Pro Mark Ballas Returns to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ After Five Years
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Pro dancer Mark Ballas is making a return to Dancing with the Stars after a five-year hiatus. Ballas will be back in the ballroom for Season 31 on Disney+. He is paired with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio in the hope of winning the coveted Mirrorball trophy.
Mark Ballas Returns to Dancing with the Stars
The cast for Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars was announced this week, and the news came with the reveal of Mark Ballas as one of this season’s pro dancers. Ballas first joined the show all the way back in Season 5, and he competed on every season until Season 25.
Ballas has won the show twice, first in Season 6 with celebrity partner Kristi Yamaguchi, and again in Season 8 with Shawn Johnson. He’s also placed second four times over the years, including in his most recent season with partner Lindsey Stirling.
This season, Ballas is partnered with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio. The 18-year-old is competing against her mom, Heidi D’Amelio, who is partnered with Artem Chigvintsev. In Season 29, Chigvintsev won the show with partner Kaitlyn Bristowe.
Although this season will feature several returning pros such as Cheryl Burke, Daniella Karagach, and Val Chmerkovskiy, not everyone will be back. Lindsay Arnold and Sharna Burgess both recently announced that they’re taking a break from the show to focus on motherhood.
SEE ALSO: MEET THE CELEBRITY CAST OF ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ SEASON 31
What Has Ballas Been Up to Since Leaving the Show?
Since departing Dancing with the Stars, Ballas has been focusing more on his music career. The dancer is in a music duo with his wife BC Jean, whom he married in 2016. They’ve been performing together under the name Alexander Jean since 2015.
The couple has released three EPs, most recently Coming Down in 2021. They’ve also put out several singles over the years. Ballas’ talent as a singer might be known to fans of his band with fellow pro dancer Derek Hough, called the Ballas Hough Band.
Ballas has also performed on Broadway, playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. We can’t wait to watch his big return when Dancing with the Stars Season 31 premieres September 19 on Disney+.
