Dancing with the Stars pro dancer Mark Ballas recently appeared on Good Morning America to discuss the upcoming spin-off show The Next Pro. Ballas and his mother Shirley will be judges on the series, which seeks to cast a new pro for Season 35 of the ballroom competition.
Mark Ballas Discusses DWTS: The Next Pro
DWTS: The Next Pro will premiere on ABC on Monday, July 13. Mark Ballas and his mom Shirley Ballas will serve as judges on the series, in which 12 dancers will compete for a spot in the cast of Season 35. Mark Ballas recently spoke about the new spin-off in a GMA interview.
“You don’t always get to see what the pros go through on the creative side,” Ballas explained. “This show is all focused on that. The show did an amazing job of creating these challenges and obstacles that they would face as a pro on Dancing with the Stars.”
Those challenges will apparently test things such as chemistry and choreography. Ballas also spoke about working with his mom, calling her “one of the most elite teachers.” He shared that they’re often looking for different things, as she’s been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, while he’s been a pro himself.
“We had a couple of little mother-son disagreements, which were fun,” Ballas said. “But then we also agreed on a lot, too, which was great.”
SEE ALSO: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT ‘DANCING WITH THE STARS: THE NEXT PRO’
What Else to Know About The Next Pro
DWTS: The Next Pro will be hosted by Season 34 Mirrorball champion Robert Irwin. It will premiere on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
The 12 hopeful dancers competing on the show will live together in a house. In addition to Mark and Shirley Ballas sitting on the judging panel, various DWTS pros will appear on the show as guest mentors and judges throughout the season.
Are you excited to watch The Next Pro when it premieres in July? Let us know in the comments below.
