Mark Ballas faced the toughest judge in the ballroom on Tuesday, October 27, and it happened to be his own mother. Shirley Ballas served as guest judge on Dancing With the Stars during Horror Movie Night, and her son walked away unbothered.
Mark, 40, performed a contemporary routine inspired by The Lost Boys with partner Maura Higgins, fangs and fake blood included. The pair scored 32 out of 40, with Shirley holding up the lowest mark on the panel: a 7.
'I'm Used to It': Mark Ballas Fires Back at the Fear Factor
Speaking to Us Weekly after the October 27 broadcast, Mark dismissed any suggestion that having his mom judge him was nerve-racking.
“I'm used to it,” Mark told Us. “I grew up in this world. She's been judging Strictly [Come Dancing], the U.K. version, for 10 years now and they're a little tougher over there. They just are.”
That's the American spirit in one sentence. No whining, no excuses. Mark Ballas grew up in a dance family that demands excellence, and he delivers it anyway. Shirley, 66, is the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in Britain, a role she called an honor in her very first episode, Good Housekeeping reports.
Mark's confidence is earned, not given. “My mom has been my coach through, like, high level competitions back when I was younger,” he explained. “All my nerves and energy is for Maura ... because it's not about me, it's about her.”
Shirley Ballas Brought Out the Mini Shoe
Shirley did not soften her standards for family. She pulled out her famous mini shoe to show the couple exactly how to pivot on the foot, a teaching tool she has used for decades.
“She's a tough judge,” Mark acknowledged. Higgins, a Love Island UK alum, went further and called Shirley a “queen.”
Mark also pointed out that his mother “trained pretty much all” of the DWTS pros over the years. He is right to be proud. The Tab notes that Mark once told Good Morning America, “My mother is one of the most elite Latin American dance coaches in the world.”
Merit runs in this family, and it shows. No participation trophies in the Ballas household.
Mom's Scores Don't Stop at the Ballroom Door
Shirley's honesty extends well beyond guest judging nights. Mark joked that he regularly sends her his routines for review, and the verdicts are rarely generous.
“There have weeks, I've been doing the show for so long, I'll send my mom a routine to look at and if I got, like, a 9 or a 10, she'd be like, 'I'd give that a 6,'” he told Us Weekly. “She just says it how it is for me. ... It's just part of the deal.”
That's accountability the federal government could learn from. Straight talk, no sugarcoating, results measured against a real standard.
Shirley wasn't just hard on her son. According to AOL, her guest spot on Horror Movie Night was announced as a no-nonsense affair, and she lived up to the billing, handing out 4s to Julia Stiles and Tatyana Ali after their performances.
Maura Higgins Battles Nerves and the Grind of the Season
Higgins danced last on Tuesday, a slot she admitted is never pleasant, but she held her ground.
“I feel like every week my nerves get [a little] bit better,” she told Us. “Even going last, I thought that was really gonna freak me out. It's not nice going last. But I was OK. The minute the song started, I loved it.”
With Disney Week approaching, Higgins told Us she is feeling the physical toll of the competition, soreness and fatigue stacking up week after week.
“I wish I had the energy I had on week one, like, I wish my body felt like that, but it just does get so hard. But I'm trying my best. I'm really, I'm really trying,” she said.
That's grit. Higgins and Ballas are putting in the work, taking the criticism, and coming back for more. The ballroom rewards effort, not excuses.
What Happens Next on Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Disney Week is next, and Higgins will need every ounce of that fighting spirit as the field narrows and the scores tighten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shirley Ballas?
Shirley Ballas is the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing in the U.K. and the mother of DWTS pro Mark Ballas. She is widely regarded as one of the top Latin American dance coaches in the world.
What score did Mark Ballas and Maura Higgins receive on Horror Movie Night?
The pair earned 32 out of 40 points on Tuesday, October 27. Shirley Ballas gave the lowest score of the panel, a 7.
Has Shirley Ballas judged her son before?
Not on DWTS, but she coached Mark through high-level dance competitions when he was younger and reviews his routines remotely, often scoring them lower than the show's judges do.