‘Dancing with the Stars’: Derek Hough, Mark Ballas ‘Opening Some Doors’ With Breathtaking, Traditional, Male Argentine Tango
For years, Dancing with the Stars viewers have watched pros and their celebrities perform traditional ballroom dances. One of the most dynamic is the Argentine tango. For the first time in the series history, OG pros Derek Hough and Mark Ballas showed viewers what a traditional, male-led Argentine tango looked like. They pulled back the curtain on the origins of the breathtaking dance.
Derek Hough and Mark Ballas’ powerful ‘DWTS’ Season 33 finale dance
The three-hour finale heralded the return of the season’s most beloved celebrities. The episode featured two-time Mirrorball winner Mark Ballas. He returned to the ballroom to demonstrate a traditional Argentine tango alongside Derek Hough.
Traditionally, the Argentine tango was practiced between male partners who wanted to impress women. Hough and Ballas danced the ballroom staple as it was originally intended.
However, while a male and female Argentine tango has evolved into a sensual dance, males trade off on powerful moves. Hough and Ballas led a breathtaking performance that left the ballroom speechless.
Hough said in the comments section of an Instagram post that he was “Here to open some possible doors. Loved creating and dancing with you brother, Mark Ballas.” The men demonstrated their power, feeding off one another during the dance.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ fans exploded with joy over the traditional dance
Derek Hough and Mark Ballas fans exploded with joy over the traditional dance. They shared their comments in an Instagram post by Dancing with the Stars.
“Len would have been proud!!! Goosebumps absolutely fantastic,” wrote one viewer. They referenced late judge Len Goodman, who was a stickler for traditional ballroom techniques and would have likely loved this historic dance performance.
“The two best male pros of all time,” penned a second fan of the best friends, who combined have won a total of eight trophies. “The kings of DWTS,” claimed a third Instagram user.
“I never knew I needed a MANGO in my life until now,” shared a fourth fan. A fifth hoped for a bit more, stating, “So please tell us this season is the slow launch of Mark becoming a permanent judge.”
How long have Mark Ballas and Derek Hough been friends?
Derek Hough and Mark Ballas met as teenagers after Derek and his sister Julianne Hough traveled to England to be taught ballroom dancing by Mark’s mom Shirley Ballas. Derek lived with Mark, Shirley, and Corky Ballas, Mark’s dad, whom he called his “second parents” in his book Taking the Lead: Lessons From a Life in Motion.
The longtime pals and pro ballroom dancers competed against one another in their teen years, and Mark was Julianne Hough’s professional partner for a brief period. Eventually, the three were cast on Dancing with the Stars, where they would compete together once again.
Mark shared details of his long friendship with Derek to Us Weekly. “Derek and I have been friends since we were 10,” the Emmy nominee gushed of his “bro” on Monday. “Like, we’ve lived together, we went to school together every day. The dude used to steal my clothes. Like, we’re friends, you know what I mean? Brothers even.”
Season 33’s winners were former The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and pro Jenna Johnson. Dancing with the Stars will return to ABC in the fall of 2025.
