The ballroom just got hotter—and not just because of the dancing. Mark Ballas, a three-time Dancing With the Stars champion, has returned to the glittering stage with fire in his eyes and a message for longtime friend Derek Hough, now sitting at the judges’ table: “Bring it on.”
Season 34 premiered with all the sparkle fans hoped for, but behind the sequins was a tension no one could ignore. Ballas, who waltzed away with the mirrorball trophy alongside Charli D’Amelio in Season 31, knows exactly what Derek is capable of—on the dance floor and behind the judges’ desk. But rather than shy away from Hough’s famously sharp critiques, Ballas is leaning in.
“I know Derek,” Ballas said backstage after his fierce tango with new partner Whitney Leavitt. “He’s been in our shoes. He’s a straight shooter. If he wants to push me, push me. I won’t be intimidated.”
The pair’s tango earned them a strong 15 out of 20, tying them for the top spot on the leaderboard with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. With Carrie Ann Inaba absent from the premiere, the scoring leaned tougher than usual, something Derek himself warned the cast about. But Ballas only smiled at the challenge.
“This is like home for me,” Ballas reflected. “The cast, the pros, the producers, the band—it feels like family. I remember being the youngest one here, and now I’m like the older uncle. I love it.” His words showed gratitude, but fans could sense the unspoken edge: this isn’t just a return, it’s a statement.
Derek, for his part, has made it clear he won’t hold back this season. Lower scores, harsher feedback, and bigger expectations are the new standard. But Ballas insists that makes it all the more exciting. “No one’s going to give it to you more accurately than Derek,” he said. “And if he wants to come at me hard—good. That’s what makes me better.”
It’s a fascinating twist in one of DWTS’s longest and most beloved friendships. Once dance floor partners in crime, Ballas and Hough now find themselves on opposite sides of the stage—one fighting for the mirrorball, the other standing guard with the power of the pen.
Social media is already buzzing with speculation: will Derek be tougher on Mark than on the other stars? Is Ballas secretly out to prove that he can still dominate the floor, no matter how sharp his friend-turned-judge’s critiques get? Fans are watching every glance, every comment, every score.
For Ballas, though, it’s simple: he’s back, he’s ready, and he won’t back down. As he put it best, “Derek knows me. He knows what I bring. So if he wants to test me… let’s dance.”
