Mark Ballas is used to having people watch every step he takes. As one of Dancing with the Stars most beloved pros, Ballas was the perfect choice to be a judge on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro. The competition series follows 12 of the best dancers from across the world as they vie to be a pro on Dancing With The Stars Season 35. And who could be better to sit next to Ballas at the judging table than his own mother, Shirley Ballas? Lovingly called “The Queen Of Latin” by fans, she has been the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing for the past 9 years.
“You couldn’t find a judge for DWTS: The Next Pro who loves the art of dancing as much as my mom,” gushed Ballas, noting that her feedback is “direct, firm, and honest.” Ballas also appreciates that he and his mother welcome a new DWTS pro each week to the judges’ table to help them determine which dancers should continue in the competition. “It keeps things fresh,” explained Ballas. “It was also wonderful to see them as mentors on the different challenges.”
While DWTS: The Next Pro airs its inaugural season, Ballas is back on Broadway as Billy Flynn in Chicago. During his first run in Broadway’s longest-running show, Ballas starred alongside his DWTS Season 34 partner, Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt. “A lot of our routines on DWTS were quite theatrical,” said Ballas. “We danced to a Chicago song; we danced to a Wicked song; we danced to a Hamilton song.” Now that Ballas is well into his second stint as Flynn (you can see him until August 16!), he finds himself diving “even deeper into the character.” “It’s really fun to discover new things with new people with every performance,” said Ballas.”
Ballas stopped by the Decider studio to discuss DWTS: The Next Pro, marvel at Robert Irwin’s skills as a host, and talk all Chicago.
DECIDER: Dancing With The Stars fans have longed to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the pros approach their craft. How long has The Next Pro been in the works?
MARK BALLAS: I don’t know how long the series has been in the works, but I do know that the pros always hoped that something like this would happen. DWTS: The Next Pro is giving you a peek behind the curtain of to see your favorite pro goes through on a weekly basis—whether it’s the technique you have to teach, the chemistry you have to build, the story you have to tell, etc.
This is also the first time any DWTS pro has had this type of showcase. Back when I started, there was no troupe. Twitter didn’t exist. They just threw us out there and were like, “figure it out, kid.” [Laughs] Someone compared this show to “ballroom boot camp,” which is a really good way of putting it. Whoever wins this competition is going to be a pro on Season 35, and they are not going to be ready for it. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are because you are not ready until you actually start doing it.
I know fans were surprised to see Strictly Come Dancing’s AJ Pritchard and former DWTS dance troupe member Stephani Sosa in the mix. Does their prior experience on these shows give them an advantage or not really?
I don’t think so. Just because you’ve been on the shows doesn’t necessarily mean you have an advantage. I know Artem [Chigvintsev] and Gleb [Savchenko] came from Strictly Come Dancing, but ballroom dancing is ballroom dancing. Some people online have said, “Oh, well, this person is his friend” or “so-and-so is related to a pro.” None of that matters. At the end of the day, you have to perform. On DWTS, you’re going to be put into a position where you are responsible for a celebrity’s journey. You have to know what you’re doing—even when you don’t at times.
Disney/Vince Valitutti
Season 34 champ Robert Irwin seems to be doing a wonderful job as the host of The Next Pro. How do you think he’s doing?
He’s an excellent host. I was behind the judges’ desk watching him read off the cue cards. I was in awe of his energy and how he got the contestants hyped up. I told him: “You were born for this.”
Of course, it is wonderful to watch you and your mother, Shirley, on the judging panel. Did either of you hesitate about appearing together? What are your thoughts about the feedback she’s given so far?
No hesitation at all. My mom and my dad were my coaches growing up. My parents have trained many of the pros on the show, including Derek and Julianne [Hough]. Outside of the television world, they’re still working with elite dancers all over the world. You couldn’t find a judge for The Next Pro who loves the art of dancing as much as my mom.
I’m used to working with my mom. I was cueing my parents’ music for them at dance demonstrations when I was six years old. I’m very comfortable with her constructive feedback, which I find to be direct, firm, and honest. The dance industry is very hard. Dance is just like any sport with high competition stakes — your coaches have to let you know how to improve.
What’s the rose and thorn of working with your mother?
