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)

Tuesday 14 June

By Al

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The only people who use the term "PC", are knuckle-dragging bigots. You're time came and went. Leave the country if you can't deal with it.

Monday 13 June

By Maritza

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Besides the dancing, the best part of that show is the outfits they wear, two men ballroom dancing would not look good in fact, it would look awkward.

By stu

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I DO!

By me

That woman, if you are speaking of Pia, was using Mark to further her career and when she thought she was going to be a judge on the new reality show the X-Factor droped Mark because she thought it would hurt her chance of stardom but then she got dumped by producers of the show because they didn't feel she was good enough for the show and I agreed as she couldn't sing, dance, act, etc. so she really lost her chance for stardom by dropping Mark.

He got off lucky.

I just watched the video of Mark's song with Chelsa. Why is he doing a video with her as she can't sing, dance, act, isn't all that pretty without the ton of makeup she has on. Unfortunately Mark really can't sing either.

I hope he is not hooking up with Chelsa, but if he is it won't be for long.

u sicken me nancy.

By don

me & the other 90% of peeps here.

Wednesday 15 June

By Akbar

I have a feeling that if they had a same-sex team, the bigots would simply vote them off.

A huge chunk of DWTS' viewership are gay. More than half the country is pro-gay, thus, the bigots are outnumbered. DWTS is the gayest show next to "Glee" on television.

By mrscampbell670

I have been a devoted fan since season one. I watch because I love the beautiful costumes and the graceful dancing. I love the stories between man and woman. If there were EVER a same sex couple on this show, I would be done with DWTS forever. Someone said earlier that a huge chunk of viewership is gay and that may be so but to say that half this nation is pro-gay... I say check your numbers again.

By Lisa

Frankly, I am a bit disappointed in Mark. I watch DWTS for the celebration of ballroom dancing, not to have social statements shoved down my throat!

By Austrianer

First...sorry for my english!
I think it will be great.In Austria we had the first Same-Sex-Couple of the world on "Dancingstars".It was great and the people liked it.The boys made the 4th place!

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