Dancing With The Stars Is Losing Its Best Performer
Dancing with the Stars three-time Mirrorball trophy winner Mark Ballas has left the show.
Dancing with the Stars has had its fair share of shake-ups and personnel changes over the last few months, with beloved dancer and host Cheryl Burke bowing out just a few months ago after having appeared on the hit competition show since its second season as well as longtime judge Len Goodman also recently announcing his retirement. Taking his final bow from the center of the dance floor, three-time Mirrorball trophy winner Mark Ballas announced that last night was his final dance. Deadline reveals that Ballas made the announcement to a packed audience in Las Vegas at the final performance of the Dancing with the Stars Live 2023 tour.
Emotions were running high for the celebrated dancer when he addressed the cheering audience to break the news to them. After 20 seasons on the show, Ballas said that the time had come for him to move on to other opportunities. Saying that he joined the Dancing with the Stars team at the young age of “21” or “22,” the now 36-year-old praised the audience for being “the best fans” and pushing him along over all these years.
Giving a shoutout to those closest to him that have supported the good, the bad, and the ugly of his time on the dance-centered competition show, Ballas thanked his mom, dad, spouse, and in-laws for their support. Standing proudly next to his partner Charli D’Amelio, with whom he won the last season of Dancing with the Stars, Ballas said that this would be “my last dance” and that his journey was “coming to a close tonight.”
While fans were taken back in shock by his big reveal, the professional dancer assured them that this would be “a great way” for him to end his time “dancing with a partner,” adding that while this was the end of the road for his Dancing with the Stars career, it would not be his final performance.
Dancing with the Stars first twisted and twirled onto the scene back in 2005, putting celebrities on a collision course with professional dancers. Each episode features a new dance that the couple is tasked with practicing and nailing in front of a panel of judges. By the end of each week, we watch as the competitors strut their stuff, with one team cut from the ranks until we finally have our Mirrorball winners at the end of the season.
From critically celebrated stars like Zendaya to recognizable reality TV faces like The Bachelor’s Hannah Brown and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Lisa Vanderpump, many of the biggest names in Hollywood have put on their dancing shoes and attempted to entertain the judges. Speaking of judges, not only has Dancing with the Stars boasted an incredible lineup of some of the most well-respected names in the dancing community, but it has also featured an array of notable stars.
From pop superstars like Ricky Martin to Frozen’s Idina Menzel and even director Baz Luhrmann, the judges’ panel has seen some legendary names come and go from their seats.
While Dancing with the Stars fans will be crushed to see Mark Ballas exit ahead of the show’s 32nd season, with his departure comes the arrival of a new coach and all-star dancer. As of right now no details surrounding who that mystery mover and groover will be, but stay tuned for updates.