The rose is easy: she’s my mom! We’re obviously very close, and we are both passionate about this art form. The thorn… well, I wouldn’t really call it a thorn, but we do see things a little bit differently. My mom only ever judged in the Strictly Come Dancing space, right? Whereas I’ve been a pro on Dancing With The Stars for 20-plus seasons. Any conflict we have on The Next Pro stems from that.
I have walked in those contestant shoes. I know what it feels like to be in that ballroom and have a routine not hit as hard as you were hoping. I also know what it’s like to have a routine that you’re unsure about in rehearsals and then have it come together live on television. I understand what it feels like to receive tough feedback. She looks at these routines just from a technical and creative standpoint. It’s very cool to have both our viewpoints at the judges’ table.
We know what Derek Hough is like at the judges’ table, but it was really fun to see Brandon Armstrong and Britt Stewart share their expertise and critiques as well. What’s it like for you, as a fellow pro, to watch them shine in a different space?
It’s just great. I really enjoyed that all of our pros who come on The Next Pro get to rotate to the judges’ table. It keeps things fresh. It was also wonderful to see them as mentors on the different challenges. Britt was so great in the group work. The way she set that piece was really smart. She wanted to test their spatial awareness, and we got to see what happened there [laughs].
I thought Brandon’s feedback was so honest and straight to the point. I loved seeing him in that light as well. Derek is just Derek [laughs]. He’s been judging for a long time. He’s really great at spotting things quickly and speaking from experience. He’s a six-time champion, so he knows what he’s doing.
Speaking of Derek, everyone is aware of the fact that The Next Pro contestant Selena Hamilton is part of his touring company. Is this an indicator of how well she does in the competition?
No. [Laughs] Just no.
That’s all you needed to say! Also, Briar Nolet and Erik Linder are currently dating! Were you surprised that a love connection came out of The Next Pro?
I didn’t know they were together, but I’m happy for them. I’m so far removed from all the gossip [laughs]. I’m trying to keep my life afloat over here. I’m a dad. I’m a husband. I’m doing eight shows a week.
That’s right! You’re back as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway until August 16. What made your first run so much fun that you wanted to do it again?
I went to school for musical theater. Chicago was one of the first shows I saw as a child. Songs like “All That Jazz” and “All I Care About” have been a part of my life for so long. When I grew up in England, I would go see shows on the West End. Broadway seemed absolutely unobtainable. Playing Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway, which is the longest-running American musical of all time, is a dream.
The first run I did was too short. It was only a month! Previously, I did Jersey Boys for six months, and Kinky Boots for four months. When they asked me to come back to Chicago in the future, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. So, I’m back; it feels great. I’m able to dive even deeper into the character. There have been some changes in the cast as well, so it’s really fun to discover new things with new people with every performance.
Eric McCandless/Disney
Your DWTS Season 34 partner Whitney Leavitt was your Roxie Hart on your first go-around. How special was it to get to do the show with her?
It was so special. If you think about it, a lot of our routines on DWTS were quite theatrical. We had three Broadway-esque numbers. We danced to a Chicago song; we danced to a Wicked song; we danced to a Hamilton song. Whitney also has that theatrical presence, and that’s something that I really lean into as a choreographer. Appearing in Chicago together was the first for a DWTS couple. We made history [laughs]! It was so fun.
There are some Traitors alums—Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller—heading to the ballroom for Season 35. Have you given either of them any advice in the weeks leading up to Dancing with the Stars?
I’ve chatted with Maura. She came to see me in Chicago during my first run with some of our other Traitors castmates. I know that this has been a dream for her. When they announced her as part of the cast, I was super excited for her.
Lastly, what can you tease about what’s next on DWTS: The Next Pro?
The competition is going to heat up. Just like with the start of any new show, you need to get through the first couple of episodes to familiarize yourself with the contestants, the format, and whatever else. Now, people are starting to connect with these personalities—just like they do with each DWTS season—and really rooting for them.
These aspiring pros have some pretty tough challenges coming up, and the dancing load gets heavier. It’s just like what happens on Dancing with the Stars. It’s really cute until Week 5 or 6. Then you have two dances and then an instant dance and then a team dance and the marathon dance and so on. It’s all coming together.
