‘Dancing with the Stars’: Mark Ballas, Derek Hough’s Brotherly Bond Helps Them Dance Through Life
No more apparent was the deep bond between Dancing with the Stars dancers Mark Ballas and Derek Hough displayed than during their male-led Argentine tango at the close of season 33. However, that dynamic dance was just the tip of the iceberg for their brotherly relationship.
Derek Hough and Mark Ballas danced through some of life’s biggest challenges together
Much ado was made of OG pros Derek Hough and Mark Ballas’ dynamic, male-led Argentine Tango during the Dancing with the Stars season finale. Subsequently, that dance was a vehicle to showcase the trust and deep brotherly bond the men have had for over a quarter century.
On the Trading Secrets podcast, Ballas shared how he and Hough have been there for one another through life’s most difficult challenges. Their love and respect for one another have helped them navigate some rough personal waters.
“During season [31] with Charli [D’Amelio], my wife [BC Jean] and I had a miscarriage,” Ballas said to podcast host Jason Tartick. “I had to go to rehearsal, and that was a really heavy time. At the time, Derek was one of the only people who knew.” The couple would go on to welcome a son, Banksi, in November 2023.
He added, “We really are like brothers. And we’ve been there for each other through each other’s ups and downs.”
Mark Ballas was there for Derek Hough after his wife Hayley’s horrifying medical emergency
Mark Ballas provided support to Derek Hough after his wife Hayley Erbert was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma in December 2023. Erbert suffered a brain bleed and underwent emergency surgery after becoming disoriented during a tour stop with her husband.
He told Fox News, “I was one of the first calls Derek made when it happened. That was one of the most intense phone calls I’ve ever had.”
Ballas continued, “I was with him through a lot of this. My wife and I were on our hands and knees, hoping and praying for a miracle.”
“They were blessed with one,” he said of Erbert’s miraculous recovery. “I don’t think people understood how serious this was.”
Ballas was a Dancing with the Stars guest judge as Hough and Erbert performed a “Dedication Night” dance to “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” by Benson Boone. It encapsulated their experiences throughout the life-changing ordeal.
Derek Hough and Mark Ballas’ trust and deep friendship was displayed during ‘DWTS’ finale
As season 33 of Dancing with the Stars came to an end, Derek Hough and Mark Ballas created a breathtaking male-led Argentine Tango. The traditional ballroom dance was historically performed by men in an effort to impress women.
Typically, the show features male and female partners performing the ballroom dance staple. However, there were two other times when same-sex partners danced Tango on the ABC competition series.
The first was during season 30. JoJo Siwa and Jenna Johnson performed the Argentine tango to Britney Spears’s “Baby One More Time.” The second was during season 31 when Gleb Savchenko and Shangela danced Tango to Michael Buble’s “Hollywood.”
Dancing with the Stars is currently on hiatus. The series airs on ABC, Disney Plus, and Hulu.
