Mark Ballas is going into his 20th season of being a pro dancer on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Even so, he admits that he and his partner, Lindsey Stirling, are nervous about competing in Season 25 that premieres on Monday, September 18. Mark has been absent for two seasons to perform in "Jersey Boys" on Broadway. He is excited to go back onto the ballroom floor, but he is a more nervous this season than he has ever been.
That is mainly because there are so many great dancers he and his partner will be competing against.
Mark has been absent for two seasons to perform in "Jersey Boys" on Broadway. He is excited to go back onto the ballroom floor, but he is more nervous this season than he has ever been. That is mainly because there are so many great dancers he and his partner will be competing against.
The one to watch
Before the season has even begun, Mark says Jordan Fisher is the one to watch. While Mark was performing in "Jersey Boys," Jordan was performing in "Hamilton." Therefore, Mark knows about Jordan's potential.
Lindsey says she is nervous about the upcoming season as well. The 30-year-old violinist agrees with Mark about Jordan. She says Jordan, 32, is the one to watch because he can really move. He is partnered with Lindsay Arnold. She has been a pro for seasons, but she has never won the championship. Perhaps this will be her season along with Jordan.
Besides being nervous about Fisher, Mark and Lindsey say they know Nick and Vanessa Lachey are going to be competing against each other and will give it their all. Therefore, they will be tough competitors for everyone else also. Nick will be dancing with pro partner two-time champion Peta Murgatroyd, and Vanessa will be dancing with one-time Mirrorball trophy winner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
The dancer's strategy
When Mark spoke to Us Weekly back in August, he said there are no rivalries among the dancers. While there is competition, the relationship within the group takes precedence. He says there is a major problem when the focus is entirely on beating someone. He concludes that the best strategy is to do your best for your partner and the audience and have fun.
Mark shouldn't be nervous because he is a two-time champion. He won in Season 6 with Kristi Yamaguchi and in Season 8 with Shawn Johnson. Both women are athletes. That doesn't mean he won't do as well with a violinist. Ballas is a great choreographer, and he can coach any partner. Viewers are waiting to see him dance again since it has been a couple of seasons since they have seen his style on America's biggest ballroom floor.
Fans haven't seen Mark dance as a married man, because he got married during his absence. While he was away from the reality show, he married his longtime girlfriend BC Jean on November 25th, 2016.
Even though Mark and Lindsey say they are nervous, their fans are looking forward to seeing what they will do. Viewers are confident that once the show starts, all nervousness will disappear.