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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Caitlin Hornik

Broadway and DWTS’ Mark Ballas breaks silence on controversial final freestyle with Whitney Leavitt

Mark Ballas has returned to Broadway after a celebrated season on Dancing With the Stars — even if it didn’t turn out as many had hoped.

Ballas, 39, the son of head Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, is a three-time Mirrorball Trophy winner; his most recent victory came with partner Charli D’Amelio in 2022, ending a 13-year draught that saw him take multiple breaks from the competition series. After his last win, he announced his retirement from the show, citing the toll it took on his body. But he returned for season 34 in 2025 with a vengeance, partnering with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt to deliver some of the most talked-about routines of the season.

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