Mark Ballas, best known as a professional dancer on , is currently navigating a different kind of competition on Peacock’s The Traitors. While a familiar face in the ballroom, Ballas is proving to be a surprisingly stealthy player in the psychological game of deception, flying largely under the radar as a Faithful.
Ballas isn’t the first DWTS pro to test their mettle in the Scottish Highlands. Maksim Chmerkovskiy competed on Season 2 of The Traitors, but Ballas has already surpassed his colleague’s run and crucially, hasn’t yet aroused suspicion as a potential Traitor.
The current season of The Traitors boasts a diverse cast of 23 competitors, including Ballas alongside reality television personalities like Eric Nam, Candiace Dillard Bassett (The Real Housewives of Potomac), Rob Rausch (Love Island USA), and Tara Lipinski, as well as figures from other entertainment spheres such as Kristen Kish (Top Chef), Donna Kelce, Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), and even Colton Underwood (The Bachelor). The group also includes Monét X Change (RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Michael Rapaport.
Ballas’s journey to The Traitors is rooted in a lifelong dedication to performance. Born in Texas to dancers Corky and Shirley Ballas, he spent much of his childhood in England, where he honed his skills at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London on a full scholarship. It was there he forged a lasting friendship with fellow dancer and DWTS judge, Derek Hough.
Before becoming a household name on American television, Ballas established himself as a champion dancer, winning titles at the British Open to the World, the U.S. Open to the World, and the International Open to the World. He also secured gold medals at the Junior Olympics with his partner, Julianne Hough, Derek’s sister.
His extensive tenure on Dancing with the Stars – spanning 31 seasons – has seen him reach the finale multiple times, ultimately securing three wins. This places him in a tie for second place among the show’s most successful professional dancers, trailing only Derek Hough, who holds the record with six victories. While nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography, Ballas has yet to receive the award.
Beyond the dance floor, Ballas has explored other creative avenues. He made a brief appearance as an extra in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone alongside Hough, and had a guest role on the television series Samantha Who?. He also co-starred with Hough in the HGTV show Mark and Derek’s Excellent Flip, though the series lasted only one season.
Ballas’s stage experience includes roles in productions like Copacabana, the U.K. Tour of Maria de Buenos Aires, and Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story. In the U.S., he portrayed Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Charlie Price in Kinky Boots.
Personally, Ballas is married to singer-songwriter BC Jean, whom he met in 2012. Jean is known for co-writing Beyoncé’s hit song “If I Were a Boy.” The couple married in and welcomed their son, Banski, in .
Ballas’s talents extend beyond dance and acting; he is also a musician. He was part of the Ballas Hough Band with Derek, releasing one album in . He later pursued a solo career, releasing the album HurtLoveBox in and the EP Kicking Clouds in . Currently, he performs as part of the duo Alexander Jean with BC Jean, having released several EPs and singles since .
As The Traitors progresses, Ballas’s ability to blend into the background and avoid suspicion will be crucial. His experience in performance, coupled with his strategic approach to the game, suggests he’s a formidable competitor, even if he’s not the most outwardly vocal player. Whether he can successfully navigate the treacherous landscape of the castle and reach the finale remains to be seen.
