Mark Ballas makes an electrifying return to Dancing with the Stars after a two-year hiatus. However, the three-time mirrorball winner will not be performing. He will sit alongside judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli to share his ballroom expertise as the remaining nine celebrities compete during “Dedication Night.”
Mark Ballas won three mirrorball trophies before stepping back as a pro
Mark Ballas debuted on Dancing with the Stars in 2007 during season 5, and was paired with actress Sabrina Bryan. He remained a fan-favorite pro throughout 20 seasons. Ballas won mirrorballs in season 6 with figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, season 8 with gymnast Shawn Johnson, and season 31 with social media star Charli D’Amelio.
Ballas was the only pro to make the finals 11 times. He also holds the 4-time record for second-place finishes with celebrity partners Katherine Jenkins, Sadie Robertson, Paige VanZant, and Lindsey Stirling.
He retired from the ballroom after winning season 31. However, Ballas briefly returned in the Fall of 2023, for a touching tribute to the show’s head judge Len Goodman.
Mark Ballas judges the remaining 9 celebrities for ‘Dedication Night’
For “Dedication Night,” the celebrity dancers will perform partner dances including Contemporary, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Salsa, Argentine Tango, and Foxtrot. These performances are dedicated to those who have influenced their lives.
Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola and Witney Carson will perform a Contemporary to “Unsteady” by X Ambassadors. Amendola dedicates the routine to former NCAA head football coach Mike Leach. The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson dance a Viennese Waltz to “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, dedicating the routine to Joey’s fiancée, Kelsey Anderson.
NBA Champion Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach perform a Rumba to “Shoot For The Stars” by Dwight Howard, and dedicate the routine to his children. Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong perform a Contemporary routine to “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack in honor of her mother.
Olympian rugby player Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten will perform a Rumba to “My Way” by Yseult for the U.S. women’s national rugby sevens team. Model Brooks Nader and Gleb Savchenko dance Salsa to “Mi Gente” by J Balvin & Willy William, dedicating the routine to her sisters.
Olympian gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold dance an Argentine Tango to “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes for men’s gymnastics. Reality star Phaedra Parks and Val Chmerkovskiy Rumba to “Because You Loved Me” by Céline Dion to honor Parks’ mother. Finally, The Bachelorette Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber a Foxtrot to “The Archer” by Taylor Swift, dedicating the routine to the entertainer.
Derek and Hayley Hough celebrate her triumphant ballroom return with a moving routine to “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” by Benson Boone. The couple wed in August 2023 after dating for eight years. However, just months after the couple’s stunning wedding in a redwood forest in Monterey, California, Hayley fell ill.
During a performance of their Symphony of Dance tour on Dec. 7, 2023, Hayley became disoriented. She was ultimately diagnosed with a cranial hematoma, a burst blood vessel that causes blood to collect in the skull and press on the brain.
She underwent a craniectomy, a major brain surgery that removes part of the skull. A second surgery was required to replace part of her skull that was removed during the initial surgical procedure.
In an Instagram post, Erbert spoke of her recovery and return to dancing, calling it a “blessing” and a “surprise.” She wrote, “My healing journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Being able to dance again is igniting my soul in all the ways; speeding up my recovery even more.”
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC and Disney Plus. The episode airs the next day on Hulu.
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