Mark Ballas On DWTS14 Week 7 “This week is promising to be an epic one”
Mark has written about he and Katherine’s New York City press tour this past week at USA Today. He talks of what an honor it was to perform with Katherine on Good Morning America and how she sang “like an angel”. They are back in Los Angeles now practicing their new dances which includes the Rumba for their individual dance. He gives some teasers on it below. “This week is promising to be an epic one,” he writes. Details below including his thoughts about winning the Marathon dance this past week.
Speaking of last week: I want to just say how fun it was to make it all the way in the dance marathon! I’ve never even made it to the point when the floor becomes a free-for-all, so that was my goal. But for Kat and I to win the whole thing was beyond fun and rewarding, not to mention we got to wear my favorite color too — electric green!
Back on to this week. It is classical week, and we have rumba, which is the dance of love. The general feedback from the judges so far is that the rumbas have been a little too raunchy. We want to keep ours classy, sophisticated, elegant and passionate. Also, I am using all traditional choreography with an old classical storyline and costumes that will take you back hundreds of years. To say I’m really excited to perform this with Katherine for you all is an understatement. Another twist this week is the team tangos; we put a little twist on our theme. I think you’re going to love our team!
Wise move and sounds really cool in my opinion.
You can read more if interested at USA Today.
Picture above is courtesy of Zimbio Pictures.
Who did the judges call “too raunchy” on? I don’t remember that at all.
And let me get this straight – I thought, based on his season with Chelsea, that all that “traditional” stuff was old, boring and needed to be updated cuz people were tired of seeing it?? Mark should run for president, he’s such a flip flopper. 🙂
And frankly, he scares the shit out of me when he starts talking about “a twist” on their theme for Team Tango. I hope to god he let Derek choreograph because his twists result in men in tights on the judges table. :::shiver:::
Oh no :(! I wanted a raunchy rumnba lol ;). Bruno is not going to be happy with this one ;).
But it sounds greatand I cant wait to see it but I dont want to be over-enthusiatic and be disappointed(a little bit like last week) so Im just going to wait and see.
Lol it’s true that sometimes he pushes his creativity a bit too far imo :).
I thought that lime green costume was awful but good for the dance Marathon because they clearly stood out.
Len called William’s rumba last week too raunchy(Cheryl had to explain to him what it meant).
LOL to Mark being a “flip flopper”. I agree ….and his choreography can be too much and so can his costumes. Last week’s neon green Marathon costumes were blinding. I loved how Tom kept making fun of them.
Can’t wait for their rumba. Len is gonna like it, since he has never really liked it when the rumbas are too sexy and raunchy. I still have a feeling Carrie ann won’t like it and say it lacks the chemistry needed in the rumba. Though they are my favorites, katherine and mark don’t really have much sexual chemistry and that will disappoint carrie ann and/or Bruno.
Can’t wait to see their rumba. I bet it’s gonna be beautiful . This could be their 30.
I think the Tango twist may be a vampire theme.
That is retry rich, Mark. Like he never did that with his rumbas. Eye roll. Also the only rumba raunchy was William. Donald, Jaleel, Maria were not. Maria’s was romantic and passionate but not raunchy,
PH, of course Mar is all traditional this year. Forgetting how he is so cutting edge and poor Len ii old to appreciate him,
I do hope Derek took the lead on the team choreo. Of four pros on that team, Mark is the only one who never won a team dance.
haha I thought the Single ladies twist at the end of Team Mambo’s dance was hilarious! I’m sure whatever twist they come up with will be fine since 4 pros agreed on it!
If they do the rumba I think they’re going to do and they get a 30?? Then I will consider it a FACT that she isn’t getting the votes she needs to stick around without help.
There’s a fine line between hilarious and horrendous.
Heidi, I don’t necessarily think that her getting a 30 means she’s not getting votes.
If she dances her Rumba and it’s amazing, then what are they gonna do? Mark her down for it? If she deserves a perfect score than she’ll get it. Len loves his Rumbas passionate but not raunchy and with her technique we might see him finally dust off his 10 paddle.
I agree with you Heidi… I don’t think she getting the votes.That is why they keep giving her 10’s every dance.She not that good to be getting 10s every time.
Nicole was a better dancer than Katherine and they never gave her 10’s every dance.
Ooooohhhhhhhhh,(swoon), I love it when Markie uses the word epic…..and a twist ?? from him ?? WHAT a surprise !!!
OK say it together, “let’s screw over everyone else, while we collect our 30 from the judges in classical week”….fa la la la la la la la laaaaa – Taa-Daaa…good ole’ Markie. Maybe Jaleel, Derek and Maria and Kym can “have a talk with him” while Roschon spins, Chelsie giggles and Katherine….well, she just stands to the side and smiles that sweeeet wonderful, regal smile.
