A Brief Chat with Ballas!

DWTS' Mirror Ball Pro,

Mark Ballas, Talks

Ballroom. Broadway,

Wedding, and More!!

Hey, hey, hey, all you dwtslovers out there!

Check out this terrific Interview with Dancing with the Stars' beloved absent Ballas, courtesy of the always gratifying usmagazine.com!!  …

Ballas on Broadway!

Mark Ballas Joins the Cast of

Broadway’s Jersey Boys!!

Mark Ballas 

Mark Ballas is heading for that Great White Way!

Dancing with the Stars’ 2-time Mirror Ball Champion Pro is recently noted for having been strangely absent from the Show's Cast Line-up for its latest, televised Ballroom endeavor, Season 23, despite having been a constant part of the Program’s  beloved Professionals since Season 4, and now elated Fans everywhere will know why!

“Thrilled to announce I’ll be playing the final “Frankie Valli” on @JerseyBoysInfo on Broadway starting Oct 18^th till Jan 15^th.  See U there”

The 30-year-old Dancer excitedly tweeted on September 6^th in the late afternoon, also sending out a short video via his Instagram page to further broadcast the announcement.

(https://www.instagram.com/p/BKCT30NAxoz/?taken-by=markballas&hl=en)

Mark’s fellow Champion Pro and longtime best friend, Derek Hough, has recently expressed, according to etonline.com, 

“It’s like a dream come true for him and I honestly cried when I found out.”

Mark Ballas and Derek Hough

Currently a veteran of Broadway himself and set to star in its upcoming Singing in the Rain production, Hough also noted of his friend’s debut,

“I teared up because I just know how much this means to him and he’s so excited and it’s awesome.”

Mark’s peculiar phrasing of “the final ‘Frankie Valli'” does, of course, refer to fact that Mark will be portraying one the Play's lead characters of the same name during its final run on Broadway.

Noted for being the 12^th longest running show in the history of Broadway, the highly successful production, Jersey Boys, will officially be closing down from the Great White Way January 15^th, 2017.

An incredible opportunity, to say the least, for one of DWTS' fan-favorite Dance Instructors and Choreographers; and also, one that this particular Fan feels confident that Ballas will (Pardon my French!) kick @$$ at; but, I think that I speak for torn-Fans everywhere, Mark, when I say, Hey man, this is TERRIFIC news, and not to mention, quite the prestigious gig!  … As long as you’re “working your way back to” the Ballroom someday, right?!

The “Missing Mark” Sends His Regards

Champion Pro, Mark Ballas,

Speaks Out as to Why

He WON’T Be Returning

For Season 23

Mark Ballas writing a letter to his fans
https://www.instagram.com/markballas/

By now, it is a fact well known – and greatly disliked – that Dancing with the Stars’ 2-time Mirror Ball Champion Pro and last Season’s First Runner-Up, Mark Ballas, will not be returning to the Ballroom for Season 23 of the Show.

What is seemingly NOT well known is why the Dance Program staple and beloved Choreographing-Genius, Mark – who's  been a consistent and competitive member of DWTS since first joining the Show for Season 4 – won’t be returning  … Until now!
(https://www.instagram.com/markballas/)

Mark Ballas' Letter to his fans via Instagram

“I wanted to hand write this letter to personally thank each and every one of you for the support over the years.” Wrote Ballas recently, posting a picture of the hand-written script on Twitter and sending it out to his bewildered (And totally bummed!) fans everywhere.

“I am incredibly moved and grateful for all of your messages” The 30-year-old Dancer continued, “… I know many of you are concerned and curious.  I want to wish my DWTS comrades luck this season.  I'll miss competing and creating outside the box, however I am looking forward to this new chapter and venture that is beginning shortly.  I will soon have news for you all on where you can find me, I hope to see many of you there.  I love you all so much and couldn’t be more grateful for your loyalty and support [sic] You mean the world to me. See you soon … … …”

Soon after his Post, Mark followed it up with a second Posting – also via Twitter – of a photograph containing what appears to be some sort of a refined Sketch or Note Book, laying closed on a tabletop, along with a folded, red handkerchief - possibly one of the many ones Mark has been noted for wearing of late.
(https://www.instagram.com/markballas/)

Mark Ballas' Instagram

Tagging along with the cryptic photo was an equally mysterious message,

“COMING SOON…”

Hmmm, a tantalizing enigma, to be sure, and one that will likely keep Mark’s Fans excited and guessing!

