As Dancing With the Stars gears up for its milestone Season 35, former Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas has expressed interest in taking a permanent seat at the judges’ table.
The three-time DWTS champion, who currently serves as a judge on the new spin-off Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, recently shared that he would welcome the opportunity to join the flagship competition as a full-time judge.
Ballas believes judging represents the natural next chapter in his Dancing With the Stars journey. After spending years as one of the franchise’s most accomplished professional dancers, he says his experience enables him to evaluate performances from a unique perspective while offering valuable, constructive feedback to contestants.
He currently appears on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, ABC’s latest spin-off, where 12 aspiring professional dancers compete for a coveted spot in the Season 35 cast. Hosted by Robert Irwin, the series features Ballas on the judging panel alongside his mother, ballroom champion Shirley Ballas, with guest judges joining throughout the competition.
Reflecting on the experience, Ballas says judging alongside his mother feels completely natural because she has coached him throughout his dance career and continues to challenge him with honest, insightful feedback.
Although ABC has not announced any changes to the main Dancing With the Stars judging panel, Ballas says he would gladly accept a permanent judging role if the opportunity arose. His comments have fueled speculation among fans, many of whom consider him an ideal candidate thanks to his technical expertise, championship pedigree, and years of experience as both a performer and choreographer.
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 premieres this fall on ABC and Disney+, with Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returning as hosts. Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli are also expected to return to the judges’ table unless the network announces any changes before the new season begins.
About the author
Daya Nanoskar is an Entertainment Writer at Awesome TV and a contributor to AWSM Times. Daya covers film news, streaming releases, celebrity updates and industry news across Hollywood and Bollywood, and has written more than 2,300 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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