I think Mark is actually doing a smart thing with Katherine in keeping it very classy/classical, as it suits her much more than anything too experimental. In contrast, he and Chelsea embraced that whole “youth/break the rules thing” because he thought it suited her, although I think she would have been just great with traditional choreography. Different partners, different tactics. Isn’t that what we want out of all the pros, to not treat each one like the last and to play to their strengths? I do realize that it is debatable whether his experiment with Chelsea worked, but honestly I lean a little more towards yes because it made her more memorable – I think she may have suffered from Audrina Patridge or Kristin Cavallari syndrome had he not. Also I actually really liked their routines and for the most part I’ve really enjoyed what he’s done with Katherine this season.
I did a Google search and watched Team Mambo….. why did TPTB put Tony and Lacey in that team dance??? Was that the “Sara Evans” season?
Well, she hasn’t deserved perfection yet, Matt, that’s what I’m saying. I don’t think we’ve seen a 10 dance yet – from anyone.
I have to agree the tens for Katherine are a bit much. Len is their lone hold out and I am glad. When Len held out for Nicole and .mya, he was tougher. Nicole and mya were miles better than Katherine but are not getting the raining tens she is getting. The started by giving out tens too soon for her.
I thought Mark mellowed out but he brought the usual Mark last week. The flips, the bright green to over dancing all returning.
Of course that’s what you want out of a pro – but he always has a way of spinning things that makes it sound that that’s NOT why he’s doing it. He has a way of putting it off on other people. “Oh, we don’t want to be raunchy like THEM” or “All those other pros are going traditional…that’s so boring”. Just shut up and do it, Markie, without making yourself sound superior to everyone else on the show. The boy has a complex.
Sally, that was the week that Melissa (Tony’s partner) couldn’t dance due to injury.
PH, you put it best. The boy has a complex.
Yeah I think Mark has a way of saying things that can be construed negatively, even if his intentions weren’t to disparage other couples. I obviously don’t know him personally, but I almost feel bad for him sometimes that he has to take the low road because of his lot in life – which really, in my opinion – is a great lot to be handed. I also feel bad for the pros that blog and interview a lot, because I know their intentions are to draw attention to their partner and give them additional exposure (and their own careers, I’m sure) but anytime you talk too much to the press – either via interview or articles – you are opening yourself up to looking hypocritical because of the sheer number of opportunities you are given to talk. I’d like to think I’d maintain consistency in everything I say, but man if everything I ever said publicly was available for reference, I’m sure even I’d have pie in my face on occasion. Of course, some people are more prone to this than others and others are better at keeping things simple, which eliminates anything coming across badly. Of course there’s just people that have constant foot in mouth syndrome. I still like Mark, but I can understand how he rubs people a bit wrong. Just trying to give him some benefit of the doubt.
OK – when Derek & Mark first arrived on the scene, they were totally tight like brothers, there seems to be some serious tension there now – did something happen? I haven’t heard anything, but I haven’t followed their personal lives either. Only now it seems to be affecting them on the show a bit. Does anyone know if there was an incident or if Derek just became much more beloved and talented – as he is, and Mark got jealous? anyone?
@PH
Mark never said HE thought other Rumbas were raunchy. He specifically said that was the judges feedback. I think he’s playing it smart.
He needs to choose his words more carefully.
Maria & Derek’s Rumba was beautiful! Elegant yet passionate! I Loved the chemistry between the two of them in this dance! Talk about telling a beautiful love story through dance.~I loved every moment of it..
And I agree with Ayana, IMO the Single ladies thing was hilarious.
Even then, Sasa, he overstates it. Only William’s was called raunchy by any of the judges. That was what I was saying – he’s using hyperbole. Again.
Ok – Thanks, PH! 😀 It just kinda shocked me to see the team dance start with a solo by a pro couple… made me think “W to the T to the F??????”
I think Mark is doing a smart move with this rumba. I have no idea what he means by a traditional rumba, but taking a classic approach with Katherine seems to be right for this partnership. I loved Chelsea Kane to death, but “classic” was not an adjective that fit her personality. I think Mark is catering his choreography to the personality of his partner. Usually this is praised with other pros, but Mark always seems to get negative comments when he does.
Cheryl and William’s rumba was raunchy. Instead of calling out just them he generalized about more than one. I find nothing wrong with what he said.
I hope he took the lead on the tango and they win so maybe people will cut him a little slack. ( I know I’m dreaming).
#Beka Mark and Derek are no longer joined at the hip like they were when they came here. They each have chosen different career paths, and seem to have separate friends as well. They will always be brothers, but they will probably never be as close as they were when they started on the show. Also, Mark is not jealous of Derek. He is a very busy man with many irons in the fire, and besting Derek is not on his list of priorities.