Perhaps the book denotes some new Singles set to come out by Mark and his fiancée, BC Jean, via their increasingly popular Music Duo, Alexander Jean?? … Perhaps that is reaching …

  

Maybe Mark has hopes of becoming a published Author!

Whatever the case, time will certainly tell the answer to Mark's tease, and whether or not we’ll soon see Ballas back, bandana-ed, and in the Ballroom once more!

As for now, there’s seems to be only one fact that is certain at this time, Mark Ballas will – so very much – be greatly missed.

A Focus on the Finalist, Part 2 (of 2)– DWTS, Season 22

A Focus on DWTS, Season 22’s

Fabulous Finalists

Paige & Mark:

Beginning their Season of Delightful Dancing in all the right and endearing ways, the quickly beloved pairing of Ballroom Contestants  Paige & Mark opened up their competitive run with a Light and Dainty, well-Framed Foxtrot!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 01

Up next for this already unarguably Fabulous Duo was a Latin Night-themed Salsa which, despite Mark's Absence due to an untimely Back Injury and the subsequent last-minute stepping in of DWTS Troupe Member, Alan Bersten (who fulfilled his roll as Temporary Pro brilliantly!), saw an incredible amount of superbly executed Lifts and Hip Swivels, earning the night's Highest Score of 8,8,8! 

Paige & (Mark) Alan

DWTS Season 22, Week 02

Together once more, Paige and Mark presented a real <Ahem!> knock-out of a Performance for Season 22’s Most Memorable Year Night in the stellar form of a fiercely creative UFC-themed Paso Doble,

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 03

only to be followed up with an equally gratifying, though starkly opposite, playful Disney Night Quickstep to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story, a grin-inspiring, dancing event which would tie the elated Couple at the Top of Week 04’s Leader Board with their highest earned score yet of all “9”s!
 

Paige & Mark
DWTS Season 22, Week 04
Disney Night

Switching things up for Week 05 of the Competition, as part of DWTS' always nail-biting and yet somehow still entertaining America Switch Up Challenge, Paige VanZant found herself partnered with Competing Pro, Sasha Farber, for the dancing of a “Perfect”ly Romantic and Flowingly Feminine Rumba!
 

Paige & Sasha
DWTS Season 22, Week 05
- Switch-up Week

Once again reunited with her former Pro Pal, Paige and Mark  attempted  to “behave” themselves whilst embarking on a groovy Jazz tour of the 1970’s-themed Austin Powers franchise, as part of  Week 06’s Famous Dances Night, earning the ecstatic Couple their very  first “10” from Len!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 06

- Famous Dances Night

Week 07 saw Paige and Mark take a Technically Terrific and Fiercely Fast roll down the show's river, performing a high-speed Jive to a Tina Turner classic, affording this now seemingly unstoppable Duo their very first and the show's only Second Perfect Score of the Season, earning all “10”s from the Ballroom's Panel Judges!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 07

- Icons Night

Up next, for that same evening, were the Season's first Team Dances, pitting the show's Celebrity Gals against the Boys of Season 22, resulting in an all out Beyoncé vs, Brown, Ballroom Battle!

Team Beyonce

DWTS Season 22, Week 07

- Icons Night - Team Dances

For Week 07 of the Season, Paige & Mark elected to cool things down a bit, performing a fantastically frosty and chillingly clever Viennese Waltz,

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 08

followed up by their second Dance that evening, a Judges Team Up Challenge Routine that united Paige and Mark with two of their Competitive Dancing Counterparts, Antonio & Sharna, as part of Judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s Artistic, Group Paso Doble.
 

DWTS Season 22, Week 08

- Judges Team Up Challenge Round

Week 09’s Spectacular Semifinals saw Paige and Mark team up once again with their talented Ballroom Buddy, Alan, for a truly exquisite and creatively cocky Trio Samba, as part of the show's always gratifying Trio Round, 
 

Paige & Mark with Alan

DWTS Season 22, Week 09

- Semifinals - Trio Round

followed up by a surprisingly sensual, incredibly immaculate Argentine Tango!

