Exclusive: PureDWTS Interviews Mark Ballas About The New Season Of Dancing With The Stars and More
John (also know in these parts as “Charlie”! 
) interviewed Mark Ballas over the weekend at a SXSW seminar. John asks Mark all about his new partner Aly Raisman, their competition, the dark horses this year, his dating life and his hair style. They also talk about Derek Hough as well and John mentions us bloggers and Heidi’s site. Mark also says he will keep dancing for Dancing With The Stars for as long as they want him. He wraps up the interview with a shout out and love sent to his fans. Lots more below….
Good Job, John, and the fans who sent questions at twitter!! This has to be one of the best interviews I’ve heard with Mark!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW, LOVED IT!
Thank you for your effort!! Great questions, clear answers…loved it.
Wow, John, great job!!
Were you holding the camera the whole time? That’s incredibly steady.
Of course, since so many of us really DO love Derek, I loved that you got out of him that Derek sent him a clip and that Kellie looks good.
Thoroughly enjoyable interview. That may just have bumped him up to my favorite pro status. I’m excited to see what he can bring out of Ally.
Well done, John! *applauds* Great questions and nice that he was able to give you more than a passing “hi, how are ya”. And I’m SO happy to hear that he’s listening to Shirley and getting rid of Thug Head!
great work John, excellent interview. All this wonderful stuff gets me even more excited for the premier! WooHoo,
Great interview! Thanks John!:D
Very nice interview, great questions and fluid conversation. Well done!
Fab interview, John, thank you!
John I agree great interview with Mark and one thing that he mentioned that I agree with is regarding height. I have always thought that a lot of the reasons certain pros get certain partners is based on how the pair will look together. I hear so often (again not this site) that such and such always gets the best partners. I always said I don’t think that is true and it just depends who they get as stars for a given season and start working from there. I also think that certain stars may ask for a certain pro. At least that is my opinion.
Again, thank you for all your great questions and really enjoyed Mark and all he had to say. Nice to hear what he had to say about Kellie Pickler and Derek as well as Jacoby. Really looking forward to next Monday night when we really get to see what all these stars will show us.
I agree about the hair and glad he listened to his mom Shirley.
Great interview!! Great info! Thanks, John.
I enjoyed this interview very much, and it’s nice to finally see Mark in a different light, he hasn’t really bugged me as much the past few seasons.
A few times though during this interview I caught a glimpse of Mark wearing his wizard hat.. I think that vision is permanently etched in my mind forever.
Great job John.
One should usually listen to their momma…very glad Mark did regarding the hair. Much nicer looking with hair.
Wow! Great interview, John! Thanks! Mark looks great (thanks, Mom!) and he seems happy which I think is the reason for his great attitude here. Love life is good – check. The music is going well – check. He’s got a good dance partner-check. So glad to hear about the love between Derek and him too. No petty jealousy raising its ugly head! I could root for this Mark- well, after Derek leaves of course.
Great interview, John, thank you…and a huge thank you to Shirley for giving us Mark with a decent head of hair. It’s just a better look.
I’ve been a fan of Mark’s since he came on the show and I’ve never seen him acting jealous or petty with Derek. They are always happy and supportive of each other and probably more away from the camera’s. I’ve watched them alot from youtube clips (Ballas Hough Band). I think that they are more like brother’s than some biological siblings (I haven’t seen my sister’s since 2007 due to my mother’s abuse). I think like most siblings there’s alot of teasing each other. Why be a pro on the show if you don’t have the will to win? I think alot of fans mistake that for being petty and that is sad! I’ve seen him get along great with Derek’s partners too! Thanks for the great interview Mark & John. I’m so excited for Aly & Mark to dance and I wish Kellie & Derek good luck also. I love Mark and like Derek and have never felt the need to bash Derek (I don’t understand people who waste their time bashing – again sad.) One week from now DWTS Season 16 and I can’t wait!
What exactly are you talking about, Mel? I see no bashing here. Now, on this blog you’re not required to agree with everything the pros say or do and that includes mark. If you think that disagreeing or not liking something one of them does is bashing, you will not be happy here. They all get crap at one time or another. You are as free to disagree when that happens as we are to give the crap. You have to be a grown up here.
As for what you have or haven’t seen, that is open to interpretation. One of the hazards of living in the public eye.
I’m gonna be honest, I’ve never noticed animosity or jealousy by Mark towards Derek either. Comments to that effect have always baffled me because they both appear to do their own thing on and off the dance floor.
I agree regarding Mark’s hair though. It looks really good on him. Mother knows best.
Great interview…and it seemed like Mark was less stressed maybe the “palin” effect has worn off…lol! I hope he has a great season..when he is like this, he is one of my fav pro’s.
Thanks John and Mark for a great interview!
Good interview, @John, although I have my reasons why Mark will never be a favorite. Hope all the pros and their celebrities have a good season.
Thanks everyone for your kind words on the interview. I was glad it was able to happen. I actually was about to leave the venue. I’d stayed for Mark’s show, but then he went inside and I was ready to leave for another event. Luckily I waited out just long enough for him to come out. So, we got the interview. Thanks to all those who tweeted some of the questions I used and sorry for those I forgot.
Actually, the battery on my HD video camera ran out since I’d recorded all of Mark’s music. So, I had to use my cell phone to record the video above. Not as good of quality, but at least we found a quiet place. Heidi, I did hold the camera. Although, I think YouTube worked some magic to improve the shakiness as well. I haven’t been able to compare to see how much what they did mattered. Sadly, I can’t post Mark’s music until he releases the record. So, I’ll have to save all those videos.
Anyway, I’d love to do more of these. Just need more willing pros like Mark. Thanks a lot Mark!
By the way, John, thanks for starting the convo with Mark last night on twitter – that was more fun on twitter than I’ve had in ages. I think me and Court scared him a bit though. LOL. Of course, the little fake twitter that really got it started isn’t quite so happy with the fun we had with it. Especially when Courtney flashed him.
Hey now – I did no such thing. Just said I was being “cheeky”.
What, did some hypersensitive shrew get offended by the word “cheeky”? Did I cyber-moon her?
Oh no, some silly child “warned” Mark that I was a hater when he used my name and said our site wasn’t “objective” (hello, check yer Websters for “blog”) BEFORE you flashed him. That just made it clear that we were having too much fun. Clearly a child – not Mark, the troll.
He/she/it got all mad that I wasn’t mad, apparently, and a couple of them were spamming me this afternoon. Battle of wits with an unarmed man. :::sigh::: 
Although, note to Mark – you should respond to FANS more often, and not people you think are “Haters” right or wrong or joking. I would imagine it pisses your fans off when you’re talking to lil’ ole me instead of them.