Mark Ballas, a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, has finished another chapter in his long history with the show. After returning for Season 34 with partner Whitney Leavitt, the pair were eliminated in the semi-finals in November 2025. This season was part of Ballas’s remarkable run of 19 seasons on the popular ABC dance competition.
Ballas first joined the show in Season 5 in 2007 and has become one of its most recognized pros. He is a three-time Mirrorball Trophy champion, having won with Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson, and most recently, Charli D’Amelio. His return for Season 34 came after he had previously announced his retirement, making his comeback a surprise for many fans.
A Return to the Ballroom After Retirement
Mark Ballas had stepped away from Dancing with the Stars after his win with Charli D’Amelio in Season 31. At that time, he said he was retiring from the show. His return for Season 34 with Whitney Leavitt caught many viewers off guard.
Ballas explained his decision to come back. He mentioned recovering from past injuries and a strong personal motivation. “I wanted my son to see me do this for the first time,” Ballas said. He and his wife, singer BC Jean, welcomed their first child, a son, in November 2023.
When asked about rumors that he only returned for a partner with a high chance of winning, Ballas was clear. “That is not the case. I’m not the boss here,” he stated. “I’m an employee and a professional”.
The Highs and Lows of Season 34 with Whitney Leavitt
Ballas’s partnership with Whitney Leavitt, a star from the Hulu series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, was a standout of Season 34. The pair consistently earned top scores from the judges, often leading the competition. Despite their strong performances, they faced a significant amount of negative comments and harassment on social media throughout the season.
Their journey ended during the semi-finals on November 18, 2025. Speaking about their elimination, both Ballas and Leavitt said they had a feeling it was coming. “We knew, we felt it. I think we just had a feeling,” Ballas told E! News. Leavitt added, “We had a gut feeling it was us”.
Leavitt shared her mixed emotions after leaving the competition. “It’s sad, it does feel like a breakup because you build long-lasting friendships here with production, crew—obviously with Mark,” she said. “You spend so much time with these people every single day”.
Despite the early exit, Ballas made sure their partnership ended on a high note. He had secretly been preparing a freestyle dance routine concept for weeks. After their elimination, they were invited to perform this special number on the Call Her Daddy podcast, giving them a platform to showcase the dance and address their challenging season.
“I had this concept brewing for a while, made mood boards filled with imagery and inspiration,” Ballas shared on Instagram about creating the freestyle. “I had been working on the music arrangement for two weeks”.
Looking Back on a Legacy of Partners and Performances
Mark Ballas has built a legacy on Dancing with the Stars over his 19 seasons. He holds a unique record, having been a part of the show from Season 5 all the way through Season 22 without a break, then returning for Seasons 25, 31, and 34.
His first win came in Season 6 with Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. He won again in Season 8 with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. His third and most recent win was in Season 31 with TikTok personality and dancer Charli D’Amelio.
Beyond his victories, Ballas has been a finalist with many other partners. He finished in second place with Katherine Jenkins, Sadie Robertson, Paige VanZant, and Lindsey Stirling. He also placed third with celebrities like Bristol Palin, Chelsea Kane, and Candace Cameron Bure.
His work on the show earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography in 2011 for his routines with partner Chelsea Kane.
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More Than a Dancer: Music, Acting, and Family
While best known for Dancing with the Stars, Mark Ballas’s career extends far beyond the ballroom. He is an accomplished musician and singer, part of the duo Alexander Jean with his wife BC Jean. He has also released solo music, including an EP titled Kicking Clouds.
Ballas has a background in acting and theater. He appeared in the UK tour of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and played Tony in the musical Copacabana. On Broadway, he has taken on roles including Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots.
His family is deeply connected to dance. His mother, Shirley Ballas, is the head judge on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, the original version of Dancing with the Stars. His father, Corky Ballas, is also a champion dancer. Shirley Ballas publicly supported her son during Season 34, praising his creativity and work ethic.
As for the future, Ballas has not made any official announcement about returning for another season of Dancing with the Stars. His focus seems to be on his music with Alexander Jean and spending time with his young family. Reflecting on his long journey with the show, the relationships and experiences clearly remain central to him.
“I’ve dedicated 30 years of my life to this,” Ballas said about dance. “So it all worked out and I’m here”.
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