Dancing With the Stars Policies Affected Family Logistics
New audience restrictions have complicated childcare for families balancing professional work schedules.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Child Care
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Production policies at the Dancing With the Stars studio have restricted children from the audience, complicating scheduling for performers like Sharna Burgess. The change has prompted Brian Austin Green to stop attending tapings while the couple navigates childcare logistics for their son.
Why it matters
Changes to workplace attendance policies can disrupt household routines, particularly for working parents who rely on bringing family to set. For this couple, the inability to include their 4-year-old in the audience has led to a shift in how they coordinate their weekly childcare duties.
Professional dancer Sharna Burgess returned to the show after a five-year absence, now facing a schedule projected to remain busy for the next month and a half. The household manages care for their 4-year-old son by alternating attendance at the studio.
The players
Brian Austin Green
An actor and parent who manages childcare logistics alongside his partner's professional television commitments.
Sharna Burgess
A professional dancer who returned to the long-running television competition after a five-year hiatus.
Kaitlyn Bristowe
A television personality who publicly addressed the couple's management of professional and family schedule conflicts.
Dancing With the Stars
A popular national television competition that manages live audience access and production schedules.
The details
The couple coordinates their attendance from episode to episode to ensure one parent is always at home with their children. This strategy became necessary after production policies effectively prevented Green from bringing their kids to the studio, which he noted has led to him feeling lonely during the production cycle. The couple also balances these responsibilities alongside care for Green's three older children, aged 14, 12, and 10.
Timeline
2020: Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess began their relationship.
2021: The couple competed together on Season 30 of the television program.
2022: The couple welcomed their first child together.
October 13, 2026: This information was reported.
Next 1.5 months: The production schedule remains at a high-intensity level.
The Home Front
The transition reflects a broader shift in workplace flexibility where production sets increasingly tighten access to maintain consistent live performance conditions. This follows the established industry pattern of limiting backstage and audience presence for non-essential staff or family members.
When managing a complex household schedule, establish a weekly calendar that explicitly notes which parent is designated for childcare during professional commitments. Review any workplace visitor policies to ensure you understand potential restrictions before planning to bring family members to a job site.
The takeaway
Maintaining family unity during busy work periods requires proactive coordination and clear communication between partners about scheduling conflicts. For households with shifting demands, keeping a shared, updated calendar of professional obligations is the best way to ensure consistent childcare coverage.
Further reading
For tips on balancing professional work schedules with your family's needs, visit our Child Care section.
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