DWTS Season 12 – Mark Ballas: “We’ll have four dances ready to go for Monday”
Mark has penned his new blog at USA Today. Sometimes I have to wonder what he knows that the rest of us don’t? All week, some of the other dancers have commented that there are THREE dances (two new and one 45 second Cha Cha that they may have to dance twice). ABC Medianet also reported they dance to three dances. Yet below, Mark says they’ve been “preparing four dances to impress the judges”. Here’s a take below where Mark talks about it.
While friggatriskaidekaphobia is an ugly word, it’s not as ominous to me as JudgePanelOfThree, or as nerve-wracking as FourDancesThisWeek. And here I am, writing to you during our Friday the 13th, the busiest week of the season so far, as we prepare four dances to impress three judges. All during Friday the 13th. How appropriate.
When I first met Chelsea in the end of February, we had three weeks to learn one dance. We spent some of that time going over our Week 2 performance, giving us a total of two weeks to learn the jive. Starting Week 3, we were given only five days to make our weekly dance performance-ready. That was enough time, and then, fittingly, a second dance was added. That made it more difficult. Once we got the hang of that, we then faced the challenge of two dances plus a group dance. Then we had to learn and get used to an instant dance on top of our other dance last week.
And now, finally, we’ll have four dances ready to go for Monday. Four. That gives us basically one day per song to choreograph, learn, tweak, and perfect each dance. It’s a huge challenge for us, but Chelsea is working harder than ever. Being at the top of the leader board again is really driving us. The finals are so close we can smell it. Sweat never smelled so sweet!
What’s more, and if you haven’t seen this tweet yet, Chelsea asked which re-do dance fans would like to see again (which wouldn’t happen until Finals, right?).
So, what do you make of all this? Do they have three or four dances this week? What do they know that we don’t? Or are Mark and Chelsea just getting ahead of themselves assuming they will be in the finals and are they just gearing up for it? If it’s the later, I find that to be a little presumptuous.
I think Mark is just jumping ahead of the game. Presuming that they are in the finals. I hope they get voted off on Monday night. See-ya.
On another note, I read on a news site that Mark and Pia broke up and are now just friends. Was this just a publicity stunt cooked up by the producers of DWTS to favor Marks popularity? I hope not, thats all I gotta say.
I think they’re just a little over-eager, over-excited and looking a little too far ahead.
I’m pretty sure that this isn’t the first time that someone in the final 4 solicited opinions on a do-over dance. Maybe not the smartest move… *shrugs* I’m not big on the whole conspiracy thing anyway.
Crossing everything that Monday/Tuesady is the last we’ll see of him this season!
The four dances vs. three dances topic has me puzzled for sure. I believe he might mean they technically have to do four dances, two individual routines, then the bonus cha cha. However, the fourth time would only happen if they beat the other couple in their round.
As for them getting ahead of themselves, that can go either way. I’m very leanient on Chelsea just asking a question, not a feeling of arrogance or cockiness from her at all. Mark is jumping ahead of himself a bit though, “The finals are so close we can smell it,” slow down Mark, you and Chelsea are gonna have to fight hard Monday before you even think of making the finals. Even then, with good scores and dances they still might not make it, but if they’re given that 15 point boost (which I still think is ridiculous), things could be different.
I think Mark is talking about the two rounds of cha cha as two dances. While all four couples won’t have to do the cha cha twice, if they want the 15 points they need to prepare for both rounds. Two new dances and two cha chas brings the total to four.
As for Chelsea’s tweet, I know the couples have to pick free style music a week or two before the finals. I wouldn’t be surprised the the producers were asking all four couples to pick their dances, music, costumes, etc for the finals.
I find Mark to be over confident in general, but I get where he’s coming from this time.
That’s really weird. He mentions “choreograph” and “learn,” which does make it sound like 4 brand-new dances. Has that ever been done? I know they’ve been doing 4 in the finale, but one has always been the couple’s favorite (so only needs polishing, not learning).
Could it be that the top 2 cha-cha couples have to do a different dance the 2nd time around? This isn’t a conspiracy theory at all – just trying to think of how to reconcile 3 vs. 4 dances. Still doesn’t make sense though, b/c the other pros have only been talking about 3 dances.
BTW, I truly hope that they don’t do an instant cha-cha in the finale like last fall. I personally have had enough of the cha-cha this season.
