sort of fresh,” Parks said. “We had a chat and so they gave me their thoughts about it, but I didn't really want their tips because I need to win. They haven't won yet.”
The Sex, Lies and Spray Tans podcast host notes that many of the show's stars hope to make their partners proud, and she heard Parks talk about “wanting to just make Val happy.” However, Burke advises that Parks focus on the task at hand.
“These celebrities are so vulnerable and they just want to make us happy, but then their personality starts to slowly go away,” Burke continues. “And that is what I hope not doesn't happen with Phaedra. I hope she just, the sooner you can memorize your routine and the sooner you can work on detail, the better you'll do just one step at a time. Dance as if it's your last dance because you never know.”
Related: Everything Cheryl Burke Has Said About Choosing Celibacy After Divorce
Burke also shares that its important for all of this season's competitors to be true to themselves.
“I think the theme of the premiere was just do not hold back,” she explains. “Don't hold back. Just cry it out, laugh it out, and just go for it. Be you.”'
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Burke admits that she understands the pressures and nerves that come with dancing on live television, saying, "I prefer dancing in front of strangers than even my coworkers or my family because they're my harshest critic."
As for who she thinks is going to win, Burke says she is betting on NFL player Danny Amendola.
“He's going to be the dark horse, I think,” she says. “Because there's some moments of brilliance where you're like, ‘Yes.’ The chemistry, though innocent, between Witney and Danny was pretty intense.”
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Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available to stream the next day on Hulu.
