Mark Ballas is basically the mad scientist of the ballroom. If you’ve watched even a single season of the show over the last two decades, you know the vibe. He’s the guy who showed up dressed as Mario, turned a Viennese Waltz into a Harry Potter tribute, and somehow made a violin-playing dancer look like a seasoned pro.
Most pros play it safe. They do the "pretty" lines and the classic smiles. Mark? He wanted to make you feel slightly uncomfortable, then totally amazed.
The Mark Ballas Partners on Dancing with the Stars: A Wild Ride
It’s actually kinda crazy when you look at the sheer variety of people he’s been paired with. We aren’t just talking about athletes. He’s had reality stars, singers, and even a political figure.
His first big "moment" was probably with Sabrina Bryan in Season 5. They were the frontrunners, the ones everyone assumed would cruise to a win. Then, boom. Week 6 elimination. It was the first "shock elimination" that really defined the show's unpredictable nature. Honestly, people are still salty about that one.
But then came the gold.
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- Kristi Yamaguchi (Season 6): This was his first Mirrorball. Kristi was a perfectionist, and Mark’s choreography was finally meeting someone who could actually execute it to the millimeter.
- Shawn Johnson (Season 8): This was peak DWTS. The "fab five" gymnast was tiny but powerful. Their freestyle is still lived in the heads of fans rent-free.
- Charli D’Amelio (Season 31): After a massive hiatus, Mark came back and reminded everyone why he’s the GOAT. Charli was already a dancer, sure, but Mark pushed her into a level of artistry that TikTok simply doesn't require.
The Partners Who Didn't Quite Get There
Let's be real: not every partnership was a match made in heaven. Remember Kim Kardashian in Season 7? Probably not, because they were out by Week 3. She just didn't seem to have the "it" factor for the ballroom, and Mark's high-energy style felt a bit like a Ferrari trying to drive through a swamp.
Then there was Bristol Palin. Twice.
Season 11 was... an experience. They finished third despite some of the lowest scores of the finalists. It was the era of the "fan vote" gone rogue. They came back for All-Stars (Season 15) and it didn't go nearly as well. You could almost feel the creative fatigue through the screen.
Why Mark Ballas Partners on Dancing with the Stars Always Looked Different
The thing about Mark is his brain. He doesn't just "teach a box step." He builds a world.
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Think about Lindsey Stirling in Season 25. She’s a violinist who moves while she plays. Mark leaned into that quirkiness. They didn't just dance; they performed these weird, ethereal pieces that felt more like Cirque du Soleil than a standard Latin night. They took second place, losing to Jordan Fisher, but many argue they were the more "creative" duo.
Then you have the "underdog" stories. Candace Cameron Bure (Season 18) and Sadie Robertson (Season 19). Neither were trained dancers. Sadie was a "Duck Dynasty" star, for crying out loud. But Mark gave her a Super Mario freestyle that went viral before "going viral" was even the primary goal of the show. He has this knack for taking someone "wholesome" and giving them enough edge to make the finals.
The Retirement and the "Last Dance"
In March 2023, during the final stop of the DWTS live tour in Las Vegas, Mark dropped the bomb. He was retiring from the show.
He stood there with Charli D'Amelio—his final partner—and told the crowd he was done dancing with celebrity partners. It felt like the end of an era. Mark had done 20 seasons. He started when he was 21. By the time he left at 36, he had three Mirrorballs and a legacy of choreography that literally changed the rules of the competition.
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Key Takeaways from the Mark Ballas Era
- Choreography is King: Mark proved that a good pro can hide a partner’s weaknesses with brilliant staging.
- Risk vs. Reward: He often got "notes" from Len Goodman (RIP) for being too "out there," but those risks are what kept him relevant for twenty seasons.
- The Comeback: His win with Charli D'Amelio proved that the "old school" pros still had the sauce, even in the streaming era of Disney+.
If you’re looking to binge-watch some old-school DWTS, start with Mark’s Season 8 freestyle or anything from Season 31. You can see the evolution of a guy who went from a cocky kid with spiked hair to a master of the craft.
For those wanting to keep up with what he's doing now, he’s heavily focused on his music with his wife, BC Jean, in their band Alexander Jean. He hasn't stopped creating; he just changed the stage.
Next Steps:
If you want to see the technical side of his work, go find the Emmy-nominated Jive he did with Chelsea Kane. It's a masterclass in speed and precision. You should also check out the Alexander Jean "Highs & Lows" music video to see how his dance background translates into his current musical aesthetic.