Shirley Ballas will join her son, Mark Ballas, as a judge on the upcoming spinoff series Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro [1, 2].
The partnership marks a rare professional collaboration between the mother and son on a high-profile U.S. television program. By bringing in a seasoned judge and a former champion, ABC aims to lend additional authority to the competition's search for new talent.
Ballas said the opportunity to work alongside her son is a "dream come true" [1, 2]. The new series is set to air on the ABC network [3, 4]. While the production targets the discovery of emerging talent, the show is expected to feature contestants from Season 35 [5].
Mark Ballas, who has a long history with the franchise, has already begun offering guidance to those hoping to secure a professional spot. He said that adaptability is key for aspiring pros [3].
Reports regarding Ballas's involvement with other programs have varied. Some sources suggested her move to the U.S. spinoff sparked rumors that she had quit Strictly Come Dancing, though other reports focus solely on her new role with the ABC production [2, 6].
The series was originally slated for a summer 2026 launch [4, 5]. The spinoff shifts the focus of the franchise from pairing celebrities with pros to evaluating the pros themselves, testing their ability to lead and instruct under pressure.
Ballas has maintained a high-energy presence during the promotion of the show. In one instance, she joked about the intensity of the process, saying, "I need a cup of coffee and a brandy" [7].
“"It's a dream come true."”
The addition of Shirley Ballas to the judging panel leverages the global brand of the Ballas family to expand the Dancing with the Stars ecosystem. By pivoting from a celebrity-driven format to a professional talent search, ABC is attempting to institutionalize the 'pro' role, turning the recruitment of dancers into a televised event rather than a behind-the-scenes casting process.
