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Karina Smirnoff: No More Dancing With the Stars?

New season of DWTS hasn't even started, but the drama has

By Marc Malkin Feb 26, 2010 2:15 AMTags
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We won't be seeing too much of Karina Smirnoff when Dancing With the Stars returns for its tenth season.

Sources tell us that Smirnoff has been cut from the competition...

Smirnoff has not been paired with one of the new celebrity competitors. However, she'll continue "helping with choreography," one source says. "It's just going to be behind the scenes."

Another source adds, "She's always been choreographing for the show. She's a big part of the result shows. She's like family there."

But the family has been cut back. The new season will begin with 11 celebs instead of 16 like they had the last time around. Professional hoofers Lacey Schwimmer and Jonathon Roberts have already revealed they aren't returning.

"It wasn't easy," says one of the sources. "Producers cut people based on the celebrities and who they'd be a good match with."

Smirnoff is one of the most recognizable faces to come out of the hit ABC series. So much so, she continues signing endorsement deals. She was recently named the new spokesface and body of diet supplement Hydroxycut Advanced.

A rep for DWTS declined to comment. The new celebrity lineup will be announced on Monday during the Bachelor finale with their partners revealed the following morning.

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Speaking of all these DWTS switcheroos, do you think Brooke Burke is a shoo-in to replace Samantha Harris as the show's cohost?