Mark Ballas Shares Key Advice for Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro Hopefuls

LOS ANGELES — Nearly two decades after Mark Ballas joined “Dancing With the Stars” as a 21-year-old professional dancer, he is returning to the ballroom in a new capacity: judge. Ballas is part of the panel for the new competition series “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.”

“I think it’s a great way to understand what it takes to be a pro on ‘Dancing With The Stars,’” Ballas said.

Ballas will help choose the next professional dancer to enter the “Dancing With the Stars” ballroom when the flagship series returns this fall. He will be joined by his mother, celebrated dance champion Shirley Ballas, along with a lineup of rotating guest judges.

For Ballas, the series is about more than polished footwork. He said the judges are looking at each dancer’s personal journey, range and ability to grow under pressure.

“You are really getting to know their story, what inspires them, how long have been they been dancing, what style of dancing, how educated are they in ballroom and Latin, what else do they bring to the table,” he said. “What’s versatile about them?”

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