Overview
- On Friday, Mark Ballas told reporters he is “open” to returning to Dancing With the Stars as a pro or serving in another role, but said final decisions depend on the show’s ongoing casting process.
- Ballas is currently a judge on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro, a competition in which the winner is guaranteed a pro spot on Season 35.
- ABC has scheduled a two-night Season 35 premiere for September 15 and 16 and has officially confirmed four initial celebrity contestants: Maura Higgins, Ciara Miller, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez.
- Ballas is finishing a limited run as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway that ends August 16, a commitment that could affect his availability for rehearsals and filming.
- Many pro dancers have not formally confirmed Season 35 returns, some have relocated back to Los Angeles to meet production rules, and Ballas has speculated the two-night premiere may include an unannounced twist from casting director Deena Katz.