Mark Ballas has broken his silence on the controversial final freestyle he performed with Whitney Leavitt after their elimination from Dancing With the Stars (DWTS). In an exclusive interview with The Independent, the three-time Mirrorball Trophy winner discussed the backlash and the creative process behind the dance video that divided fans.
Elimination and the Freestyle
Ballas and Leavitt were eliminated during the semifinals of season 34 in 2025, sparking outrage among fans. Reflecting five months later, Ballas said, “I always say, nothing surprised me on that show. You get eliminated early, it happens. You make it far when you think you’re gonna get eliminated. Nothing surprises me.”
“Once we went out, yeah, it was a bummer; we wanted to make that final and I had that ‘My Way’ music made,” Ballas added. He created the arrangement from scratch with DWTS music producer Jon Kubis and composer Stephan Moccio, incorporating the Mormon Wives theme tune for Leavitt.
In a DWTS first, the duo released a two-and-a-half-minute dance video to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” independently, in collaboration with Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast. Ballas recalled the tight timeline: “We had 72 hours to make it, and I didn’t know if we could do it. We didn’t have the infrastructure. We had to build it from scratch.”
Despite backlash from fans who accused them of breaking etiquette, Ballas remains proud. “It had nothing to do with Dancing With the Stars. It was just something I wanted to make. I think it’s one of my favorites I’ve ever done.”
Broadway Return in Chicago
Ballas is now starring on Broadway in Chicago, playing Billy Flynn opposite Leavitt as Roxie Hart. This marks his third Broadway appearance, following roles in Jersey Boys and Kinky Boots. He described performing Bob Fosse’s choreography as “going back to my roots.”
“I started as a dancer learning other choreography. I started with Fosse, with jazz and music theatre. To be part of this is nostalgic. It brings back really good times in my life,” Ballas said.
Fosse’s influence was evident during Ballas and Leavitt’s DWTS partnership, particularly when they danced an Argentine tango to “Cell Block Tango,” earning their only perfect score. Ballas noted that during that routine, he realized Leavitt could one day star in Chicago.
Memorable Moments and Future Aspirations
Ballas also reflected on his Viennese Waltz with Charli D’Amelio in season 31, which held sentimental value as the last season judged by Len Goodman. “Charli was such a technician. She was embracing the ballroom styles the further she went,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ballas expressed interest in returning to Broadway as the title role in Hamilton and would welcome the chance to perform in Chicago again opposite his wife, singer-songwriter BC Jean. For now, he remains with Chicago through May 3.