Again, see my comment about Mark spending too much time contrasting himself and his partner with other couples – maybe he should limit his comments to himself and Katherine. He has a bad way of framing things. It’s not about what he DOES (this time) but what he SAYS.
@PH
Mark exaggerated a bit to prove his point. That’s what we all occasionally do when we want to express. The fact is that William’s Rumba was called raunchy and that 2 of the 3 judges mentioned either bedroom or horizontal in their comments on Maria’s. The overall comments and scores were very positive but they did mention the sex aspect. Paired with the comment on William’s I don’t think that what Mark said is that much of a stretch as to warrant calling him little jealous Markie with a complex.
@MIchele
Mark doesn’t get cut ANY slack. He’s a very talented guy and really doesn’t need it though.
I am gonna just say that Mark HAS to say shit like that because he and Katherine have ZERO romantic/sexual chemistry. He wishes that he had he chemistry that Maria/Derek and to an extent Willy/Cheryl have. When Mark and Katherine were interviewed one time after Maria/Derek’s rumba, they were asked if a kiss on the dancefloor was in their future… Katherine looked horrified and Mark quickly reassured her that there would be so such thing in their dances. It’s clear they are like brother and sister. But then again, Apolo and Julianne always said they were like brother and sister, but they had some fiery hot chemistry on the dancefloor. Even Jennie Garth’s rumba with Derek had some sexual tension and she def saw Derek as a little brother.
Mark digs his own hole with these comments. When he becomes more self aware, he might be given more credit. At least for me. Besides Mark gets an ounce of the flack Maks or Derek receive.
I actually agree that taking the traditional route is best for him and Katherine because they really have no chemistry. It is all cold, technical but mo fun or personality.
I am sure if team tango wins, Mark will be sure to at his own back. His celebration after winning the marathon was a bit much.
I feel like mark and Katherine have great chemistry, but are afraid to show it. Specially Katherine, i think it has alot to do with mark having a girlfriend and her being in the audience every week for mark. Katherine seems too afraid like she will upset mark’s girlfriend if she shows any chemistry with, specifically sexual chemistry.
Angela, Tiffany is a performer as well and fully understands creating chemistry is part of the job–no problems there.
However, Mark had a capable dance “ringer” in Chelsea Kane, biut IMHO “blew it” with his attitude and going too much “out of the box”, AND constantly mentioning they were the younger, edgier couple. He smells a 3rd MBT — to tie with the young man to whom he’s been in the DWTS shadow of….he’s trying not to “F” it up.
Still have a strange image of Tom saying (at the finals), ” One of these three pros will tie Derek and win their 3rd mirror ball.” I have envisioned final of Kym/Jaleel, Cheryl/William, and Mark/Katherine…… 🙁
Hoping for Donald/Peta, Maria/Derek, Roshon/Chelsie.
I agree with Matt (#13). The only way we will know for a fact that Katherine and Mark aren’t getting high vote numbers is if we see the vote tallies themselves. If they ever get a ’30’, it’s because the judges liked their dance enough to want to give them a ’30.’
Mark seems to be damned no matter what he says or does. So he might as well just keep on doing what he wants to do.
@sherry
I don’t think Tiffany is the one that has a problem, she seems to fully understand and is very supportive of mark. But i think Katherine is the one having a problem with chemistry with mark. Mark looks like he is trying to show the chemistry, but katherine isn’t showing it back. Love the partnership of them too, but its more like brother and sister.
Kinda like you’re doing right now, Sasa – I never used the word jealous. I do think he has a complex. Rumba has been called the vertical expression of a horizontal desire by EVERYONE…it’s always labeled that. It’s the bedroom dance. EVEN MARK has called it that. And that you’re claiming “horizontal” and “bedroom” is equal to “raunchy”?? Perhaps you should have Cheryl Burke explain it to YOU as well. LOL. I think you’re doing a whole lot of stretching too.
And cut out the cross talk bitching about the treatment poor little Mark gets. You’re treading a very fine line and I’ve had enough with crazy shit on this site today.
Tiffany and Mark on tmz was hilarious. I would not blame it anyone. They just do notnhave chemistry. It just happens.
Sorry for my typos in my previous post…. =/
I think Mark/Kath have a great working chemistry. They dance well together, but that’s all it is. You can tell they also get along, so that’s why I call it a bro/sis chemistry rather than a romantic type of chemistry. At least they don’t hate each other or are combative, like Hope/Maks were last season. But I am going to be bad and say that Katherine has showed more “romantic” chemistry with Derek in some photos that they tweeted than she has with Mark… lol! Derek posted a photo of Katherine and Maria both trying to kiss him during personal story week and of course those infamous House of Blues photos.
