Mark Ballas Says He'd Pair Up With a Man on 'Dancing With the Stars'

By Rob Shuter Posted Jun 13th 2011 09:10AM

Just call it Tracy Morgan's worst nightmare: Same-sex partners on 'Dancing With the Stars'!!! 'DWTS' pro Mark Ballas endorses the idea, even with its disadvantages, and discusses with me the stereotypes of all male dancers being gay. For starters, there's only one on the hit ABC show, he reveals.

"We have eight male professional dancers and one is gay," Mark tells me. "I never dealt with the stigma, I was at a performing arts school, so it wasn't an issue. I always thought if I were ever confronted about it, I'd just say, "Well, while you're on the football field with a bunch of dudes, I'll be dancing with a bunch of girls."

Mark says straight men that are reluctant or just generally scoff at the idea of dancing should break out of their comfort zone.

"It doesn't make sense that men wouldn't want to dance," he says. "How can you not want to dance with your girl? How can you not want to do that?"

Mark tells me that his first choice of celebrity dance partner next season would be Royal sister, Pippa Middleton, but would be totally fine with the idea of being the first American cast member to dance with a same sex partner.

"I would be totally cool with it," Mark tells me. "There are other competitions where they have same sex couples. I'd support it. There is a slight inherent disadvantage. Two girls and two men just can't move like a man and a woman. But you can try."

Mark recently made headlines with a brief relationship with 'American Idol' standout Pia Toscano. Though it didn't last long, they did team up for a memorable "duet" of sorts on 'Dancing.'

He has finished third the past two seasons of the hit show, first with Bristol Palin and then again last month with Disney star Chelsea Kane.

So what about if he was partnered with Ricky Martin next season, "I'd be down!" says Mark.

Pick up Mark's great new album now, titled 'Hurt Love Box,' and watch the video for 'Hotwire':

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Tags: Dancing With the Stars, Mark Ballas

Comments

(52)

Monday 13 June

By icey

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Well, Ballas already had to dance with Bristol Palin - most men would be more graceful than her.

By right?

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And this from a guy who used to date Neil Patrick Harris.

By vickie

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pippa is not a star...and two men dancing would be okay if it was like fred astaire and gene kelly kind of dancing.....

By Barbara

Don't do it, Mark!

By AnnyMsMm

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This topic gets brought up every season with DWTS. I think "they" are planting these stories to see if they can get away with it. Personally, I don't care, it's a non-starter for me. But with a show as popular as DWTS, they should really get into the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality -- for now. There's time to jump that shark when the ratings tank.

By Nancy

I would not watch the show if same sex partners were dancing. DWTS has been my favorite show, but I will not watch it if same sex partners are dancing. I loved Mark with Bristol, hated him with Chelsea, and now he sickens me with his move to have a male partner.

Wednesday 15 June

By Julie

He's not "moving" to have a male partner. I'm sure the interviewer brought it up just to stir something up, which it has. He never said he was "pushing" to have same sex partners, he said he wouldn't have a problem with it. He doesn't make the show's decisions anyway.

By me

who cares what u think nancy pants. u probably were alone on VD.

By Bonbon

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Go ahead and try it, it will be there downfall. Who wants to watch that?

By Butch Whitmon

Please Mark,,,,,,No.!! I support gay rights,but gee whiz.....you'd be denying some lady the opportunity to learn from you, and we the audiance the pleasure of seeing the results!! If the producers want two men dancing together, let them pair the star and the one gay pro already on the show. It is well known who he is, and he is great. What are you thinking???

By stu

unlike u he's open minded & open to change "Butch".

By dallas

if folks are gay .. thats fine.. who cares.. however.. i think so much gayness be thrown around is confusing to the young people..be true to yourselves and know you are causing confusion in the young..why would gays wish to do this..knowing the difficulty they probably had while young..

u sound real ignorant/uneducted!
here's todays leason for u dallas.
y don't u stop showing ur srt8 lifestyle & stop confusing the gay kids who were "born" gay.

Tuesday 14 June

By Al

dallas is probably from the South. It's not her fault she's so stupid.

Wednesday 22 June

By Sarah

Al, your implication that all Southerners are homophobic and stupid is just as bad as what dallas wrote. Maybe YOU should look inward as well.

By brisedemer

I don't think it's a big deal. Two guys dancing together ... so what? I'd love to see the choreography that would be created. I'm sure it would be tasteful, as nobody wants to look like a flaming characture / stereotype of two men dancing together. It would likely be more artistic & athletic than "mocking."

By Jody

I wouldn't watch and I don't think many would. Enough with forcing PC on us.

go live in the woods w/ ur closed mind self.

By plz

Jody - I'm in your camp, I wouldn't watch it either.

By bdot157

Jody I saw u dance with a female at that Bah Mitzvah.....Does that make u gay ?

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