For Mark Ballas, 'Dancing with the Stars' was a 'happy accident,' but theatre was always the plan

From July 20 to August 16, the ballroom star returns to Chicago on Broadway for his second stint as Billy Flynn, a role he first played earlier this year.

Summary

• Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas returns as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway from July 20 to August 16
• He first played the role earlier this spring opposite his DWTS partner Whitney Leavitt
• Ballas discusses his musical theatre roots; how Broadway brings together his many creative passions; and his dream theatre roles

It's the summer of Mark. Look to the screen or stage right now, and you'll see Mark Ballas holding court: as a judge on the new ABC competition series Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro and as lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway. Through August 16, the three-time DWTS winner performs his second stint in what he called one of his "favorite musicals of all time," having broken box office records earlier this spring opposite his 2025 DWTS partner, Whitney Leavitt, as Roxie Hart. And in Chicago's 30th-anniversary year, no less.

"[It] is a huge accomplishment, milestone, and an honor," Ballas said.

Within the last 10 years, he also starred on Broadway as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots. From Dancing to musicals — that's how most fans think of Ballas's career journey. Really, it's the other way around. He's been a ballroom dancer since his childhood in London, yes, but he traces his entertainment roots back to theatre school. His now-20-year DWTS career began only because he turned down a West End role. And within the past year alone, he's gone viral with two DWTS routines to show tunes (both with Leavitt) and multiple videos of himself performing Hamilton songs at home in full period costume.

"I love theatrics," Ballas said. That's also true of the slick Billy, whose biggest number, "Razzle Dazzle," is about putting on such a show for the jury that they acquit fame-hungry housewife Roxie (now played by Krysta Rodriguez) of murder. Ballas doesn't get to dance much in the role, but he appreciates that Broadway lets him draw on a wide range of creative skills beyond the ballroom. He said he'd even like to create a stage role or show "from the ground up" someday.

"I'm very fortunate that all my hobbies work hand in hand," Ballas said. "It's cool to bring all the aspects of who I am as a performer and an individual into one place."

He spoke more with New York Theatre Guide below about combining his creative passions, his dream roles, and which DWTS pro he wants to share the stage with.

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Most people know you as a ballroom dancer, but you actually got your start in musical theatre. Can you share a bit about that background?

I was probably four. I was a little boy. On the weekends, my nan, bless her, who got to see me in Chicago last time, she would take me on the train every Saturday to theatre school. When I was old enough, when I turned 11, I went full-time to the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts [and then] musical theatre college.

My first professional job out of theatre school was in the Buddy Holly U.K. national tour. I was in the ensemble, and I understudied Ritchie Valens. I did that for 10 months, and I paid my dues on that tour.

After that, I booked We Will Rock You in the West End under [director/choreographer] Arlene Phillips, and then Dancing with the Stars came up as well. So I had a choice. And honestly, I almost went with We Will Rock You, and it was Arlene Phillips, my mom, and some really close friends who were like, "Go do that. You can always come back here."

At the time, we didn't know what Dancing with Stars was going to be. So honestly, Dancing with the Stars was kind of a happy accident. It was an accident that has been very good to me over a very long time and been a huge part of my life, still, to this day. But what started me in entertainment was musical theatre and music, and I always ballroom danced as well when I was a child.

What was your first exposure to Chicago?

I was a little boy the first time I saw Chicago, going back to what I just said about my nan taking me to theatre school. I was learning "Razzle Dazzle" and "All I Care About is Love" and "All That Jazz." I still have vivid memories of being a little boy in my jazz shoes and my oversized pants learning Fosse moves.

Are there things about Billy you want to dig into more this time around?

The first run was really amazing — we had such a good time and the crowds were insane — but it was short, only four or five weeks. I love diving deeper on anything I'm doing, coming in this time around knowing the show, having it in my bones, getting to work with some new castmates, which will be really fun. I'm just looking forward to digging deeper and finding new things about this guy.

When you're working with new scene partners — or new dance partners — how do you find your rhythm with them? No pun intended.

It's all about listening and reacting and playing ball, essentially. Of course, you rehearse these shows, but I don't think you can rehearse reactions or interactions.

For me, what makes a great scene partner, a great partner, is really paying attention, being receptive, being adaptable, because you never know how someone's going to react on the day.

Speaking of being adaptable: Besides performing, you judge, you choreograph, you even make music with your wife, BC Jean. How do those disciplines inform your approach to performing?

All those disciplines are required for something like this. You have to be able to sing, dance, and act. You have to have musicality, awareness, attention to detail. Especially in a show like Chicago, the detail of it is very specific. So they all work hand in hand.

Would you ever want to choreograph for Broadway someday?

I'd be up for it, absolutely. Totally. I would love to, at some point, maybe create a piece of work that I could do more than just choreograph, have my hands fully in it. People that know me specifically from Dancing with the Stars, I think they would agree that a lot of my work is pretty theatrical. You can see where my loyalties lie and where my inspiration comes from.

What other DWTS pro should come to Broadway?

I mean, Derek [Hough] hasn't done it yet. I would love to see Derek do a Broadway show. I think he's been close a couple of times. I'd love to do a show with him; that would be a blast.

It's got to happen sometime, especially now that Julianne Hough's been on Broadway.

She could get back out here and do something. All three of us went to the same theatre school, so we were brought up on this stuff.

Which dream roles do you still want to play?

Alexander Hamilton, obviously. I've been pretty vocal about that one. I believe we will get there at some point. Hadestown would be fun, maybe [as] Hermes.

I'd love to come back in Chicago and have my wife play Roxie. She's a rock singer, which would be really, really cool. I don't think we've ever had a raspy Roxie, so that could be a vibe. And she's got cool moves. Watching her dance is my favorite thing in the world.

The other one is, I would love to play Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at some point. I did it when I was younger in a smaller theatre, but to do it on a big stage would be great.

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Photo credit: Mark Ballas in Chicago on Broadway. (Photos by Avery Brunkus)