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 09

- Semifinals

Closing down their Season with one “Fireball” of a score-redeeming Salsa -  that earned the Couple not one but two “10”s! – 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 01 - 

Redemption Round

Paige and Mark finished out Week 10 with an emotional and flawless Contemporary-esque Freestyle

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 01 - 

Freestyle Round

and an appropriately celebratory Jive/Salsa 24-hour Fusion Dance,

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 02

 both of which earned these more than well-deserving, Second Place Finalists two more Perfect Scores, while Audiences watched what was truly a Dynamic Duo wrap up their Dancing escapades as two of the Ballroom’s most beloved Characters, as well as Season 22’s ultimately Highest-scoring Partnership!
 

“It’s amazing,” Paige gushed, upon exiting the show as the Season's First Runner Up.  “I’m just so thankful that I got to have this opportunity, I'm gonna remember it forever!”

Paige & Mark, 24-hour Fusion – Review of DWTS Season 22, Week 10

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

REVIEW:  Paige & Mark,

24-hour Fusion

Closing down their Dancing Season in much the same way as it began, Season 22’s Dynamic Duo, Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas, submitted an incredible Performance as their final Showing: a 24-hour Jive/Salsa Fusion to “Little Bitty Pretty One” by Thurston Harris and The Sharps!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 02

What else can be said except here, for their last and final farewell Dance, the immaculate Pairing and endeared Partnership of TeamPowRightInTheKisser served up yet another delectably delicious and enthrallingly perfect Dance Routine?!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 02

Displaying what was some - once again - Stellar Lines, Amazing Hip Action, Formidable Footwork, and a truly Marvelous Sense of Rhythm and Musicality, the First Rate Coupling of Paige & Mark proved beyond a doubt their well-deserved and hard-earned Place in Season 22’s Finals, perfoming always-impressive Ballroom forays in all the right and crazy ways!
 

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 02

I LOVED it, you guys, Fabulous work!!
 

“What an awesome way to end this incredibly awesome Season!” exclaimed Panel Judge,  Carrie Ann Inaba, following the Routine. 

“Happy Birthday, Mark! [Addressing Mark Ballas, who celebrated his 30th Birthday that very same evening – “.,. You got a definite ‘30’at least, on your Birthday, right?! … “ DWTS Host Tom Bergeron had quipped earlier!] Paige, you have delivered, you have set the Standard from day one of this Competition and you continue to set the Standard! Awesome job!”

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 02

“Only one can win the Mirror Ball,” added Head Judge, Len Goodman, “ but for me, all three Finalist are winners because they made it into such a terrific Season; and, if this was judged purely on Dance, you’re the one to beat!”

See video (below) to watch Paige & Mark's Jive/Salsa Fusion on Week 10, The Finals of DWTS, courtesy of Dancing With The Stars' great YouTube channel!

Paige & Mark, Freestyle – Review of DWTS Season 22, Week 10

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

REVIEW:  Paige & Mark,

Freestyle

Performing a Freestyle Dance to “Over the Rainbow” by BC Jean, Paige VanZant and her Pro Partner, Mark Ballas, presented a Lovely Routine.

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 01 - 

Freestyle Round

For me, this dance seemed to lean a little more towards a contemporary than a freestyle.  That being said, I did love this next performance.

Mark’s creative genius and dancing know-how combined with Paige's absolute grace and superb femininity displayed during the routine, turned this seemingly underwhelming performance into the beautiful, artistic piece that it was!

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 01 - 

Freestyle Round

There was that one liiiittle lift in the middle of the dance that didn’t seem like it went quite the way that it was supposed to. It seemed a bit clumsy and unsteady to me.

That said, this freestyle, in my opinion, while not the most stimulating, was certainly the most pleasing Freestyle of the evening!

Paige & Mark

DWTS Season 22, Week 10

- The Finals, Night 01 - 

Freestyle Round

Great job, guys!

In closing, it must be noted that, BC Jean’s Eva Cassidy-esque cover of Over the Rainbow was positively stellar!

BC Jean Performs "Over the Rainbow" for
Paige & Mark's Freestyle
DWTS Season 22, Week 10
- The Finals, Night 01