I’m hoping that this 4th dance Mark is referring to is just a second cha-cha routine, should they advance to the final round of the winner-take-all dance. But I’m definitely starting to wonder if all this presumptive tweeting & blogging is indicative of them knowing for sure that they’re going to be in the finale – even Maks at his cockiest never wrote with the assuredness that Mark has with his past few blogs. I like to think that TPTB would draw the line at fixing the show completely in order to guarantee a certain couple makes the finale (or, worse yet – wins), but when I look at the big picture this season, it almost looks like this all could be reparations for the drama Mark dealt with w/Bristol last season. What better way to make up for the misery than to cut him some breaks this season? An able-bodied partner, a mysterious dance that’s never been done before that guarantees immunity to one couple, some overscoring – even a guest performance for his girlfriend. Could also explain why he’s been so inclined to break rules this season – if you know it’s not gonna hurt you, then why not? Yes, this all sounds like one giant conspiracy theory, but there have been so many bizarre, out-of-the-ordinary, suspicious things going on this season that I can’t help but wonder just what is going on underneath the surface.
Yep and let’s not forget he got his very own commercial too on the week Pia performed which was so unfair to the other pros and dancers.
I have no idea about this 4th dance. No one else said anything. My guess is he’s talking about the freestyle that he’s trying to prepare for in the finals. Kym said she’s already thinking about the freestyle so it’s not uncommon for pros to prepare themselves. I know Derek said he was thinking of an idea before the finals in season 9 but he and Joanna didn’t get there. You guys could be right, maybe it is the two rounds of the Cha-cha then the 2 individual routines. I don’t recall hearing anything about having two rounds of the cha cha.
mmc – what you said sounds correct. Two dances plus two rounds of Cha-cha = 4 dances. Believe me, there is no time for anyone to be getting ahead of themselves and preparing for the final when there is so much dancing happening this week.
Chelsea and Mark sent home
Sorry Mark, it seems you are sonsumed in your own ego and ability
Sorry you were overscored with Bristol Palin
was no dancer. No Talent period.
Its funny how you seem to be outdoing yourself, you never showed this with Bristol, but alas, she was a dead log dragging around the floor, She looked well on floor.
Wishing Ralph, Kristie, Kim partner good luck
thank you for your great insites.
consumed with his ego,
Yeah, I think when Mark rolled his ankle, it was because he tripped on his ego…
Based on the comments here, I feel compelled to remind people that you don’t get “voted off” DWTS like you do on Survivor – people have to vote for OTHER people more than them.
I know you all know this, but I felt compelled.
Not to defend Mark or anything, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the producers asked them which dance they wanted to do over at this point so they could prepare for it.
Maybe the producers have already told them that they are guaranteed a spot (due to the ridiculous 15 point winner take all cha cha), so he’s talking about the finale dance. Such cheaters! I can’t stand him. I liked him when he danced with Kristi Yamaguchi. I don’t know what happened to him.
Maybe dancing with Bristol Palin has made him so defensive and arrogant.
Someone tweeted to Karina “why is Mark preparing four dances/four songs for monday, thought it was 3 performances 1 repeat???” Her response: “u r right. 3 dance 1 repeat. A lot of work!”
Courtney, why would the show be interested in reparations to Mark for anything? I read that Mark was initially not so happy when he got Bristol as a partner, but when they pointed out all the publicity he would get he was thrilled. I have no doubt Mark LOVED last season. He was part of the biggest story of the season and was all over all of the media coverage. You think he deserves reparations for that or that the show would think he did? I find that really hard to believe. For the most part, I think the producers probably think that all the pros should be thankful to have a spot on the show each season. Even assuming for arguments sake the producers think about things like reparations, don’t you think there are others that would rightfully deserve reparations WAY more than Mark? I would also think they’d grant any reparations they were inclined to give in the form of a good partner or something along those lines. Not fixing the outcome of a season. That’s not to say they don’t want Chelise in the final or that they would be beyond stacking the deck with this bonus dance to make that happen, but I don’t think they would do that for Mark. They’d do it to keep the youth demo, or because they have career plans for her or some other reason that benefits them.
Side bar – sort of. I don’t think they would fix the show for *Mark*, although they might be inclined for one reason or another, to favor Chelsea and stack the odds in her favor. That said – I think the Pia thing and associated publicity, and the focus by the show on that, might be a result of them wanting Mark on this season. They lost Derek for at least a season – would they be inclined to try really hard to keep Mark?? “Hey, Mark, we will pimp you more and give you a good partner if you stay on the show this season.” I don’t think there is really anything wrong with that, per se, but it is nauseating unless you’re a huge Mark fan. That’s typical show business.
