A Dancing With the Stars legend is preparing for his final bow in the ballroom as he quietly pivots toward a new chapter on reality TV.

A three-time Mirrorball champion is trading grueling rehearsals and high-risk lifts for other high-profile gigs that insiders say signals the beginning of the end of his competitive dance career.

Multiple dancers and musicians performing on "Dancing with the Stars" for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night.
Mark Ballas is joined by other pro dancers during a group number on DWTSCredit: Getty
Beloved DWTS pro Mark Ballas is “slowly transitioning” out of his professional dance career after signing on for two major reality TV projects, a source exclusively told The U.S. Sun.

“Mark going on Traitors and now being involved with this new DWTS spinoff is his slow transition to retire from his dance career,” an insider revealed.

“He’s trying to make a name for himself outside of just being a dancer.

“Mark will always have dance in his life, but his body cannot handle the strain like it used to, so it’s limiting how much he can actually perform,” the source explained.

After nearly two decades of grueling rehearsals, big lifts, and strenuous live performances, the physical toll has become harder for Mark, 39, to ignore.

“He might come back for one final season on DWTS, but if so, that would be his last one.

“He’s trying to establish himself as more than just a dancer, but a full-on TV personality that can excel in different kinds of roles in the industry,” the source said.

His stint on The Traitors marked a significant pivot – swapping choreography for strategy in a high-stakes reality TV competition.

A dancing couple, a woman in a blue dress and a man in black attire, performing a routine on a brightly lit stage.
Mark Ballas dances with his DWTS Season 8 partner, Shawn JohnsonCredit: Getty
 

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas performing a dance routine on "Dancing with the Stars."
Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas perform an exciting routing during Season 6 of DWTSCredit: Getty
Mark‘s involvement in the newly announced DWTS spinoff further signals producers’ belief that his appeal extends far beyond the ballroom floor.

“This gig will be more of a test run for him,” the insider explained. “And if he succeeds like producers think he will, he will be given many more on-camera opportunities in the future.

Mark, a three-time Mirrorball Trophy champion, has long been considered one of the most innovative pros in DWTS history.

He first won the show in Season 6 with Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, stunning judges with their near-perfect routines.

He claimed his second Mirrorball in Season 8 alongside Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, becoming one of the youngest pros ever to earn two titles.

Years later, after taking several seasons off from the show, he returned to the winner’s circle in Season 31 with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, dominating the competition with record-breaking scores and viral performances.

But his most recent season in the ballroom wasn’t without controversy.

When Mark returned in 2025 to partner with Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, some fans questioned the casting and accused producers of favoring the pair amid heated online debates about scoring.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas holding their "Dancing with the Stars" trophy.
Kristi Yamaguchi and her professional DWTS partner, Mark Ballas, pose with the Mirrorball Trophy after winning Season 6 in 2008Credit: Getty
 

Two dancers, a woman in a purple fringed leotard and a man in a white ruffled shirt and purple pants, pose on a dance floor covered in purple confetti.
Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt on Season 34 of DWTSCredit: Getty
Others defended Mark’s choreography and mentorship, arguing the backlash had more to do with outside noise than their performances.

Mark revealed that the controversy from online trolls was so intense, he even received death threats and other hateful messages online.

Since then, he has been cast on The Traitors, where he is still currently competing to snag the grand prize as a Faithful, and as The U.S. Sun previously reported, he’s landed a spot as a judge on an upcoming DWTS spinoff.

FINAL CURTAIN CALL?

Mark first joined DWTS as a pro in Season 5 and quickly built a reputation for bold, theatrical routines and emotionally charged storytelling that reshaped what audiences expected from the show.

If he does return for one last season, insiders say it would serve as a farewell to the dance chapter that made him a household name.

But as one source put it, this isn’t an ending – it’s a rebrand.

While his days of weekly lifts and Latin routines may be winding down, Mark’s next act in front of the camera seems to just be getting started.

Rob Rausch and Mark Ballas on "The Traitors" reality TV show.
Rob Rausch and Mark Ballas in the middle of a challenge on The TraitorsCredit: Getty
 

A group of 20 contestants from "The Traitors" stand on stone stairs.
The Traitors cast pictured: (l-r) Rob Rausch, Mark Ballas, Colton Underwood, Eric Nam, Stephen Colletti, Lisa Rinna, Donna Kelce, Dorinda Medley, Porsha Williams, Natalie Anderson, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Tara Lipinski, Michael Rapaport, Rob Cesternino, Kristen Kish, Monét X Change, Ian Terry, Caroline Stanbury, Ron Funches, Johnny WeirCredit: Getty