Dancing With the Stars pro Mark Ballas is breaking down the process of song selection ahead of the show’s highly anticipated Wicked Night.
In a TikTok uploaded on Sunday, October 19, Ballas, 39, poked fun at fans who thought he was given his first pick, writing, “How some of you think I am in the DWTS music meetings.” Ballas lip-synched along to a scene from the movie Hook with the phrase, “I want a cookie, I want to potty, I want, I want, I want, me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, now, now, now.”
The professional dancer elaborated in the caption.
“All jokes aside here were my Wicked requests in order ✨ 1, ‘For good’ switching to 6/8 timing could be beautiful for V Waltz,” he wrote. “2, The Wizard & I, ‘We already did foxtrot so maybe Jazz’?’”
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Ballas continued: “3, What is this feeling, ‘we already did Foxtrot so maybe Jazz’? 4, Popular ‘could be a cute Quickstep but.. ‘the tempo needs to be more consistent which the band can make happen’ But honestly this is one of my FAVORITE shows of all time and I’d be happy with any song. I LOVE the music so much 🫶🏼.”
Ultimately, Ballas and partner Whitney Leavitt ended up with a quickstep set to Ariana Grande’s version of “Popular.”
Fellow DWTS pros joined the fun in the comments section, with Ezra Sosa writing, “Wait…we can have MUSIC MEETINGS?! 💀💀.” Emma Slater chimed in, replying, “Not that we have music meetings mind you 😂😂😂😂.”
Ballas originally joined DWTS in 2007 and competed for 10 seasons before taking a break. He departed after season 25 but returned in 2022, winning season 31 with partner Charli D’Amelio. After taking home the mirrorball trophy, Ballas said he wasn’t sure how long he would remain on Dancing With the Stars.
“I don’t know [if I’m coming back],” he exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2022. “You know, the older I get, I try to stay very present in the moment, you know, and I think that was like a big part of creating these dances.”
He continued: “Every week … I tried to put every aspect of creativity, care, musicality, nuance into each one. I think you can only do that by staying totally in the moment of each time. So, right now I’m in this moment with Charli and … my body couldn’t even fathom a thought of doing this [in] six months, so I’ll let you know down the line.”
Ballas confirmed in March 2023 that he was officially retiring from DWTS. “I’ve done 20 seasons now. I started this journey when I was 21, 22 and honestly being able to dance and perform for you fans — you guys are the best fans,” he revealed during the DWTS tour in Las Vegas.
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Following a two-year hiatus, Ballas returned for season 34 this fall — and he isn’t ruling out sticking around for more.
“I had some injury stuff clear up that was kind of slowing me down,” he told Us in September about his return to the show, noting that his body is “feeling good” after some “hardcore” physical therapy. “I love the show and I’ve been able to perform on it a couple times since I stopped. I got to do the awesome tango with Derek [Hough], me and Charli did a victory lap. I got to guest judge last year. … I’m like, ‘I think I got a couple more in the tank.’ I want my son to watch me do this.”
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
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