I think at one time the producers likely considered the pros replaceable employees. At some point, though, that had to have changed – these people ARE the show, especially if they are bringing Emmy nominations and a ton of online and phone votes (not to mention publicity). Anyone who really believes that you can just easily replace Derek, Maks, Mark, Cheryl, Chelsie and the gang is rather naive. Yeah, you can replace ONE – but if they lost several of the favorites in one season? Might they be inclined to sweeten the pot? I have to think so.
I’m thinking all of this has little to do with Mark, and everything to do with ratings and demographics. If you believe that Chelsea brings in the younger set, coveted by advertisers, then it sort-of makes sense.
There is another possible scenario with the “Bone-ASS dance”. If Larry, Moe, and Curly – err, ah – Bruno, Len, and Carrie Ann – manipulate the scores early and often, then we might see two couples at the top of the leader board, with oh, say, an 8-10 point gap, followed by the others. Then we start the cha-cha off. They call the bottom two couples the first round winners (to hold us in suspense), then pick one of them as the overall winner. It has the effect of bunching 3 at the top, with one (the intended victim) down in points by a bunch. And viola! The 3 Stooges haven’t picked just one couple to enter the finals, they’ve picked all 3. And all of us fans can like it. Or not…
I have a feeling for some reason that they are trying to get rid of Ralph. I don’t know why. He is likable and a good dancer. His storyline will undoubtedly draw viewers. And the 80′s group that grew up watching him in the Karate Kid series is a huge viewing/voting demographic. He has been so ridiculously underscored. Their scores for the jive were almost equal to Kirstie’s mess-of-a jive. Makes no sense until you realize the judges/producers are playing favorites.
And I am really sooo tired of Mark Ballas and Derek Hough being paired with the trained dancers and younguns’. It’s an unfair advantage. It would be nice to see another pro win.
@M – I’ve got my suspicions about which couple TPTB are angling for as well. And while I chuckle at Heidi’s description of the producers as 12-year-olds playing video games, I believe that, in general, “television executive” is a euphemism for “person that would sell their Mother’s soul to Satan for a 1/2 ratings point increase in the right demographic”.
I’d bet that TPTB have looked at the makeup of what they think would be the highest-rated final, given the couples still in it. There used to be “sweeps week”, where the advertising rates were pegged for the next season – does the industry still do that? I wonder if we’re in that period of time? In short, I think it’s really got nothing to do with the specific celeb, or pro, and everything to do with the almighty dollar. And if a few of us really dedicated (some would say “rabid”) fans get ticked off by it, then….. too-bad-so-sad; we’ll get over it, right?
Heidi, your theory assumes that without inducement to stay Mark would be inclined to leave. I don’t believe that for a second. He knows the show keeps him in the public eye and he has himself and a music career to promote. Do you honestly think he would leave the second most popular show on TV? To do what? If he had some really good project lined up he’d leave anyway and absent that you think he’d leave in favor of pounding the pavement in relative obscurity, playing bars in obscure towns across the country? He’d have to have his head examined if he did that. No way. Nobody is that dumb.
Peonies, no need to get so defensive – it was just a theory. But I will say this – mark knows how to play the game.
Gosh, and I’m so sick of people trying to revise history. I also wish people would read this site for a while before jumping in with the same old tired-ass comments.
Fact: derek’s partners have all been in their 30′s, with the possible exception of Joanna – but I think she was too. Jennifer was 50, with many injuries and screws in her neck.
Fact: only one of Derek’s partners had what could be called “training” – and she was hardly the first on the show to have dance experience, but even then people overstate it because they just can’t stand the fact that Derek is just that good. The word is jealousy – look it up. Even mark has had a couple older partners, and even his younger ones haven’t always been all that – unless you think Bristol was a barrel of laughs.
This sort of comment is idiotic and sooo fucking annoying – try looking at the facts people. Try stacking up maks, cheryl’s, Kym’s, and Anna’s partners against mark and Derek’s for real, without your own biases in the way and you will see that ALL of them have had at least one ringer – like Derek. Mark has had two. Just because Derek does well with some one it doesn’t make them a ringer – was Bristol a ringer because mark got her to the finale. Yeah, that’s what I thought.
I must be slow (no comments, please) but I can’t get this 15 point winner take all thing. It strikes me as cloddy no matter what. If they use it to bring someone up from the bottom, it will be obvious. And if they use it to ensure the front runners stay in front, it should be obvious. How are they going to spin this?