'Dancing with the Stars' Pro Quitting After 20 Seasons
Season 31 winner announces retirement from 'Dancing With the Stars.'
It’s one and done for Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas, who returned to the dance competition after a several year absence last season to partner with Charli D’Amelio and walked away with the Mirrorball Trophy.
As reported by ET, Ballas made the announcement during the final stop on the “Dancing with the Stars Live” tour at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Sunday. D’Amelio was on stage for his goodbye as she had shown up for one last dance.
"I just want to finish this by saying I've done 20 seasons now,” an emotional Ballas told the audience. “I was 21, 22, and honestly, being able to dance and perform for you fans, you guys are the best fans. Thank you. So, I just want to finish by saying, this will be the last time you'll see me dance in this capacity. I'm coming to a close tonight. It's going to be my last dance."
ABC/Andrew Eccles
Then he continued, "I had the best time ever this season and this freestyle was just a great way to finish it off... Charli means the world to me. The D'Amelio family, you guys mean the world to me. Thank you for everything."
Related: The Real Reason Len Goodman Is Quitting Dancing with the Stars After Season 31
In addition to D’Amelio, Ballas’ family—his wife, BC Jean, and his mother and father were on hand for the announcement.
And while he did declare the end of his DWTS career, it isn’t the end of his dancing career.
"Thank you, guys, for a lifetime of memories," Ballas continued. "I'm not saying this is the end. This is just the last time I will be dancing with a partner, and I wanted to finish this with Charli. And I appreciate you guys so much."
Ballas joined Dancing with the Stars in 2007. He's won the competition three times: Olympic ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi in season 6, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson in season 8 and, of course, the aforementioned D'Amelio in season 31.
His other partners have included Melissa Joan Hart, Kim Kardashian, Sabrina Bryan, Shannen Doherty, Bristol Palin, Christina Milian, Aly Raisman, Kristin Cavallari, Candace Cameron Bure, Lindsey Stirling, Sadie Robertson, Paige VanZant and Alexa PenaVega.
Dancing with the Stars moved to Disney+ for its 31st season. There’s no official word on whether or not it will be picked up for Season 32.
Also exiting the show if it gets picked up are Len Goodman, who made the announcement last season, and Cheryl Burke.
Next, Will Cheryl Burke Replace Len Goodman as a Judge on Season 32 of Dancing with the Stars?