Fact is that Mark can say they are planning on dancing a sweet and classy rumba and NOT throw other couples under the bus trying to prove a point.
If Mark can’t create sexual tension in his rumba with Katherine, the judges sure as hell better call him out on it like they did for Gladys and Tristan, or we will be able to say without doubt the fix is in.
Hmmm…..
Period outfits……… Rumba, and outfits from a couple hundred years ago………. That actually scares me a little…………. Anyone remember the waltz (or was it Viennese waltz?) in period clothes from Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo??
Whats with Markie and these silly hats. This latest one is dreadful.
Sandy, I was just thinking the same thing! He should leave the hat wearing to Gavin.
Can’t wait to see their rumba. I love mark’s costumes by the way. Especially that green costume in cha cha marathon last week, it looked so sweet on katherine 😀 . And i don’t think he has a complex or anything. His choreo is contemporary sometimes, like Lacey, but i like it. He’s trying to find balance between traditional and modern. Sometimes he fails, but most of the time his choreo is amazing.
And i don’t agree that they don’t have chemistry. For me, maria&derek’s and william&cheryl’s chemistry feels forced. You don’t have to kiss each other, look lusftul or something, in order to have chemistry. Mark and katherine’s chemistry is more based on respect, and i like that kidna chemistry more. Of course, i think, if every couple would be classy like katherine&mark the show would be boring. But if every couple would be like william&cheryl or derek&maria the show would be too cheesy. So, i think the balance is fine 🙂 .
I really agree with you Figamentation ;):)
This is only my opinion but I think that Mark and Katherine have a very good chemistry but I also agree with someone who said that Katherine may be reserved at times because Mark’s gf Tiffany ;)is sitting in the audience every week(that shouldnt be even a problem)
Of course we dont know what happens behind closed doors ;).
I think that he does a great job with Katherine because as a pro you have to be able to tailor your choreography to your partner’s strength but most importantly personality. A choreo for the rumba for Kristi cannot be the same for Katherine, Chelsea…..Some are going to be elegant other sweet or raunchy it just depends on the person.
He simply can’t win: dammed if he does something dammed if he doesnt!?!
@DWTS FAN I completely agree with you… he really is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. I bet even if he never spoke to the media some people would still be finding fault with his silence.
@ Figamentation, Ayana and DWTS FAN, I too agree. I think everything Mark’s done, from standing out to tailoring his choreography for Katherine has worked and he knows exactly what he’s doing, and I am certain there are no problems with his relationship with Derek, who will carry him on his shoulders and be thrilled if he wins! I think Mark is adorable, talented, and even more so than some of the others, and capable, and I can understand his excitement about winning the marathon and I hope he wins the Mirrorball and I’ll bet Derek hopes he does too!
I guess this will be the week they get the 30, then. Ugh. I totally think they are being overscored because Katherine is not getting the votes. And if they get that 30 — oh, huge sign there.
I love how people respond to comments and ignore the salient points that don’t fit their world view. I’m getting tired – maybe I should close the comments on this post as well as the other one we had to close due to trolling.
For the last time – OF COURSE you want the pro to tailor the choreo to the celeb – Mark is far better at that than Maks is, for sure. But Mark has a BIG mouth – that is what was being discussed here, not his choreo. Or that’s what WAS being discussed until you morphed it into this.
I like when Mark gets creative for the most part. His wizard waltz was SICK.
The only problem with the Wizard Waltz was the amount of time he spent dancing alone while Chelsea stood off in the corner. He showcased himself a bit too much in that dance. I loved hearing Derek talk about that hat though – hilarious.
I “mildly” (and respectfully) disagree with you, Heidi. Only in that I didn’t see what Mark did in the Wizard Waltz (love that name, BTW) as “dancing alone”…. more like “suffering a seizure”… 😉
:::snicker::: Um, okay, Sally. 😀
Lol! Wizard waltz was also a little too LXD type choreo. They also do it much better and did it first.
@ Princess Heidi: I agree it showcased Mark to much. I think the real draw for me in regards to that dance had to be the music. thats why i love classical week 🙂 the music sticks in my head and i associate the song w a dance.
And I think Tom said it best: “wearing the gavin degraw hat collection Mark Ballas” (i think that was the exact phrase lol but i’m not too sure)
I also agree that Mark and Katherine have chemistry. I think they get along great and are having a fun time.
I think with Mark right now, he does have a lot on his mind. Him and Derek both tweeted that Mark’s Mom had two surgeries several weeks ago. The fact that Shirley is in England recovering and him not being able to be there for her affects him. Mark has a very close relationship with his Mom.
I do agree that costumes that take you back hundreds of years kind of scares me. I am afraid but also excited to see what he came up with.